scholarly journals Keratoconus: The Masquerade.

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Keyword(s):  
Missed Appointments ◽  
Corneal Scarring ◽  
False Positive Diagnosis ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Corneal Scar ◽  
Low Threshold ◽  
Initial Imaging ◽  
Lost To Follow Up ◽  
Potential False Positive

Abstract We describe the case of an 11-year-old girl with a background of anisometropia and corneal scarring who had a misleading appearance of keratoconus. The patient initially presented at age 6 with a unilateral reduction of visual acuity (VA) in her left eye (6/15). There was also evidence of left corneal scarring which appeared chronic; possibly secondary to previous herpes simplex keratitis (HSK). She was treated with glasses and though her vision initially stabilized (VA 6/6 in both eyes), she was lost to follow-up due to multiple missed appointments. Her vision remained stable for 5 years before she presented with another reduction of VA in her left eye (6/48). The patient was investigated using Pentacam which showed ectatic changes suggestive of keratoconus. There was also progression of the corneal scar in her left eye. With an impression of active stromal herpetic keratitis, the patient was commenced on 200 mg Acyclovir TDS and Dexamethasone minims TDS. 2 months later, her VA improved to 6/7.5 in the left eye. Pentacam was then repeated and the astigmatism, as well as anterior steepening values had reduced. Considering this, clearly HSK had led to a misleading appearance of keratoconus upon initial imaging. This case highlights the potential false positive diagnosis of keratoconus that can occur in younger patients with HSK. Although pentacam results showed advanced ectasia, one should remain mindful of differential diagnoses; particularly seeking out any signs of herpetic eye disease and keeping a low threshold for appropriate treatment.

Performance status, quality of life, and survival in patients with advanced cancer referred to palliative care: A pilot study.

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 77-77
Author(s):  
Stephanie Gilbertson-White ◽  
Michelle Weckmann ◽  
Heidi Donovan ◽  
Paula R Sherwood
Keyword(s):  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Missed Appointments ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Survival Status ◽  
Sf 36 ◽  
Lost To Follow Up

77 Background: Patients with advanced cancer often need specialized palliative care (PC) for aggressive symptom management as their cancer progresses. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of following patients with advanced cancer referred to PC for symptom management. The aims are to: 1) describe survival status at 12-wks post PC referral, and 2) compare time to PC referral, performance status, and quality-of-life (QOL) at baseline across survival status groups. Methods: Patients (N=20) with advanced cancer newly referred to PC were recruited. Date of cancer diagnosis, date of referral to PC, and survival status were abstracted from the medical record. The number of weeks was calculated from the date of cancer diagnosis to the date of PC referral. Palliative Performance Status (PPS) scale was used to measure performance status. Higher % scores indicate better performance status. SF-36 was used to measure QOL. Higher scores indicate higher perceived QOL. Results: At 12-weeks post PC referral, 6 patients were alive, 8 patients were lost to follow-up, and 6 patients had died. Missed appointments with PC or cessation of cancer treatments were primary reasons patients were lost to follow-up. Patients alive at 12-wks had the best PPS scores at baseline (mean=58%) and the shortest length of time between cancer diagnosis and PC referral (mean=81.5 wks). Patients lost to follow-up had the worst PPS scores at baseline (mean=44%) and the longest time to PC referral (mean=745 wks). No differences were found on the SF-36 subscale scores. Conclusions: Performance status was a strong predictor of survival status at 12-wks post PC referral. Patients with the longest time between diagnosis and PC referral were most likely to be lost to follow-up. All patients with advanced cancer reported significant declines in QOL. Further research is needed to understand how time to PC referral is associated with missed appointments or decisions to stop cancer treatments. Prospective research from the time of diagnosis with advanced cancer through the end-of-life is needed to better understand how PC can help maintain performance status and QOL for as long as possible.

Lost to Follow-Up

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (12) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
ALAN ROCKOFF
Keyword(s):  
Lost To Follow Up

Predicting the risk of becoming lost to follow-up in a lifestyle weight-loss intervention

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle M. Lespinasse ◽  
Kristen E. Medina ◽  
Stacey N. Maurer ◽  
Samantha A. Minski ◽  
Renee T. Degener ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Weight Loss Intervention ◽  
Lost To Follow Up

1174-P: Reducing Lost to Follow-Up Rates in the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative (T1DX-QI)

Diabetes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1174-P
Author(s):  
RYAN MCDONOUGH ◽  
SARAH THOMAS ◽  
NICOLE RIOLES ◽  
OSAGIE EBEKOZIEN ◽  
MARK A. CLEMENTS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Quality Improvement Collaborative ◽  
Lost To Follow Up

scholarly journals Predictors of loss to follow-up in art experienced patients in Nigeria: a 13 year review (2004–2017)

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Aliyu ◽  
Babatunde Adelekan ◽  
Nifarta Andrew ◽  
Eunice Ekong ◽  
Stephen Dapiap ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Adherence ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Emergency Plan ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Loss To Follow Up ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
Review Period ◽  
Lost To Follow Up ◽  
Differentiated Care

Abstract Background Expanded access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) leads to improved HIV/AIDS treatment outcomes in Nigeria, however, increasing rates of loss to follow-up among those on ART is threatening optimal standard achievement. Therefore, this retrospective cross-sectional study is aimed at identifying correlates and predictors of loss to follow-up in patients commencing ART in a large HIV program in Nigeria. Methods Records of all patients from 432 US CDC Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) supported facilities across 10 States and FCT who started ART from 2004 to 2017 were used for this study. Bivariate and multivariate analysis of the demographic and clinical parameters of all patients was conducted using STATA version 14 to determine correlates and predictors of loss to follow-up. Results Within the review period, 245,257 patients were ever enrolled on anti-retroviral therapy. 150,191 (61.2%) remained on treatment, 10,960 (4.5%) were transferred out to other facilities, 6926 (2.8%) died, 2139 (0.9%) self-terminated treatment and 75,041 (30.6%) had a loss to follow-up event captured. Males (OR: 1.16), Non-pregnant female (OR: 4.55), Patients on ≥ 3-monthly ARV refills (OR: 1.32), Patients with un-suppressed viral loads on ART (OR: 4.52), patients on adult 2nd line regimen (OR: 1.23) or pediatric on 1st line regimen (OR: 1.70) were significantly more likely to be lost to follow-up. Conclusion Despite increasing access to anti-retroviral therapy, loss to follow-up is still a challenge in the HIV program in Nigeria. Differentiated care approaches that will focus on males, non-pregnant females and paediatrics is encouraged. Reducing months of Anti-retroviral drug refill to less than 3 months is advocated for increased patient adherence.

Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy For the Treatment of Large Arteriovenous Malformations with or without Previous Partial Embolization

Neurosurgery ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erol Veznedaroglu ◽  
David W. Andrews ◽  
Ronald P. Benitez ◽  
M. Beverly Downes ◽  
Maria Werner-Wasik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
Stereotactic Radiotherapy ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Late Complications ◽  
Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy ◽  
Medical Systems ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
Lost To Follow Up

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Despite the success of stereotactic radiosurgery, large inoperable arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of 14 cm3 or more have remained largely refractory to stereotactic radiosurgery, with much lower obliteration rates. We review treatment of large AVMs either previously untreated or partially obliterated by embolization with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSR) regimens using a dedicated linear accelerator (LINAC). METHODS: Before treatment, all patients were discussed at a multidisciplinary radiosurgery board and found to be suitable for FSR. All patients were evaluated for pre-embolization. Those who had feeding pedicles amenable to glue embolization were treated. LINAC technique involved acquisition of a stereotactic angiogram in a relocatable frame that was also used for head localization during treatment. The FSR technique involved the use of six 7-Gy fractions delivered on alternate days over a 2-week period, and this was subsequently dropped to 5-Gy fractions after late complications in one of seven patients treated with 7-Gy fractions. Treatments were based exclusively on digitized biplanar stereotactic angiographic data. We used a Varian 600SR LINAC (Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA) and XKnife treatment planning software (Radionics, Inc., Burlington, MA). In most cases, one isocenter was used, and conformality was established by non-coplanar arc beam shaping and differential beam weighting. RESULTS: Thirty patients with large AVMs were treated between January 1995 and August 1998. Seven patients were treated with 42-Gy/7-Gy fractions, with one patient lost to follow-up and the remaining six with previous partial embolization. Twenty-three patients were treated with 30-Gy/5-Gy fractions, with two patients lost to follow-up and three who died as a result of unrelated causes. Of 18 evaluable patients, 8 had previous partial embolization. Mean AVM volumes at FSR treatment were 23.8 and 14.5 cm3, respectively, for the 42-Gy/7-Gy fraction and 30-Gy/5-Gy fraction groups. After embolization, 18 patients still had AVM niduses of 14 cm3 or more: 6 in the 7-Gy cohort and 12 in the 5-Gy cohort. For patients with at least 5-year follow-up, angiographically documented AVM obliteration rates were 83% for the 42-Gy/7-Gy fraction group, with a mean latency of 108 weeks (5 of 6 evaluable patients), and 22% for the 30-Gy/5-Gy fraction group, with an average latency of 191 weeks (4 of 18 evaluable patients) (P = 0.018). For AVMs that remained at 14 cm3 or more after embolization (5 of 6 patients), the obliteration rate remained 80% (4 of 5 patients) for the 7-Gy cohort and dropped to 9% for the 5-Gy cohort. A cumulative hazard plot revealed a 7.2-fold greater likelihood of obliteration with the 42-Gy/7-Gy fraction protocol (P = 0.0001), which increased to a 17-fold greater likelihood for postembolization AVMs of 14 cm3 or more (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: FSR achieves obliteration for AVMs at a threshold dose, including large residual niduses after embolization. With significant treatment-related morbidities, further investigation warrants a need for better three-dimensional target definition with higher dose conformality.

Status and Determinants of Treatment Outcomes Among New Tuberculosis Patients in South Korea: A Retrospective Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 101053952110005
Author(s):  
Hyunjin Son ◽  
Jeongha Mok ◽  
Miyoung Lee ◽  
Wonseo Park ◽  
Seungjin Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Success Rate ◽  
Treatment Outcomes ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Tuberculosis Patients ◽  
Lost To Follow Up

This is a retrospective cohort study using notification data in South Korea. We evaluated the nationwide status, regional differences, and the determinants of treatment outcomes among tuberculosis patients. Treatment success rate improved from 77.0% in 2012 to 86.0% in 2015. The lost to follow-up rate was higher among older people, males, and foreign nationals. Health care facilities designated for the Public-Private Mix (PPM) project showed higher success rate and lower rate of lost to follow-up. Moreover, municipalities with low regional deprivation index had higher PPM project coverage. Since there is a large regional difference in the coverage of the PPM project, an additional community-based support program should be implemented, especially for tuberculosis patients residing in region with low PPM project coverage.

scholarly journals Prognosis and treatment of 46 Chinese pediatric cystic fibrosis patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qionghua Chen ◽  
Yuelin Shen ◽  
Hui Xu ◽  
Xiaolei Tang ◽  
Haiming Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Lung Function ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Sputum Production ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Lost To Follow Up

Abstract Background Since public awareness of cystic fibrosis (CF) has increased, more children have been diagnosed with CF in China. This study aimed to investigate medical and other challenges faced by pediatric CF patients in China. Method Treatments and treatment outcomes were retrospectively analyzed for 46 pediatric CF patients diagnosed from August 2009 to June 2019. Pre- and post-treatment results were compared using independent samples t-test. Results Of 46 pediatric CF study patients, four died and five were lost to follow-up. Thirty-seven patients were monitored for 0.03 to 9.21 years; patients exhibited fewer attacks of respiratory tract infections after diagnosis (4.49 ± 2.13 episodes/year before diagnosis vs 1.97 ± 1.87 times/year after 1-year treatment, p < 0.05), significantly reduced sputum production and experienced 1.62 ± 1.71 exacerbations/year. Patient mean body mass index was 16.87 ± 3.53 and pancreatic malfunction persisted in 15 patients. For 17 children, no significant differences in lung function were found at follow-up as compared to lung function at diagnosis (FEV1: 82.45% ± 16.56% vs 75.26% ± 22.34%, FVC: 87.18% ± 13.64% vs 86.99% ± 19.95%, FEF75%: 46.51% ± 28.78% vs 36.63% ± 24.30%, P = 0.27, 0.97, 0.20, respectively). Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17/27) and bronchiectasis (22/22) were found during follow-up evaluation. Twenty-four patients (64.8%) maintained good adherence to therapies. Overall, azithromycin and tobramycin treatments were administered for 0.5–62 months and 0.5–48 months, respectively, and triggered no obvious adverse reactions. Conclusion No obvious declines in clinical presentation or lung function were found in Chinese pediatric CF patients after receiving standard therapeutic and active treatments, although malnutrition and low compliance were persistent challenges.

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