Annals of medicine
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To develop a Fear of Cancer Scale (FOCS) for non-cancer populations. ⋯ The 17-item FOCS was a reliable and valid measure to examine the level of cancer fear in non-cancer populations.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of perioperative dexmedetomidine infusion on renal function and microcirculation in kidney transplant recipients: a randomised controlled trial.
Ischemia-reperfusion injury affects postoperative transplanted kidney function in kidney transplant recipients. Dexmedetomidine was reported to attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury and improve microcirculation, but its propensity to cause bradycardia and hypotension may adversely affect microcirculation. This study investigated the effect of dexmedetomidine on postoperative renal function and sublingual microcirculation in kidney recipients. ⋯ We found that early postoperative renal function was better in kidney transplant recipients receiving dexmedetomidine infusion, but total vessel density was not significantly different between the intervention and control groups. Key messagesIschemia-reperfusion injury affects postoperative transplanted kidney function, and dexmedetomidine was reported to attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury and improve microcirculation in other clinical conditions.This study showed that early postoperative renal function was better in kidney transplant recipients receiving dexmedetomidine.Dexmedetomidine's side effect of bradycardia and hypotension may affect microcirculation, our results revealed that the perioperative sublingual microcirculation did not differ significantly in kidney transplant recipients receiving dexmedetomidine.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of propofol and sevoflurane on T-cell immune function and Th cell differentiation in children with SMPP undergoing fibreoptic bronchoscopy.
The potentially different effects of commonly used anaesthetic agents propofol and sevoflurane on T-cell immune function and Th cell differentiation were investigated in patients with severe mycoplasmal pneumonia (SMPP) undergoing fibreoptic bronchoscopy. ⋯ Propofol might have a less inhibitory effect on T lymphocytes in children with SMPP than sevoflurane. And propofol may have less impact on the differentiation of Th cells into Th1 cells and better preserving the Th1/Th2 ratio than sevoflurane. KEY MESSAGESThe pathogenesis of SMPP is still unclear, likely through alveolar infiltration with neutrophils and lymphocytes, lymphocyte/plasma cell infiltrates in the peri-bronchovascular area, and immune dysfunction.Recent experimental and clinical studies showed that sevoflurane might have immunosuppressive effects, and multiple studies confirmed that the immune function of children with SMPP had been reduced.This study found that propofol administered in children with SMPP had a less inhibitory effect on T lymphocytes than inhalational sevoflurane, had little inhibitory effect on the differentiation of Th cells into Th1 cells, and better preserve Th1/Th2 ratio and maintain the balanced immune function.
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For individuals receiving maintenance dialysis, estimating accurate resting energy expenditure (REE) is essential for achieving energy balance, and preventing protein-energy wasting. Dialysis-specific, predictive energy equations (PEEs) offer a practical way to calculate REE. Three PEEs have been formulated via similar methods in different demographic samples; the Maintenance Haemodialysis Equation (MHDE REE), Vilar et al. Equation (Vilar REE) and the Fernandes et al. Equation (Cuppari REE). We compared them in a US cohort and assessed precision relative to measured REE (mREE) from indirect calorimetry. Because of expected imprecision at the extremes of the weight distribution, we also assessed the PEEs stratified by body mass index (BMI) subgroups. ⋯ Dialysis-specific energy equations showed variable accuracy. When categorized by BMI, the equations performed poorly at the extremes, where individuals are most vulnerable. Innovation is needed to understand these variances and correct the imprecision in PEEs for clinical practice.KEY MESSAGESPotentially impacting over millions of patients worldwide, our long-term goal is to understand energy expenditure (EE) across the spectrum of CKD (stages 1-5) in adults and children being treated with dialysis or transplantation, with the intent of providing tools for the health professional that will improve the delivery of quality care.Our research has identified and focussed on disease-specific factors which account for 60% of the variance in predicting EE in patients on MHD, but significant gaps remain.Thus, our central hypotheses are that (1) there are unique disease-specific determinants of EE and (2) prediction of EE for individuals diagnosed with CKD can be vastly improved with a model that combines these factors with more sophisticated approaches.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A prospective randomized comparison of the efficacy of standard antiviral therapy versus ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block for acute herpes zoster.
To evaluate the effectiveness of repetitive thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) under ultrasound (US) guidance for acute pain associated to herpes zoster (HZ) and its prophylactic effects on post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). ⋯ US-guided repetitive TPVB significantly reduced the HZ-BOI and the PHN incidence compared to antiviral therapy alone. It might be considered as an early intervention and preventive strategy to the development of PHN after acute HZ.KEY MESSAGEThis is a prospective randomized comparative study. We made a hypothesis that US-guided repetitive thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) using a transverse short axial (TSA) approach to treat thoracic herpes zoster (HZ) in acute phase could reduce the burden of illness associated to acute pain. Moreover, this therapy might be a feasible preventive strategy to reduce the incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia.