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Filter by:Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by elevated plasma levels of LDL-C cholesterol. This early and significant elevation of LDL-C triggers premature atherosclerosis, particularly coronary artery disease. The initiation and management of LDL-C therapies is based on cardiovascular risk assessment. Although this is undoubtedly higher than in normocholesterolemic patients, a significant heterogeneity in heFH patients still persists that is not completely explained. Moreover, the evaluation of cardiovascular risk in patients with heFH is difficult for many reasons: non-validity of risk scores, futility of a risk calculation limited to 10 years in a young patient, late positivity of stress tests . Therefore, there is a clear need for new cardiovascular risk assessment tools to identify higher risk heFH patients who could benefit from early and aggressive treatment. The Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) Score has been widely studied in the US and validated in European recommendations, and has shown the best reclassification index for patients at intermediate cardiovascular risk. A CAC score of zero is associated with a very low risk of event irrespective of the number of risk factors. Non-calcified plaques are by definition not detected by ACC and patients with CAC = 0 may only have soft non-calcified plaques. The prevalence of these non-calcified plaques in very high-risk patients with acute coronary syndrome is 5%. The prevalence in FH patients is unknown. It has also been shown that the extent of the atherosclerotic burden is related to cardiovascular risk. CAC score has been poorly evaluated in heFH patients. However, hypercholesterolemia and calcifications have been shown to be correlated: supra-aortic calcified masses in homozygous FH patients, early calcifications associated with chronic exposure to high LDL-C (cholesterol burden, equivalent to cigarettes) and finally, the calcifying role of statins. The early increase of LDL-C in patients with genetic forms of FH causes premature cardiovascular damage. Investigators' hypothesis is that patients with FH have earlier coronary atheroma (and thus calcifications and non-calcified plaques) due to exposure early in life to high levels of LDL-cholesterol.
Introduction: In TCM, Pulse Diagnosis has been one of the key diagnostic components in the clinical examinations. Traditionally, the palpation of the pulse on the radial artery is subjective among the physicians. With the development of the various devices to study the radial pressure pulse wave (RPPW), these have provided a scientific and objective assessment to assist the physicians on diagnosis and treatment. The primary objective of this intervention study is to investigate the effects of Acupuncture on the RPPW at cunkou in Low Back Pain (LBP) through the pulse sphygmograph. The secondary objective is to investigate the effect of acupoint combinations on different type LBP based on TCM syndrome differentiation through the primary and secondary outcome evaluations. Methods: A single group, pre-post intervention study in which all participants receiving the same intervention will be conducted. A total 80 participants that meet all the following criteria will be enrolled: a. at least 20 years of age of either gender; b. chief complaint being low back pain; c. diagnosis with Lumbago (ICD-9-CM 724.2) or low back pain: loin pain, low back strain and lumbago NOS (not otherwise specified) (ICD-10-CM M54.4); d. diagnosis with lumbago with sciatica (ICD-10-CM M54.5). All participants will undergo acupuncture at BI23, BI25 & Bl40 after obtaining written informed consent. Objective and subjective baseline assessments and outcome evaluations including Vital Signs, health status questionnaire, Constitution in Chinese Medicines Questionnaire (CCMQ), Oswestry Disability Index, Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) will be performed. The primary outcome will be the assessment of RPPW at cunkou ie at Cun, Guan & Chi of both hands using Pulse Sphygmograph before and after the intervention. The secondary outcome involves evaluating low back pain using the Fingertips-to-floor test & FPS-R before and after the intervention. Expected Outcome: The results will be analyzed and provide information which can serve as clinical evidence of the influence of acupuncture on the RPPW at cunkou. In addition, the effectiveness of the acupoint combinations on the different type of LBP based on TCM syndrome differentiation can be further investigated.
The aim of this study is to identify whether actively induced dynamic hyperinflation can cause left-ventricular diastolic dysfunction in healthy male subjects in order to explore the mechanisms of developing cardiac dysfunctions in patients with COPD.
Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of APL-2 in Patients with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
An Advanced Medical Directive (AMD) is a legal document in Singapore that allows one to inform their medical practitioner that they do not want any life-sustaining treatment should they become unconscious and terminally ill where death is imminent. Despite the AMD act being passed in Singapore Parliament in 1996, uptake remains low among the population. Several intervention studies have shown that education and communication can be effective in promoting end-of-life discussion and planning. In this study, we aim to compare the effectiveness of counselling sessions together with pamphlets, versus pamphlets alone, versus current care, in increasing the completion rates of the AMD in the Singapore Polyclinic setting.
In this study, whole blood is drawn from the patient to be used to grow Immune Killer Cells (IKC). After proliferation, the IKC will be infused back into the patient to treat the cancer for a total of 24 weekly treatments. Possible adverse reaction can include slight fever and headache.
Objectives: The main objectives are to determine neural dynamics during gait using electro-encephalography as well as brain sources and to investigate the attentional demand during walking in able-bodied individuals, and individuals with an amputation. Materials & Methods: 6 able-bodied individuals conducted one experimental trial, and 6 unilateral transtibial and 6 unilateral transfemoral amputees performed 2 experimental trials; the first with the current and the second with a novel powered transtibial prosthesis, i.e. the Ankle Mimicking Prosthetic foot 4.0. Each experimental trial comprised 2 walking tasks; 6 and 2min treadmill walking at normal speed interspersed by 5min of rest. During 6min walking the sustained attention to response (go-no go) task, with measures reaction time and accuracy, was performed. Electro-encephalographic (EEG) data were gathered when subjects walked 2min. Motor-related cortical potentials and brain activity during gait are extracted using EEG.
The study of positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP) in the setting mode has not yet been conclusive. there are several ways to choose the best positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP) mode for ARDS patients. In this study ,the investigators selected two best positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP) assessment methods to compare: First is using the conventional postive ventilator to choose positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP) and the new non-invasive electrical impedance tomography(EIT) guided method and evaluation the treatment outcome in moderate and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome patients by using pressure-volume curve guided and electrical impedance tomography guided positive end-expiratory pressure setting. In this project, we utilize a newly available non-invasive method- electric impedance tomography (EIT) and Protective Ventilation to determine the optimal PEEP on ARDS patients required invasive mechanical ventilator support at a medical center medical ICU (MICU) and cardiovascular ICU (CVICU)- the Far Eastern memorial hospital, Taiwan.
Non-malignant causes of ureter obstruction can be intrinsic such as stone disease, ureter stricture or congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction, or extrinsic such as idiopathic retro peritoneal fibrosis. Nearly all clinicians agree that obstructing stones, with a concern for sepsis require immediate decompression of the urinary system. Though large epidemiologic studies of the management of obstructed infected nephrolithiasis demonstrate higher rates of sepsis and mortality associated with PCN placement relative to ureteral stenting, the observational nature of the analysis highlights the need for prospective analyses of PCN vs stenting for obstructive nephrolithiasis. Despite this obvious need, there are few studies comparing the efficacy of ureteral stenting vs PCN in the setting of obstructive urolithiasis. The choice between PCN and stenting is often made by the urologist at initial presentation and can be influenced by factors including disease severity, stone size, location of stone, eventual modality of definitive stone management, or even availability of in-house interventional radiology services. Retrospective studies reveal that both procedures have high success rates. In the setting of unsuccessful stenting, PCN is often successful, but the contrary is not always true. Furthermore, patients are often selected for PCN over ureteral stenting in the setting of larger stones and if they are more severely ill. Goldsmith et al studied 130 patients who underwent decompression for obstructing ureteral stone with PCN or stent placement. Although patients who underwent PCN placement had longer hospital stay, other outcomes such as time to definitive stone management, rates of spontaneous stone passage, and initiation of stone metabolic workup were not statistically different. The authors noted that the method of initial decompression correlated with eventual approach selected for definitive stone management. Patients treated with PCN were more likely to undergo percutaneous definitive management, while patients managed with ureteral stenting were more likely to be treatked with a ureteroscopic approach. Two prospective studies comparing PCN vs stent management of obstructing ureteral stones have conflicting outcomes. Mokhmalji et al 6 in 2001 prospectively randomized 40 patients to receive either PCN or stent. Sixteen out of twenty stents were successfully placed while all twenty PCNs were successfully placed initially. All unsuccessful stents were successfully managed by PCN. Their results demonstrated that stent utilization was less successful as compared to PCN and there was a trend for longer antibiotic therapy due to persistent signs of urinary tract infection in patients who underwent stent placement. In contrast, Pearle et al randomized 42 patients to receive PCN vs stents. This study failed to demonstrate one procedure to be more successful than the other. All 21stents and 20 out of 21 PCNs were successfully placed. One failed PCN successfully underwent stent placement. Their results demonstrated an increased incidence of bacterial urinary colonization post-procedure in the PCN group as compared to the stent group, but overall no differences in time to clinical improvement or length of stay were noted.
The Protocol Lab for Online Trials-Delphi (PLOT-D) module will use an online three-round Delphi combined with Participatory action research to inform the development of a multi-use protocol template to use in writing protocols for self-recruited online trials of interventional self-management. The Delphi will include an embedded randomized controlled trial to test how and if stakeholders adapt their views based on the contributions of others inside or outside the groups with which they are familiar.