Hong Kong medical journal = Xianggang yi xue za zhi / Hong Kong Academy of Medicine
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To study the demography, clinical characteristics, service utilisation, mortality, and predictors of mortality in older residential care home residents with advanced cognitive impairment. ⋯ Residents of residential care homes for the elderly with advanced cognitive impairment were frail, exhibited multiple co-morbidities and high mortality. They were frequent users of out-patient, emergency, and in-patient services. The development of end-of-life care services in residential care homes for the elderly is an important need for this group of elderly.
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To assess perioperative and short-term outcomes after tension-free vaginal mesh repair of pelvic organ prolapse in local Chinese women. ⋯ The success rate of tension-free vaginal mesh repair for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse in local Chinese women was comparable to rates reported internationally. There was a high degree of subjective satisfaction with the procedure. There were low rates of mesh exposure and de-novo stress incontinence that was mostly asymptomatic or mild.
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To evaluate the efficacy of a birth ball exercise programme conducted by physiotherapists on pain relief, psychological care, and facilitation of the labour process at a labour ward in a regional hospital. ⋯ Birth ball exercise could be an alternative means of relieving back pain and labour pain in the labour ward, and could decrease pethidine consumption in labouring women.
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Ketamine is a relatively new recreational drug used by youngsters in recent decades. Its toxic effects on the genitourinary system were first reported in 2007, and now attract extensive attention from urologists, pharmacologists, and toxicologists all over the world. As many front-line health professionals and medical social workers are still unaware of this new clinical entity and an increasing number of the drug users seek help for urological symptoms, this mini-review aimed to summarise the clinical features and possible mechanisms of ketamine-induced genitourinary toxicity. By raising public awareness of these toxic effects, the authors hope that the contents of this review will be widely disseminated not only to medical professionals, but also to relevant government departments and the general public.