Hippokratia
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Comparison of the efficacy of Transitory Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAEs) and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAEs) in a neonatal hearing screening protocol, based on a three-stage strategy. ⋯ With a lower follow-up rate, TEOAEs testing was significantly easier to perform and more reliable compared to the DPOAEs test. Hippokratia 2016, 20(2): 104-109.
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Patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have impaired quality of life, but the relationship between their nutritional status and quality of life has not been established. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between quality of life and nutritional status in hospitalized COPD patients. ⋯ COPD patients were found to have a high risk of malnutrition that adversely affects their quality of life. Therefore, the evaluation of the nutritional status of COPD patients should be an integral part of their clinical treatment plans aiming towards improving their quality of life. Hippokratia 2016, 20(2):147-152.
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Autonomic symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) are very common and contribute to the severity of patient's disability. We evaluated the occurrence of autonomic symptoms in Greek patients with PD utilizing the Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease-Autonomic questionnaire (SCOPA-AUT), a specific 23-item self-completed questionnaire for the assessment of autonomic dysfunction in patients with PD. ⋯ Autonomic symptoms in PD are too important to remain undetected. By incorporating into everyday practice the use of suitable and reliable questionnaires, physicians will be able to adequately detect and manage these symptoms. Hippokratia 2016, 20(2):115-120.
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Capsule endoscopy (CE) remains the examination of choice for the investigation of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Although the factors predicting positive CE findings in the overall obscure gastrointestinal bleeding have been investigated, the clinical characteristics that predict a positive CE in patients with past overt obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OOGIB) have not been systematically studied. ⋯ Certain clinical characteristics predict a positive CE in patients with past OOGIB. Patients with OOGIB and negative CE had a considerably lower rebleeding rate, and further invasive investigational procedures may be adjourned or may not be required, though such recommendation warrants further validation. Hippokratia 2016, 20(2): 127-132.
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Case Reports
Laparoscopic microwave ablation for the management of hemorrhage from ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma.
Treatment of ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) focuses on hemorrhage control and utilizes tumor vascular anatomy to palliate or temporize selected patients with hepatic artery embolization (HAE). Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) are feasible alternatives or adjunct modalities to resection of HCC; the method of energy delivery in MWA allows uniform coagulative necrosis in shorter time compared with RFA. ⋯ Tumor rupture remains a negative prognostic factor in the course of HCC. In select patients, MWA allows definitive hemorrhage control with minimal surgical morbidity. Hippokratia 2016, 20(2): 169-171.