J Formos Med Assoc
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Heart failure (HF) management lacks clarity regarding fluid balance strategies, with some studies suggesting potential benefits of liberal fluid intake. This review aims to evaluate both unrestricted and restricted fluid intake, including sodium restriction, in adult HF. ⋯ In summary, the existing studies on this topic are hindered by heterogeneity and relatively small sample sizes. However, when the available data is combined, it suggests that HF patients managed with either liberal or restrictive fluid intake exhibit similar clinical outcomes. It's worth noting that fluid restriction in HF patients might lead to increased serum creatinine levels, decreased BNP and body weight.
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Satisfaction with bladder management in community-dwelling patients with chronic spinal cord injury.
This study aimed to assess the satisfaction of community-dwelling patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) regarding bladder management and urological treatments. ⋯ The bladder management of patients with chronic SCI changed over a 20-year disease duration following urological treatment or minimally invasive procedures. Despite the reported benefits of these interventions, patient satisfaction with the current bladder management remained low.
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Water is the most commonly, and often the only tested material in swallow screening. Our objective is to assess the impact of food consistencies on the reliability of trial swallows in predicting aspiration in dysphagic patients, utilizing the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) levels. ⋯ The diagnostic accuracy of commonly-used clinical signs for the indication of aspiration is significantly affected by food consistency. Test foods with varying consistencies, particularly those at IDDSI level 2, should be considered during clinical swallow examinations, especially for screening purposes.
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It has been three decades since the development of vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) test. Now is an opportune moment to review clinical usefulness of the VEMP testing in audiovestibular disorders. This review was developed from peer-reviewed articles published in those journals listed on Journal Citation Reports. ⋯ In conclusion, the integration of acoustic, vibratory, and galvanic stimuli in eliciting cervical VEMP (cVEMP) and ocular VEMP (oVEMP) provides a more thorough identification of the lesion site. When combined with audiometry and caloric testing, the inner ear test battery is highly effective in precisely identifying the affected area, evaluating residual function, and predicting the outcomes of audiovestibular disorders. Furthermore, both cVEMP and oVEMP tests help elucidate the mechanism of audiovestibular disorders, indicating an evolving understanding in this field.