Arch Intern Med
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Tai chi exercise in patients with chronic heart failure: a randomized clinical trial.
Preliminary evidence suggests that meditative exercise may have benefits for patients with chronic systolic heart failure (HF); this has not been rigorously tested in a large clinical sample. We sought to investigate whether tai chi, as an adjunct to standard care, improves functional capacity and quality of life in patients with HF. ⋯ Tai chi exercise may improve quality of life, mood, and exercise self-efficacy in patients with HF. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00110227.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Electronic patient messages to promote colorectal cancer screening: a randomized controlled trial.
Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality, yet effective screening tests are often underused. Electronic patient messages and personalized risk assessments delivered via an electronic personal health record could increase screening rates. ⋯ Electronic messages to patients produce an initial increase in colorectal cancer screening rates, but this effect is not sustained over time.
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Multicenter Study
Blood urea nitrogen in the early assessment of acute pancreatitis: an international validation study.
Objective assessment of acute pancreatitis (AP) is critical to help guide resuscitation efforts. Herein we (1) validate serial blood urea nitrogen (BUN) measurement for early prediction of mortality and (2) develop an objective BUN-based approach to early assessment in AP. ⋯ We have confirmed the accuracy of BUN measurement for early prediction of mortality in AP and developed an algorithm that may assist physicians in their early resuscitation efforts.