Medicina
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Comparative Study
Changes in the Success and Characteristics of Tobacco Dependence Treatment before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Clinical Sample Comparisons.
Background and Objectives: There is little information on changes in the process and outcomes of intensive tobacco dependence treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following characteristics were evaluated: interest in treatment, the number of face-to-face or telephone follow-ups, the duration of pharmacotherapy use, and the success rate. The aim of our study was to compare the number of patients who entered tobacco dependence treatment programmes and evaluate the one-year success rate in patients three years before and three years after the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ In contrast, there was an increase in the number of telephone contacts between the groups (18.7% (SD = 17.5%) vs. 32.9% (SD = 18.2%), p < 0.001). Conclusions: The number of patients who started treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic decreased by one-third compared to that during the 3-year period before the pandemic. The overall treatment success rate did not change significantly even with the increase in the number of telephone visits with the therapist.
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Background and Objectives: The aim was to compare the activity of the masseter muscles in children with different types of breathing. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted including patients aged 6-12 years with mixed dentition, who came for oral care at the Master's Degree in Pediatric Dentistry program at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The sample was divided into three groups: nasal breathers without dental alterations (control group), oral breathers with dental malocclusion, and oral breathers with previous orthodontic treatment. ⋯ Conclusions: Differences in electrical muscle activity between nasal and oral breathers can be confirmed. Oral breathers with and without orthodontic treatment showed lower electrical muscle activity of masseters during chewing than nasal breathers, while at isometric contraction, only oral breathers with previous orthodontic treatment showed lower electrical activity. Higher decompensation values were found in oral breathers without previous orthodontic treatment, in comparison to the control group and oral breathers with previous orthodontic treatment.
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Observational Study
Withdrawal/Withholding of Life-Sustaining Therapies: Limitation of Therapeutic Effort in the Intensive Care Unit.
Background/Objectives: The change in critically ill patients makes limitation of therapeutic effort (LTE) a widespread practice when therapeutic goals cannot be achieved. We aimed to describe the application of LTE in a post-surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU), analyze the measures used, the characteristics of the patients, and their evolution. Methods: Retrospective observational study, including all patients to whom LTE was applied in a postsurgical ICU between January 2021 and December 2022. ⋯ The most widespread measure was withholding, with the do-not-resuscitate order being the most common. The decision was made mainly by the medical team and the family, respecting the wishes of the patients. A joint patient-centered approach should be made in these decisions to avoid futile treatment and ensure end-of-life comfort.
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Background and Objectives: The impact of surgery for recurrent brain metastases in elderly patients has been the object of debate due to limited information in the literature. We analyzed clinical outcome and survival of elderly patients with recurrent brain metastases in order to assess potentially beneficial role of surgery. Materials and methods: In total, 219 patients with recurrent brain metastases between 2007 and 2022 were identified, of which 95 underwent re-resection; 83 patients aged 65 and older were analyzed. ⋯ Survival did not differ from that in younger patients, which can be explained by a better preoperative functional status. Moreover, independent of the extent of resection, older patients who underwent surgery showed better survival than patients who did not receive surgical treatment. Complete cytoreduction was a favorable prognostic marker.
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Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the predictive factors associated with transient urine incontinence (TUI) following holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a prospectively maintained database containing the first 149 consecutive HoLEP cases between June 2022 and December 2023. The study recorded several patient characteristics, and preoperative data such as IPSS score, total gland volume, preoperative catheterization, Qmax, and PVR volume were collected. ⋯ In the multivariate regression analysis, increased age (odds ratio [OR], 3.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56~7.78; p = 0.002), prostate volume ≥ 100 mL (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.54-2.13; p = 0.001), preoperative PVR volume ≥ 250 mL (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.10-1.32; p = 0.02), preoperative catheterization (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.34-0.78; p = 0.003), increased operation time (OR, 3.87; 95% CI 1.62-4.19; p = 0.002), and resected tissue weight ≥ 40 g (OR, 1.032; 95% CI, 1.015-1.048; p = 0.002) were found to be independent predictors of TUI. Conclusions: The incidence of TUI following HoLEP was found to be 15.96% in patients, with a recovery rate of 78.94% within three months post-surgery. Predictive factors for TUI included age at surgery, prostatic volume, preoperative catheterization, high PVR, longer operative time, and resected tissue weight.