Medicina
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Comparative Study
Comparative Analysis of Lower Back Pain and Phantom Pain in Unilateral Lower Limb Amputees: A Study on Amputee Football Players vs. Non-Athletes.
Background and Objectives: Amputation poses a significant clinical and therapeutic challenge, with over 90.0% of amputations involving the lower limbs, of which 75.0% are associated with diabetes and peripheral artery disease. Individuals with lower limb amputations often experience secondary disabilities. This study aimed to compare the frequency and intensity of lower back pain and phantom pain in individuals with unilateral lower limb amputations who were amputee football players with those who did not participate in adaptive sports. ⋯ The players exhibited significantly better motor function and lower levels of disability. Preoperative limb pain was a significant risk factor for phantom pain in the study group. Adaptive sports can not only support the development of motor and social skills but also contribute to reducing the severity of lower back pain, which leads to a decrease in the level of disability.
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Review Meta Analysis
Effectiveness of Meditation Techniques in Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Background and Objectives: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition worldwide. The limited effectiveness of current psychological and pharmacological treatments has motivated studies on meditation techniques. This study is a comprehensive, multiple-treatments meta-analysis comparing the effectiveness of different categories of meditation in treating PTSD. ⋯ Conclusions: All categories of meditation studied were helpful in mitigating symptoms of PTSD. TM produced clinically significant reductions in PTSD in all trauma groups. We recommend a multisite Phase 3 clinical trial to test TM's efficacy compared with standard treatment.
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Review Comparative Study
The Comparative Efficacy of Burs Versus Piezoelectric Techniques in Third Molar Surgery: A Systematic Review Following the PRISMA Guidelines.
Background and Objectives: Third molar (wisdom tooth) extraction is one of the most common surgical procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Traditional rotary instruments and burs have long been the standard tools for this procedure. However, recent advancements in surgical techniques, such as piezoelectric surgery, have gained popularity due to their purported advantages in terms of precision, safety, and postoperative outcomes. ⋯ Conclusions: Piezoelectric surgery offers a less traumatic alternative to traditional burs for third molar extraction, with reduced postoperative morbidity and enhanced patient outcomes. Although the longer surgical duration may be a drawback, the overall benefits, particularly in terms of pain management and tissue preservation, support the adoption of piezoelectric techniques in clinical practice. Further high-quality randomized trials are recommended to strengthen the evidence base for these findings.
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Intracranial calcifications, particularly within the falx cerebri, serve as crucial diagnostic markers ranging from benign accumulations to signs of severe pathologies. The falx cerebri, a dural fold that separates the cerebral hemispheres, presents challenges in visualization due to its low contrast in standard imaging techniques. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in machine learning and deep learning, have significantly transformed radiological diagnostics. ⋯ The review detailed various AI models and their accuracy across different imaging modalities in identifying and segmenting falx cerebri calcifications, also highlighting the gap in publications in this area. In conclusion, further research is needed to improve AI-driven methods for accurately identifying and measuring intracranial calcifications. Advancing AI applications in radiology, particularly for detecting falx cerebri calcifications, could significantly enhance diagnostic precision, support disease monitoring, and inform treatment planning.
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Background and Objectives: Studies have shown that inflammation markers can be used as prognostic tools in predicting acute ischemic stroke. In this study, we conducted a comparison of several inflammation scores in predicting left atrial thrombosis (LAT) in patients with ischemic stroke without AF. Materials and Methods: In this single-center, retrospective study, we included 303 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke. ⋯ Based on the results of the multivariate regression analysis, the CAR emerged as the only independent predictor of LAT. Conclusions: Among several inflammation scores, the PNI, HALP, and CAR were statistically significant predictors of LAT in ischemic stroke patients without AF. CAR was identified as the optimal score for the prediction of LAT in patients with stroke and without AF.