Current Treatment Modalities (current + treatment_modality)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Striae Distensae (Stretch Marks) and Different Modalities of Therapy: An Update

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 4 2009
MOHAMED L. ELSAIE MD
BACKGROUND Striae distensea (SD; stretch marks) are a well-recognized, common skin condition that rarely causes any significant medical problems but are often a significant source of distress to those affected. The origins of SD are poorly understood, and a number of treatment modalities are available for their treatment, yet none of them is consistently effective, and no single therapy is considered to be pivotal for this problem. With a high incidence and unsatisfactory treatments, stretch marks remain an important target of research for an optimum consensus of treatment. OBJECTIVE To identify the current treatment modalities and their effectiveness in the treatment of stretch marks. MATERIALS AND METHODS Review of the recent literature regarding clinical treatment of stretch marks with emphasis on the safety and efficacy of the newer optical devices and laser applications. RESULTS No current therapeutic option offers complete treatment, although there are a number of emerging new modalities that are encouraging. CONCLUSION The therapeutic strategies are numerous, and no single modality has been far more consistent than the rest. The long-term future of treatment strategies is encouraging with the advance in laser technologies. [source]


Treatment of type 2 diabetes with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 8 2009
K. B. Hansen
Summary The incretin system is an area of great interest for the development of new therapies for the management of type 2 diabetes. Existing antidiabetic drugs are often insufficient at getting patients to glycaemic goals. Furthermore, current treatment modalities are not able to prevent the continued ongoing decline in pancreatic beta-cell function and, lastly, they have a number of side effects including hypoglycaemia and weight gain. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a new class of pharmacological agents, which improve glucose homeostasis in a multifaceted way. Their effects include potentiation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, glucose-dependent inhibition of glucagon secretion and reduction in gastric emptying, appetite, food intake and body weight. Additionally, preclinical data suggest that they may preserve beta-cell mass and function. The incidence of hypoglycaemia with GLP-1 receptor agonists is low, the compounds have clinically relevant effects on body weight, and data are suggesting beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors. Exenatide was released in 2005 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and liraglutide is expected to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration in US and the European Medical Agency in Europe for use in 2009. In this review, the available data on the two drugs are presented and discussed. [source]


Argon plasma coagulation as first-line treatment for chronic radiation proctopathy

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 10 2004
SHAJI SEBASTIAN
Abstract Background and Aim:, Chronic radiation proctopathy is a troublesome complication of radiotherapy to the pelvis, for which current treatment modalities are unsatisfactory. The present prospective study was designed to determine the usefulness and safety of argon plasma coagulation in the management of chronic radiation proctopathy. Methods:, Twenty-five consecutive patients (M:F 24:1, mean age: 69 years) with radiation proctopathy were prospectively included. All patients received argon plasma coagulation by a standard protocol. Response to treatment was assessed by symptom response, bleeding severity score, hematological parameters and transfusion requirements over a median 14-month follow up. Results:, Patients received a median of one treatment session with argon plasma coagulation. There was significant improvement in rectal bleeding in all patients, with complete cessation of bleeding in 21 (81%) of the patients. The median bleeding severity score fell from 3 to 0 (P < 0.0005). The mean hemoglobin level rose from 10.05 ± 2.21 g/dL before treatment to 12.44 ± 1.09 g/dL at 6 months following treatment (P < 0.002). There was also improvement in other symptoms such as urgency and diarrhea. Over the period of follow up, there was no recurrence of anemia and no complications were noted. Conclusion:, These results suggest that argon plasma coagulation is a safe and effective modality in the treatment of chronic radiation proctopathy. © 2004 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd [source]


3335: New modalities for the treatment of corneal dystrophies

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2010
I CLAERHOUT
Purpose To give an overview of current treatment modalities of corneal dystrophies. Results New transplant techniques have changed the way that corneal dystrophies are being treated in the last few years. Phototherapeutic keratectomy is still a very valuable tool for superficial dystrophies. Depending on the layers involved the laser will be set to a depth of 5 to 100µm. DALK is now the preferred method of treatment of most stromal dystrophies, although macular dystrophy is an exception to this rule since there is evidence of endothelial involvement in this dystrophy. Endothelial dystrophies are now almost exclusively being treated by different types of endothelial grafts (DSAEK or DMEK). Conclusion Current treatment of corneal dystrophies has evolved from one size fits all to a more customised treatment schedule, still dependent on the layers involved in the disease. [source]


The Role of Aspirin Resistance in the Treatment of Acute Coronary Syndromes

CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 1 2008
F.A.C.C., Gilead I. Lancaster M.D. F.A.C.P.
Abstract The TIMI Risk Score recognizes prior aspirin use as an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes in subjects presenting with an acute coronary syndrome. The etiology of this increased risk awaits clarification, but prior aspirin use may be associated with altered thrombus composition which is more resistant to current treatment modalities as compared to thrombus formation in subjects without prior aspirin use. Post hoc analysis of acute coronary syndrome trials has shown that prior aspirin users treated with unfractionated heparin are at particularly high risk. The addition of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor to unfractionated heparin or substitution of low-molecular-weight heparin significantly improves outcomes in prior aspirin users. The prognostic significance of prior aspirin use in acute coronary syndromes has important implications not only in clinical practice, but also in the design and interpretation of clinical trials. Copyright © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]


In-Hospital mortality of elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction: Data from the mitra (maximal individual therapy in acute myocardial infarction) registry

CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 11 2000
K. K. Haase M.D.
Abstract Background: Advanced age remains one of the principal determinants of mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to determine the in-hospital outcome of elderly (>75 years) patients with AMI who were admitted to hospitals participating in the national MITRA (Maximal Individual Therapy in Acute Myocardial Infarction) registry. Methods: MITRA is a prospective, observational German multicenter registry investigating current treatment modalities for patients presenting with AMI. All patients with AMI admitted within 96 h of onset of symptoms were included in the MITRA registry. MITRA was started in June 1994 and ended in January 1997. This registry comprises 6,067 consecutive patients with a mean age of 65 ± 12 years, of whom 1,430 (17%) were aged > 75 years. Patients were compared with respect to patient characteristics, prehospital delays, early treatment strategies, and clinical outcome. Results: In the elderly patient population, the prehospital delay was 210 min, which was significantly longer than that for younger patients (155 min, p = 0.001). Although the incidence of potential contraindications for the initiation of thrombolysis was almost equally distributed between the two age groups (8.7 vs. 8.2%, p = NS), elderly patients (> 75 years) received reperfusion therapy less frequently (35.9 vs. 64.6%) than younger patients. Mortality increased with advanced age and was 26.4% for all patients aged > 75 years. If reperfusion therapy was initiated, in-hospital mortality was 21.8 versus 28.9% in patients aged > 75 years (p = 0.001) and 29.4 versus 38.5% in patients aged > 85 years (p = 0.001). Conclusion: In this registry, elderly patients with AMI had a much higher in-hospital mortality than that expected from randomized trials. In MITRA, the mortality reduction with reperfusion therapy was found to be highest in the very elderly patient population. [source]