-
JAMA Network Open Oct 2021Short-term and long-term persistent postacute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) have not been systematically evaluated. The incidence and evolution of PASC are dependent on...
IMPORTANCE
Short-term and long-term persistent postacute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) have not been systematically evaluated. The incidence and evolution of PASC are dependent on time from infection, organ systems and tissue affected, vaccination status, variant of the virus, and geographic region.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate organ system-specific frequency and evolution of PASC.
EVIDENCE REVIEW
PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, the World Health Organization Global Literature on Coronavirus Disease, and CoronaCentral databases were searched from December 2019 through March 2021. A total of 2100 studies were identified from databases and through cited references. Studies providing data on PASC in children and adults were included. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for abstracting data were followed and performed independently by 2 reviewers. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies. The main outcome was frequency of PASC diagnosed by (1) laboratory investigation, (2) radiologic pathology, and (3) clinical signs and symptoms. PASC were classified by organ system, ie, neurologic; cardiovascular; respiratory; digestive; dermatologic; and ear, nose, and throat as well as mental health, constitutional symptoms, and functional mobility.
FINDINGS
From a total of 2100 studies identified, 57 studies with 250 351 survivors of COVID-19 met inclusion criteria. The mean (SD) age of survivors was 54.4 (8.9) years, 140 196 (56%) were male, and 197 777 (79%) were hospitalized during acute COVID-19. High-income countries contributed 45 studies (79%). The median (IQR) proportion of COVID-19 survivors experiencing at least 1 PASC was 54.0% (45.0%-69.0%; 13 studies) at 1 month (short-term), 55.0% (34.8%-65.5%; 38 studies) at 2 to 5 months (intermediate-term), and 54.0% (31.0%-67.0%; 9 studies) at 6 or more months (long-term). Most prevalent pulmonary sequelae, neurologic disorders, mental health disorders, functional mobility impairments, and general and constitutional symptoms were chest imaging abnormality (median [IQR], 62.2% [45.8%-76.5%]), difficulty concentrating (median [IQR], 23.8% [20.4%-25.9%]), generalized anxiety disorder (median [IQR], 29.6% [14.0%-44.0%]), general functional impairments (median [IQR], 44.0% [23.4%-62.6%]), and fatigue or muscle weakness (median [IQR], 37.5% [25.4%-54.5%]), respectively. Other frequently reported symptoms included cardiac, dermatologic, digestive, and ear, nose, and throat disorders.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
In this systematic review, more than half of COVID-19 survivors experienced PASC 6 months after recovery. The most common PASC involved functional mobility impairments, pulmonary abnormalities, and mental health disorders. These long-term PASC effects occur on a scale that could overwhelm existing health care capacity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Topics: COVID-19; Fatigue; Humans; Lung Diseases; Mental Disorders; Mobility Limitation; Muscle Weakness; Nervous System Diseases; Survivors
PubMed: 34643720
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.28568 -
Medicine Nov 2019Cervical spondylosis radiculopathy (CSR) is often described as neck pain accompanied with radiating pain and neurologic symptoms, such as numbness, muscle weakness, and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Cervical spondylosis radiculopathy (CSR) is often described as neck pain accompanied with radiating pain and neurologic symptoms, such as numbness, muscle weakness, and diminished reflexes, in 1 or both upper extremities. As people's lifestyle changes and the population ages, the incidence of CSR continues to increase. Many clinical trials have proven that acupuncture and chiropractic has a significant effect in the treatment of CSR. In this systematic review, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture and chiropractic for CSR.
METHODS
We will search PubMed, Cochrane Library, AMED, EMbase, WorldSciNet; Nature, Science online and China Journal Full-text Database, China Biomedical Literature CD-ROM Database, and related randomized controlled trials included in the ChinaResources Database. The time is limited from the construction of the library to February, 2019. We will use the criteria provided by Cochrane 5.1.0 for quality assessment and risk assessment of the included studies, and use the Revman 5.3 and Stata13.0 software for meta-analysis of the effectiveness, recurrence rate, and symptom scores of CSR.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42019119941.
Topics: Acupuncture Therapy; Humans; Manipulation, Chiropractic; Radiculopathy; Spondylosis; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 31770206
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000017974 -
Archives of Rehabilitation Research and... Mar 2022(1) To elucidate the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) toward improving activities of daily living (ADL) and functional motor ability post... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
(1) To elucidate the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) toward improving activities of daily living (ADL) and functional motor ability post stroke and (2) to investigate the influence of paresis severity and the timing of treatment initiation for the effectiveness of NMES.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and Cochrane Library searched for relevant articles from database inception to May 2020.
STUDY SELECTION
The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials exploring the effect of NMES toward improving ADL or functional motor ability in survivors of stroke. The search identified 6064 potential articles with 20 being included.
DATA EXTRACTION
Two independent reviewers conducted the data extraction. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Data from 428 and 659 participants (mean age, 62.4 years; 54% male) for outcomes of ADL and functional motor ability, respectively, were pooled in a random-effect meta-analysis. The analysis revealed a significant positive effect of NMES toward ADL (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.41; 95% CI, 0.14-0.67; =.003), whereas no effect on functional motor ability was evident. Subgroup analyses showed that application of NMES in the subacute stage (SMD, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.09-0.78; =.01) and in the upper extremity (SMD, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.04-0.64; =.02) improved ADL, whereas a beneficial effect was observed for functional motor abilities in patients with severe paresis (SMD, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.12-0.70; =.005).
CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present meta-analysis are indicative of potential beneficial effects of NMES toward improving ADL post stroke, whereas the potential for improving functional motor ability appears less clear. Furthermore, subgroup analyses indicated that NMES application in the subacute stage and targeted at the upper extremity is efficacious for ADL rehabilitation and that functional motor abilities can be positively affected in patients with severe paresis.
PubMed: 35282150
DOI: 10.1016/j.arrct.2021.100167 -
International Journal of Sports... Dec 2020ACL reconstruction often results in an extended period of muscle atrophy and weakness. Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is a technique that has been shown to...
BACKGROUND
ACL reconstruction often results in an extended period of muscle atrophy and weakness. Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is a technique that has been shown to decrease muscle atrophy in a variety of populations.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this systematic review was to analyze the research presented on the effect of blood flow restriction training on quadriceps muscle atrophy and circumference post ACL reconstruction.
STUDY DESIGN
Systematic Review.
METHODS
Articles were reviewed using the databases Google Scholar, PubMed, and EBSCO. Keywords included blood flow restriction training, ACL reconstruction, and quadriceps.
INCLUSION CRITERIA INCLUDED
English language, peer-reviewed journals; randomized control trials; and articles including blood flow restriction and measurement of quadriceps atrophy and circumference post ACL reconstruction. Exclusion criteria included non-English language publications; studies without a control group; and articles without sufficient data to evaluate the methodology. Four studies met the selection criteria and were assessed using the GRADE scale, which analyzes the strength of a study based on study limitations, precision, consistency, directness, and publication bias. After a GRADE designation was assigned, the following information was extracted from and compared across the studies: participant demographics, cuff used, graft used during ACL reconstruction, tool used to assess muscle atrophy, protocol used, and conclusions.
RESULTS
Three out of four studies showed some amount of an increase in femoral muscle cross sectional area after the use of BFR combined with low-intensity resistance training (LIRT). The strength of all four studies was moderate when assessed using the GRADE scale.
CONCLUSION
This review of the available evidence yields promising results regarding the use of BFR and LIRT in the remediation of femoral muscle atrophy after an ACL reconstruction. Further research is necessary before BFR can be recommended for use in clinical settings.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
3a.
PubMed: 33344004
DOI: 10.26603/ijspt20200882 -
Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic... Dec 2020Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) leads to decreased sole sensation and balance disorder, all of which increase the risk of falls and socioeconomic costs. Since the... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) leads to decreased sole sensation and balance disorder, all of which increase the risk of falls and socioeconomic costs. Since the physiotherapists do not use the same manner to lessen the complications of this problem. Therefore, this review study was directed to appraise physiotherapy intervention efficiencies in diminishing DPN's symptoms and complications.
METHOD
A database search of Pubmed, Elsevier, Google Scholar, and Embase was performed to determine DPN's published documents. Finally, studies of DPN and treatments available in this field, particularly physiotherapy that included electrotherapy, exercise therapy, and other therapies, were identified.
RESULT
According to a database search on August 1, 2019, from 1989 to 2019, in the last 30 years, about 968 articles were found, 345 of which were free full text available, and finally, 19 articles were approved. These articles examined the effects of physiotherapy interventions, including exercise therapy, electrotherapy, and other treatment techniques on DPN patients.
CONCLUSIONS
The results showed that most diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients suffer from muscle weakness, pain, loss of balance, and lower limb dysfunction. As a result, their daily activity and Life satisfaction are gradually impaired. Exercise therapy, electrotherapy, and other physiotherapy methods have been used to reduce the mentioned cases. Among these interventions, exercise therapy has been the most effective. Although there was little evidence of aerobic exercise in these patients, further studies should be done on other therapies' effects.
PubMed: 33553048
DOI: 10.1007/s40200-020-00652-8 -
Expert Review of Medical Devices Jan 2021Foot Drop (FD) is a condition, which is very commonly found in post-stoke patients; however it can also be seen in patients with multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy....
INTRODUCTION
Foot Drop (FD) is a condition, which is very commonly found in post-stoke patients; however it can also be seen in patients with multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy. It is a sign of neuromuscular damage caused by the weakness of the muscles. There are various approaches of FD's rehabilitation, such as physiotherapy, surgery, and the use of technological devices. Recently, researchers have worked on developing various technologies to enhance assisting and rehabilitation of FD.
AREAS COVERED
This review analyzes different types of technologies available for FD. This include devices that are available commercially or still under research101 studies published between 2015 and 2020 were identified for the review, many were excluded due to various reasons, e.g., were not robot-based devices, did not include FD as one of the targeted diseases, or was insufficient information. 24 studies that met our inclusion criteria were assessed. These studies were further classified into two different categories: robot-based ankle-foot orthosis (RAFO) and Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) devices.
EXPERT OPINION
Studies included showed that both RAFO and FES showed considerable improvement in the gait cycle of the patients. Future trends are inclining towards integrating FES with other neuro-concepts such as muscle-synergies for further developments.
Topics: Humans; Ankle; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Foot; Orthotic Devices; Peroneal Neuropathies
PubMed: 33249938
DOI: 10.1080/17434440.2021.1857729 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Jun 2021Cerebral palsy (CP) treatment includes physical therapy and various complementary therapies to the standard clinical treatment. However, there are not many reviews that... (Review)
Review
Cerebral palsy (CP) treatment includes physical therapy and various complementary therapies to the standard clinical treatment. However, there are not many reviews that focus on the methods used and evaluation procedures. This study aims to analyze which tools are most suitable for the evaluation and methodology of patients with CP treated with physical therapy. Following the PRISMA statement, through a PICOS strategy, PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, Science Direct, and Scielo were searched with the following terms: cerebral palsy AND (physical therapy modalities OR therapeutics) AND outcome assessment. The methodological quality of the RCTs was assessed with the Evidence Project risk of bias tool. Thirty-seven RCTs and six RCT protocols, comprising 1359 participants with different types of CP: spastic hemiplegia/paresis, spastic diplegia/paresis, and spastic CP, met the inclusion criteria, uncovering 21 variables measured through 77 different instruments and several interventions. The therapies most widely used in CP are gaming or technology-assisted therapies, aerobic training, hippotherapy, music therapy, gait training, and aquatic exercises. This study provides an overview of what the authors used in the neurorehabilitation field through procedure evaluation and checking the technological advance that began to be used.
PubMed: 34206816
DOI: 10.3390/jpm11070604 -
Critical Care Medicine Oct 2023Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is used in the rehabilitation of patients with critical illness. However, it is unclear whether NMES prevents ICU-acquired... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is used in the rehabilitation of patients with critical illness. However, it is unclear whether NMES prevents ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW). For this purpose, we conducted an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.
DATA SOURCES
We searched the MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi databases from April 2019 to November 2022 to identify new randomized controlled trials to the previous meta-analysis.
STUDY SELECTION
We systematically searched the literature for all randomized controlled trials on the effect of NMES in patients with critical illness.
DATA EXTRACTION
Two authors independently selected the studies and extracted data. They calculated the pooled effect estimates associated with the occurrence of ICU-AW and adverse events as primary outcomes and muscle mass change, muscle strength, length of ICU stay, mortality, and quality of life as secondary outcomes. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Overall, eight studies were added to the previous 10 studies. Evidence suggests that the use of NMES reduces the occurrence of ICU-AW (six trials; risk ratio [RR], 0.48; 95% CI, 0.32-0.72); however, NMES may have little to no effect on pricking sensation in patients (eight trials; RR, 6.87; 95% CI, 0.84-56.50). NMES is likely to reduce the change in muscle mass (four trials; mean difference, -10.01; 95% CI, -15.54 to -4.48) and may increase muscle strength (six trials; standardized mean difference, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.19-0.68). Further, NMES may result in little to no difference in the length of ICU stay, and the evidence is uncertain about the effect on mortality and quality of life.
CONCLUSIONS
This updated meta-analysis revealed that the use of NMES may result in a lower occurrence of ICU-AW in patients with critical illness, but its use may have little to no effect on pricking sensation in patients.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Critical Illness; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Electric Stimulation
PubMed: 37232695
DOI: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000005941 -
The Oncologist Dec 2021The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represents a paradigm shift in the treatment of cancers. Despite showing remarkable efficacy, these agents can be...
BACKGROUND
The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represents a paradigm shift in the treatment of cancers. Despite showing remarkable efficacy, these agents can be associated with life-threatening immune-related adverse events. In recent years, several cases of myocarditis with myositis and/or myasthenia gravis overlap syndrome (IM3OS) have been reported. However, given the rarity, the clinical features and outcomes of these cases remain poorly understood. We, therefore, attempted to systematically review and summarize all cases of IM3OS reported in the literature.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Studies reporting IM3OS were identified in Embase and MEDLINE. Only case reports and case series published in journals or presented at conferences were included. We conducted a systematic review according to the PRISMA Harms guidelines.
RESULTS
A total of 60 cases were eligible. The patients' median age was 71 years, and the majority (67%) were males; melanoma was the most common indication for ICIs (38%). The most-reported symptoms were fatigue (80%) and muscle weakness (78%). The median number of doses to the development of IM3OS was one. The average creatine kinase level was 9,645 IU/L. Cardiac arrhythmias occurred in 67% of patients, and 18% had depressed ejection fraction. Initial treatment consisted of immunosuppression with high-dose steroids and supportive therapies. Sixty percent of the patients died in hospital because of acute complications.
CONCLUSION
IM3OS can be associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Prospective studies are needed to understand the optimal approach to diagnose and manage these patients and to develop biomarkers to predict the occurrence and severity of this rare but serious condition.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
Clinicians should suspect coexisting myositis and/or myasthenia gravis in all patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced myocarditis, given their propensity to occur together. Early recognition and prompt treatment with the help of a multidisciplinary team might help improve the outcomes of this life-threatening condition.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Myasthenia Gravis; Myocarditis; Myositis
PubMed: 34378270
DOI: 10.1002/onco.13931 -
European Journal of Translational... Sep 2022The aim of this study was to identify the efficacy of drug agents for pharmacological Treatment of Presbyopia. Published research papers were reviewed using the relevant...
The aim of this study was to identify the efficacy of drug agents for pharmacological Treatment of Presbyopia. Published research papers were reviewed using the relevant terms in PubMed, Science direct, Google scholar, Medline, Google patent, Ovid, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus. In the initial search, 2270 records were obtained. By removing duplicate articles and all articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria or were inappropriate due to indirect relevance to the subject, 44 studies were selected. It should be noted that all studies had inclusion criteria. There are a number of topical pharmacological agents available for treating presbyopia such as FOV Tears and PresbiDrop. They consist of parasympathetic agent and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), to contract the ciliary and pupil muscle and restore the accommodation. Another example of topical pharmacological agent is EV06. It is a lens-softening eye drop which can affect the rigid lens in presbyopia. Currently there is no pharmacological agent available to treat presbyopia. Although there are limited number of peer-reviewed articles available, the outcome for future agents under investigation are promising.
PubMed: 36121117
DOI: 10.4081/ejtm.2022.10781