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Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine May 2021The second-generation antipsychotic drug quetiapine (Seroquel) is increasingly being used off-label for treating insomnia in the general population, possibly to avoid... (Review)
Review
The second-generation antipsychotic drug quetiapine (Seroquel) is increasingly being used off-label for treating insomnia in the general population, possibly to avoid standard medications with known addictive qualities and adverse side effects. However, evidence to support using it in this way is scant, and quetiapine is associated with weight gain and other metabolic effects. It must be used cautiously and with appropriate monitoring for adverse effects and abuse.
Topics: Antipsychotic Agents; Humans; Quetiapine Fumarate; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
PubMed: 33941603
DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.88a.20031 -
American Family Physician Jun 2021Many individuals need a mobility assistive device as they age. These devices include canes, crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs. Clinicians should understand how to... (Review)
Review
Many individuals need a mobility assistive device as they age. These devices include canes, crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs. Clinicians should understand how to select the appropriate device and size for individual patients (or work with a physical therapist) and prescribe the device using the patient's health insurance plan. Canes can improve standing tolerance and gait by off-loading a weak or painful limb; however, they are the least stable of all assistive devices, and patients must have sufficient balance, upper body strength, and dexterity to use them safely. Older adults rarely use crutches because of the amount of upper body strength that is needed. Walkers provide a large base of support for patients who have poor balance or who have bilateral lower limb weakness and thus cannot always bear full weight on their legs. A two-wheel rolling walker is more functional and easier to maneuver than a standard walker with no wheels. A four-wheel rolling walker (rollator) can be used by higher-functioning individuals who do not need to fully off-load a lower limb and who need rest breaks for cardiopulmonary endurance reasons, but this is the least stable type of walker. Wheelchairs should be considered for patients who lack the lower body strength, balance, or endurance for ambulation. Proper sizing and patient education are essential to avoid skin breakdown. To use manual wheelchairs, patients must have sufficient upper body strength and coordination. Power chairs may be considered for patients who cannot operate a manual wheelchair or if they need the features of a power wheelchair.
Topics: Aged; Canes; Crutches; Female; Humans; Male; Mobility Limitation; Self-Help Devices; Walkers
PubMed: 34128609
DOI: No ID Found -
Advanced Science (Weinheim,... Jun 2022The ability to design nanostructures with arbitrary shapes and controllable motions has made DNA nanomaterials used widely to construct diverse nanomachines with various... (Review)
Review
The ability to design nanostructures with arbitrary shapes and controllable motions has made DNA nanomaterials used widely to construct diverse nanomachines with various structures and functions. The DNA nanostructures exhibit excellent properties, including programmability, stability, biocompatibility, and can be modified with different functional groups. Among these nanoscale architectures, DNA walker is one of the most popular nanodevices with ingenious design and flexible function. In the past several years, DNA walkers have made amazing progress ranging from structural design to biological applications including constructing biosensors for the detection of cancer-associated biomarkers. In this review, the key driving forces of DNA walkers are first summarized. Then, the DNA walkers with different numbers of legs are introduced. Furthermore, the biosensing applications of DNA walkers including the detection- of nucleic acids, proteins, ions, and bacteria are summarized. Finally, the new frontiers and opportunities for developing DNA walker-based biosensors are discussed.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; DNA; Ions; Nanostructures; Nucleic Acids
PubMed: 35460209
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202200327 -
Australian Prescriber Dec 2021Cirrhosis can be suspected by a thorough clinical assessment, but compensated liver disease is often asymptomatic. Select investigations are therefore critical for... (Review)
Review
Cirrhosis can be suspected by a thorough clinical assessment, but compensated liver disease is often asymptomatic. Select investigations are therefore critical for identifying patients with advanced liver disease and cirrhosis Biomarkers and validated serum tests can evaluate liver damage and synthetic function. The ratio of the concentration of aspartate aminotransferase to the platelet count can predict the presence of cirrhosis Non-invasive imaging techniques, from basic ultrasound to elastography, are critical adjuncts to the clinical assessment of cirrhosis. They reduce the need for liver biopsy Careful monitoring, prescribing and appropriate specialist referral are key considerations in cirrhosis management. Early diagnosis can help to improve the outcomes for patients.
PubMed: 35002032
DOI: 10.18773/austprescr.2021.053 -
The American Journal of Tropical... Aug 2014
Topics: Aged, 80 and over; Clofazimine; Dapsone; Humans; Leprostatic Agents; Leprosy; Male; Mycobacterium leprae; Rifampin; Skin; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 25100789
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0668 -
Chemical Science Jan 2020The surface of the influenza virus is decorated with the receptor-binding protein hemagglutinin (HA) and the receptor-cleaving enzyme neuraminidase (NA). HA is... (Review)
Review
The surface of the influenza virus is decorated with the receptor-binding protein hemagglutinin (HA) and the receptor-cleaving enzyme neuraminidase (NA). HA is responsible for host cell recognition, while NA prevents aggregation and entrapment, but the intricate mechanism of how the functions of these glycoproteins cooperate and how they are regulated by mutational responses to environmental pressures remains unclear. Recently, several groups have described the motion of influenza over surfaces and reported that this motion is inhibited by NA inhibitors. We argue that the motion of influenza resembles the motility of artificial receptor-cleaving particles called "molecular spiders". The cleaving of receptors by this type of molecular walkers leads to self-avoiding motion across a surface. When the binding and cleaving rates of molecular spiders are balanced, they move both rapidly and efficiently. The studies of molecular spiders offer new insights into the functional balance of HA and NA, but they do not address the asymmetric distribution of HA and NA on the surface of influenza. We propose that receptor-cleaving molecular walkers could play an important role in the further investigation of the motility of influenza viruses.
PubMed: 32153750
DOI: 10.1039/c9sc05149j -
Hospital Pharmacy Apr 2020
PubMed: 32214437
DOI: 10.1177/0018578719883801 -
American Family Physician Aug 2011Disability and mobility problems increase with age. Assistive devices such as canes, crutches, and walkers can be used to increase a patient's base of support, improve... (Review)
Review
Disability and mobility problems increase with age. Assistive devices such as canes, crutches, and walkers can be used to increase a patient's base of support, improve balance, and increase activity and independence, but they are not without significant musculoskeletal and metabolic demands. Most patients with assistive devices have never been instructed on the proper use and often have devices that are inappropriate, damaged, or are of the incorrect height. Selection of a suitable device depends on the patient's strength, endurance, balance, cognitive function, and environmental demands. Canes can help redistribute weight from a lower extremity that is weak or painful, improve stability by increasing the base of support, and provide tactile information about the ground to improve balance. Crutches are useful for patients who need to use their arms for weight bearing and propulsion and not just for balance. Walkers improve stability in those with lower extremity weakness or poor balance and facilitate improved mobility by increasing the patient's base of support and supporting the patient's weight. Walkers require greater attentional demands than canes and make using stairs difficult. The top of a cane or walker should be the same height as the wrist crease when the patient is standing upright with arms relaxed at his or her sides. A cane should be held contralateral to a weak or painful lower extremity and advanced simultaneously with the contralateral leg. Clinicians should routinely evaluate their patients' assistive devices to ensure proper height, fit, and maintenance, and also counsel patients on correct use of the device.
Topics: Aged; Canes; Crutches; Decision Support Techniques; Dependent Ambulation; Directive Counseling; Health Services for the Aged; Humans; Orthopedic Equipment; Self-Help Devices; Walkers
PubMed: 21842786
DOI: No ID Found -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Nov 2023Many mammals living on farms, in zoos, and in research settings behave differently with familiar people versus strangers, and the sex of the person can also influence...
Many mammals living on farms, in zoos, and in research settings behave differently with familiar people versus strangers, and the sex of the person can also influence interactions. We conducted two studies to examine the influence of a dog's sex and maturity and a walker's sex and familiarity on the behavior of shelter dogs during leash walks. In Study 1 with unfamiliar walkers ( = 113 dogs), we found that mature males urinated at higher rates when walked by a woman than by a man, whereas mature females urinated at similar rates. Mature males and mature females were less likely to defecate when walked by a man than by a woman. Juvenile dogs were generally less affected than mature dogs by a walker's sex, suggesting a role for experience in mature dogs' responses. In Study 2, when dogs were walked more than once by a man and a woman ( = 81 dogs), we found patterns of urination and defecation like those in Study 1. Importantly, the effects of the dog's sex and maturity and the walker's sex on dogs' patterns of urination and defecation did not change over walks as dogs became familiar with walkers. Dogs in shelters are directly exposed to so many people that they may be less responsive to differing degrees of familiarity than mammals living in other settings. Our data indicate that dog maturity and sex and human sex influence dog-human interactions.
PubMed: 38067000
DOI: 10.3390/ani13233649 -
European Journal of Vascular and... May 2021
Topics: Aged; Chest Pain; Computed Tomography Angiography; Female; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors; Humans; Mesenteric Artery, Superior; Vascular Malformations
PubMed: 33781680
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2021.02.019