Improvement In Subjective Scores Research Articles

Efficacy, tolerance and acceptability of pulsed dye laser on facial and neckline telangiectasias in systemic scleroderma: a prospective open-label monocentric study in 21 patients

ABSTRACT Facial and neckline telangiectasias have an underestimated yet important impact on quality of life of patients with systemic scleroderma (SSc). This monocentric, prospective, open-label, intra-patient comparative study was conducted in 21 consecutive patients with SSc. Patients underwent 4 sessions of PDL 8 weeks apart. A final quadruple assessment was performed by several raters 2 months after the last session, based on the following criteria: change in telangiectasia number; subjective improvement score (LINKERT scale); impact on the quality of life (QoL; SKINDEX score); visual analog pain scale; adverse effects (AEs), including treatment discontinuation for PDL-induced purpura and patient satisfaction. The mean telangiectasia number decreased by 5 (32%) at the end of the protocol. Eighteen patients (85.7%) reported an improvement or a strong improvement, versus 73.81% for the expert committee. Immediate session pain (mean = 3.4/10) was slightly less than overall pain (mean = 4.6/10). Ten patients (47%) experienced at least one AE (oozing/crusts, edema, epidermal blistering), including PDL-induced purpura in 3 patients (14%). AEs were mostly transient (<1 week) and mild (CTCAE grade 1). All QoL parameters improved after treatment, and 85% of patients were satisfied.

Ultrasound-Guided Meniscal Injection of Autologous Growth Factors: A Brief Report.

Meniscal degeneration is a common finding even in young patients' knees, and it is regarded as a predictor for the onset of early osteoarthritis (OA). When symptomatic, it represents a challenge since arthroscopic surgery provides unpredictable results: recent evidence has shown that partial meniscectomy is not better than conservative management up to 2 years of follow-up, and the removal of meniscal tissue may accelerate OA progression toward OA. Intra-articular injection of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid may help in providing temporary symptomatic relief, but no influence should be expected on the quality of the meniscal tissue. Biologic agents have been adopted to treat a variety of degenerative musculoskeletal pathologies, and the use of platelet-derived growth factors (GFs) has become routine. Preclinical studies have documented that platelet-derived GFs may play a beneficial role in stimulating meniscal repair and regeneration by triggering anabolic pathways and stimulating local mesenchymal stem cells from synovium. Furthermore, also mechanical stimulation (e.g., arthroscopic trephination or percutaneous needling) in the red-red or red-white zone may further promote tissue healing. The purpose of the present brief report is to describe the clinical outcomes at 18 months' follow-up in a cohort of patients affected by symptomatic medial meniscus degeneration and treated by percutaneous needling plus intra- and perimeniscal injection of autologous conditioned plasma (ACP). The procedure was shown to be safe and provided significant pain reduction and improvement in subjective scores. This treatment option deserves further investigation in a comparative setting, to establish whether it could offer advantage over isolated intra-articular injections.

Complex Meniscus Tears Treated with Collagen Matrix Wrapping and Bone Marrow Blood Injection: Clinical Effectiveness and Survivorship after a Minimum of 5 Years' Follow-Up.

Purpose. To determine the 5-year success rate of the “all-inside” technique of arthroscopic meniscus suture and collagen membrane wrapping along with bone marrow blood injection, to evaluate the progression of degenerative changes and the impact of simultaneous anteriro cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods. Fifty-four consecutive patients with complex meniscal tears were treated with the previously described technique. The subjective scores (International Knee Documentation Committee 2000, Lysholm, EQ-5D-5L) and Barret clinical criteria of meniscal healing were recorded. Magnetic resonance images (MRIs) were assessed at 2 and 5 years postoperatively, using the Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS) criteria. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed in order to assess the survivorship after the index procedure. Thirty-nine patients were divided into 2 groups: group A—isolated meniscus repair and group B—meniscus repair with concurrent ACL reconstruction. Results. Fifty-four patients were treated and 44 were available for analysis. There was a statistically significant improvement in subjective scores and clinical assessment between the preoperative, 2-year follow-up, and 5-year follow-up time points. EQ-5D-5L utility value was 0.9 ± 1 at final follow-up. The WORMS osteoarthritis severity grade had increased from 6.9 ± 5.0 points at the 2-year follow-up to 11.1 ± 9.6 points at the 5-year follow-up (P < 0.001). There was a significant difference between the groups after 60 months. The overall survival rate at final follow-up was 88%. Conclusions. The treatment option evaluated in this study has shown very good mid-term clinical and MRI-based outcomes as well as a favorable survival rate. Simultaneous ACL reconstruction is likely a factor for osteoarthritis progression.

Randomized controlled trial to compare the tolerability and efficacy of treatment with Icodextrin 7.5% versus Dextrose 2.5% in chronic peritoneal dialysis patients with high/high average solute transport characteristics and low residual renal function

Aim: Comparison of tolerability and efficacy of treatment with icodextrin vs. dextrose 2.5% amongst high risk cohort of chronic peritoneal dialysis patients (high/high average solute transport characteristics and low residual renal function) over 3 months. Study Design and Methodology: The study was an open-label, comparative, prospective, randomized controlled trial, conducted at department of Nephrology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. A total of 349 end stage renal disease patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis were screened for eligibility over a period of 6 months and 41 patients with high / high average solute transport characteristics and low residual renal function were randomized to receive either icodextrin 7.5% solution or 2.5% dextrose solution in long dwell. Patients were assessed for adequacy of peritoneal dialysis (creatinine & urea clearance), peritoneal membrane transport characteristics including solute clearance (standard peritoneal equilibration test), body composition, total body water, fat mass and fat free mass (using whole body tetrapolar bioimpedance analyzer) at baseline and at the end of 3 months. Statistical Analysis: Continuous variables were compared with independent samples paired t test if normally distributed, or with Mann–Whitney U test if the distribution was skewed. Categorical variables were analyzed with Chi-square test or Fisher exact test as appropriate. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated between different quantitative variables. Paired t test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used for within-group comparisons. Repeated measure ANOVA was used to compare bioelectrical impedance between intervention groups. Results: The study has shown that use of icodextrin based continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis resulted in better ultrafiltration and improved solute clearance when compared to 2.5% dextrose based peritoneal dialysis in a select cohort of patients having high/high average transporter characteristics with poor residual renal function, however, it didn't significantly alter total body water and failed to translate into improvements in either patient's or physician's assessment of global health of response to therapy atleast at 3 months. Conclusions: Although use of icodextrin based peritoneal dialysis solution for long dwell resulted in significant improvement in solute clearance and ultrafiltration nevertheless failed to translate into better hydration status or subjective improvement scores atleast at 3 months.

Comparison of Sublingual Immunotherapy in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis Sensitive to House Dust Mites in Korea.

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) using 2 kinds of SLIT medications (LAIS and Staloral) in patients with allergic rhinitis for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae. We have evaluated the patient's characteristics, safety, and compliance in 293 patients and also analyzed the symptom score, medication score, satisfaction rate, and immunologic measurement in 84 patients who have continued the treatment over 1 year. The symptom scores were significantly improved in both treatment groups, 51% versus 44% (LAIS vs Starloral) at 1 year (P < .05). The medication score was also significantly decreased in both treatment groups (P < .05), 50.8% versus 60%. The subjective improvement score was 44.4% versus 46.1%, and satisfaction rate was 29% versus 40% (P < .05). The serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) level was significantly increased in Staloral group (P < .05). The adverse events were 6.2% versus 33.3% and the compliance was 37.7% versus 25.1%. In conclusion, the improvements in symptom score and medication scores were not significant different between 2 SLIT medications at 1 year. LAIS was more compliant, less side effects and Staloral has shown increased satisfaction rate and IgG4 level.

Effect of Type 1 Tympanoplasty on the Quality of Life of CSOM Patients.

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) continues to be an important public health problem despite significant advances in medical science. Ear discharge, pain, discomfort, difficulty in hearing, limitation of routine activities and emotional problems due to CSOM cause a significant impact on the health and general well being of the patient. We have done Type 1 tympanoplasty in tubotympanic type of COM to reconstruct the tympanic membrane and alleviate the symptoms of the patients. This study presents an analysis of the impact of the surgery on the patient subjectively and its correlation with objective outcomes. 45 patients were selected to fill the chronic otitis media-5 (COM-5) questionnaire and underwent pure tone audiometry preoperatively. All the patients underwent Type 1 tympanoplasty by using temporalis fascia graft. The status of the ossicles was checked and documented intraoperatively. Patients requiring ossicular reconstruction or with attico antral disease were excluded. Patients were followed up for a period of 6months and those with an intact graft after 6months were included in the study. These patients were again made to fill the questionnaire and undergo pure tone audiometry postoperatively. 37 out of 45 patients (82%) had an intact graft 6months after surgery. Marked improvement was observed in subjective scores as documented by the questionnaire, pre- and postoperatively with the mean improvement in total scores being 7.89±4.81 on a Visual Analogue Scale. Also significant improvement was achieved in closure of air-bone gap with the mean improvement being 14.73±8.58dB. Significant correlation was found between subjective and objective scores in most patients. This study showed that Type 1 tympanoplasty brings about a significant improvement in the quality of life of chronic suppurative otitis media patients. Most patients showed a marked improvement in subjective scores which correlated well with the objective findings of the status of the graft and improvement in air-bone gap. Asymptomatic patients with less preoperative scores showed less improvement in subjective scores which did not correlate with the objective outcomes.

Treatment of striae distensae combined enhanced penetration platelet-rich plasma and ultrasound after plasma fractional radiofrequency

Background: Striae distensae (striae alba) is a challenging cosmetic problem for which various treatment modalities have been applied. However, the treatment of striae distensae has not been satisfactory. Objectives: This study was done to evaluate the effectiveness and the safety of enhanced penetration of platelet rich plasma with ultrasound after plasma fractional radiofrequency for the treatment of striae distensae. Subjects and method: Eighteen participants with striae distensae were treated with a Legato system (Alma Lasers, Israel) every two weeks for a total of four sessions. Thereafter, in order to enhance platelet-rich plasma penetration, ultrasound is applied. Clinical photographs were taken before first treatment and two months after the final treatment. Objective and subjective improvement scores were evaluated to demonstrate the efficacy. Abdominal skin biopsies were obtained from three individuals and histological changes were analyzed by light microscopy. Results: During the two months after the last treatment, the average width of the widest striae had decreased from 0.75 to 0.27 mm. In the objective assessment, 71.9% of the participants reported ‘‘good” or “very good’’ overall improvement. In the subjective assessment, and 72.2% of the participants reported ‘‘very satisfied” or “extremely satisfied’’ with overall improvement. The only reported side effect was post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (11.1%). Conclusions: The plasma fractional radiofrequency and transepidermal delivery of platelet-rich plasma using ultrasound is useful in the treatment of striae distensae.

Oral vasodilators for primary Raynaud's phenomenon

Many different drugs have been suggested for the symptomatic treatment of primary Raynaud's phenomenon. Apart from calcium channel blockers, which are considered the drugs of choice, the evidence of the effects of alternative pharmacological treatments is limited. This is an update of a review first published in 2008. To assess the effects of various drugs with vasodilator actions on primary Raynaud's phenomenon. For this update the Cochrane Peripheral Vascular Diseases Group Trials Search Co-ordinator searched the Specialised Register (last searched 14 May 2012), CENTRAL (Issue 4, 2012) and clinical trials databases. We contacted one pharmaceutical company and one trial author for additional information. In addition, the reference lists of relevant studies were searched for additional citations. There were no language restrictions. Randomised controlled trials evaluating the effects of oral formulations of any drug with vasodilator effects on subjective symptoms in primary Raynaud's phenomenon. Treatment with, or comparison with, calcium channel blockers was not assessed in this review. Two members of the review team independently assessed the trials for inclusion and their quality and extracted the data. Data extraction included adverse events. We contacted trial authors for missing data. Eight studies involving 290 participants were included. Two trials examined the effects of captopril, the rest were single trials on single drugs. All comparisons were with placebo. The methodological quality of most trials was poor.Enalapril was associated with a small increase in the frequency of attacks per week (difference in means 0.8; 95% CI 0.43 to 1.17). The difference between the intervention groups on a subjective improvement score was non-significant. There was a significant effect of buflomedil on the frequency of attacks per week (weighted mean difference (WMD) -8.8; 95% CI -17.55 to -0.09), but there was no evidence of effect on the severity score. The proportion with fewer attacks was significantly higher on moxisylyte than on placebo (relative risk (RR) 4.33; 95% CI 1.36 to 13.81). For captopril, beraprost, dazoxiben and ketanserin there was no evidence of an effect on the frequency, severity or duration of attacks. Beraprost and moxisylyte gave significantly more adverse effects than placebo. Poor methodological quality, small sample sizes and the limited data available resulted in low precision of the statistical results and limited value of the overall results .The overall results show that there is no evidence for an effect of vasodilator drugs on primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

Safety and self-reported efficacy of botulinum toxin for adult spasticity in current clinical practice: a prospective observational study

Objective: To determine the safety and the self-reported efficacy of botulinum toxin injections for adult spasticity in current clinical practice. Design: A prospective observational study. Subjects: A total of 406 adult patients with focal spasticity received of 1136 series botulinum toxin injections at Bordeaux University Hospital from January 2007 to December 2009. Methods: Adverse events following botulinum toxin injections were reported. Their severity and the therapeutic efficacy of botulinum toxin injections were estimated with a four-point self-reporting scale (0 to 3). Latency and duration of adverse events and subjective improvement were also noted. Results: The data of 640 series of injections were analyzed. Forty-six (7.2%) adverse events were reported, of which 36 (78%) were local. There were 18 (39%) cases of local muscular weakness with an average duration of 30.0 (SD 38.2) days, and an average severity score of 1.0 (SD 0.97). Among systemic adverse events, there were 8 (17%) cases of excessive fatigue without global muscular weakness and 2 (4%) cases of transitory generalized muscular weakness. The average subjective improvement score was 1.89 (SD 0.97) and was higher for upper, than for lower, limbs (P=0.007). Conclusion: Self-reported adverse events following botulinum toxin injections in spasticity are rare, often benign and of short duration in current clinical practice. Botulinum toxin is considered effective by patients in treating spasticity of the upper and lower limbs.

Timing of Esophageal Dilation for Dysphagia in Head and Neck Cancer patients receiving Radiation Therapy

To determine 1) if timing of esophageal dilation (ED) after radiation therapy (XRT) affects patient's subjective scores of dysphagia, and 2) if specific patient and tumor characteristics affect these scores. Retrospective. Electronic medical records of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients who received ED after XRT between 2006-2009 were evaluated for subjective improvement scores of dysphagia. Factors that were evaluated included age (≤ or >50), sex, primary site, T and N-staging, total laryngectomy (TL) +/- cricopharyngeal myotomy (CPM), ± chemotherapy, bougie size (< or ≥ 50), ± TEP at time of dilation, and time from radiation to dilation (<6 months, <or ≥ 1 year). Post-operative improvement ratings from 0-10 with 10 being the best were measured at various intervals (1 week and 3, 6,9, and 12 months or greater). 26 patients had ED after therapy. 13 (50.0%) patients had TL, and 9 (69.2%) of these patients had a CPM performed at the time of surgery. Majority of patients had ED >6 months (84.6%) and>12 months (69.2%) from XRT. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that ED performed <1 year from XRT, no concurrent chemotherapy, and CPM for TL patients had significantly improved scores at all post-operative time intervals (p<0.01) with ED at < 6 months being significant in univariate analysis as well. Esophageal dilations performed <1 year after XRT have improved subjective scores for dysphagia. Patients who have received chemotherapy or did not have CPM at the time of TL may need more aggressive dilations because of poorer outcomes.

Treatment of facial reticular veins with dynamically cooled, variable spot‐sized 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser

Facial reticular veins are often seen on the temple and periorbital areas in patients with genetic predisposition or after facial cosmetic surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dynamically cooled, variable spot sized 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser in the treatment of facial reticular veins. This is a retrospective study. Twenty patients with facial reticular veins who underwent treatment with dynamically cooled, variable spot sized 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser were evaluated. Patients were followed up 1 month to 2 years after the procedure. Objective and subjective improvement scores after one or two treatments of dynamically cooled, variable spot sized 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser were nearly 100% when appropriate parameters were used. Dynamically cooled, variable spot sized 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser is a safe and effective treatment for facial reticular veins. Most patients responded to one treatment and experienced no significant side effects other than tolerable pain associated with the procedure.

Long-term outcomes of laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty in 168 patients with snoring

Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is an established treatment for snoring. Our institution has been using a modification of the Kamami technique since 1995. Between January 1995 and December 2001, 469 patients underwent LAUP for snoring. A telephone survey of these patients and their partners was conducted retrospectively. One hundred and sixty-eight patients and their partners were interviewed and the findings analysed.Of the 168 patients, 122 had LAUP alone, 42 had LAUP and tonsillectomy and four had LAUP and septoplasty. The median follow-up time was 59 months (range 19 to 98 months).Seventy-four per cent reported improvement at six weeks, 69 per cent reported improvement at nine months and 55 per cent reported improvement at the time of interview. To assess the degree of improvement, patients and their partners were asked to grade any improvement in percentage terms. The mean subjective improvement scores were 57 per cent at six weeks (95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 50-64 per cent), 45 per cent at nine months (95 per cent CI 38-59 per cent) and 30 per cent at the time of interview (95 per cent CI 23-35 per cent). Patients who reported weight gain since surgery did not have a poorer outcome than those who reported no weight change or weight loss. Neither did weight loss predict a better outcome. The procedure was generally well tolerated, with only 30 patients (18 per cent) reporting complications (mainly minor). The benefits of LAUP wane with time and the results are best in the first 12 months following surgery. Our study suggests that 55 per cent of patients selected after sleep studies and sleep nasendoscopy will enjoy long-term benefit.

The 360-Degree Maneuver for Treatment of Benign Positional Vertigo

The purpose of this study was to determine whether rotating a patient 360 degrees in the plane of the posterior semicircular canal is effective in treating classic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The study also compares the features of the Epley maneuver and the Semont maneuver and correlates them to the 360-degree maneuver. A prospective analysis of 31 patients presenting with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo who were treated using the multiaxial positioning device. A questionnaire was administered immediately after each treatment. The study was carried out in a private practice referral clinic for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Subjects consisted of 31 adults who ranged in age from 44 to 95 years. Thirty-one patients were treated using the 360-degree maneuver. A multiaxial positioning device was used to rotate patients completely upside down and back into the starting position in the proper plane. Subjective improvement scores, tolerability, objective nystagmus observations, and complications were recorded. Subjective improvement rates were 90% after one treatment; 97% were symptom-free and nystagmus-free after a maximum of three treatment sessions. Eighty-seven percent found the procedure quite tolerable from an ergonomic standpoint. The 360-degree maneuver can be effective in treating benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Its rate of success is comparable to the rate of success of the standard Epley maneuver. On analysis, it is strikingly similar to the Epley and Semont maneuvers.