Postgraduate medicine
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Postgraduate medicine · May 2020
Expert consensus from the Arabian Gulf on selecting disease-modifying treatment for people with multiple sclerosis according to disease activity.
Recent research has expanded our understanding of the natural history and clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the Arabian Gulf region. In addition, the number of available therapies for MS has increased greatly in recent years, which complicates considerably the design of therapeutic regimens. We, an expert group of physicians practising in Arabian Gulf countries, present pragmatic consensus recommendations for the use of disease-modifying therapy, according to the level of MS disease activity, according to objective criteria, and prior treatment (if any) received by a given patient.
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Postgraduate medicine · May 2020
Practical guidance for using the FreeStyle Libre flash continuous glucose monitoring in primary care.
Use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) improves clinical outcomes in type 1 diabetes, and significant benefits been demonstrated in patients with type 2 diabetes, including improved glycemic control, better treatment adherence, and an increased understanding of their treatment regimens. Currently, there are two types of CGM systems: real-time CGM (rtCGM) and flash CGM (FCGM). ⋯ With the increasing prevalence of diabetes, primary care physicians will be compelled to take on more responsibility for managing patients with diabetes. This article focuses on practical approaches and decision-making strategies for utilizing FCGM in primary care settings.
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Postgraduate medicine · May 2020
Treatment of painful polyneuropathies of diabetic and other origins with 10 kHz SCS: a case series.
Painful diabetic polyneuropathy (PDPN) and painful polyneuropathies of other origins are associated with significant personal and societal burdens with treatments limited to symptomatic management. Treatment options include antidepressants, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogs, opioids, and topical analgesics, which are intended to alleviate pain and symptoms of neuropathy, but limited data are available on their efficacy. Paresthesia-based low-frequency spinal cord stimulation (LF-SCS) is considered a last-resort treatment modality for PDPN patients. ⋯ Out of five patients with information available at last follow-up, two were completely off their pain medications and two reduced their dose by over 40%. Similarly, at last follow-up, three out of five patients reported sensory improvement in their lower limbs. In conclusion, 10 kHz SCS treatment resulted in significant pain relief in all the patients, decreased reliance on pain medication, and improved lower limb sensory function in the majority of patients.