Plos One
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Pressure garment therapy is often prescribed to improve scar properties following full-thickness burn injuries. Pressure garment therapy is generally recommended for long periods of time following injury (1-2 years), though it is plagued by extremely low patient compliance. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of early cessation of pressure garment therapy on scar properties. ⋯ In the pressure released group, grafts significantly contracted and became more raised, harder and rougher after the therapy was discontinued. Pressure cessation also resulted in large changes in collagen fiber orientation and increases in collagen fiber thickness. The results suggest that pressure garment therapy effectively improves scar properties following severe burn injury; however, early cessation of the therapy results in substantial loss of these improvements.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Association of gastric and duodenal ulcers with anthropometry and nutrients: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES II-IV) 2001-2009.
The objective of this study was to examine the association of peptic ulcer disease (PUD), including gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, with obesity-related indices, nutrients, and blood parameters in Korean adults. ⋯ Older age was a risk factor for PUD in Korean adults, and the association of PUD with most nutrients and anthropometric indices may differ according to gender.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Pragmatic Clinical Trial
Individually-tailored multifactorial intervention to reduce falls in the Malaysian Falls Assessment and Intervention Trial (MyFAIT): A randomized controlled trial.
To determine the effectiveness of an individually-tailored multifactorial intervention in reducing falls among at risk older adult fallers in a multi-ethnic, middle-income nation in South-East Asia. ⋯ Individually-tailored multifactorial intervention was ineffective as a strategy to reduce falls. Future research efforts are now required to develop culturally-appropriate and affordable methods of addressing this increasingly prominent public health issue in middle-income nations.
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Meta Analysis
Prognostic value of presepsin in adult patients with sepsis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Presepsin is a novel biomarker to diagnose sepsis but its prognostic value has not been comprehensively reviewed. We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the mortality prediction value of presepsin in sepsis. ⋯ This meta-analysis demonstrates some mortality prediction value in presepsin in patients with sepsis. Further studies are needed to define the optimal cut-off point to predict mortality in sepsis.
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The autonomic nervous system plays a leading role in the control of fetal homeostasis. Fetal heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a reflection of its activity. We developed a new index (the Fetal Stress Index, FSI) reflecting parasympathetic tone. ⋯ The correlations were not significant for the other parameters. In conclusion, our new index seems well correlated with the fetal acid-base status. Other studies must be carried out in a situation close to the physiology of labor by sequential occlusion of the cord.