meaning life

BACKGROUND: Transvenous embolization is a recent treatment strategy for cerebrospinal fluid-venous fistulas (CSFVF), which are associated with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). METHODS: Participants were selected from a prospective database on patients with CSFVF that received transvenous Onyx embolization. All patients underwent a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after embolization with MRI follow-up performed at least 3 months after treatment...

Gefapixant (MK-7264, RO4926219, AF-219) is a first-in-class P2X3 antagonists being developed to treat refractory or unexplained chronic cough. The initial single- and multiple-dose safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of gefapixant at doses ranging from 7.5 to 1800 mg were assessed in four clinical trials. Following single-dose administration of 10-450 mg, the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of gefapixant in plasma and urine demonstrated low inter-subject variability and a dose-proportional exposure. Following administration of multiple doses twice daily, the plasma exposures were dose-proportional at doses ranging from 7...

PURPOSE: Describe real-life practice and outcomes in the management of post-stroke upper limb spasticity with botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) in Asian settings. METHODS: Subgroup analysis of a prospective, observational study (NCT01020500) of adult patients (≥18 years) with post-stroke upper limb spasticity presenting for routine spasticity management, including treatment with BoNT-A. The primary outcome was goal attainment as assessed using goal-attainment scaling (GAS)...

PURPOSE: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, proof-of-concept trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of VerbasnolTM [ Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch leaf-based extract (RGLE)] in females, with moderate to severe acne vulgaris. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two females aged 18 to 35 years having moderate to severe acne with Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) scores of 19 to 38 were included in the study and were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either one capsule (100 mg/day) of RGLE or placebo orally after breakfast for 56 days...

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, the adverse effects of smoking on general, oral, and dental health are reported time and again worldwide. However, evidence to quantify the effects of tobacco smoking and smoking cessation on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) is inadequate. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the effects of nicotine gum on HRQoL and OHQoL of cigarette smokers. METHODS: This pilot study was conducted on 40 smokers, half of whom received nicotine gum...

BACKGROUND: The denomination of noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) includes several causes, and differences may be expected between the patient subgroups regarding age, comorbidities, and clinical and functional evolution. This study sought to identify the main causes of NCFB in a cohort of stable adult patients and to investigate whether such conditions would be different in their clinical, functional, and quality of life aspects. METHODS: Between 2017 and 2019, all active patients with NCFB were prospectively evaluated searching for clinical data, past medical history, dyspnea severity grading, quality of life data, microbiological profile, and lung function (spirometry and six-minute walk test)...

INTRODUCTION: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is an essential surgical management modality for patients with coronary artery disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has become important because of the significant decrease in the mortality rate associated with CABG. We aimed to explore the factors that affect the quality of life after CABG. METHODS: This study used a descriptive correlational design to assess the determinants of HRQoL using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36)...

INTRODUCTION: The term "obstructive defecation syndrome" (ODS) describes a complex condition characterized by defecatory disorders. Such a condition represents a significant proportion of patients, which is estimated to be up to 30% of patients affected by chronic constipation. Presently, a broad agreement has been reached on diagnostic studies, whereas the choice of treatment that aims to improve the quality of life and/or correct the prevalent abnormalities or all anatomical abnormalities remains controversial...

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders are often complained by cancer patients and can last years after the end of therapies, leading to different negative consequences. Non-pharmacological strategies such as exercise interventions may be considered to counteract this phenomenon. The literature supports the beneficial effects of aerobic training (AT), while evidence on resistance training (RT) is scarce. Accordingly, our systematic review aims to investigate the potential novel effect of RT on sleep outcomes in cancer survivors...

AIM: Postural kyphosis (PK) is a poor postural habit in which a patient\'s back appears abnormally rounded. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life of patients with PK compared with those with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and Scheuermann kyphosis (SK) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adolescents with PK who were admitted to our clinic between January 2020 and June 2022 was compared with that of patients with AIS and SK who were admitted during the same period by using the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire...

BACKGROUND: Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease predominantly affecting young people. This study was undertaken to assess the impact of acne in young adults on their major life-changing decisions (MLCD), paying attention to the relationships between major life-changing decisions profile (MLCDP) and Quality of Life (QoL), feeling of stigmatization and acceptance of the disease. METHODS: The study was performed on 213 young people diagnosed with acne. A variety of questionnaires were employed to measure the clinical and psychological aspects of acne...

PURPOSE: This study explored the factors influencing the health-related life satisfaction of people with disabilities who engaged in physical activity, by age and gender. METHODS: A secondary analysis was conducted of the 2020 Third Disability and Life Dynamics Panel (2021). The participants were 2,796 people who performed regular physical activity at least once a week. The variables selected were disability-related factors (degree of disability, multiple disabilities, and type of disability), sociodemographic factors (age, gender, living alone, and mean monthly family income), and health-related factors (amount of physical activity, self-esteem, depression, chronic disease, subjective health, and health-related life satisfaction)...

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a significant clinical, economic, and human burden. The JAK1 Atopic Dermatitis Efficacy and Safety (JADE) program's Phase 3 trials demonstrated that as a treatment for moderate-to-severe AD in adults with previous exposure to immunotherapy, abrocitinib showed superior efficacy and safety compared with standard of care (SoC), consisting of topical corticosteroids. This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of abrocitinib with SoC versus SoC alone for this patient population in Japan from a societal perspective...

BACKGROUND: Over 50% of hospitalized patients have comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, resulting in increased risk of morbidity such as longer lengths of stay, worse health-related quality of life, and increased mortality. However, data regarding colorectal surgery postoperative outcomes in patients with psychiatric diagnoses (PD) are limited. METHODS: We queried a single institution's National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from 2013-2019 for major colorectal procedures...

STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective study. PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the value of the Spinal Infection Treatment Evaluation (SITE) score, Brighton Spondylodiscitis Score (BSDS), and Pola classification to predict the need for surgical intervention in patients with spondylodiscitis. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Spondylodiscitis is a rare disease, and the prediction of its outcome is crucial in the decision-making process. METHODS: All case records were assessed to extract information on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Japanese Orthopedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) scores before and after surgery...

BACKGROUND: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are predicted to become the world's seventh leading cause of death by 2030. Given the significant impact of RTAs on public health, effective hospital preparedness plays a pivotal role in managing and mitigating associated health and life-threatening issues. This study aims to meticulously evaluate the preparedness of selected hospitals in western Iran to handle road traffic accidents with mass casualties (RTAs-MC). METHODS: The study employed a descriptive-analytical approach, utilizing a reliable and valid questionnaire to measure hospitals' preparedness levels...

BACKGROUND: The previous Thai norm-based scores for the EQ-5D-5L were established with Thai general population samples aged 20-70 years in 2019. Nevertheless, these values need to be updated after the COVID-19 pandemic because of its effects on both physical and mental health. This study therefore aimed to establish population norms of the Thai EQ-5D-3L, EQ-5D-5L and EQ-VAS scores as well as to estimate disutility values associated with self-reported main diseases. METHODS: Individual face-to-face interviews were conducted with 2000 adult (age ≥ 18 years) members of the general Thai population to estimate norm-based scores...

Heart failure (HF) can cause metabolic imbalances, leading to anabolic resistance and increased energy expenditure, which often results in weight loss and cachexia. Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CR), including exercise, nutritional support, and risk management, is crucial for enhancing the health and quality of life of patients with HF and is expected to play a central role in the prevention and treatment of HF-associated cachexia. However, the prevalence of cachexia in patients with HF undergoing comprehensive outpatient CR is currently unknown, and the detailed characteristics including of motor function of such patients remain undefined...

BACKGROUND: Alopecia causes significant distress for patients and negatively impacts quality of life for low-grade glioma (LGG) patients. We aimed to compare and evaluate variations in dose distribution for scalp-sparing in LGG patients with proton therapy and photon therapy, namely intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and helical tomotherapy (HT). METHODS: This retrospective study utilized a dataset comprising imaging data from 22 patients with LGG who underwent postoperative radiotherapy...

BACKGROUND: The breakthrough therapy designation (BTD) facilitates the development of drugs with a large preliminary benefit in treating serious or life-threatening diseases. This study analyzes the FDA approval, trials, benefits, unmet needs, and pricing of breakthrough and nonbreakthrough therapy cancer drugs and indications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed 355 cancer indications with FDA approval (2012-2022). Breakthrough and nonbreakthrough indications were compared regarding their FDA approval, innovativeness, clinical trials, epidemiology, and price...