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Week Follow-up (week + follow-up)
Terms modified by Week Follow-up Selected AbstractsSeverity of anxiety and work-related outcomes of patients with anxiety disordersDEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 12 2009Steven R. Erickson PharmD. Abstract Background: This study examined associations between anxiety and work-related outcomes in an anxiety disorders clinic population, examining both pretreatment links and the impact of anxiety change over 12 weeks of treatment on work outcomes. Four validated instruments were used to also allow examination of their psychometric properties, with the goal of improving measurement of work-related quality of life in this population. Methods: Newly enrolled adult patients seeking treatment in a university-based anxiety clinic were administered four work performance measures: Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI), Endicott Work Productivity Scale (EWPS), and Functional Status Questionnaire Work Performance Scale (WPS). Anxiety severity was determined using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The Clinical Global Impressions, Global Improvement Scale (CGI-I) was completed by patients to evaluate symptom change at a 12-week follow-up. Two severity groups (minimal/mild vs. moderate/severe, based on baseline BAI score) were compared to each other on work measures. Results: Eighty-one patients provided complete baseline data. Anxiety severity groups did not differ in job type, time on job, job satisfaction, or job choice. Patients with greater anxiety generally showed lower work performance on all instruments. Job advancement was impaired for the moderate/severe group. The multi-item performance scales demonstrated better validity and internal consistency. The WLQ and the WPAI detected change with symptom improvement. Conclusion: Level of work performance was generally associated with severity of anxiety. Of the instruments tested, the WLQ and the WPAI questionnaire demonstrated acceptable validity and internal reliability. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Failure to improve cigarette smoking abstinence with transdermal selegiline + cognitive behavior therapyADDICTION, Issue 9 2010Joel D. Killen ABSTRACT Aims To examine the effectiveness of transdermal selegiline for producing cigarette smoking abstinence. Design Adult smokers were randomly assigned to receive selegiline transdermal system (STS) or placebo given for 8 weeks. All participants received cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Follow-ups were conducted at 25 and 52 weeks. Setting Community smoking cessation clinic. Participants 243 adult smokers (,18 years of age; ,10 cigarettes/day). Measures Expired-air carbon monoxide confirmed 7-day point prevalence abstinence. Findings STS was not superior to placebo. More women than men were abstinent at 52 week follow-up (28% vs 16%, P < 0.05). Behavioral activation (BAS) moderated treatment response (P = 0.01). The survival rate through week 52 for those with high ,drive' scores on the BAS was 47% if assigned to selegiline and 34% if assigned to placebo. The survival rate for those with low ,drive scores' on the BAS was 35% if assigned to selegiline compared to 53% if assigned to placebo. Conclusion Transdermal selegiline does not appear generally effective in aiding smoking cessation though there may be a selective effect in those smokers with low ,behavioral activation'. [source] Patterns of over-the-counter nicotine gum use: persistent use and concurrent smokingADDICTION, Issue 12 2003Saul Shiffman ABSTRACT Aims To examine the occurrence of persistent use (i.e. use beyond 12 weeks) and concurrent use of nicotine gum with cigarettes among consumers who purchase nicotine gum over-the-counter (OTC). Design Assessment of gum use was conducted in the context of a smoking cessation trial among smokers who purchased Nicorette gum and enrolled in the optional Committed Quitters smoking cessation program. Eligible participants were contacted by telephone 6 weeks and 12 weeks following their self-selected target quit date. Those who reported gum use at 12 weeks were contacted again at week 24. Participants A total of 2655 current smokers who purchased nicotine gum and enrolled in a clinical efficacy trial of the Committed Quitters program. Measurements Detailed information on smoking and gum use, including frequency of use, amount used and reasons for use was obtained at each of the three follow-up assessments. Findings At the 24-week assessment, 6% of participants reported current use of nicotine gum (i.e. persistent use). Those engaging in persistent use averaged 4.7 (SD = 2.5) days of gum use per week and 3.2 (SD = 3.5) pieces of gum per day. Sixty-six per cent of persistent users reported at week 24 that they were not currently smoking, and 67% of persistent users reported they were using gum to establish or maintain abstinence. At the 6-, 12- and 24-week assessments, 14%, 10% and 2% of participants, respectively, reported current use of nicotine gum and current cigarette smoking (i.e. concurrent users). Those concurrent users reported at the 12-week follow-up that they did so an average of 4.4 (SD = 2.1) days per week, that they chewed an average of 2.6 (SD = 3.5) pieces of nicotine gum per day and that they smoked an average of 8.7 (SD = 8.6) cigarettes per day. Conclusion Extended use of nicotine gum is rare. Concurrent use with cigarettes is uncommon. In both cases, the amount of gum use is small. OTC marketing of nicotine gum does not appear to have increased use contrary to labeling nor resulted in patterns of use that should warrant clinical or public health concerns. [source] The use of light-emitting diode therapy in the treatment of photoaged skinJOURNAL OF COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2007FACCS, FRACGP, Fabien Baez MBBS, MAACS, MCPSA Summary Background, Light-emitting diode (LED) therapy is an increasingly popular methodology for the treatment of sun damage. Combination use of light wavelengths reported to stimulate collagen synthesis and accelerate fibroblast,myofibroblast transformation may display a composite rejuvenative effect. Objective, To clinically assess reduction in sun damage signs following a 5-week course of LED therapy and to assess subject's perception of the treatment. Methods, Thirteen subjects with wrinkles or fine lines in the periorbital and nasolabial region and those presenting Glogau scale photodamage grade II,III received nine 20-min duration light treatments using the OmniluxÔ LED system. The treatments combined wavelengths of 633 and 830 nm at fluences of 126 and 66 J/cm2, respectively. Sun-damage reduction was assessed at 6, 9, and 12 weeks by clinical photography and patient satisfaction scores. Results, The majority of subjects displayed "moderate" (50%) or "slight" (25%) response to treatment at investigator assessment. Treatment of the periorbital region was reported more effective than the nasolabial region. At 12-week follow-up, 91% of subjects reported improved skin tone, and 82% reported enhanced smoothness of skin in the treatment area. Conclusion, Good response to LED therapy has been shown in this modest sample. Larger trials are needed to assess optimum frequency of light treatments and overall treatment time. [source] Radiographic features of a lateral extracapsular wire suture in the canine cranial cruciate deficient stifleJOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 10 2001C. K. Stork Radiographs of 74 dogs (84 stifles) presented with a cranial cruciate ligament rupture and surgically treated using a lateral extracapsular wire (LEW) were reviewed. A strand of orthopaedic wire was surgically placed caudally around the lateral fabella and through a predrilled hole in the tibial crest. At six week follow-up, the LEW was broken at least once in 26 of 33 stifles, predominantly in the area of the lateral fabella. In five stifles, the LEW had slipped off the fabella and was displaced distally along the gastrocnemius muscle. Six months after surgery, the LEW was often broken at several sites. LEW migration was rare. Osteolysis and sclerosis at the site of LEW penetration through the tibial crest occurred in about two-thirds of the stifles examined. [source] Application of a Quality of Life Measure, the Life Situation Survey (LSS), to Alcohol-Dependent Subjects in Relapse and RemissionALCOHOLISM, Issue 11 2000J. H. Foster Background: Recent studies have shown that quality of life (QOL) is improved significantly when subjects do not relapse to heavy drinking, and QOL deteriorates significantly on prolonged relapse. This article further investigates these relationships using a QOL index, the Life Situation Survey (LSS). Methods: Eighty-two DSM-IV alcohol-dependent subjects admitted for alcohol detoxification were studied at baseline and 12 week follow-up. Sociodemographic data were collected, and severity of alcohol dependence (SADQ) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were baseline indices only. The main outcome measure, the LSS, was administered at both time points. Results: Two subjects were lost to follow-up and one died during the study period. Thus, the relapse/nonrelapse analysis related to 79 subjects. Fifty subjects (63%) had relapsed to heavy drinking at 3 months follow-up. There was a significant correlation between LSS and GHQ-12 scores. Significant changes occurred in total LSS scores as a result of relapse and nonrelapse. The improvement in LSS scores associated with nonrelapse was larger than the deterioration that accompanied relapse. In those subjects who did not relapse to heavy drinking, the mean follow-up score remained in the poor/borderline LSS range. Remission from heavy drinking was accompanied by significant improvements in appetite, sleep, and self-esteem. Relapse to heavy drinking coincided with a significant deterioration in mood/affect, public support, and work/life role scores. Conclusion: QOL as assessed by the LSS in recently detoxified alcoholics is impaired significantly. In the nonrelapse group, there was a significant improvement in LSS scores after 3 months. Relapse was accompanied by a smaller deterioration in LSS scores. The LSS can play an important role in monitoring the clinical care and progress of alcohol-dependent subjects. [source] A component analysis of a parent-conducted multi-component treatment for food selectivityBEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS, Issue 3 2010Becky Penrod Treatment packages including differential reinforcement of alternative (DRA) behavior and escape prevention in the form of a non-removal of the spoon procedure have been shown to successfully increase food consumption. However, when these treatment components are introduced simultaneously, the treatment component(s) responsible for behavior change cannot be determined. The purpose of this study was to conduct a sequential component analysis of the following treatment components: Bite fading, manipulation of reinforcer magnitude, and escape prevention. For two participants, food consumption did not increase until after escape prevention was introduced. For one participant, increased food consumption was observed after the magnitude of reinforcement was increased; therefore, escape prevention was not necessary. Results were maintained at a 12-week follow-up for all participants. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The role of anticholinergics in men with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review and meta-analysisBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2007Benedict T. Blake-James Authors from the UK present a systematic review of publications on the safety and efficacy of anticholinergics in men with LUTS; they found them to be safe, but suggested that further studies are required to establish precisely their efficacy. Authors from the USA studied the correlation between risk factors for vascular disease and the AUA symptom score; there was a possible association between vascular disease and the development and severity of LUTS in men. OBJECTIVE To assess the safety and efficacy of anticholinergics in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by a systematic review of published reports and a meta-analysis of the reported outcomes. METHODS We searched Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases (1966,2006), and hand-searched relevant reference lists and conference proceedings, for studies on the use of anticholinergics in men with BPH or bladder outlet obstruction. Eligible studies were assessed for quality and foreign language studies were translated. We collected data on all reported outcomes, conducted meta- analyses on the maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) and volume at first contraction, and calculated the acute urinary retention (AUR) rate. We used sensitivity analysis to confirm the findings. RESULTS We identified five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 15 observational studies. Four RCTs incorporating 633 patients were included in the meta-analyses. Anticholinergics did not significantly alter Qmax (0.1 mL/s, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.6,0.7). The PVR was increased by 11.6 mL (95% CI 4.5,18.6) although there was no significant difference between AUR rates. The total International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS) were not significantly different, but there were improvements for IPSS storage subscores in one RCT. The AUR rate was 0.3% at the 12-week follow-up in 365 men in the RCTs and observational studies. CONCLUSION Anticholinergic use in men with LUTS suggestive of BPH appears to be safe. Further studies are required to establish efficacy with a suitable precision. [source] Imiquimod in the treatment of eyelid basal cell carcinomaACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 5 2007Jari Leppälä ABSTRACT. Purpose:, To assess the efficacy and safety of topical imiquimod 5% cream in the treatment of eyelid basal cell carcinoma. Methods:, Four patients with eyelid basal cell carcinoma were treated with imiquimod once daily, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. Tissue biopsy was taken and clinical examination with slit-lamp microscopy was performed at the beginning of the study and after a follow-up of 12 weeks. Photographic follow-up was performed from the baseline visit to 6, 12 and 26 weeks. Results:, In the 12-week follow-up after imiquimod treatment, histopathological tissue sample analysis showed no signs of basal cell carcinoma in any of the patients. Conclusions:, The results indicate that 5% imiquimod cream with topical administration may represent a new therapy option for eyelid basal cell carcinoma. [source] Intralesional triamcinolone alone or in combination with 5-fluorouracil for the treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scarsCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2009A. Darougheh Summary Background., Keloids and hypertrophic scars are benign growths of dermal collagen that can cause physical and psychological (cosmetic) problems for patients. Methods., In this 12-week, double-blind, clinical trial, 40 patients were randomized into two study groups. Patients in group 1 were given intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (TAC), and patients in group 2 were given a combination of TAC and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); both groups received injections at weekly intervals for 8 weeks. Lesions were assessed for erythema, pruritus, pliability, height, length and width. Results., Four patients in group 1 and three patients in group 2 failed to complete the study. At the 8-week and 12-week follow-up visits, both groups showed an acceptable improvement in nearly all parameters, but these were more significant in the TAC + 5-FU group (P < 0.05 for all except pruritus and percentage of itch reduction). Good to excellent (> 50%) improvement were reported by 20% of the patients in group 1 and 55% of the patients in group 2, which was significantly different (P = 0.02). Good to excellent responses was reported by trained observers as 15% in group 1 and 40% in group 2. Their difference was not significant (P = 0.08). Conclusion., The overall efficacy of TAC + 5-FU was comparable with TAC, but the TAC + 5-FU combination was more acceptable to patients and produced better results. [source] Metabolic and cardiopulmonary effects of detraining after a structured exercise training programme in young PCOS womenCLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 6 2008Francesco Orio Summary Objective The aim of the present study was to determine if the favourable cardiopulmonary and metabolic benefits induced by exercise training (ET) programme are maintained after its cessation. Patients Thirty-two young overweight polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women matched for age and body mass index (BMI) with other 32 PCOS patients was enrolled. The first group [PCOS-T (trained)] underwent 24-week ET programme, whereas the second [PCOS-DT (detrained)] underwent 12-week ET programme followed by 12-week detraining period. Methods At baseline, after 12- and 24-week follow-up, all PCOS women were studied for their hormonal (ovarian and adrenal androgens), metabolic (glucose and insulin) and lipid profile, and underwent cardiopulmonary exercise test. Results After the initial 12-week ET programme, both PCOS-T and PCOS-DT groups, without differences between groups, showed a similar significant (P < 0·05) improvement in BMI, fasting insulin, areas under curve insulin (AUCINS), glucose and insulin AUC (AUCGLU/INS), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and maximal oxygen consumption at cardiopulmonary exercise test (VO2max). At 24-week follow-up, PCOS-T group showed a significant (P < 0·05) improvement in BMI, fasting insulin, AUCINS, AUCGLU/INS, LDL-C, HDL-C and VO2max, in comparison to baseline and 12-week follow-up. At same follow-up visit, the all parameters resulted significantly (P < 0·05) worsened in PCOS-DT group in comparison to 12-week follow-up and PCOS-T group. In PCOS-DT group, no parameter assessed at 24-week follow-up was significantly different in comparison with baseline. Conclusion In young PCOS women, 12-week detraining resulted in a complete loss of the favourable adaptations obtained after ET. [source] Vertical reduction rectoplasty: a new treatment for idiopathic megarectumBRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 9 2000Professor N. S. Williams Background The aetiology of idiopathic megarectum is unknown and the results of surgery are often unsatisfactory. Rectal hyposensation is common and poor perception of rectal filling may contribute to the poor evacuatory function. By reducing the capacity of the rectum, it was hypothesized that sensory thresholds to rectal distension and perception of urge to defaecate would be improved. Methods Vertical reduction rectoplasty (VRR) and concomitant sigmoid colectomy was performed on six patients with idiopathic megarectum. Patients were evaluated before and after operation by detailed questionnaire and anorectal physiology. Postoperative rectal compliance was also studied by means of a programmable electronic barostat. Where appropriate, physiological data were compared with those obtained in eight healthy volunteers. Results Bowel frequency increased from a preoperative median of 2·5 to 16 per month after operation. Four patients reported improved rectal perception of the urge to defaecate. Thresholds for defaecatory urge and maximum tolerated volume were significantly reduced following VRR (P < 0·05). Post-VRR rectal compliance was no different from that in healthy volunteers. Colonic transit time decreased significantly after VRR (P < 0·05) and evacuation on proctography increased from a median of 30 per cent to 50 per cent. At a median of 57 weeks' follow-up five of the six patients expressed continued satisfaction with the results. Conclusion VRR is a new approach to the treatment of idiopathic megarectum. Clinical and physiological studies confirm that it can improve sensory feedback and defaecation. The procedure needs further evaluation as the number of patients undergoing the procedure increases. © 2000 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd [source] | ||||||||||