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Brain and Behavior Aug 2020Stroke survivors often experience upper-limb motor deficits and achieve limited motor recovery within six months after the onset of stroke. We aimed to systematically... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Stroke survivors often experience upper-limb motor deficits and achieve limited motor recovery within six months after the onset of stroke. We aimed to systematically review the effects of robot-assisted therapy (RT) in comparison to usual care on the functional and health outcomes of subacute stroke survivors.
METHODS
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2019 were identified from six electronic databases. Pooled estimates of standardized mean differences for five outcomes, including motor control (primary outcome), functional independence, upper extremity performance, muscle tone, and quality of life were derived by random effects meta-analyses. Assessments of risk of bias in the included RCTs and the quality of evidence for every individual outcomes were conducted following the guidelines of the Cochrane Collaboration.
RESULTS
Eleven RCTs involving 493 participants were included for review. At post-treatment, the effects of RT when compared to usual care on motor control, functional independence, upper extremity performance, muscle tone, and quality of life were nonsignificant (all ps ranged .16 to .86). The quality of this evidence was generally rated as low-to-moderate. Less than three RCTs assessed the treatment effects beyond post-treatment and the results remained nonsignificant.
CONCLUSION
Robot-assisted therapy produced benefits similar, but not significantly superior, to those from usual care for improving functioning and disability in patients diagnosed with stroke within six months. Apart from using head-to-head comparison to determine the effects of RT in subacute stroke survivors, future studies may explore the possibility of conducting noninferiority or equivalence trials, given that the less labor-intensive RT may offer important advantages over currently available standard care, in terms of improved convenience, better adherence, and lower manpower cost.
Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Humans; Male; Robotics; Stroke; Stroke Rehabilitation; Upper Extremity
PubMed: 32592282
DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1742 -
American Family Physician Dec 2021Thyroiditis is a general term for inflammation of the thyroid gland. The most common forms of thyroiditis encountered by family physicians include Hashimoto, postpartum,...
Thyroiditis is a general term for inflammation of the thyroid gland. The most common forms of thyroiditis encountered by family physicians include Hashimoto, postpartum, and subacute. Most forms of thyroiditis result in a triphasic disease pattern of thyroid dysfunction. Patients will have an initial phase of hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis) attributed to the release of preformed thyroid hormone from damaged thyroid cells. This is followed by hypothyroidism, when the thyroid stores are depleted, and then eventual restoration of normal thyroid function. Some patients may develop permanent hypothyroidism. Hashimoto thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder that presents with or without signs or symptoms of hypothyroidism, often with a painless goiter, and is associated with elevated thyroid peroxidase antibodies. Patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis and overt hypothyroidism are generally treated with lifelong thyroid hormone therapy. Postpartum thyroiditis occurs within one year of delivery, miscarriage, or medical abortion. Subacute thyroiditis is a self-limited inflammatory disease characterized by anterior neck pain. Treatment of subacute thyroiditis should focus on symptoms. In the hyperthyroid phase, beta blockers can treat adrenergic symptoms. In the hypothyroid phase, treatment is generally not necessary but may be used in patients with signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism or permanent hypothyroidism. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids are indicated for the treatment of thyroid pain. Certain drugs may induce thyroiditis, such as amiodarone, immune checkpoint inhibitors, interleukin-2, interferon-alfa, lithium, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In all cases of thyroiditis, surveillance and clinical follow-up are recommended to monitor for changes in thyroid function.
Topics: Hashimoto Disease; Humans; Thyroiditis
PubMed: 34913664
DOI: No ID Found -
MedEdPORTAL : the Journal of Teaching... Nov 2019Patients often transition between health care settings, such as office to hospital, hospital to nursing facility, or hospital to home. When a patient is admitted, it is...
INTRODUCTION
Patients often transition between health care settings, such as office to hospital, hospital to nursing facility, or hospital to home. When a patient is admitted, it is imperative that clinicians review prior medication lists along with new orders to reconcile any discrepancies. This process should occur in a standardized manner to reduce medication errors leading to adverse events and patient harm.
METHODS
We developed this program as an instructional method via PowerPoint to teach the importance of accurate medication reconciliation. We implemented the program in multiple grand rounds settings with students, trainees, and attending physicians in internal medicine and surgery. Approximately 150 learners attended the sessions. We assessed learners with pre/post self-efficacy assessment (74 completed precourse surveys, 39 completed posttest surveys, and 49 participated in the audience response during the course) and multiple-choice knowledge questions.
RESULTS
The results of the postcourse knowledge assessment demonstrated improvement in every question we tested, with two of the improvements reaching statistical significance. We found that 30% of attendees were not at all confident or only somewhat confident in conducting an appropriate medication reconciliation on admission to the hospital. Additionally, 82% of respondents reported that the presentation was likely or extremely likely to improve their medication reconciliation efforts.
DISCUSSION
Our educational program was successful in improving learners' knowledge in every question we tested; however, only two of the improvements were statistically significant. Our program is an organized and effective tool for teaching effective and reliable medication reconciliation.
Topics: Continuity of Patient Care; Health Care Surveys; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Internal Medicine; Medical Staff, Hospital; Medication Errors; Medication Reconciliation; Patient Discharge; Patient Transfer; Pharmacists; Safety Management
PubMed: 31934615
DOI: 10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10852 -
Stroke May 2021Ischemic stroke remains the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. Nurses play a pivotal role in the care of patients throughout the continuum. With the... (Review)
Review
Care of the Patient With Acute Ischemic Stroke (Endovascular/Intensive Care Unit-Postinterventional Therapy): Update to 2009 Comprehensive Nursing Care Scientific Statement: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.
Ischemic stroke remains the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. Nurses play a pivotal role in the care of patients throughout the continuum. With the advances in stroke care, including mechanical thrombectomy, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association charged the writing panel to complement the 2009 clinical practice guideline, "Comprehensive Overview of Nursing and Interdisciplinary Care of the Acute Ischemic Stroke Patient," with current evidence-based nursing care. This update is 1 of a 3-part series focusing on emergency medical services/emergency care, endovascular/intensive care unit care, and postacute care. The aim of this scientific statement is to review and present current evidence, complications, best practices, and clinical practice strategies to provide current comprehensive scientific information for nursing care in the neuroendovascular area and intensive care unit in conjunction with medical treatments, including intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy.
Topics: American Heart Association; Evidence-Based Nursing; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Ischemic Stroke; Nursing Care; Subacute Care; United States
PubMed: 33691467
DOI: 10.1161/STR.0000000000000358 -
The Journal of Frailty & Aging 2021COVID-19 patients may experience disability related to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission or due to immobilization. We assessed pre-post impact on physical performance...
COVID-19 patients may experience disability related to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission or due to immobilization. We assessed pre-post impact on physical performance of multi-component therapeutic exercise for post-COVID-19 rehabilitation in a post-acute care facility. A 30-minute daily multicomponent therapeutic exercise intervention combined resistance, endurance and balance training. Outcomes: Short Physical Performance Battery; Barthel Index, ability to walk unassisted and single leg stance. Clinical, functional and cognitive variables were collected. We included 33 patients (66.2±12.8 years). All outcomes improved significantly in the global sample (p<0.01). Post-ICU patients, who were younger than No ICU ones, experienced greater improvement in SPPB (4.4±2.1 vs 2.5±1.7, p<0.01) and gait speed (0.4±0.2 vs 0.2±0.1 m/sec, p<0.01). In conclusion, adults surviving COVID-19 improved their functional status, including those who required ICU stay. Our results emphasize the need to establish innovative rehabilitative strategies to reduce the negative functional outcomes of COVID-19.
Topics: COVID-19; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Humans; SARS-CoV-2; Subacute Care
PubMed: 34105716
DOI: 10.14283/jfa.2021.1 -
JAMA Network Open Jan 2021Malnutrition affects a considerable proportion of patients in the hospital and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Recent trials found a survival benefit among...
IMPORTANCE
Malnutrition affects a considerable proportion of patients in the hospital and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Recent trials found a survival benefit among patients receiving nutritional support.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether there is an association of nutritional support with in-hospital mortality in routine clinical practice.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This cohort study was conducted from April 2013 to December 2018 among a population of patients from Swiss administrative claims data. From 114 264 hospitalizations of medical patients with malnutrition, 34 967 patients (30.6%) receiving nutritional support were 1:1 propensity score matched to patients with malnutrition in the hospital who were not receiving nutritional support. Patients in intensive care units were excluded. Data were analyzed from February 2020 to November 2020.
EXPOSURES
Receiving nutritional support, including dietary advice, oral nutritional supplementation, or enteral and parenteral nutrition.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were 30-day all-cause hospital readmission and discharge to a postacute care facility. Poisson and logistic regressions were used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and odds ratios (ORs) of outcomes.
RESULTS
After matching, the study identified 69 934 hospitalizations of patients coded as having malnutrition in the cohort (mean [SD] age, 73.8 [14.5] years; 36 776 [52.6%] women). Patients receiving nutritional support, compared with those not receiving nutritional support, had a lower in-hospital mortality rate (2525 of 34 967 patients died [7.2%] vs 3072 of 34 967 patients died [8.8%]; IRR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.75-0.84]; P < .001) and a reduced 30-day readmission rate (IRR, 0.95 [95% CI, 0.91-0.98]; P = .002). In addition, patients receiving nutritional support were less frequently discharged to a postacute care facility (13 691 patients [42.2%] vs 14 324 patients [44.9%]; OR, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.86-0.91]; P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
These findings suggest that nutritional support was associated with reduced mortality among patients in the medical ward with malnutrition. The results support data found by randomized clinical trials and may help to inform patients, clinicians, and authorities regarding the usefulness of nutritional support in clinical practice.
Topics: Aged; Female; Hospital Mortality; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Malnutrition; Nutritional Support; Patient Readmission; Propensity Score; Subacute Care; Switzerland
PubMed: 33471118
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.33433 -
International Journal of Environmental... Sep 2020The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly spread worldwide. A number of...
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly spread worldwide. A number of serious effects on various organs and systems have been reported in humans, and recently emerging evidence on the potential association between the infection and thyroid dysfunction are attracting attention from the scientific community. This editorial critically summarizes the main findings on this topic published so far and defines research lines according to the translational approach from the bench to the bed to epidemiological studies and back again, aimed at patient care and effective public health measures.
Topics: Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; Humans; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; SARS-CoV-2; Thyroid Diseases
PubMed: 32932954
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17186630 -
Europace : European Pacing,... Aug 2023Stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is one pillar of the management of this common arrhythmia. Substantial advances in the epidemiology and... (Review)
Review
Stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is one pillar of the management of this common arrhythmia. Substantial advances in the epidemiology and associated pathophysiology underlying AF-related stroke and thrombo-embolism are evident. Furthermore, the introduction of the non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (also called direct oral anticoagulants) has clearly changed our approach to stroke prevention in AF, such that the default should be to offer oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention, unless the patient is at low risk. A strategy of early rhythm control is also beneficial in reducing strokes in selected patients with recent onset AF, when compared to rate control. Cardiovascular risk factor management, with optimization of comorbidities and attention to lifestyle factors, and the patient's psychological morbidity are also essential. Finally, in selected patients with absolute contraindications to long-term oral anticoagulation, left atrial appendage occlusion or exclusion may be considered. The aim of this state-of-the-art review article is to provide an overview of the current status of AF-related stroke and prevention strategies. A holistic or integrated care approach to AF management is recommended to minimize the risk of stroke in patients with AF, based on the evidence-based Atrial fibrillation Better Care (ABC) pathway, as follows: A: Avoid stroke with Anticoagulation; B: Better patient-centred, symptom-directed decisions on rate or rhythm control; C: Cardiovascular risk factor and comorbidity optimization, including lifestyle changes.
Topics: Humans; Atrial Fibrillation; Stroke; Heart; Anticoagulants; Contraindications
PubMed: 37622590
DOI: 10.1093/europace/euad226