Plos One
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
General strength and conditioning versus motor control with manual therapy for improving depressive symptoms in chronic low back pain: A randomised feasibility trial.
Exercise can be used as a treatment for depressive symptoms in the general population. However, little is known as to whether exercise has mental health benefits for adults experiencing chronic low back pain (CLBP). The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of two intervention protocols commonly used in clinical practice for treating chronic low back pain, but with differing exercise dose, on depressive symptoms. ⋯ Reduction in depressive symptoms amongst adults with CLBP occurred with both treatment methods (motor control [low-dose exercise] and manual therapy; or general strength and conditioning [moderate-dose exercise]). Further interventions including a true control group are needed to draw conclusions as to the effectiveness of each of these treatment methods on depressive symptoms amongst adults with CLBP.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Cost analysis of antibiotic therapy versus appendectomy for treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis: 5-year results of the APPAC randomized clinical trial.
The efficacy and safety of antibiotic treatment for uncomplicated acute appendicitis has been established at long-term follow-up with the majority of recurrences shown to occur within the first year. Overall costs of antibiotics are significantly lower compared with appendectomy at short-term follow-up, but long-term durability of these cost savings is unclear. The study objective was to compare the long-term overall costs of antibiotic therapy versus appendectomy in the treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis in the APPAC (APPendicitis ACuta) trial at 5 years. ⋯ At 5-year follow-up antibiotic treatment resulted in significantly lower overall costs compared with appendectomy. As the majority of appendicitis recurrences occur within the first year after the initial antibiotic treatment, these results suggest that treating uncomplicated acute appendicitis with antibiotics instead of appendectomy results in lower overall costs even at longer-term follow-up.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Effectiveness of integrative medicine group visits in chronic pain and depressive symptoms: A randomized controlled trial.
Current treatment options for chronic pain and depression are largely medication-based, which may cause adverse side effects. Integrative Medical Group Visits (IMGV) combines mindfulness techniques, evidence based integrative medicine, and medical group visits, and is a promising adjunct to medications, especially for diverse underserved patients who have limited access to non-pharmacological therapies. ⋯ Results demonstrate that low-income racially diverse patients will attend medical group visits that focus on non-pharmacological techniques, however, in the attention to treat analysis there was no difference in average pain levels between the intervention and the control group.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of chest compression quality in walking versus straddling cardiopulmonary resuscitation during stretcher transportation: A prospective randomised crossover study using manikins.
The optimal strategy to ensure chest compression quality for patients being transported on a stretcher has not been established yet. We hypothesised that straddling cardiopulmonary resuscitation may improve chest compression quality in patients being transported on stretchers. We conducted a prospective randomised crossover study using manikins to investigate whether straddling cardiopulmonary resuscitation improves chest compression quality (depth, recoil, rate, correct hand position) performed on patients during stretcher transportation compared to walking cardiopulmonary resuscitation. ⋯ On the other hand, the degree of deterioration was relatively small in male participants, even when they performed walking cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In patients with cardiac arrest being transported on a stretcher, straddling cardiopulmonary resuscitation improved the depth of chest compressions compared to walking cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Female rescuers, in particular, may consider using straddling cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Exploration of muscle loss and metabolic state during prolonged critical illness: Implications for intervention?
Muscle wasting in the critically ill is up to 2% per day and delays patient recovery and rehabilitation. It is linked to inflammation, organ failure and severity of illness. The aims of this study were to understand the relationship between muscle depth loss, and nutritional and inflammatory markers during prolonged critical illness. Secondly, to identify when during critical illness catabolism might decrease, such that targeted nutritional strategies may logically be initiated. ⋯ Our patients demonstrated a continuous muscle depth loss and negative nitrogen balance over the 14 days of the study. Catabolism remained dominant throughout the study period. No obvious 'nutritional tipping point" to identify anabolism or recovery could be identified in our cohort. Our ICU patient cohort is one with a moderately prolonged stay. This group showed little consistency in data, reflecting the individuality of both disease and response. The data are consistent with a conclusion that a time based assumption of a tipping point does not exist.