Articles: function.
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With recent research trying to explore the pathophysiologic mechanisms behind vasospasm, newer pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments are being targeted at various pathways involved. This review is aimed at understanding the mechanisms and current and future therapies available to treat vasospasm. ⋯ Endovascular therapy has shown consistent benefit in relieving vasospasm. An aggressive combination therapy through various routes seems to be the most useful approach to reduce the complications of vasospasm.
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This review updates part of an earlier Cochrane review on 'Pregabalin for acute and chronic pain in adults' (Moore 2009), and considers only fibromyalgia pain.Antiepileptic drugs have been used in pain management since the 1960s. Pregabalin is an antiepileptic drug also used in management of chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia. Pain response with pregabalin is associated with major benefits for other symptoms, and improved quality of life and function in people with chronic painful conditions. ⋯ Pregabalin 300 to 600 mg produces a major reduction in pain intensity over 12 to 26 weeks with tolerable adverse events for a small proportion of people (about 10% more than placebo) with moderate or severe pain due to fibromyalgia. The degree of pain relief is known to be accompanied by improvements in other symptoms, quality of life, and function. These results are similar to other effective medicines in fibromyalgia (milnacipran, duloxetine).
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To estimate the risk of erectile dysfunction in men who used 5-α reductase inhibitors to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia or alopecia. ⋯ 5-α reductase inhibitors do not seem to significantly increase the risk of incident erectile dysfunction, regardless of indication for use. Risk of erectile dysfunction increased with longer duration of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Sep 2016
ReviewSinging as an adjunct therapy for children and adults with cystic fibrosis.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetically inherited, life-threatening condition that affects major organs. The management of cystic fibrosis involves a multi-faceted daily treatment regimen that includes airway clearance techniques, pancreatic enzymes and other medications. Previous studies have found that compliance with this intensive treatment is poor, especially among adolescents. Because of both the nature and consequences of the illness and the relentless demands of the treatment, many individuals with cystic fibrosis have a poor quality of life. Anecdotal reports suggest that singing may provide both appropriate exercise for the whole respiratory system and a means of emotional expression which may enhance quality of life. This is an update of a previously published review. ⋯ There is insufficient evidence to determine the effects of singing on quality of life or on the respiratory parameters in people with cystic fibrosis. However, there is growing interest in non-medical treatments for cystic fibrosis and researchers may wish to investigate the impact of this inexpensive therapy on respiratory function and psychosocial well-being further in the future.
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Many aspects of left ventricular function are explained by considering ventricular pressure-volume characteristics. Contractility is best measured by the slope, Emax, of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship. Ventricular systole is usefully characterized by a time-varying elastance (ΔP/ΔV). ⋯ Without matching, the fraction of energy expended without mechanical work increases and energy is lost during ejection across the aortic valve. Ventricular function curves, derived from ventricular pressure-volume characteristics, interact with venous return curves to regulate cardiac output. Thus, consideration of ventricular pressure-volume relationships highlight features that allow the heart to efficiently respond to any demand for cardiac output and oxygen delivery.