Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Society Guidelines (society + guideline)
Selected AbstractsEuropean Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society Guideline on the use of skin biopsy in the diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy.JOURNAL OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, Issue 2 2010Report of a joint task force of the European Federation of Neurological Societies, the Peripheral Nerve Society Revision of the guidelines on the use of skin biopsy in the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, published in 2005, has become appropriate due to publication of more relevant papers. Most of the new studies focused on small fiber neuropathy (SFN), a subtype of neuropathy for which the diagnosis was first developed through skin biopsy examination. This revision focuses on the use of this technique to diagnose SFN. Task force members searched the Medline database from 2005, the year of the publication of the first EFNS guideline, to June 30th, 2009. All pertinent papers were rated according to the EFNS and PNS guidance. After a consensus meeting, the task force members created a manuscript that was subsequently revised by two experts (JML and JVS) in the field of peripheral neuropathy and clinical neurophysiology, who were not previously involved in the use of skin biopsy. Distal leg skin biopsy with quantification of the linear density of intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENF), using generally agreed upon counting rules, is a reliable and efficient technique to assess the diagnosis of SFN (level A recommendation). Normative reference values are available for bright-field immunohistochemistry (level A recommendation) but not yet for confocal immunofluorescence or the blister technique. The morphometric analysis of IENF density, either performed with bright-field or immunofluorescence microscopy, should always refer to normative values matched for age (level A recommendation). Newly established laboratories should undergo adequate training in a well established skin biopsy laboratory and provide their own stratified age and gender-matched normative values, intra- and interobserver reliability, and interlaboratory agreement. Quality control of the procedure at all levels is mandatory (Good Practice Point). Procedures to quantify subepidermal nerve fibers and autonomic innervated structures, including erector pili muscles, and skin vessels are under development but need to be confirmed by further studies. Sweat gland innervation can be examined using an unbiased stereologic technique recently proposed (level B recommendation). A reduced IENF density is associated with the risk of developing neuropathic pain (level B recommendation), but it does not correlate with its intensity. Serial skin biopsies might be useful for detecting early changes of IENF density, which predict the progression of neuropathy, and to assess degeneration and regeneration of IENF (level C recommendation). However, further studies are warranted to confirm the potential usefulness of skin biopsy with measurement of IENF density as an outcome measure in clinical practice and research. Skin biopsy has not so far been useful for identifying the etiology of SFN. Finally, we emphasize that 3-mm skin biopsy at the ankle is a safe procedure based on the experience of 10 laboratories reporting absence of serious side effects in approximately 35,000 biopsies and a mere 0.19% incidence of non-serious side effects in about 15 years of practice (Good Practice Point). [source] European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society Guideline on management of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy: Report of a joint task force of the European Federation of Neurological Societies and the Peripheral Nerve Society , First RevisionJOURNAL OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, Issue 1 2010Joint Task Force of the EFNS, the PNS Background: Consensus guidelines on the definition, investigation, and treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) have been published (J Peripher Nerv Syst 2005; 10: 220,228, Eur J Neurol 2006; 13: 326,332). Objectives: To revise these guidelines. Methods: Disease experts, including a representative of patients, considered references retrieved from MEDLINE and Cochrane Systematic Reviews published between August 2004 and July 2009 and prepared statements that were agreed in an iterative fashion. Recommendations: The Task Force agreed on Good Practice Points to define clinical and electrophysiological diagnostic criteria for CIDP with or without concomitant diseases and investigations to be considered. The principal treatment recommendations were: (i) intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) (Recommendation Level A) or corticosteroids (Recommendation Level C) should be considered in sensory and motor CIDP; (ii) IVIg should be considered as the initial treatment in pure motor CIDP (Good Practice Point); (iii) if IVIg and corticosteroids are ineffective, plasma exchange (PE) should be considered (Recommendation Level A); (iv) if the response is inadequate or the maintenance doses of the initial treatment are high, combination treatments or adding an immunosuppressant or immunomodulatory drug should be considered (Good Practice Point); (v) symptomatic treatment and multidisciplinary management should be considered (Good Practice Point). [source] European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society Guideline, on management of multifocal motor neuropathy.JOURNAL OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, Issue 1 2006Report of a joint task force of the European Federation of Neurological Societies, the Peripheral Nerve Society Abstract Background: Several diagnostic criteria for multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) have been proposed in recent years, and a beneficial effect of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and various other immunomodulatory drugs has been suggested in several trials and uncontrolled studies. Objectives: The aim of this guideline was to prepare consensus guidelines on the definition, investigation, and treatment of MMN. Methods: Disease experts and a representative of patients considered references retrieved from MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library in July 2004 and prepared statements that were agreed in an iterative fashion. Recommendations: The Task Force agreed on good practice points to define clinical and electrophysiological diagnostic criteria for MMN and investigations to be considered. The principal recommendations and good practice points were as follows: (1) IVIg (2 g/kg given over 2,5 days) should be considered as the first line of treatment (level A recommendation) when disability is sufficiently severe to warrant treatment; (2) corticosteroids are not recommended (good practice point); (3) if initial treatment with IVIg is effective, repeated IVIg treatment should be considered (level C recommendation). The frequency of IVIg maintenance therapy should be guided by the individual response (good practice point). Typical treatment regimens are 1 g/kg every 2,4 weeks or 2 g/kg every 4,8 weeks (good practice point); (4) if IVIg is not (or not sufficiently) effective, then immunosuppressive treatment may be considered. Cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, azathioprine, interferon-,1a, or rituximab are possible agents (good practice point); and (5) toxicity makes cyclophosphamide a less desirable option (good practice point). [source] Emergency Department Management of Acute Pain Episodes in Sickle Cell DiseaseACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 5 2007Paula Tanabe PhD ObjectivesTo characterize the initial management of patients with sickle cell disease and an acute pain episode, to compare these practices with the American Pain Society Guideline for the Management of Acute and Chronic Pain in Sickle-Cell Disease in the emergency department, and to identify factors associated with a delay in receiving an initial analgesic. MethodsThis was a multicenter retrospective design. Consecutive patients with an emergency department visit in 2004 for an acute pain episode related to sickle cell disease were included. Exclusion criteria included age younger than 18 years. A structured medical record review was used to abstract data, including the following outcome variables: analgesic agent and dose, route, and time to administration of initial analgesic. Additional variables included demographics, triage level, intravenous access, and study site. Mann,Whitney U test or Kruskal,Wallis test and multivariate regression were used to identify differences in time to receiving an initial analgesic between groups. ResultsThere were 612 patient visits, with 159 unique patients. Median time to administration of an initial analgesic was 90 minutes (25th to 75th interquartile range, 54,159 minutes). During 87% of visits, patients received the recommended agent (morphine or hydromorphone); 92% received the recommended dose, and 55% received the drug by the recommended route (intravenously or subcutaneously). Longer times to administration occurred in female patients (mean difference, 21 minutes; 95% confidence interval = 7 to 36 minutes; p = 0.003) and patients assigned triage level 3, 4, or 5 versus 1 or 2 (mean difference, 45 minutes; 95% confidence interval = 29 to 61 minutes; p = 0.00). Patients from study sites 1 and 2 also experienced longer delays. ConclusionsPatients with an acute painful episode related to sickle cell disease experienced significant delays to administration of an initial analgesic. [source] American Cancer Society Guidelines Still Advise Yearly Mammography for Women Aged 40 to 49 YearsCA: A CANCER JOURNAL FOR CLINICIANS, Issue 4 2007Article first published online: 31 DEC 200 No abstract is available for this article. [source] Does the addition of non-invasive ventilation during pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease augment patient outcome in exercise tolerance?PHYSIOTHERAPY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2010A literature review Abstract Background.,Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) during exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been shown to increase exercise time and intensity. Feasibly then, NIV during pulmonary rehabilitation will enhance post-rehabilitation training effects. The purpose of this review is to systematically consider and critique the literature concerning the effects of NIV, when used during an exercise programme in COPD patients on exercise tolerance.,Method.,An electronic literature search was completed and the reference lists of the articles that fitted the following inclusion criteria were screened. Studies that used any mode of NIV during an exercise programme with a primary outcome measure focusing on exercise tolerance and were written after the year 2000 to reflect current practice. Studies that were not written in English or had been included in previous literature reviews were excluded. The studies were then critically appraised and assigned a level of evidence based upon Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.,Results.,Twenty-eight articles were screened, of which six fitted the inclusion criteria. The methodological quality ranged from level 1, to 1+. All but one study by Bianchi et al. (2002) demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in exercise tolerance with the addition of some form of NIV during pulmonary rehabilitation. The benefits may be greater in patients with more severe airway obstruction as determined by Forced Expiration Volume (FEV), (%pred).,Conclusion.,This review would suggest that NIV may allow an increased exercise intensity and duration during pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with moderate to very severe COPD, (according to the American Thoracic Society guidelines), resulting in a greater training effect and a prolonged exercise capacity. Further research looking at long-term follow-up is recommended. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Revision of the severity rating and classification of hospital-acquired pneumonia in the Japanese Respiratory Society guidelinesRESPIROLOGY, Issue 6 2008Masafumi SEKI Background and objective: Based on the results of a multicentre collaborative survey of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) conducted in Japan, the severity rating and classification of pneumonia in the Japanese Respiratory Society guidelines for management of HAP were examined. Methods: Parameters for the severity classification were selected from the factors associated with prognosis in the HAP survey and in other previous reports. Depending on the presence of the parameters listed below, patients with HAP were stratified into those with high, moderate or low-risk. The high-risk group was defined as patients with three or more of the following risk factors: ,malignant tumour or immunocompromised status', ,impaired consciousness', ,requiring fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) >35% to maintain SaO2 >90%', ,man aged 70 years or older, or woman aged 75 years or older' and ,oliguria or dehydration.' The moderate-risk group was defined as patients with any of the secondary risk factors as follows: ,CRP , 200 mg/L' and ,extent of infiltration on CXR covers at least 2/3 of one lung'. The low-risk group was defined as all other patients. Results: Application of this classification scheme to the patients enrolled in the HAP survey revealed a mortality rate of 40.8% (98/240) in the high-risk group, which was significantly higher than the mortality rates in the moderate and low-risk groups: 24.9% (69/277) and 12.1% (101/834), respectively. Conclusion: These results indicate that it is possible to classify patients using these parameters as prognostic indicators. [source] The role of imaging in urinary incontinenceBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 5 2005Walter Artibani A detailed history, physical examination, symptom and quality-of-life assessment, and urine analysis are unanimously considered essential components of the initial evaluation of urinary incontinence. Beyond these assessments, there are no universally accepted recommendations and, to date, imaging is not recommended in the initial management of urinary incontinence. In selected patients, urodynamics and/or a radiographic evaluation may be indicated. According to International Continence Society guidelines, imaging of the upper and lower urinary tract is indicated only if renal damage or pelvic pathology are suspected; video-urodynamics and voiding cysto-urethrography are considered optional diagnostic tests and continue to be refined; magnetic resonance imaging is considered an important research tool in evaluating lower urinary tract disorders, but at present its clinical role remains investigational. [source] Quality control in urodynamics: a review of urodynamic traces from one centreBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2003J. Sullivan OBJECTIVE To investigate quality control in our unit and to enable other units to compare their results, as experience from central reviews of urodynamic traces for multicentre trials has suggested that poor quality control is common. PATIENTS AND METHODS All consecutive male urodynamic tests conducted over 1 year were reviewed. A list of criteria to assess the quality of the records was devised, based upon International Continence Society guidelines on ,good urodynamic practice', and on other sources. Eligible traces were analysed for aspects of quality control, e.g. baseline pressures and coughs to test pressure transmission. The data were analysed to establish how often quality criteria were met, and identify areas for improvement. RESULTS In 100 eligible traces, the baseline detrusor pressure was 0,10 cmH2O in 86, and , 5 to +10 cmH2O in 94%. Baseline intravesical and abdominal pressure were 30,50 cmH2O in 68% and 73% of cases, respectively. Coughs were present before filling in 94%, during filling in 95%, before voiding in 72% and after voiding in 87% of cases. The cough-test frequency was sufficient in 30% of traces. In 11 the intravesical pressure line fell out during voiding. CONCLUSION Most of the traces assessed met the quality criteria defined, but significant defects were not uncommon. Some of the problems identified suggest areas of urodynamic technique which should be studied in more detail. We intend to modify our quality control practices, and hope to show an improvement on re-audit. We hope that other urodynamic departments will be encouraged to review their practice, and we aim to improve our results. [source] The impact of publishing medical specialty society guidelines on subsequent adoption of best practices: a case study with type 2 diabetesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 5 2010E. A. Huang Summary Aims:, Our goal was to determine the effect of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) consensus algorithm for the initiation and adjustment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) therapy, published in 2006, on the incidence of early metformin monotherapy (EMM), defined as the prescription of metformin and no other antidiabetic medications within 30 days of initial T2D diagnosis. Methods:, The incidence of EMM in the United States (US) from January 2005 to December 2007 was estimated using data from the i3 InVisionÔ Data Mart, an integrated database of enrolment dates, inpatient and outpatient medical claims, pharmaceutical claims, and laboratory results from a diverse group of US health plans. The trend in the incidence of EMM was analysed using joinpoint regression modelling. Results:, A statistically significant joinpoint was found in July 2006 (p < 0.05). From January 2005 to July 2006, EMM increased at an annualised rate of 15.6%. From July 2006 to December 2007, EMM increased at an annualised rate of 66.0%. Conclusions:, Our findings suggest that publication of the ADA/EASD algorithm caused a significant acceleration in the incidence of EMM. [source] | ||||||||||