Journal of clinical medicine
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The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of different energy levels used in extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in the treatment of plantar fasciitis using a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library, from inception to March 2019 for randomized controlled trials that compared ESWT with placebo in patients with plantar fasciitis. The risk of bias for selected articles was assessed based on the Cochrane Handbook Systematic Review of Interventions. ⋯ Our meta-analysis suggested that medium-energy ESWT in the treatment of plantar fasciitis was more effective than the control group. A limited number of trials related to low- and high-energy ESWTs were included in our meta-analysis. More research is required to confirm the efficacy of low- and high-energy ESWTs in future studies.
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Bronchial asthma (BA) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are common respiratory obstructive diseases that may coexist. It would be interesting to study the possible influence of that coexistence on both diseases. Until now, reviews focused mainly on epidemiology. ⋯ CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatment is likely to improve symptoms, the control of the disease, and the quality of life in asthmatics with OSA. However, almost all studies are observational, involving a small number of patients with a short period of follow up. Although treatment guidelines cannot be released, we could recommend periodic screening of asthmatics for OSA for the optimal treatment of both the diseases.
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Pain after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is usually intense in the early postoperative period, but the efficacy of a multimodal analgesia approach remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the analgesic efficacy of pregabalin in multimodal analgesia after ACL reconstruction. Patients who underwent ACL reconstruction under spinal anesthesia and agreed to use intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) were randomly administered placebo (control group, n = 47) or pregabalin 150 mg (pregabalin group, n = 46) 1 h before surgery and 12 h after initial treatment. ⋯ Lower scores of VNRS were obtained with passive flexion of knee in the pregabalin group than in the control group at postoperative 24 (7(4-8) vs. 8(6-9), p = 0.043) and 36 h (4(3-7) vs. 5(4-9), p = 0.042), and lower value of VNRS at rest was observed in the pregabalin group [0(0-1)] than in the control group [1(0-2)] at postoperative 2 weeks (p < 0.001). No differences were obtained for IV-PCA consumption, rescue analgesic use, and side effects except for dizziness for postoperative 12 h. Pregabalin as an adjuvant to multimodal analgesic regimen significantly reduced early postoperative pain in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction.
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Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (PR-AKI) is a heterogeneous disorder with multiple aetiologies that can occur at any time throughout pregnancy and the post-partum period. PR-AKI is an important obstetric complication that is associated with significant maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. Although there has been an overall decline in the incidence of PR-AKI worldwide, a recent shift in the occurrence of this disease has been reported. ⋯ Awareness of the physiological adaptations of the renal system is essential for the diagnosis and management of kidney impairment in pregnancy. In this review we scrutinize the factors that have contributed to the changing epidemiology of PR-AKI and discuss challenges in the diagnosis and management of acute kidney injury (AKI) in pregnancy from an obstetrics perspective. Thereafter we provide brief discussions on the diagnostic approach of certain PR-AKI aetiologies and summarize key therapeutic measures.
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Re-arrest during post-cardiac arrest care after the return of spontaneous circulation is not uncommon. However, little is known about the risk factors associated with re-arrest. A previous study failed to show a benefit of prophylactic antiarrhythmic drug infusion in all kinds of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors. ⋯ Normal ST and T wave in initial ECG was common in the non-shockable re-arrest group (p = 0.038). However, in multivariate logistic regression analysis, only VPC was an independent prognostic factor for shockable re-arrest (OR 2.806 (95% CI 1.276-6.171), p = 0.010). Initial VPC may be a prognostic risk factor for shockable re-arrest in OHCA survivors with shockable rhythm.