Medicine
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Review Case Reports
IgG4-related fibrosing mediastinitis diagnosed with computed tomography-guided percutaneous needle biopsy: Two case reports and a review of the literature.
Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a fibroinflammatory disease characterized by elevated serum IgG4 levels with infiltration of IgG4+ plasma cells and severe fibrosis in affected tissues. Recently, idiopathic fibrosing mediastinitis (FM), an extremely rare fibroinflammatory disorder, has been recognized as a form of IgG4-RD. As IgG4-RD can be treated by glucocorticoids, identification of the etiology of FM by surgical biopsy is essential; however, mediastinal biopsy is often difficult. We report 2 cases of IgG4-related FM successfully diagnosed with computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous needle biopsy. ⋯ Early recognition and diagnosis of IgG4-related FM is essential because a delay in appropriate treatment initiation leads to progressive fibrosis with irreversible organ damage and poor prognosis. Our cases highlight CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy as a promising option for histological examination in patients with IgG4-related FM.
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Laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair is a rapidly evolving, minimally invasive treatment modality for inguinal hernia. Compared with open hernia repair, this method requires a smaller incision, has cosmetic advantages, and facilitates rapid recovery and early return to daily activities because of less postoperative pain. Because general anesthesia is essential for TEP hernia repair, it cannot be performed on patients who have an increased risk of developing complications when placed under general anesthesia. ⋯ TEP hernia repair using abdominal PNB anesthesia seemed to be a safe and feasible technique without causing any additional complications. However, the use of abdominal PNB anesthesia alone for TEP hernia repair as an alternative to general anesthesia requires further investigation using a larger cohort.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effectiveness of percutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation for neck pain relief in patients with cervical spondylosis.
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of percutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (PNMES) for treating neck pain in patients with cervical spondylosis (CS). ⋯ The results of this study demonstrated that PNMES is more effective than Sham PNMES for neck pain relief in patients with CS.
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The assessment of pain in patients with brain injury is challenging due to impaired ability to communicate. We aimed to test the reliability and validity of the critical-care pain observation tool (CPOT) and the bispectral index (BIS) for pain detection in critically brain-injured patients. This prospective observational study was conducted in a neurosurgical intensive care unit in a University-Affiliated Hospital. ⋯ Both CPOT and BIS increased significantly after suctioning (all P < .001) but remained unchanged after gentle touching (P ranging from .06 to .14). Our criterion and discriminant validity results supported the use of CPOT and BIS to detect pain in critically brain-injured patients. Combining use of CPOT and BIS in different ways might provide comprehensive pain assessment for different purposes.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Safety and efficacy of Galgeun-tang-ga-cheongung-sinyi, a herbal formula, for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
A herbal formula, Galgeun-tang-ga-cheongung-sinyi (GGTCS), is traditionally used for the treatment of rhinosinusitis in East Asian countries. However, there is a dearth of clinical evidence supporting the effects of this medication. Here, we describe the protocol for a randomized controlled study designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of GGTCS for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). ⋯ The key elements for conducting a high-quality randomized clinical trial have been addressed in this protocol. In summary, the findings of this study are expected to provide a base for large-scale randomized controlled trials to confirm the safety and efficacy of GGTCS for the treatment of CRS and may consequently serve to improve future treatment strategies for this condition.