Medicina
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Review
Submuscular and Pre-Pectoral ADM Assisted Immediate Breast Reconstruction: A Literature Review.
Background and objectives: Breast cancer treatment has deeply changed in the last fifty years. Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) were introduced for breast reconstruction, with encouraging results, but with conflicting reports too. The present paper aims to summarize the current data on breast reconstruction using acellular dermal matrices. ⋯ Conclusions: Several authors have recently reported positive results. Nevertheless, an increased complications' rate has been reported by other authors. Higher cost compared to not-ADM-assisted breast reconstruction is another concern.
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Background and Objectives: Currently, one in eight people over the age of 65 have dementia, and approximately 75% of caregiving is provided by volunteer family members with little or no training. This study aimed to quantify points of stress for home-based caregivers with the aim of reducing stress for them while concurrently supporting quality of life for the people with dementia whom they cared for. The overreaching purpose was to increase our knowledge of the caregiver stress burden and explore potential technologies and behaviors to ease it. ⋯ However, great caution needs to be in place before we take that step. Successful technology should address the human experience as home-based caregivers try to use new technologies. Human-centric technology addresses the needs of both people with dementia and the home-based caregiver.
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Background and objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the correlation of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) in patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) with the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Materials and Methods: The inclusion criteria for the study were: type 1 diabetes diagnosed on the basis of WHO criteria lasting at least a year, presence of AITD for at least a year, and age over 18 years. The control group consisted of patients without diagnosed AITD (DM1noAITD), selected according to age, BMI and DM1 duration. ⋯ There was a significantly lower chance of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) among DM1AITD than in the control group. Conclusions: Patients with DM1 and AITD were metabolically better balanced, as evidenced by a significantly lower SBP, percentage of HbA1c and TG, as well as significantly higher HDL-cholesterol in this group. Patients with DM1 and AITD were significantly less likely to have NPDR than the control group.
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Background and Objectives: Patients with cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may safely undergo cataract phacoemulsification to enhance visual acuity. Although it has not been proven that cataract surgery can cause AMD progression, different phacoemulsification effects are observed not only on retinal but also on choroidal tissues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of phacoemulsification on the choroidal thickness (CT) in eyes with and without AMD. ⋯ However, three months after surgery, CT changes were different in both groups, while FRT decreased in both groups. CT changes negatively associated with age in the No-AMD group and with AL in the AMD eyes. These postoperative changes in the choroid and retina may not only lead to the late-onset pseudophakic cystoid macular edema but also to progression of AMD.
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Vascular malformations (VMs) are a wide vascular or lymphatic group of lesions common on the head and neck. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and morbidity of sclerotherapy for the treatment of VMs in the oral and perioral area. Special attention was given to factors that may contribute to minimizing postoperative morbidity. ⋯ A waiting time of 12 weeks prior to additional EAO application was required in 12 out of 29 lesions for clinical observation of complete regression. It was concluded that sclerotherapy with EAO as monotherapy is easy to apply, safe, and effective within a small number of sessions. Application of <0.3 mL EAO per session, and a waiting time of 12 weeks prior to the second application, would significantly minimize morbidity.