Follow-up Time Points (follow-up + time_point)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Four-Year Follow-up on Endovascular Radiofrequency Obliteration of Great Saphenous Reflux

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 2 2005
Robert F. Merchant MD
Background Endovascular radiofrequency obliteration has been used since 1998 as an alternative to conventional vein stripping surgery for elimination of saphenous vein insufficiency. Objective To demonstrate the long-term efficacy of this treatment modality. Methods Data were prospectively collected in a multicenter ongoing registry. Only great saphenous vein above-knee treatments were included in this study. Eight hundred ninety patients (1,078 limbs) were treated prior to November 2003 at 32 centers. Clinical and duplex ultrasound follow-up was performed at 1 week, 6 months, and 1, 2, 3, and 4 years. Results Among 1,078 limbs treated, 858 were available for follow-up within 1 week, 446 at 6 months, 384 at 1 year, 210 at 2 years, 114 at 3 years, and 98 at 4 years. The vein occlusion rates were 91.0%, 88.8%, 86.2%, 84.2%, and 88.8%, respectively; the reflux-free rates were 91.0%, 89.3%, 86.2%, 86.0%, and 85.7%, respectively; and the varicose vein recurrence rates were 7.2%, 13.5%, 17.1%, 14.0%, and 21.4%, respectively, at each follow-up time point at 6 months, and 1, 2, 3, and 4 years. Patient symptom improvement persisted over 4 years. Conclusions Endovascular temperature-controlled radiofrequency obliteration of saphenous vein reflux exhibits an enduring treatment efficacy clinically, anatomically, and hemodynamically up to 4 years following treatment. ROBERT F. MERCHANT, MD, AND OLIVIER PICHOT, MD, ARE PAID CONSULTANTS TO VNUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, WHICH PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THIS STUDY. [source]


A systematic review of the effectiveness of smoking relapse prevention interventions for abstinent smokers

ADDICTION, Issue 8 2010
Shade Agboola
ABSTRACT Aims To carry out a systematic review of the effectiveness of relapse prevention interventions (RPIs) among abstinent smokers who had completed an initial course of treatment or who had abstained unassisted, pooling only outcome data from similar follow-up time points. Methods We used the same search strategy as was used in Cochrane reviews of RPIs to identify randomized trials of behavioural and pharmacological studies of smoking RPIs published up to July 2008. Abstinence from smoking was defined as either continuous abstinence or point prevalence abstinence, measured at three follow-up time points: short term (1,3 months post randomization), medium term (6,9 months) and long term (12,18 months). Abstinence among pregnant/postpartum women was also measured at delivery or the last follow-up prior to delivery. Random effect meta-analysis was used to estimate pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Thirty-six studies randomizing abstainers were included. Self-help materials appeared to be effective in preventing relapse at long-term follow up in initially unaided quitters (pooled OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.15 to 2.01, I2 = 0%, NNT = 11, 3 studies). Other behavioural interventions for relapse prevention appeared effective in the short term only. There were positive results for the use of pharmacotherapies for relapse prevention. Bupropion was effective at long-term follow-up (pooled OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.10 to 2.01; I2 = 0%; NNT = 11; 4 studies). Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) was effective at medium-term (pooled OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.16 to 2.11; I2 = 37%; NNT = 14; 4 trials) and long-term follow-ups (pooled OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.08 to 1.63; I2 = 0%; NNT = 20; 4 trials). Single trials of extended treatment of Varenicline and rimonabant were also found to be effective at short-term and medium-term follow-ups. Conclusions Self-help materials appear to prevent relapse in initially unaided quitters. Use of NRT, bupropion and varenicline appears to be effective in preventing relapse following an initial period of abstinence or an acute treatment episode. There is currently no good evidence that behavioural support prevents relapse after initial unaided abstinence or following an acute treatment period. [source]


Olanzapine monotherapy for acute depression in patients with bipolar I or II disorder: results of an 8-week open label trial

HUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 1 2010
William V. Bobo
Abstract We evaluated the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of olanzapine monotherapy in 20 adult patients with bipolar I or II disorder, depressed phase. Patients received open-label olanzapine monotherapy (mean modal dose, 15,mg/day) for 8 weeks. Assessments of psychopathology (Montgomery,Asberg Depression Rating Scale [MADRS], Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology [QIDS-SR-16], Young Mania Rating Scale [YMRS]), clinical global state (Clinical Global Impressions [CGI] scale), and safety/tolerability were performed at baseline, and at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Seventeen patients (85.0%) completed the study. Improvement in MADRS total scores was observed after the first week of treatment, and at all remaining follow-up time points (p,,,0.005). Parallel improvement in QIDS-SR-16 (p,<,0.001) and CGI-Severity (p,<,0.001) was observed between baseline and study endpoint. Nine (45%) subjects achieved positive treatment response, eight of whom (40%) also achieved symptom remission. There were significant increases in weight (+3.2,kg, p,=,0.001) and body mass index (+1.1,kg/m2, p,=,0.001), but not fasting glucose or lipids, with the exception of reduced triglyceride levels in the overall sample, and reduced HDL cholesterol in females. Olanzapine may be an effective, well-tolerated option for treating acute non-psychotic depression across a variety of bipolar disorder subtypes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]