Articles: function.
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Review
Effects of intensive speech treatment on Mandarin speakers with Parkinson's Disease: A review.
Benefits of intensive speech treatment have been documented for a range of speech signs in English speakers with Parkinson's Disease (PD). However, the answer to a critical question that whether the same treatment benefits speech variables including intelligibility in Mandarin speakers is still unclear. In order to develop a targeted speech treatment for Mandarin speakers with PD, we reviewed the efficacy of intensive speech treatment to improve vocal loudness and functional communication and discuss possible explanations for efficacy on Mandarin speakers with PD. ⋯ The existing evidence from treatment efficacy studies of intensive speech treatment provides support for improving vocal loudness, speech intelligibility, pitch and rate in Mandarin speakers with PD. Our future research will continue to work to conduct a large sample multicenter randomized controlled trial to provide high quality evidence and understand the basic mechanisms accompanying treatment-related change.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of amlodipine combined with atorvastatin on Th17/Treg imbalance and vascular microcirculation in hypertensive patients with atherosclerosis: A double-blind, single-center randomized controlled trial.
Helper T cells 17 (Th17) and regulatory T cells (Treg), as CD4+T lymphocyte subsets, play an important role in the process of atherosclerosis. However, there are few studies on the regulation and efficacy of atorvastatin combined with amlodipine on Th17/Treg balance in hypertension combined with carotid atherosclerosis. Therefore, this study aims to verify the efficacy and immunomodulatory effects of atorvastatin combined with amlodipine in the treatment of hypertension combined with carotid atherosclerosis. ⋯ These data indicate that amlodipine combined with atorvastatin can improve Th17/Treg imbalance, vascular endothelial function and efficacy in patients with hypertension and atherosclerosis.
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The frequency of acute kidney injury (AKI) in COVID-19 patients can be varied and related to worse outcomes in the disease population. AKI is common among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, particularly the ones needing critical care. This study was conducted in order to determine the outcomes of hospitalized patients with prolonged hospital stays who suffered from COVID-19 associated AKI. ⋯ The mortality rate was significantly higher with AKI (OR: 4.7, P < .001). Alongside AKI, concomitant liver dysfunction was also significantly contributing to mortality (OR: 2.5), apart from ICU stay (OR: 2.9), invasive ventilation (OR: 9.2), and renal replacement therapy (OR: 2.4). Certain laboratory markers were associated with AKI throughout in-hospital stay.
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Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a genetic disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in ALPL, which encodes tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Early diagnosis and treatment of perinatal and infantile HPP are important because of their high mortality rates. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) using human recombinant tissue-nonspecific ALP asfotase alfa was introduced in Korea in 2016. We report the first experience of ERT over 6 years for perinatal lethal and infantile HPP in Korea. ⋯ Among the 2 patients, the patient who started ERT early had a much better prognosis despite a more severe initial clinical presentation. Our results suggest that early diagnosis and prompt treatment play an important role in improving long-term prognosis and avoiding morbidity and premature mortality in patients with perinatal and infantile HPP.