International journal of clinical and experimental medicine
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To assess the efficacy of Electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation with high-intensity compared with low-intensity on knee osteoarthritis (KOA). ⋯ Both high- and low-intensity EA treatments alleviate the clinical symptoms of KOA patients. High-intensity EA is more effective than low-intensity EA. Changes in plasma levels of TNFα, apelin and IL-6 may be involved in the therapeutic effect of EA on KOA.
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The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the predictive validity of the Identification of Seniors at Risk (ISAR) Tool in identifying elderly patients at risk of adverse outcomes after a visit to the emergency department (ED). Since older adults are frequently sent to the ED, screening for risk of adverse outcomes in elderly patients is increasingly important in the ED. Also it is a way to ensure that interventions based on a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) are provided to patients identified at risk to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes. ⋯ With a cutoff score at least 2, the ISAR was proved to have poor validity related to revisiting the ED (AUC: 0.59-0.60) and hospital readmission (AUC: 0.59-0.60). The predictive validity of the ISAR related to mortality and composite outcomes was graded as poor to fair. It is not suitable to use the ISAR alone for identifying seniors at risk for adverse outcomes in the ED.
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To investigate and compared the efficacy and safety of epidural analgesia with different concentrations of bupivacaine plus fentanyl on pain in patients undergoing thoracic surgery. ⋯ 0.25%~0.375% bupivacaine plus fentanyl 0.4 mg using in epidural analgesia in patients undergoing thoracic surgery can lead to safe and effective analgesic effect.
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Chronic low back and lower extremity pain is mainly caused by lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and radiculitis. Various surgery and nonsurgical modalities, including epidural injections, have been used to treat LDH or radiculitis. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to assess the effects of the two interventions in managing various chronic low and lower extremity pain. ⋯ This meta-analysis confirms that epidural injections of local anesthetic with or without steroids have beneficial but similar effects in the treatment of patients with chronic low back and lower extremity pain.
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Review
Local anaesthetic wound infiltration used for caesarean section pain relief: a meta-analysis.
Local anaesthetic wound infiltration techniques were reported to reduce opiate requirements and pain scores in women undergoing caesarean section (CS). However, the results were conflicting. The primary aim of this meta-analysis was to assess whether local analgesia could reduce pain intensity when injected via wound catheters. ⋯ Local anaesthetic wound infiltration can reduce morphine requirements and the rate of patients suffer nausea but not pain scores after caesarean section. Further procedure-specific RCTs were encouraged to confirm the efficacy of local anaesthetic wound infiltration techniques.