The American journal of the medical sciences
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Electromyographic assessment of dexamethasone in treatment of post-tonsillectomy pain: randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Surface electromyographic (sEMG) study of post-tonsillectomy swallow-evoked muscular reactions was performed to assess analgesic properties of dexamethasone. ⋯ If dexamethasone is administered, the reduction of the postoperative pain could be secondary to the reduction of edema. The sEMG might be used for quantitative evaluation of analgesics via assessment of neuromuscular reactions to analgesia.
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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrosing lung disorder characterized by progressive dyspnea, exercise intolerance and, ultimately, respiratory failure and death. The incidence of IPF seems to be increasing, whereas its etiology remains unelucidated. ⋯ Consequently, the management of IPF focuses on the early identification of subjects for lung transplantation and on the treatment of comorbidities such as hypoxemia, cough and deconditioning. Until effective therapies are identified, patients and referring physicians are urged to consider participation in well-designed clinical trials.
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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by progressive fibrosis of the lung and poor prognosis. This is the case report of a patient with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis that highlights many of the controversies inherent in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effect of gemfibrozil, niacin and cholestyramine combination therapy on metabolic syndrome in the Armed Forces Regression Study.
Metabolic syndrome is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular events independent of overt diabetes. Dietary restriction and weight loss modify metabolic syndrome components. This study addresses whether combination pharmacologic therapy focused on dyslipidemia provides additional benefit. ⋯ The combination of gemfibrozil, niacin and cholestyramine has profound, beneficial effects on the components of metabolic syndrome. These benefits are additive to those seen with aggressive diet and lifestyle modification.
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Although neurocysticercosis is pleomorphic in its presentation, neurocysticercosis of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus is so uncommon that less than 10 cases have been reported in the literature. Hypopituitarism as a complication of neurocysticercosis is exceedingly rare with only 2 cases described in the literature. ⋯ Clinical experience with management of these cases is lacking, and there are no studies confirming the efficacy of cysticidal drugs in intrasellar or suprasellar cysts. Because most of single enhancing cystic lesions may disappear spontaneously and risk may outweigh the benefit of treatment, conservative management may be indicated in these cases.