Brit J Hosp Med
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Meta Analysis
Efficacy and Safety of Nerve Growth Factor in Treating Neurotrophic Keratitis Patients: A Meta-Analysis.
Aims/Background Nerve growth factor has been approved for treating neurotrophic keratitis in Europe and the United States. However, its clinical efficacy and safety profile in neurotrophic keratitis patients have not been systematically evaluated. Therefore, this study systematically assessed the efficacy and safety of nerve growth factor (NGF) in treating patients with neurotrophic keratitis. ⋯ However, the incidence of ailment progression (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.17-1.13) and adverse events (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.50-1.56) did not show significant differences between these two groups. Conclusion In summary, for patients with neuropathic keratitis, NGF treatment can promote corneal healing efficiency, effectively improve visual correction, and reduce disease progression and incidence of adverse events to a large extent. The clinical effect and safety are high, and it is worthy of clinical promotion and application.
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Review Case Reports
Sarcomatoid Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma with Brain Metastasis: A Case Report and Literature Review.
Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma typically signifies an exceptionally poor prognosis, with patients rarely surviving beyond one year. An 83-year-old male presented to our hospital with complaints of headache and left-sided limb weakness. Computed tomography (CT) scans of the head and lungs disclosed a mass within the right temporal lobe, accompanied by peritumoral edema in the right cerebral hemisphere. ⋯ He underwent cytoreductive surgery successively in the neurosurgery and urology departments. Despite experiencing postoperative tumour recurrence, the patient has lived close to four years to date. This case report illustrates that cytoreductive surgery combined with systemic pharmacotherapy can still confer significant survival benefits for elderly patients.
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Hypokalaemia is a common electrolyte disorder affecting hospitalised patients. It is associated with adverse outcomes including increased mortality. Inpatients with hypokalaemia need a different approach to workup and management as the aetiologies and progression of the hypokalaemia are distinct to outpatients. ⋯ This paper reviews the assessment of hypokalaemia in a hospital setting. It is aimed at early career doctors on the wards to help carry out a thorough evaluation. It also provides a useful framework for management.
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Review
Application of Injectable Hydrogels as Delivery Systems in Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, though etiologically distinct, are both inflammatory joint diseases that cause progressive joint injury, chronic pain, and loss of function. Therefore, long-term treatment with a focus on relieving symptoms is needed. At present, the primary treatment for arthritis is drug therapy, both oral and intravenous. ⋯ This review summarizes the types of injectable hydrogels and analyzes their applications as delivery systems in arthritis treatment. We also explored how hydrogels counteract inflammation, bone and cartilage degradation, and oxidative stress, while promoting joint cartilage regeneration in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This review also highlights new approaches to developing injectable hydrogels as delivery systems for OA and RA.
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Aims/Background High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) and intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) are emerging neuromodulation techniques for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, clinical trials directly comparing their efficacy are limited. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the antidepressant effects and safety profiles of iTBS versus HF-rTMS for MDD. ⋯ Conclusion iTBS and HF-rTMS have comparable efficacy and safety profiles in treating MDD based on current evidence. Both neuromodulation techniques are superior to sham stimulation. iTBS could be considered an alternative to HF-rTMS, with the advantage of shorter daily treatment duration. Further large RCTs with long-term follow-up are warranted to confirm these findings.