Medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Efficacy of pudendal nerve block for alleviation of catheter-related bladder discomfort in male patients undergoing lower urinary tract surgeries: A randomized, controlled, double-blind trial.
Catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) to an indwelling urinary catheter is defined as a painful urethral discomfort, resistant to conventional opioid therapy, decreasing the quality of postoperative recovery. According to anatomy, the branches of sacral somatic nerves form the afferent nerves of the urethra and bladder triangle, which deriving from the ventral rami of the second to fourth sacral spinal nerves, innervating the urethral muscles and sphincter of the perineum and pelvic floor; as well as providing sensation to the penis and clitoris in males and females, which including the urethra and bladder triangle. Based on this theoretical knowledge, we formed a hypothesis that CRBD could be prevented by pudendal nerve block. ⋯ General anesthesia along with bilateral pudendal nerve block decreased the incidence and severity of CRBD for the first 12 hours postoperatively.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Immediate relief of herniated lumbar disc-related sciatica by ankle acupuncture: A study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Around 90% of sciatica cases are due to a herniated intervertebral disc in the lumbar region. Ankle acupuncture (AA) has been reported to be effective in the treatment of acute nonspecific low back pain. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a single session of ankle acupuncture for disc-related sciatica. ⋯ This study will determine the immediate effect and specificity of ankle acupuncture for the treatment of disc-related sciatica. We anticipate that ankle acupuncture might be more effective than traditional needle manipulation or sham acupuncture.
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Malignant hyperthermia (MH) continues to be of potential concern for clinicians whenever inhalational anesthetic agents or succinylcholine are used, because MH is a potentially fatal metabolic disorder. ⋯ Ethical approval and informed consent are not required, as the study will be a literature review and will not involve direct contact with patients or alterations to patient care.
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Review Case Reports
Detection of programmed death ligand 1 protein and CD8+ lymphocyte infiltration in plurihormonal pituitary adenomas: A case report and review of the literatures.
Pituitary adenomas secreting two or more hormones were referred to the plurihormonal tumors. The management of this type of the tumor was tumor resection and amelioration of the unbalanced hormones. However, it washard to cure the plurihormonal adenomas, as they were usually refractory to the traditional treatment. New therapeutic methods were needed in dealing this tumor. ⋯ Our results indicated immunotherapy as a promising treatment for this tumor. More studies were needed to investigate the possibility of the immunotherapy in pituitary adenomas.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial assessing the effects of nifedipine on embryo transfer: Study protocol.
Implantation failure is the main factor affecting the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. Studies have reported that uterine contractions (UCs) at the time of embryo transfer (ET) were inversely related to implantation and pregnancy rate, hence reducing the success of IVF treatment. Various pharmacological agents, with the exception of calcium channel blocker (CCB), have been investigated to reduce UC. In this regard, we are presenting a proposal for a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. The trial aims to determine whether nifedipine, a CCB with potent smooth muscle relaxing activity and an excellent safety profile, can improve the outcome of ET. ⋯ We will recruit 100 infertile women into one of 2 groups: placebo (n = 50) and nifedipine 20 mg (n = 50). Study participants will be admitted 30 minutes prior to ET and given either tablet after their baseline vital signs have been recorded. They will then undergo ET and be observed for adverse events for another 30 minutes post-ET. The primary outcome will be implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate. Secondary outcomes include adverse events, miscarriage and pregnancy, and neonatal outcomes. Resulting data will then be analyzed using t test, Chi-square test, and multivariate test to compare outcomes between the 2 groups for any statistical significance. This protocol has been designed in accordance with the SPIRIT 2013 Guidelines.