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Long-term Assessment (long-term + assessment)
Selected AbstractsLong-term assessment of nevirapine-containing highly active antiretroviral therapy in antiretroviral-naive HIV-infected patients: 3-year follow-up of the VIRGO studyHIV MEDICINE, Issue 7 2006V Reliquet Objectives Data on the durability of antiretroviral regimens over a 3-year period have only rarely been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of one or two daily doses of nevirapine (NVP), in combination with stavudine (d4T) and didanosine (ddI), in HIV-infected patients. Methods This study was a follow-up of the VIR (amune) Grand Ouest (VIRGO) study, a 12-month open-label trial to assess the safety and immunovirological activity of NVP-d4T-ddI combination therapy in antiretroviral-naive HIV-1-infected adults with baseline CD4 counts ,200 cells/,L and plasma viral loads ,5000 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL. Of the 100 patients included in the study, the 67 patients remaining on the initial triple therapy at the end of the study (1 year) were offered an extra 24 months of follow-up. Results Of the 60 patients who extended follow-up, 46 were still being treated with d4T-ddI-NVP at month 36; 91% (39/43) had a plasma viral load <500 copies/mL (data were missing for three patients). CD4 cell counts increased over 36 months. Safety and tolerance were good with no unexpected long-term toxicity. Conclusion After 3 years of treatment with NVP-d4T-ddI, nearly half of the patients were still receiving the initial antiretroviral therapy with a sustained and durable immunovirological benefit. Long-term toxicity was mainly related to the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor components of the regimen. [source] Long-Term Results after Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Involving Frontal Recess DissectionTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 4 2006Michael Friedman MD Abstract Objective: To assess long-term follow-up on a cohort of patients who underwent endoscopic frontal sinus surgery with identification and preservation of the natural frontal outflow tract. Study Design and Settings: Retrospective chart review, telephone interview, and endoscopic evaluation on a previously studied cohort of patients at a university affiliated medical center. Results: Two hundred patients who underwent endoscopic frontal sinus surgery were previously studied and reported after short-term (mean = 12.2 mo) follow-up. One hundred fifty-two (76%) patients were available for long-term (mean 72.3 mo) follow-up and assessment of subjective symptoms. Fifty-seven of 152 (37.5%) patients also had nasal endoscopy for evaluation of objective findings. The percentage of patients responding to telephone interview reporting overall improvement after surgery was 92.4%. Endoscopic assessment revealed patency of the frontal sinus in 67.6% of the patients after initial surgery. Thirteen additional patients had patent sinuses after revision procedures, bringing overall patency rate to 71.1%. We found statistically significant correlation of asthma and smoking and poor subjective and objective outcome. Conclusion: Long-term assessment of subjective and objective findings in our previously reported cohort of patients who underwent frontal sinus surgery indicates that the frontal sinus, similar to any other sinus, can be successfully treated surgically by preserving the natural frontal sinus outflow tract. [source] Long-term assessment of oxcarbazepine in a naturalistic setting: a retrospective studyACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 5 2008U. Seneviratne Background,,, New antiepileptics seem to be better tolerated by patients. The retention rate of an antiepileptic would be a useful indicator of its practical usefulness. Aims,,, To assess the long-term outcome of oxcarbazepine (OXC) in a naturalistic setting by determining the retention rate. Methods,,, This is a retrospective study. All epilepsy patients treated with OXC at a tertiary care epilepsy center during a period of 3.5 years were included in this study. Retention rates of OXC at 1 and 3 years were estimated for each cohort group using Kaplan,Meier estimates and corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Results,,, A total of 98 patients were studied. OXC was used as monotherapy in 14 (14.3%) and as add-on therapy in 84 (85.7%). The mean daily dose was 947 ± 492 mg and 60% received ,900 mg/day. Using the Kaplan,Meier survival analysis, the retention rates of OXC at 1 and 3 years were estimated to be 0.853 (0.749,0.956) and 0.737 (0.570,0.904), respectively. Conclusions,,, OXC is well tolerated by patients as both monotherapy and add-on therapy. [source] Randomised controlled trial comparing the efficacy of same-day administration of mifepristone and misoprostol for termination of pregnancy with the standard 36 to 48 hour protocolBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 2 2007J Guest Objective, To determine the efficacy of oral mifepristone followed by vaginal misoprostol 6 hours later compared with the standard 36- to 48-hour regimen for medical termination of pregnancy. Design, Single centre, two arm, parallel, open randomised controlled trial. Setting, Medical termination service at a teaching hospital. Sample, Four hundred and fifty women undergoing medical termination of pregnancy at up to 63 days of gestation. Methods, Eligible women were randomised to receive mifepristone 200 mg orally followed by vaginal misoprostol 800 micrograms either 6 hours (n= 225) or 36,48 hours (n= 225) later. All participants were invited to attend for a follow-up pelvic ultrasound scan within 7 days following the misoprostol administration. For those women in whom products of conception remained at the follow-up ultrasound scan, expectant management ensued with weekly follow-up ultrasound scans until the termination was complete. They could elect to undergo an evacuation of uterus at any stage following the scan. Those women with a nonviable gestation sac at the follow-up scan were offered a further dose of vaginal misoprostol 800 micrograms or suction termination of pregnancy. Women with a continuing pregnancy were managed with surgical termination. Main outcome measure, Successful medical abortion defined as no requirement for medical or surgical intervention beyond the initial dose of misoprostol. Results, One hundred and sixty-five women (79%) in the 6-hour group and 197 women (92%) in the 36- to 48-hour group had a successful termination at first follow-up ultrasound or presumed on the basis of other considerations (those not seen for ultrasound but deemed successful by negative pregnancy test, products passed on ward or long-term assessment of notes). Twenty-two women (10%) in the 6-hour regimen required up to three further ultrasound scans after 7 days following the mifepristone administration in order to ensure that the termination process was complete. None of these women required a suction evacuation of uterus. In the 36- to 48-hour regimen, ten (5%) women had up to two further ultrasound scans to confirm a complete termination without the need for a surgical evacuation of uterus. Therefore, the overall successful termination rate in the 6-hour regimen was 89% (187/210) compared with 96% (207/215) in the 36- to 48-hour regimen (relative risk = 0.92, 95% CI 0.84,0.98). Repeat administration of misoprostol or surgical treatment was required in 23 women (11%) in the 6-hour group and 8 women (4%) in the 36- to 48-hour group. A viable pregnancy was found in five women (2%) in the 6-hour group and in three women (1%) in the 36- to 48-hour group. Conclusions, Oral mifepristone 200 mg followed by vaginal misoprostol 800 micrograms after 6 hours is not as effective at achieving a complete abortion compared with the 36- to 48-hour protocol. [source] Impact of prostate-specific antigen level and prostate volume as predictors of efficacy in photoselective vaporization prostatectomy: analysis and results of an ongoing prospective multicentre study at 3 yearsBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2006ALEXIS E. TE In a multicentre study from the USA, 3-year results of the high-power KTP laser prostatectomy are presented. The authors used preoperative PSA level as a marker of prostate volume and assessed its potential predictive value on the level of clinical efficacy for treating symptomatic BPH. They found that the overall results from the technique were positive and durable, and suggested that there was a significant difference in efficacy between patients presenting with a total PSA of <6 or >6 ng/mL. Many patients who have had a radical prostatectomy are followed for a prolonged period and several observations are presented from an Italian study of urinary incontinence. The authors present their detailed results, finding a considerable trend in incontinence and anastomotic stricture, which decreased over time. OBJECTIVE To report the 3-year results and analyse whether total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA) levels and prostate volume before treatment can predict the level of clinical efficacy of photoselective vaporization prostatectomy (PVP) for treating obstructive benign prostatic disease, as high-power potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser prostatectomy was previously shown to be safe and to efficiently vaporize prostatic adenoma secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), with minimal bleeding and morbidity. PATIENTS AND METHODS From October 2001 to January 2003, 139 men (mean age 67.7 years, sd 8.7) diagnosed with obstructive lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to BPH, had PVP with an average 80 W of KTP laser energy, at six investigational centres. A subanalysis evaluating each patient for tPSA and prostate volume before PVP was conducted, with a long-term assessment of the primary efficacy outcomes at 3 years after PVP. Each patient was assigned to one of two subgroups according to the tPSA level (group 1, ,,6.0 ng/mL; group 2 ,,6.1 ng/mL) and evaluated separately. Each subgroup was assessed for changes from baseline in American Urological Symptom Index (AUA SI) score, quality of life (QoL) score, peak urinary flow rate (Qmax), prostate volume, and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) at 1, 2 and 3 years after PVP. RESULTS All tPSA subgroups had a sustained improvement in all efficacy outcomes maintained through the 3 years. There was a statistically significant difference in the level of improvement between groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05) in AUA SI and Qmax at 1, 2 and 3 years. The mean (sd) prostate volume for group 1 was 48.3 (16.7) mL (87 men), and was 83.1 (30.6) mL (52 men) in group 2. The mean percentage improvement in the AUA SI at 1, 2 and 3 years in group 1 and 2, respectively, was 86%, 92% and 85%, and 69%, 74% and 76%; the corresponding percentage improvement in Qmax was 194%, 185% and 179%, and 124%, 145% and 139%, respectively. Overall treatment efficacy in all patients evaluated showed a mean 83%, 79%, 71% and 165% improvement in AUA SI, QoL, PVR and Qmax, respectively. Adverse events were minimal and the re-treatment rate was 4.3%. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that there is a significant difference in efficacy in patients with a tPSA of ,,6.0 ng/mL or ,,6.1 ng/mL before PVP. However, the overall results achieved with PVP were very positive and durable to 3 years, irrespective of tPSA level and prostate volume. [source] Adult self-sufficiency and social adjustment in care leavers from children's homes: a long-term assessmentCHILD & FAMILY SOCIAL WORK, Issue 1 2008Jorge F. Del Valle ABSTRACT This paper presents a study carried out in Spain that followed up 260 young people, the majority of them adults, who had been in residential care for significant periods. The follow-up takes place between 1 and 9 years after participants had left residential care, and assesses their level of social and work integration, as well as considering the incidence of problems related to marginalization and social exclusion. Furthermore, it analyses the reasons for the child being taken into care, the socio-family context, length of stay, changes in placement and other features or incidents in relation to the residential care. The data show that close to 15% have serious problems (drug dependence, delinquency, etc.), 25% receive help from the social services and the rest manage independently to a greater or lesser extent. We discuss the significance of these data, especially the relationship between the final result and the initial and process variables. [source] How do you initiate oestrogen therapy in a girl who has not undergone puberty?CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Peter C. Hindmarsh Summary The physiology of puberty needs to be taken into consideration in the induction of puberty. Puberty is a relatively slow process and replacement therapy should mimic this. Long-term maintenance requires careful monitoring and long-term assessment of risk-benefit. This has not been appreciably defined in the adolescent population. Options for fertility need careful consideration and may depend on the adequacy of pubertal induction in terms of uterine development. A number of regimens are available for pubertal induction but the lack of comparisons makes it difficult to advocate for a particular regimen. There remain a number of areas of uncertainty, and future studies need to consider these issues and whether there are cardiovascular risk factor advantages to certain preparations. The long-term risks of breast and gynaecological malignancy remain uncertain. Long-term cohort studies are required to address these issues. [source] | ||||||||||