Articles: outcome.
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This was a pilot study to test the potential effectiveness of intradiscal restorative injection therapy and compare with intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET). Thirty-five patients for intradiscal injection and seventy-four for IDET took part in the study. All patients had intractable chronic discogenic low back pain, confirmed by discogram study. ⋯ However, the duration of pain flare-up was notably shorter for restorative injections (8.6 days) than for IDET (33.1 days). Biochemical intradiscal restorative injections may be useful to reduce pain and disability in patients with chronic discogenic low back pain, and have clinically similar efficacy to IDET, but with improved cost-benefit ratio. The results of this study indicate that controlled random prospective comparative studies need to be performed to establish the efficacy of this treatment.
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To assess the association of diagnostic predictors available in the emergency department (ED) with the outcome diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). ⋯ Two components of the World Health Organization case definition - fever and contact exposure - are helpful for ED decision-making, but respiratory symptoms do not discriminate well between SARS and non-SARS. Emergency physicians should consider the presence of diarrhea, chest x-ray findings, the absolute lymphocyte count and the platelet count as significant modifiers of disease likelihood. Prospective validation of these findings in other clinical settings is desirable.
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Bosn J Basic Med Sci · Nov 2003
The effects of McKenzie exercises for patients with low back pain, our experience.
To investigate influence of McKenzie exercises on decreasing the pain in patients with low back pain, to show occurrence of Centralization sign, as a predictor of good treatment outcomes and to evaluate use of McKenzie exercises, as a routine method for lower back pain in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Centres. ⋯ McKenzie exercises for low back pain are beneficial treatment for increasing flexibility of spine and improving the pain with better results in pain relief. Although done by minimally trained physiotherapists in McKenzie approach, McKenzie exercises are successful method for decreasing and centralising the pain and increasing spinal movements in patients with low back pain.
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Although a rare phenomenon, acute allergic reactions to fibrinolytic and heparin therapy have been described in the literature. We report the case of a 63-year-old woman who experienced a severe anaphylactic reaction while undergoing fibrinolytic therapy with tissue plasminogen activator for an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Overall outcome was successful, but patient morbidity was increased because of the reaction and the subsequent therapy administered.
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The objective of this paper is to review the literature of cervical transforaminal injections, resulting complications, and to suggest a safe technique. ⋯ The review of the literature revealed: 1. There is a paucity of literature regarding cervical transforaminal injections; 2. There is no accepted standard technique for performing cervical transforaminal injections; and 3. More research and study must be performed regarding the risk versus benefit, technique, and outcome of cervical transforaminal injections.