Group Experienced (group + experience)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Improvement of Reflux Symptoms 3 Years After Cure of Helicobacter pylori Infection: A Case-Controlled Study in the Japanese Population

HELICOBACTER, Issue 4 2002
Hiroto Miwa
Abstract Background. Development of reflux esophagitis is one of the adverse effects that cause concern in relation to curative treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, recent studies present a rather negative association between curative treatment and development of reflux esophagitis or reflux symptoms. Therefore, this issue has remained controversial. Accordingly, we investigated the long-term adverse effects of H. pylori eradication treatment in special reference to development of reflux symptoms. Patients and Methods. We conducted a case controlled study by mailing structured questionnaires on past (before curative treatment or 3 years previously) and current status. A case was an endoscopically confirmed peptic ulcer patient with confirmed cure of the infection after eradication treatment 3 years previously and a control was one who had not undergone the eradication treatment during the same period. We studied 241 pairs who matched for age, gender, and type of ulcer disease (GU, DU or GDU). Of these pairs, 81.3% were male and the mean age was 52.6 ± 9.6 year (range 23,76). Results. The rates of patients with improved reflux symptoms in the case and control groups were 65.4% and 30.4%, respectively, with the rate being significantly greater in the case group. On the contrary, the rates of those with worsened reflux symptoms were similar (5.1% and 7.6%). Regarding general events, the rate of patients with decreased frequency of hospital visits and of those who regularly used antiacid medications were significantly decreased in the case group. Furthermore, the case group experienced significantly fewer hospital admissions for various diseases in this 3-year period. However, a significantly greater number of case group patients than control subjects gained weight. Conclusion. Reflux symptoms as well as general well-being were significantly improved after cure of H. pylori infection. [source]


A prospective pilot study of a multidisciplinary home training programme for lateral epicondylitis

MUSCULOSKELETAL CARE, Issue 1 2007
Pia Nilsson PTR
Abstract Objective:,To evaluate a new multidisciplinary structured home training programme for patients with lateral epicondylitis compared to conventional attendance. Design:,This study utilized a prospective non-randomized design to compare the effect of a home exercise programme against a pragmatic approach to managing patients with lateral epicondylitis in a primary care setting in Sweden. Subjects:,A total of 78 patients, presenting to their general practitioner with lateral epicondylitis were recruited from two separate geographical areas. The patients were divided into two group, 51 entered the intervention group and 27 entered the control group. Methods:,The intervention group was treated with a specific home training programme, ergonomic advice and when necessary wrist and/or night bandages. The control group was treated with conventional treatment, e.g. corticosteroid injections, stretching or no intervention. Pain and function were evaluated by the PRFEQ. An electronic hand-power gauge measured strength and stamina. Sick-leave absence was collected via the regional Social Insurance Office. Results:,After four weeks the intervention group experienced less sick-leave, less pain, better function and returned to work earlier than the control group. After 16 weeks the intervention group still had significantly better function than the control group and were taking less sick-leave. Pain decreased more in the intervention group but this was not significant. There was no difference in grip strength between the two groups. Conclusion:,A structured home training programme can improve function and reduce sick leave in patients with lateral epicondylitis. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


A randomized comparison of post-operative pain, quality of life, and physical performance during the first 6 weeks after abdominal or vaginal surgical correction of descensus uteri

NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 4 2005
J.P.W.R. Roovers
Abstract Aims With respect to urogenital function, vaginal hysterectomy combined with anterior and/or posterior colporraphy has been shown to be superior to abdominal sacrocolpopexy with preservation of the uterus. We performed a randomized trial to compare the effects of both procedures on pain, quality of life and physical performance during the first six weeks after surgery. Methods Eighty-two patients were randomized to have surgery either by vaginal or abdominal approach. All patients were asked to complete the RAND-36 before surgery and 6 weeks after surgery and to keep a diary for the first 6 weeks after surgery. This diary assessed the pain perception and use of pain medication, bother of limitations due to the surgery and performance of daily activities after surgery. These outcomes were compared. Results All patients completed the RAND-36 and 68 patients completed the diary. Patients who had undergone abdominal surgery had a statistically lower score on the health change domain (56 vs 68), bodily pain domain (63 vs 80) and mental health domain (74 vs 81) of the RAND-36, as compared to patients who had undergone vaginal prolapse surgery. During hospital stay, the abdominal group experienced on average more days of pain (4.5 vs 3.0) and impaired mobility (3.7 vs 2.9) as compared to the vaginal group. Patients received more pain medication following abdominal surgery as compared to vaginal surgery. Conclusions The vaginal operation to correct a descensus uteri is associated with less pain, better quality of life and better mobility during the first 6 weeks of the recovery period as compared to the abdominal approach. Neurourol. Urodynam. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Tramadol for pain relief in children undergoing herniotomy: a comparison with ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric blocks

PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA, Issue 1 2006
MOHAMMAD BAGHER KHOSRAVI MD
Summary Background:, Prevention of postoperative pain in children is one of the most important objectives of the anesthesiologist. Preoperative ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve blocks have been widely used to provide analgesia in children undergoing herniorrhaphy. Tramadol is an analgesic with micro-opioid and nonopioid activity. In this study we compared the usage of intravenous tramadol with ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve blocks for control of postherniorrhaphy pain in children aged 2,7 years. Methods:, Sixty patients were randomly allocated to two groups of thirty. One group received tramadol 1.5 mg·kg,1 i.v. before induction of general anesthesia and the other had an ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block with 0.5% bupivacaine (0.25 ml·kg,1) before skin incision. We assessed pain using the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale and the Categorical Pain Scale. Results:, At 1, 4 and 24 h after surgery the two groups had identical pain scores. At 2 and 3 h after surgery the tramadol group experienced significantly less pain (P < 0.05). The rescue drug for residual pain, was used equally in the two groups. None of the 60 patients had respiratory depression but the tramadol group patients were found to have more episodes of nausea and vomiting (P < 0.05). Conclusions:, We concluded that tramadol can have at least the same analgesic effect as that of ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve blocks for postherniorrhaphy pain in children, with even a superior effect at the time of maximal analgesia. We also highlight the troublesome side-effect of nausea and vomiting which brings into question the benefits of using this opioid that seems to lack respiratory depression. [source]


Improvement in health-related quality of life with fluticasone propionate compared with budesonide or beclomethasone dipropionate in adults with severe asthma

RESPIROLOGY, Issue 3 2003
Carolyn RUTHERFORD
Objective: Changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were evaluated in adults with severe asthma following inhaled corticosteroid treatment with high-dose beclomethasone dipropionate or budesonide (BDP/BUD) and compared with fluticasone propionate taken at approximately half the dose of BDP/BUD. Methodology: HRQoL was assessed as part of an open, multicentre, randomized, parallel-group study in Australia evaluating the safety and efficacy of switching to fluticasone propionate (FP) 1000,2000 µg/day (n = 67) compared with remaining on BDP/BUD ,1750 µg/day (n = 66) for 6 months. Patients completed two HRQoL questionnaires, the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36), at baseline and at weeks 12 and 24. A change in AQLQ score of ,0.5 was considered to be clinically meaningful. Results: There were significant improvements in HRQoL with FP on four of the eight dimensions on the SF-36 (i.e. physical functioning, general health, role-emotional, and mental health), while there were no significant improvements in HRQoL in the BDP/BUD group. Overall, patients in the FP group experienced significantly greater improvement (P < 0.001) in AQLQ scores at weeks 12 and 24 compared with the BDP/BUD group. On the individual domains of the AQLQ, there were significant treatment differences (P < 0.01) in favour of FP in three of the four domains (activity limitations [0.92], symptoms [0.73], and emotional function [1.02]). Mean differences between groups for overall score and these three domains were also clinically meaningful. Conclusion: Patients with severe asthma who received FP (at approximately half the dose of BDP/BUD) experienced statistically significant, as well as clinically meaningful, improvements in their HRQoL. [source]


Team Midwifery Care in a Tertiary Level Obstetric Service: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BIRTH, Issue 3 2000
Mary Anne Biró RN
Background:In 1996 a new model of maternity care characterized by continuity of midwifery care from early pregnancy through to the postpartum period was implemented for women attending Monash Medical Centre, a tertiary level obstetric service, in Melbourne, Australia. The objective of this study was to compare the new model of care with standard maternity care.Methods:In a randomized controlled trial, 1000 women who booked at the antenatal clinic and met the eligibility criteria were randomly allocated to receive continuity of midwifery care (team care) from a group of seven midwives in collaboration with obstetric staff, or care from a variety of midwives and obstetric staff (standard care). The primary outcome measures were procedures in labor, maternal outcomes, neonatal outcomes, and length of hospital stay.Results:Women assigned to the team care group experienced less augmentation of labor, less electronic fetal monitoring, less use of narcotic and epidural analgesia, and fewer episiotomies but more unsutured tears. Team care women stayed in hospital 7 hours less than women in standard care. More babies of standard care mothers were admitted to the special care nurseries for more than 5 days because of preterm birth, and more babies of team care mothers were admitted to the nurseries for more than 5 days with intrauterine growth retardation. No differences occurred in perinatal mortality between the two groups.Conclusions:Continuity of midwifery care was associated with a reduction in medical procedures in labor and a shorter length of stay without compromising maternal and perinatal safety. Continuity of midwifery care is realistically achievable in a tertiary obstetric referral service. [source]


Thalidomide therapy in adult patients with myelodysplastic syndrome

CANCER, Issue 4 2006
A North Central Cancer Treatment Group phase II trial
Abstract BACKGROUND. Thalidomide has shown promise for the treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. The current prospective multicenter study examined the efficacy and toxicity of thalidomide in adult patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. METHODS. Using the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS), patients were stratified into 2 groups: favorable (IPSS score, 0,1.0) or unfavorable (IPSS score, 1.5,3.5). Seventy-two patients (42 of whom were favorable and 30 of whom were unfavorable) received a starting dose of oral thalidomide of 200 mg daily. The dose was increased by 50 mg per week to a targeted maximum daily dose of 1000 mg. RESULTS. According to the International Working Group response criteria for myelodysplastic syndrome, 1 patient in the unfavorable group achieved a partial remission with a complete cytogenetic response. Overall, 2 patients (5%) in the favorable group and 4 patients (14%) in the unfavorable group experienced either a hematologic improvement or a partial response. The most frequent Grade 3 or 4 (grading was based on the National Cancer Institute's Common Toxicity Criteria [version 2.0]) nonhematologic adverse events were fatigue (24%), infection (19%), neuropathy (13%), dyspnea (8%), and constipation (7%). CONCLUSIONS. Thalidomide alone, at the schedule and dose levels used in the current study, is not a safe and viable therapeutic option for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. Limited efficacy and increased toxicity were observed in the current Phase II trial. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society. [source]