scholarly journals Therapeutic Effects of Saireito (Chai-Ling-Tang), a Traditional Japanese Herbal Medicine, on Lymphedema Caused by Radiotherapy: A Case Series Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aiko Nagai ◽  
Yuta Shibamoto ◽  
Keiko Ogawa

Despite the development of radiotherapy machines and technologies, a proportion of patients suffer from radiation-induced lymphedema. Saireito (SRT) is a traditional Japanese herbal medicine that has been used for treating edema and inflammation in conditions such as nephritic disease. This study investigated the effect of SRT on lymphedema caused by radiotherapy. Four patients were treated with SRT at a dose of 9 g/day. The severity of lymphedema was evaluated using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4 and Numerical Rating Scale before and after SRT treatment. After the treatment with SRT, 2 of 4 patients (50%) showed apparent improvement in lymphedema. One of the cases had difficulty in wearing the custom-made thermoplastic cast, but after SRT administration, he could wear the mask easily. One case decided to stop taking SRT 3 days after initiation because cough and fever appeared. In conclusion, it is important to control the side effects of radiotherapy, which leads to improved tumor control rates. Prospective randomized studies are necessary to confirm the findings of this case series study.

2021 ◽  
pp. jnnp-2020-325278
Author(s):  
Raúl Martínez-Fernández ◽  
Sujitha Mahendran ◽  
Jose Angel Pineda-Pardo ◽  
Lukas L Imbach ◽  
Jorge U Máñez-Miró ◽  
...  

BackgroundUnilateral magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (FUS) thalamotomy is efficacious for the treatment of medically refractory essential tremor (ET). Viability of bilateral FUS ablation is unexplored.MethodsPatients diagnosed with medically refractory ET and previously treated with unilateral FUS thalamotomy at least 5 months before underwent bilateral treatment. The timepoints were baseline (before first thalamotomy) and FUS1 and FUS2 (4 weeks before and 6 months after second thalamotomy, respectively). The primary endpoint was safety. Efficacy was assessed through the Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor (CRST), which includes subscales for tremor examination (part A), task performance (part B) and tremor-related disability (part C).ResultsNine patients were treated. No permanent adverse events were registered. Six patients presented mild gait instability and one dysarthria, all resolving within the first few weeks. Three patients reported perioral hypoesthesia, resolving in one case. Total CRST score improved by 71% from baseline to FUS2 (from 52.3±12 to 15.5±9.4, p<0.001), conveying a 67% reduction in bilateral upper limb A+B (from 32.3±7.8 to 10.8±7.3, p=0.001). Part C decreased by 81% (from 16.4±3.6 to 3.1±2.9, p<0.001). Reduction in head and voice tremor was 66% (from 1.2±0.44 to 0.4±0.54, p=0.01) and 45% (from 1.8±1.1 to 1±0.8, p=0.02), respectively.ConclusionBilateral staged FUS thalamotomy for ET is feasible and might be safe and effective. Voice and head tremor might also improve. A controlled study is warranted.


Author(s):  
Amir Moeintaghavi ◽  
Negar Azami ◽  
Mohammad Sadegh Zohrevand ◽  
Farid Shiezadeh ◽  
Hamid Jafarzadeh ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-266
Author(s):  
Jorge Luis Alfredo Herrera Ariza ◽  
Mario Alejandro Villabón ◽  
Ángela Carolina Rojas Ruiz ◽  
Iván Fernando Moncada

Objetivo: Determinar los agentes microbianos más frecuentes en pacientes de UCI con diagnóstico de sinusitis nosocomial en el Hospital de San José, período de dos años. Diseño: Estudio observacional tipo serie de casos. Materiales y métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes mayores de 18 años con una estancia hospitalaria mayor a 48 horas, que desarrollaron sinusitis nosocomial de acuerdo a los criterios de los Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Uso de dos técnicas: punción y lavado de seno maxilar. Resultados: 19 pacientes que cumplen los criterios de sinusitis nosocomial. Edad promedio 55 años, predominio sexo masculino. El 94.7% tuvo sonda orogástrica, 89.5% intubación orotraqueal y 89.5% ventilación mecánica. Hubo aislamiento polimicrobiano de gram positivos, gram negativos, anaerobios y hongos. La mortalidad en UCI fue 32%. Conclusiones: Se presenta una adecuada sensibilidad al tratamiento con vancomicina y piperacilina tazobactam en esta patología. El rendimiento diagnóstico es igual al realizar lavado y punción del seno maxilar.Objetive: To determine the microbial agents on UCI patients who have beendiagnosed with nosocomial sinusitis at the San Jose Hospital, (Bogota, Colombia) in a two-year period. Design: Case series study. Materials and methods: Patients who were older than 18-year olds, with a hospitalization longer than 48 hours who developed nosocomial sinusitis, according to the criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) were included. Two techniques were employed for data collection: puncture and maxillary sinus wash. Results: 19 patients fulfill the criteria requirements for nosocomial sinusitis. Average age was 55 years old. Population mostly was composed by male individuals. 94.7% had a gastric tube intervention; 89.5% had tracheal intubation 89.5% mechanical ventilation. Polymicrobial isolation with gram positive, gram negative, anaerobic and fungi were identified. Mortality in critical care unites was 32%. Conclusions: An adequate sensitivity to treatment with vancomycin and piperacillin tazobactam was evidenced in this pathology.To perform a washing or maxillary sinus puncture had the same efficiency fordiagnosing this disease.


Hand Therapy ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 175899832110078
Author(s):  
Laura Adamson ◽  
Anna Selby

Introduction For some people the appearance of their hands is as important as function. Upper limb scarring can cause some patients distress. Skin camouflage is an intervention that can be used to reduce the visual impact of a scar but there is limited published evidence for its use for hand scarring. Methods This is a case series study with a primary objective to determine whether skin camouflage reduces distress in patients with an upper limb scar and to evaluate this new service. Patients experiencing distress from an upper limb scar were recruited from a hand therapy outpatient clinic. The intervention delivered was a one hour skin camouflage session. Photographs of the upper limb pre and post skin camouflage intervention were taken. The patient-rated Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MHQ) and Derriford Appearance Scale (DAS24) were completed before treatment, at 1 week and 1 month after treatment. Results Six participants reporting distress from an upper limb scar received skin camouflage intervention. Only three out of six participants completed all follow-up. All three showed improvement in at least two domains of the MHQ (function and aesthetics) at one month post treatment. Increased confidence during functional and work-based activities was also reported on the DAS24. Participants reported increased engagement in daily activities as a result of being able to camouflage their scars. Conclusions This small case series shows that skin camouflage intervention may be beneficial for some patients who are experiencing distress related to an upper limb scar by increasing function and self-confidence.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 880
Author(s):  
Caterina Caminiti ◽  
Giuseppe Maglietta ◽  
Tiziana Meschi ◽  
Andrea Ticinesi ◽  
Mario Silva ◽  
...  

Background: Concern is growing about the negative consequences that response measures to the COVID-19 epidemic may have on the management of other medical conditions. Methods: A retrospective descriptive case-series study conducted at a large University-hospital in northern Italy, an area severely hit by the epidemic. Results: Between 23 February and 14 May 2020, 4160 (52%) COVID-19 and 3778 (48%) non-COVID-19 patients were hospitalized. COVID-19 admissions peaked in the second half of March, a period characterized by an extremely high mortality rate (27.4%). The number of admissions in 2020 was similar to 2019, but COVID-19 patients gradually occupied all available beds. Comparison between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 admissions in 2020 revealed significant differences concerning all age classes and gender. Specifically, COVID-19 patients were older, predominantly male, and exhibited more comorbidities. Overall, admissions for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in 2020 vs. 2019 dropped by approximately one third. Statistically significant reductions were observed for acute myocardial infarction (−78, −33.9%), cerebrovascular disease (−235, −41.5%), and cancer (−368, −31.9%). While the first two appeared equally distributed between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients, chronic NCDs were statistically significantly more frequent in the former, except cancer, which was less frequent in COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: Prevention of collateral damage to patients with other diseases should be an integral part of epidemic response plans. Prospective cohort studies are needed to understand the long-term impact.


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