Quality Of Life In Patients Research Articles

Quality of Life and Clinical Outcomes of Endosonography-Guided Biliary Drainage in Patients with Malignant Biliary Obstruction: A Single-Center, Prospective Analysis.

Introduction: Endosonography-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) serves as a rescue treatment modality for patients with malignant biliary obstruction when endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) fails. Objectives: This study explores the effects of EUS-BD on liver function and quality of life (QoL). Patients and Methods: Patients with malignant biliary obstruction and failed ERCP were enrolled to undergo EUS-BD. QoL, including pruritus severity, was evaluated using EQ-5D-5L and PSS-10 questionnaires before and after EUS-BD. Serum bilirubin and liver function tests were measured on the procedure day, two days, and at least 14 days post-procedure. Results: During a 20-month study period, 1755 ERCPs were performed, with 595 for malignant cases. Of these, 49 underwent EUS-BD following failed ERCP, and 37 (54% women, age range 34-87 years) completed the 14-day follow-up. Pancreatic cancer was the most common (49%) condition, and the median hospital stay was 4 days. Serum bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase significantly decreased 2 and 14 days after EUS-BD (all p < 0.001). Pruritus significantly improved, with an average reduction of 5.19 points on the PSS-10 scale two weeks post-procedure (p < 0.001). EUS-BD led to improvements in anxiety and depression according to the EQ-5D-5L (p = 0.013). Conversely, deteriorations were observed in the Mobility, Self-Care, and Usual Activities domains over time (all p < 0.05). Successful EUS-BD enabled the resumption of chemotherapy in 11 (30%) patients. The median post-procedure survival was 112 (range 27-1030) days. Conclusions: EUS-BD improves liver parameters and some aspects of life quality in patients with malignant biliary obstruction, thereby increasing their eligibility for optimal palliative care.

The impact of hearing aids on cognitive function and quality of life in patients with hearing impairment: A cross-sectional study

ObjectiveAge-related cognitive decline involves a complex set of factors. Among these factors, hearing loss is considered to have a significant impact, but the effect of hearing aid use remains unresolved. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of hearing aid use by simultaneously assessing various factors not only cognitive function but also frailty, anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with hearing loss. MethodsThe cross-sectional study at the Hearing Aid (HA) Center was conducted between 2020 and 2021. Initially, associations with cognitive function, QOL, frailty, and mental state among patients with hearing loss were examined, irrespective of whether they wore a hearing aid or not. Next, these patients were divided into HA users (using HA for more than 1 year) and non-users (no prior use of HA) with 42 patients in each group. The average age and 6-frequency pure tone audiometry (PTA) was 74.5 ± 6.5 years and 50.6 ± 12.1 dB, respectively. All participants filled out the questionnaire about their life style, medical condition. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for cognitive function, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for mental state, Short Form 36 version 2 (SF-36v2) for QOL, and Kihon Checklist for frailty were compared between HA users and non-users and correlated with the auditory data (PTA and speech discrimination). ResultsAmong 84 patients, 40 had an MMSE score ≦26. All eight scores and three components of SF-36v2 were lower than those of the control group. The patients with hypertension were significantly more in HA user than in non-HA user, whereas there was no difference in diabetes, heart attack, stroke and education. Although HA users were older and showed hypertension more their PTA was worse than that of non-users, MMSE scores were not different between the groups. MMSE scores correlated with both PTA and speech discrimination in non-users but not in HA users. However, a multivariate analysis of the effect of HA use on MMSE scores adjusting for age, hypertension, and hearing loss, could not be revealed. The vitality and mental component summary of the SF-36v2 was better in HA users than in non-users. ConclusionElderly patients with hearing loss were cognitively impaired and had low QOL. HA users showed better QOL score than non-HA user, especially about the mental condition. The absence of a correlation between MMSE scores and hearing loss in HA users suggests the potential use of HA in preventing cognitive decline.

Internalized Stigma and Quality of Life in Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study From Gujarat, India

Introduction: Substance use disorders (SUDs) contribute to one-fifth of all disability- adjusted life years caused by psychiatric illnesses. They have a high treatment gap. Stigma affects the lives of people with SUDs and is shown to impede the pursuit of valued life goals and recovery from addiction. We studied stigma and QOL in patients with Alcohol Use disorders (AUD). Methods: Participants between 18 and 65 years with a clinical diagnosis of AUD were included (inpatients and outpatients). Demographic and clinical data were recorded using a semistructured questionnaire. ISMIS &amp; WHOQOL-Bref questionnaires were used to assess internalized stigma and quality of life. Results: Of the 141 participants, 89(63.10%) patients had severe self-stigma, 31(22.10%) patients had moderate self-stigma, and 21(14.90) patients had mild self-stigma. In ISMIS, stigma due to alienation (3.22) was higher than social withdrawal, discrimination, stereotype, and stigma resistance. In the WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire, the mean score of social domain (9.45) was the lowest compared to the other domains of the quality of life scale. A significant association was found between the education and the duration of substance use with ISMI grades with people with up to 10th standard education (p-value - 0.002*), living in urban areas (p-value - 0.022*), and ten or more years of substance use (p-value - 0.00002). Conclusion: The various domains of quality of life generally negatively correlated with the internalized stigma score, suggesting that a greater degree of self-stigma is associated with poorer quality of life.

Intensive Care Unit Management of Right Heart Failure and Lung Transplantation for Pulmonary Hypertension

Abstract: Pulmonary hypertension is associated with worse outcomes across systemic and cardiopulmonary conditions. Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction often leads to poor outcomes due to a progressive increase in RV afterload. Recognition and management of RV dysfunction are important to circumvent hospitalization and improve patient outcomes. Early recognition of patients at risk for RV failure is important to ensure that medical therapy is optimized and, where appropriate, referral for lung transplant assessment is undertaken. Patients initiated on parenteral prostanoids and those with persistent intermediate to high risk for poor outcomes should be referred. For patients with RV failure, identifying reversible causes should be a priority in conjunction with efforts to optimize RV preload and strategies to reduce RV afterload. Admission to a monitored environment where vasoactive medications can treat RV failure and its sequelae, such as renal dysfunction, is essential in patients with severe RV failure. Exit strategies need to be identified early on, with consideration and implementation of extracorporeal support for those in whom recovery or transplantation are viable options. Enlisting the skills and support of a palliative care team may improve the quality of life for patients with limited options and those with ongoing symptoms from heart failure in the face of medical treatments.

Systematic review of factors related to quality of life in patients with oral cancer: a systematic review.

This study aims to evaluate factors related to quality of life of patients with oral cancer. CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, CBM, Pubmed, Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and The Cochrane Library were searched up to May 2023 for studies that evaluated the quality of life of patients with oral cancer. All the included studies were independently selected, extracted, and rated by two researchers, and results are summarized by qualitative analysis. Twenty-four articles on 2 717 patients were included. Factors related to the quality of life of patients with oral cancer mainly included age, tumor TNM stage, radiochemotherapy, and gender, which could be summarized into three aspects: personal factors, disease-related factors, and surgical factors. More than five studies reported on the analysis of age, gender, tumor TNM stage, pathological stage, neck dissection method, marital status, recurrence, smoking, education level, etc. The results are relatively consistent. The incidence of oral cancer increases, and many factors affected the quality of life. The included literature is a cross-sectional study, and the sample size is limited. The causal relationship between relevant factors and quality of life should be verified using large sample sizes.

Nanotechnology-based Strategies for Molecular Imaging, Diagnosis, and Therapy of Organ Transplantation.

Organ transplantation is the preferred paradigm for patients with end-stage organ failures. Despite unprecedented successes, complications such as immune rejection, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and graft dysfunction remain significant barriers to long-term recipient survival after transplantation. Conventional immunosuppressive drugs have limited efficacy because of significant drug toxicities, high systemic immune burden, and emergence of transplant infectious disease, leading to poor quality of life for patients. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery has emerged as a promising medical technology and offers several advantages by enhancing the delivery of drug payloads to their target sites, reducing systemic toxicity, and facilitating patient compliance over free drug administration. In addition, nanotechnology-based imaging approaches provide exciting diagnostic methods for monitoring molecular and cellular changes in transplanted organs, visualizing immune responses, and assessing the severity of rejection. These noninvasive technologies are expected to help enhance the posttransplantation patient survival through real time and early diagnosis of disease progression. Here, we present a comprehensive review of nanotechnology-assisted strategies in various aspects of organ transplantation, including organ protection before transplantation, mitigation of ischemia-reperfusion injury, counteraction of immune rejection, early detection of organ dysfunction posttransplantation, and molecular imaging and diagnosis of immune rejection.

Association Between Achievement of Clinical Disease Control and Improvement in Patient-Reported Outcomes and Quality of Life in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis in the Phase 3 SELECT-PsA 1 and 2 Randomized Controlled Trials.

We explored the relationship between achievement of clinical disease control and improvements in and normative values for patient-reported outcomes (PROs), including quality of life (QoL) measures, in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). This was a post hoc analysis of 104-week data from the SELECT-PsA 1 and 2 trials in adults with PsA and inadequate response to one or more conventional synthetic (SELECT-PsA 1) or biologic (SELECT-PsA 2) disease-modifying antirheumatic drug. Patients were initially randomized to upadacitinib 15 mg once daily (QD) to placebo switched to upadacitinib 15 mg QD at week 24 or to adalimumab 40 mg every other week (SELECT-PsA 1 only), and data were pooled across treatments and analyzed. We evaluated several clinical disease control measures (minimal disease activity [MDA]; very low disease activity [VLDA]; and low disease activity [LDA] and/or remission by Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis [DAPSA], Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score [PASDAS], and Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 [RAPID3]) and examined their associations with improvements and normative values for various PROs. A total of 1,069 and 317 patients were analyzed for SELECT-PsA 1 and 2, respectively. In both studies, responders (patients who achieved MDA or VLDA, and DAPSA, PASDAS, and RAPID3 LDA or remission) at week 104 achieved more marked changes from baseline, and more responders achieved normative values in PROs compared with nonresponders (most nominal P < 0.0001). Furthermore, numerically larger proportions of responders achieved minimal clinically important differences across PROs compared with nonresponders in both studies. In addition, patients who achieved MDA or VLDA were more likely to achieve DAPSA, PASDAS, and RAPID3 LDA or remission (all nominal P < 0.0001) for upadacitinib 15 mg QD and when treatment arms were pooled. Patients with PsA who achieve clinical disease control are more likely to achieve improvements and normative values in PROs and QoL measures, which reinforces disease control as a treatment target.

Clinical efficacy of vestibular assessment and rehabilitation training in peripheral vestibular vertigo.

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of vestibular assessment and rehabilitation training in patients with peripheral vestibular vertigo. This was a retrospective study. A total of 169 patients diagnosed with peripheral vestibular vertigo, admitted to Cangzhou People's Hospital between January 2020 and January 2023 were divided into control group (83 cases) and observation group (86 cases). The control group received medication-based treatment, while the observation group was provided with combined treatment of medication and vestibular rehabilitation training. Assessment of recovery included the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Vestibular Symptom Index (VSI), and Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale before and at two, four, and eight weeks post-treatment. Psychological status, sleep quality, and life quality were evaluated. Both groups underwent the Fukuda stepping test and timed balance test. At two, four, and eight weeks post-treatment, both groups exhibited significantly lower DHI-P, DHI-F, DHI-E, VSI, and ABC scores compared to pre-treatment (p<0.05). The observation group showed significantly lower DHI-P, DHI-F, DHI-E, VSI, and ABC scores than the control group at two and four weeks post-treatment (p<0.05). After treatment, both groups demonstrated reduced body deviation angles and increased time without falling in the Fukuda stepping test (p<0.05). Notably, the observation group had significantly better outcomes (p<0.05). In comparison to medication-based treatment alone, a combined approach involving medication treatment and vestibular rehabilitation training may demonstrate early improvements in vertigo symptoms, enhance balance capabilities, and ameliorate psychological well-being, sleep quality, and overall quality of life for patients.

Effect of Home-Based Cardiac Telerehabilitation in Patients After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Low adherence to hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation has been observed in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention. The effectiveness of home-based cardiac telerehabilitation in this setting is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of home-based cardiac telerehabilitation on exercise endurance, disease burden status, cardiac function, and quality of life in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention. A total of 106 patients after percutaneous coronary intervention were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (receiving routine rehabilitation care and home-based cardiac telerehabilitation) or the control group (receiving routine care only), with 53 patients in each group. The 6-minute walking test, anerobic threshold, physical component summary score, mental component summary score, Vo2max, and left ventricular ejection fraction were measured in both groups before and 3 months after the intervention. Additionally, the Short-Form 12 scale and Family Burden Interview Schedule were used to assess quality of life and disease burden status. The intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in 6-minute walking test, anerobic threshold, Vo2max, physical component summary score, mental component summary score, Short-Form 12 scale, and Family Burden Interview Schedule scale scores compared with the control group (P<0.05). Results suggest that home-based cardiac telerehabilitation may improve exercise endurance and quality of life and reduce disease burden status in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Polish cross-cultural adaptation of a disease-specific quality-of-life instrument: The Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality-of-Life Scale.

The medical community has shown a growing interest in developing methods for measuring and comparing objective patient outcomes coupled with subjective patient assessments. Questionnaires enable healthcare professionals to obtain the patient's perspective about their experienced vestibular schwannomas (VS) symptoms quickly. To date, in Poland, a cross-cultural adapted version of a disease-specific questionnaire for the measurement of quality of life (QoL) in patients with VS has not been produced. This study aimed to adapt the questionnaire evaluating disease-specific QoL in patients with VS (Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality-of-Life Scale; PANQOL) to Polish and evaluate its psychometric properties. One-hundred twenty-four patients aged between 24 and 85 years (mean (M) = 60.17 ±standard deviation (SD) = 13.27) diagnosed with VS and treated with Gamma Knife were included in the study. We used a questionnaire translated from English into Polish by a bilingual professional, verified through a back-translation. The final version consisted of 26 items. The internal consistency of the Polish version of the PANQOL scale domains was measured using the Cronbach's alpha (α). To verify the validity of PANQOL subscales, a correlation analysis was conducted between the domains of PANQOL and other questionnaires, including the Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL-8D), the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI), the 5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5), the Skarzynski Tinnitus Scale (STS) for the presence of dizziness, and the Gardner-Robertson classes. The majority of PANQOL domains showed excellent or good internal consistency (for a PANQOL total of 0.934; for subscales in the range of 0.916-0.424). Our analysis showed strong correlations between the total PANQOL score and AQoL-8D utility score, as well as between the subscales. We observed weak to moderately significant relationships between GBI and PANQOL domains (r = 0.18-0.43), the WHO-5 (r = 0.18-0.56) and the STS scale (r = -0.40- -0.19). The results demonstrated that the POL-PANQOL is a reliable and valid questionnaire for measuring QoL.

Expert consensus on posterior facet distraction and fusion technique for the treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation(2024)

Atlantoaxial dislocation is a common bony structural deformity in the craniovertebral junction area. It can cause severe neurological defects, seriously affect the patient's life quality, and even threaten the patient's life. The most effective treatment for patients with apparent clinically symptoms is surgical treatment. In recent years, with the development of surgical techniques, posterior facet distraction and fusion (PFDF) technique has gradually become an important technique for the treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation. In order to better standardize the diagnosis and treatment of patients with atlantoaxial dislocation and the application of PFDF technique, based on the existing evidence, the Spine and Spinal Cord Group in Neurosurgical Society of Chinese Medical Association and the Chinese Craniovertebral Junction Malformation Research Alliance and Craniovertebral Junction Malformation Alliance of National Center for Neurological Disorders organized experts in relevant fields to fully discuss and formulated the "Expert consensus on posterior facet distraction and fusion technique for the treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation（2024）". This consensus elaborates and recommends the preoperative evaluation, surgical techniques, and management of complications using PFDF technique for the treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation. It is intended to provide guidance for surgeons who encounter problems in the treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation using PFDF technique.

Therapeutic Effect of Resveratrol and its Novel Formulations on Lung Cancer: Focus on Biological Aspects and Underlying Pathways.

Lung cancer is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Due to significant advances in therapeutic strategies, patients' survival and life quality have been improved, however there is still an urgent requirement for developing more effective therapeutic methods. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol with numerous biological potentials, has been widely studied. It has shown therapeutic potetial in various diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disorders, and cancers through the regulation of key cellular signaling such as apoptosis, as well as molecular pathways such as microRNA modulation. It has been reported that resveratrol acts as an anticancer agent against lung cancer in vivo and in vitro. Resveratrol could combat against lung cancer by modulating various molecular targets and signaling pathways involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis and autoghagy and also microRNAs expression. Moreover, novel delivery systems and analogs have recently been introduced to promote the anticancer impacts of resveratrol. In this article, we review current evidence on the anticancer effects of resveratrol and its novel formulations in the treatment of lung cancer with a focus on underlying mechanisms.

Clinical effects of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy on complications and recurrence in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

To compare the clinical effects of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) on complications and recurrence in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). This was a retrospective study. A total of 83 patients with AGC admitted to Chengde Central Hospital between Jan. 2019 and Jun. 2021 were selected and divided into the observation group(n=41) and the control group(n=42) using a random number table. Patients in the control group received XELOX chemotherapy, and those in the observation group received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with concurrent XELOX chemotherapy. Compared efficacy, pathological complete response rate (pCR), R0 resection rate, adverse reactions, and quality of life (QOL) before and after treatment between the two groups. The efficacy, pCR, and R0 resection rate of the observation group were significantly increased compared with those of the control group. Comparison of complications showed the number of patients experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) reactions, increased BUN, increased GPT, alopecia, and pigmentation in the observation group was decreased compared with that in the control group, with no statistically significant differences(p>0.05), and the number of patients experiencing myelosuppression was statistically significant between the two groups(p<0.05). There were no significant differences in sub-scores of physical, role, emotional, cognitive, and social functions and the overall score of QOL between the two groups(p>0.05) before treatment. NCRT is safer and more effective in patients with AGC compared with NCT, and can significantly improve the QOL of patients. It can be widely used in clinical practice.

Digitoxin inhibits ICC cell properties via the NF‑κB/ST6GAL1 signaling pathway.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a type of liver cancer associated with poor prognosis and increased mortality; the limited treatment strategy highlights the urgent need for investigation. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), used alone or in combination with other treatments, can enhance therapeutic efficacy, improve life quality of patients and extend overall survival. In total, two rounds of screening of a TCM library of 2,538 active compounds were conducted using a Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay and ICC cell lines. Cell proliferation and migration abilities were assessed through colony formation, 5‑ethynyl‑2'‑deoxyuridine, would healing and Transwell assays. The impact of digitoxin (DT) on signaling pathways was initially investigated using RNA sequencing and further validated using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR, western blotting, lectin blotting and flow cytometry. ICC cells stably overexpressing ST6 β‑galactoside α‑2,6‑sialyltransferase 1 (ST6GAL1) were generated through lentiviral transfection. It was shown that DT emerged as a highly effective anti‑ICC candidate from two rounds high‑throughput library screening. DT could inhibit the proliferation and migration of ICC cells by suppressing NF‑κB activation and reducing nuclear phosphorylated‑NF‑κB levels, along with diminishing ST6GAL1 mRNA and protein expression. The aforementioned biological effects and signal pathways of DT could be counteracted by overexpressing ST6GAL1 in ICC cells. In conclusion, DT suppressed ICC cell proliferation and migration by targeting the NF‑κB/ST6GAL1 signaling axis. The findings of the present study indicated the promising therapeutic effects of DT in managing ICC, offering new avenues for treatment strategies.

The Impact of Statins on Disease Severity and Quality of Life in Patients with Psoriasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune condition, imposes significant burdens on patients’ well-being. While corticosteroid medications are commonly used, their prolonged use presents risks. Statins, known for their immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, have emerged as potential alternatives. Previous reviews indicated that statins might improve psoriasis symptoms but showed inconsistent results and lacked meta-analyses that generated pooled effect estimates. Therefore, this study addresses this gap by providing a comprehensive overview of the impact of statins on psoriasis severity and quality of life (QoL) for patients with psoriasis. Methods: A thorough search of four electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, and Science Direct) was conducted for relevant studies published before April 2024. Results: Seven studies involving 369 patients were included. This meta-analysis showed a statistically significant reduction in PASI scores at week 8 with statin treatment (MD = −1.96, 95% CI [−3.14, −0.77], p = 0.001). However, no statistically significant difference was found between statins and placebo at week 12 (MD = 0.19, 95% CI [−0.18, 0.55]). Additionally, DLQI scores indicated a significant improvement in quality of life with statins compared to placebo (MD = −3.16, 95% CI [−5.55, −0.77]). Conclusions: Statins can improve disease severity and quality of life in psoriasis patients, suggesting the potential benefits of statin therapy. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal treatment duration, address outcome heterogeneity, and explore additional benefits such as cholesterol and triglyceride reduction.

Effect of Comprehensive Nursing Intervention on Anxiety and Quality of Life inPostoperative Patients with Oral Cancer

Purpose: Surgery has a negative effect on the mental, physical, and functional health of patients with oral cancer, which affects their quality of life (QOL). The study aimed to assess the effect of comprehensive nursing intervention on anxiety and QOL in postoperative patients with oral cancer. Methods: We investigated the level of anxiety and QOL of 200 postoperative oral cancer patients. After the comprehensive nursing intervention, the Beck Anxiety Inventory scale and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer tools were used to assess the level of anxiety and QOL, respectively. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in terms of educational status (p=0.02), monthly income (p&lt;0.01), cancer stage (p&lt;0.01), and tumor metastasis (p=0.02). The experimental group experienced a significant decrease in anxiety (p=0.04), and their QOL was significantly higher (p=0.05) than that of the control group. Conclusion: Our study indicates that a comprehensive nursing intervention can lower the risk of surgical complications, enhance patients' psychological state by reducing anxiety, and enhance their QOL in patients with oral cancer.

Correlation of Quality of Life (QoL) and Self-perception in Patient with Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)

Abstract Introduction Tyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune disorder representing the commonest extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves’ disease (GD), with a prevalence of 10 per 10,000 persons in the European population. Although most frequently associated with hyperthyroidism secondary to GD, about 10% of patients with TED are euthyroid or hypothyroid. Patients with Graves orbitopathy (GO) have a significantly lower life quality, both regarding vision problems and worsened appearance, compared to a healthy person. It has been associated with increased rates of anxiety, depression, social isolation and decreased self-confidence. Materials and Methods The results of standard treatments in this disease are often unsatisfactory, but outcomes often do not correlate well with patient reports of how visible they feel their TED is, and the impact on their lives. The present study was designed to correlate QoL and self-perception of well-being with the different clinical and surgical approaches recommended by EUGOGO. The aim is to determine whether there were differences between treatment options in determining patient perception of well-being and satisfaction with treatment received, and whether they would recommend the treatment they had experienced to people with the same condition. Results Scheduled patients undergone medical or surgical treatments based on presence or not of inflammation signs. Evaluation of clinically relevant improvements in each clinical variable was carried out 6 months and one year after treatment. Later, patients were asked a set of general questions about improvement (or worsening) of symptoms, health condition before and after the treatment, degree of limitations of daily activities caused by the pathology, overall satisfaction. After one-year, visual acuity unchanged in all the cases, and exophthalmos’ absolute values improved. Daily activities limitations and heath conditions improved in most patients. In this study we demonstrate that although the majority of patients were satisfied with the treatment they received, patients presenting most severe disease at presentation and received most invasive procedures (such orbital decompression) were less satisfied due to an unrealistic expectation about the impact of surgery on their appearance, including expecting to return to a pre-morbid appearance. Conclusion This study highlights the importance of healthcare professionals eliciting and managing patients’ expectations, in order to optimize surgical outcomes.

Effect of nano-curcumin supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors, physical and psychological quality of life, and depression in patients with coronary slow flow phenomenon: a randomized double-blind clinical trial

BackgroundExtensive evidence has suggested the cardio-protective properties of the polyphenol curcumin. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a highly bioavailable curcumin supplement on cardiometabolic risk factors, health-related quality of life, and depression in patients with coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP).MethodsThis randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 42 patients with CSFP (age 35–70 years, 25 ≤ body mass index < 40 kg/m2). Patients received either 80 mg/day nano-curcumin or placebo for 12 weeks. Serum levels of visfatin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and glycemic indices were measured before and after the intervention. The short form 36-item quality of life (SF-36) and Beck’s Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) questionnaires were assessed, as well.ResultsNo significant improvements were observed in circulating hs-CRP and visfatin following the intervention. A significant increase was observed in pre- to post-fasting blood glucose (− 0.9 ± 12.2 vs. 7.7 ± 12.4 mg/dl, p = 0.02) and hemoglobin A1C (− 0.1 ± 0.8 vs. 0.5 ± 0.8%, p = 0.04) levels, in the placebo compared with the intervention group. Physical (8.2 ± 8.1 vs. − 1.2 ± 6.5, p < 0.001) and mental (6.8 ± 11.8 vs. − 1.1 ± 10.4, p = 0.02) component summary scores were significantly improved in the nano-curcumin than the placebo group. Additionally, the number of patients with lower degrees of depression was significantly better in the intervention than the placebo group following the supplementation (p = 0.046).ConclusionCurcumin supplementation prevented deterioration of glycemic control and improved physical and psychological quality of life and depression in patients with CSFP.Trial registrationIranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20131125015536N8), June 19, 2019.

Evaluation of Cannabis-Related Product Use Among Patients With Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Narrative Review.

The use of cannabis and cannabis-related products among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is increasing globally. Given the potential anti-inflammatory, therapeutic, and pain management benefits of cannabis-related products, we reviewed primary literature to evaluate the prevalence and possible purpose for cannabis use among patients with HS and to provide recommendations to patients and physicians. A narrative review of original studies was conducted using Embase and Ovid Medline databases. The search strategy was confirmed by a librarian and conducted on September 1, 2023, using a detailed list of subject headings and keywords tailored to cannabis, cannabis-related products, HS, and both adult and pediatric populations. Among 43 identified studies, 6 met the eligibility criteria and encompassed 34,435 patients. Patients were mostly female, and studies were conducted across the United States, Canada, and France. Findings show higher cannabis use among HS patients, demonstrating efficacy in pain management, sleep, anxiety relief, itch relief, and improved quality of life. Cannabis may play a role in analgesia, improved quality of life, pain, itch, and overall mental health in patients with HS and healthcare providers including dermatologists should increase their familiarity in appropriate use of cannabis-related products.

Bibliometric Analysis of Alzheimer's Disease and Depression.

The link between Alzheimer's disease and depression has been confirmed by clinical and epidemiological research. Therefore, our study examined the literary landscape and prevalent themes in depression-related research works on Alzheimer's disease through bibliometric analysis. Relevant literature was identified from the Web of Science core collection. Bibliometric parameters were extracted, and the major contributors were defined in terms of countries, institutions, authors, and articles using Microsoft Excel 2019 and VOSviewer. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were employed to visualize the scientific networks and seminal topics. The analysis of literature utilised 10,553 articles published from 1991 until 2023. The three countries or regions with the most publications were spread across the United States, China, and England. The University of Toronto and the University of Pittsburgh were the major contributors to the institutions. Lyketsos, Constantine G., Cummings, JL were found to make outstanding contributions. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease was identified as the most productive journal. Furthermore, "Alzheimer's", "depression", "dementia", and "mild cognitive decline" were the main topics of discussion during this period. Data were searched from a single database to become compatible with VOSviewer and CiteSpace, leading to a selection bias. Manuscripts in English were considered, leading to a language bias. Articles on "Alzheimer's" and "depression" displayed an upward trend. The prevalent themes addressed were the mechanisms of depression-associated Alzheimer's disease, the identification of depression and cognitive decline in the early stages of Alzheimer's, alleviating depression and improving life quality in Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers, and diagnosing and treating neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer. Future research on these hot topics would promote understanding in this field.