Rejected

Low back pain (LBP) is common in the elderly and an appropriate intervention for LBP management should be investigated. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of mud-heat intervention combined with core exercise as an alternative intervention for relieving pain and improving motor function in individuals with nonspecific chronic LBP.

We performed a secondary analysis for the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of ready-to-drink sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, and citric acid (SPMC oral solution) bowel preparation.

Herpes zoster (HZ; shingles) results from reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) after primary infection as varicella (chicken pox). It affects mainly older adults and people with immunocompromising diseases or treatments. The most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which has significant adverse effects on quality of life and activities of daily living. Since PHN cannot be prevented once HZ has occurred, and treatment is only modestly successful and is associated with significant side effects, the recent introduction of an effective vaccine is an important achievement. This new vaccine, which combines a single VZV glycoprotein (gE) and a multicomponent adjuvant, is superior to the previously available live attenuated VZV vaccine. The recombinant adjuvanted vaccine is remarkably effective in restoring the protective T cell-mediated immunity required to prevent HZ. Its clinical efficacy is much greater than that observed with other vaccines for older individuals affected by immune senescence, and its safety profile is very acceptable. It has been recommended in the USA and Canada for people who are 50 years of age and older. The immunogenicity and safety of this vaccine in severely immunocompromised individuals, such as after chemotherapy for malignancy, after solid organ or stem cell transplant, and in people with HIV are being studied.

Migraine is a common neurological disease, which burdens individuals and society all over the world. Acupuncture, an important method in Traditional Chinese Medicine, is widely used in clinical practice as a treatment for migraine. Several systematic reviews (SRs) have investigated the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for migraine.

Dazhu hongjingtian [DZHJT, var. (Praeger) S.H. Fu] preparation as an add-on therapy has been applied to the treatment of angina pectoris. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DZHJT as adjuvant therapy for the treatment of unstable angina pectoris (UAP). An extensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, Emase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, CNKI, and VIP databases from inception to January 2019. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing DZHJT in combination with Western medicine with Western medicine alone were included. Two authors independently performed the literature search, data extraction and risk of bias assessment of included studies, and conducted the statistical analysis. A total of 18 RCTs involving 1,679 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Adjuvant treatment with DZHJT significantly decreased ≥80% reduction in the frequency of angina attacks [risk ratio (RR) 1.57; 95% CI 1.36-1.81], weekly frequency of angina attacks [mean difference (MD) -1.03 times; 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.51 to -0.55], marked improved abnormal electrocardiogram (RR 1.46; 95% CI 1.23-1.74). In addition, DZHJT significantly reduced the whole-blood viscosity (MD -0.70 mPa.s; 95% CI -0.84 to -0.55), plasma viscosity (MD -0.28 mPa.s; 95% CI -0.38 to -0.19), serum level of fibrinogen (MD -0.67 g/L; 95% CI -0.79 to -0.54), thromboxanes B2 (MD -14.01 ng/L; 95% CI -20.86 to -7.15), and C-reactive protein (MD -1.48 mg/L; 95% CI -2.72 to -0.25). No significant differences in headache/dizziness (RR 0.72; 95% CI 0.31-1.67) were observed between two groups. Adjuvant treatment with DZHJT has an add-on effect in reducing angina pectoris attacks in patients with UAP. The beneficial effect may be correlated with regulating whole-blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, fibrinogen, thromboxanes B2, and CRP level. However, future well-designed prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trials with large sample sizes are required to evaluate the evidence.

It has long been observed in clinical practice that a subset of patients with Lyme disease report a constellation of symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and musculoskeletal pain, which may last for a significant period of time. These symptoms, which can range from mild to severe, have been reported throughout the literature in both prospective and population-based studies in Lyme disease endemic regions. The etiology of these symptoms is unknown, however several illness-causing mechanisms have been hypothesized, including microbial persistence, host immune dysregulation through inflammatory or secondary autoimmune pathways, or altered neural networks, as in central sensitization. Evaluation and characterization of persistent symptoms in Lyme disease is complicated by potential independent, repeat exposures to , as well as the potential for co-morbid diseases with overlapping symptom profiles. Antibody testing for is an insensitive measure after treatment, and no other FDA-approved tests currently exist. As such, diagnosis presents a complex challenge for physicians, while the lived experience for patients is one marked by uncertainty and often illness invalidation. Currently, there are no FDA-approved pharmaceutical therapies, and the safety and efficacy of off-label and/or complementary therapies have not been well studied and are not agreed-upon within the medical community. Post-treatment Lyme disease represents a narrow, defined, mechanistically-neutral subset of this larger, more heterogeneous group of patients, and is a useful definition in research settings as an initial subgroup of study. The aim of this paper is to review the current literature on the diagnosis, etiology, risk factors, and treatment of patients with persistent symptoms in the context of Lyme disease. The meaning and relevance of existing patient subgroups will be discussed, as will future research priorities, including the need to develop illness biomarkers, elucidate the biologic mechanisms of disease, and drive improvements in therapeutic options.

 Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is predominantly a disease of the elderly.  This article studies the clinical and radiological outcomes in patients with CSDH who had undergone bedside percutaneous twist drill craniostomy (TDC).  A retrospective study was conducted in 80 patients who had undergone percutaneous TDC for CSDH between January 2017 and December 2018. Patients between 18 and 90 years of age were selected. CSDH showing computed tomography (CT) scan findings of homogeneous hypodensity, homogeneous isodensity, mixed density, and CSDH with hyperdense gravity-dependent fluid level were selected. CT evidence of multiple septations, recurrent CSDH, bilateral CSDH, and acute on CSDH were excluded. The presence of midline shift (MLS) was measured as any deviation of the septum pellucidum from the midline. The mass effect was determined by the effacement of the sulci, Sylvian fissure obscuration, or compression of lateral ventricles. Postoperative decrease in the signs and symptoms were considered as the postoperative clinical improvement. Improvement in the postoperative CT scan was determined by the decrease in the thickness of CSDH and absence of MLS with decrease in the mass effect. The presence of the CSDH with mass effect and MLS was considered as the significant residue in the postoperative CT scan.  Statistical analysis is done using Epi Info software.  The mean age range was 67.78 years ± 12.03 standard deviation (SD). There were 49 (61.25%) males and 31 (38.75%) females. Thirty-eight (47.5%) CSDHs were on the right side and 42 (52.5%) on the left side. The locations were in the frontotemporoparietal region in 91.25% patients and in the frontoparietal region in 8.75% patients. The mean duration of symptoms was 4.62 days ± 5.20 SD. History of trauma was present in 58.75% patients. The mean duration of trauma was 45.78 days ± 28.32 SD. The most common symptoms were weakness of the limbs (68.75%), altered sensorium or decreased memory (52.5%), and headache (32.5%). The preoperative Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ranged from 4 to 15 (mean 12.86 ± 2.98 SD). Limb motor weakness was noted in 75% patients. The maximum thickness of the CSDH (in millimeter) in axial CT scan was 8 to 32 (mean 23.22 ± 4.87 SD). All of the 80 patients had MLS. Postoperative GCS ranged from 3 to 15 (mean 14.1 ± 2.78 SD). Postoperative power was improved in 95% of affected limbs. Postoperative power was deteriorated (including patients of complications and death) in 5% patients. Clinical improvement was noted in 93.75% patients. Postoperative CT scan improvement was noted in 95% patients. Two patients (2.5%) had significant residue which required reoperation. Two patients (2.5%) developed extradural hematoma which was operated. Five (6.25%) patients developed complications, among which 4 (5%) patients died. The mean duration of stay in the hospital was 6.82 days ± 4.16 SD.  CSDH is a disease of elderly population. CSDH is more common in male population. The most common symptom is weakness of the limbs. High clinical and radiological improvement can be achieved with TDC. TDC should be considered as a safe and effective alternative to burr hole craniostomy.

Uninhibited proliferation of spp., enhanced sebaceous gland activity and individual sensitivity are three prime etiological factors behind dandruff. For many dandruff sufferers, existing anti-dandruff products start yielding unsatisfactory results after a few cycles of use. This observation made us explore the physical and biological environment of the host and exploit the specific type of lipid dependence of spp. for their survival. A shampoo formulation (product code VB-3222) was developed to address the shortcomings of existing therapy.

The opioid crisis in the United States has been pandemic. As such, anesthesia providers are frequently faced with patients who have a history of opioid abuse or are currently receiving chronic therapy for such disorders. The chronic administration of medications such as buprenorphine-naloxone can impact the choice of perioperative anesthesia and pain control. Furthermore, the postoperative administration of opioids may lead to relapse in patients with a history of opioid abuse. We present a 26-year-old male with a history of opioid abuse on maintenance therapy with buprenorphine-naloxone, who presented for median sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, and pulmonary valve replacement. The perioperative implications of buprenorphine-naloxone and implementation of multimodal analgesia are discussed, along with options to decrease or eliminate the perioperative use of opioids.