Patients of group @ ( n = @ ) received of fixed combination of nebivolol and amlodipine , while those of group @ ( n = @ ) received free combination of nebivolol and amlodipine .


Study drugs were administered both as initial therapy and replacement of preceding treatment .


Duration of observation was @ months with visits after first @ weeks and in @ , @ , and @ months after enrollment .


Starting from @nd week visit of fixed combination of nebivolol and amlodipine treated patients had significantly lower levels of systolic and diastolic AP .


Already after @ weeks of combined two-component therapy @ % of group @ and @ % of group @ patients achieved target AP .


Target AP was achieved by the end of month @ by @ and @ % , of month @ - by @ and @ % of patients in groups @ and @ , respectively .


In @ months almost all patients had target AP , but in @ % of group @ and @ % of group @ patients this level was achieved after addition of a thiazide diuretic .


Patients receiving of fixed combination of nebivolol and amlodipine achieved noromosyslolia more quickly compared with patients who received free combination of nebivolol and amlodipine .


Combined therapy with fixed combination of nebivolol and amlodipine appears to be one of effective approaches to treatment of patients with moderate and high degree AH .


CG@ , a novel selective cyclooxygenase-@ inhibitor that also inhibits carbonic anhydrase I/II , is expected to reduce the cardiovascular risk typical of other NSAIDs .


Concurrent medications may influence the activities of the cytochrome P@ ( CYP ) @A enzyme through which CG@ is metabolized .


This study was designed to evaluate the influence of ketoconazole , a known strong inhibitor of CYP@A , on the pharmacokinetic properties of CG@ .


This randomized , open-label , @ @ crossover study was conducted in healthy Korean male volunteers .


Each subject received the following @ treatments in a randomly allocated sequence , separated by a washout period of @ days : single oral dose of CG@ @ mg , and concurrent dosing of CG@ @ mg and ketoconazole @ mg followed by ketoconazole @ mg/d over @ days .


Blood samples for pharmacokinetic analysis were collected at @ ( predose ) , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , and @ hours after dosing of CG@ in each sequence .


Tolerability assessments were performed throughout the study .


Thirty subjects participated , and @ subjects completed the study .


Seventeen adverse events ( AEs ) were reported in @ subjects , and all AEs were recovered without any sequelae .


No serious AEs were reported .


Six subjects receiving the single dose of CG@ had @ AEs , and @ subjects receiving the combination of ketoconazole and CG@ had @ AEs .


The Cmax of CG@ with CG@ only and with concurrent administration of CG@ + ketoconazole were similar ( @ and @ ng/mL , respectively ) .


The CG@ AUClast with concurrent ketoconazole was @-fold greater than that with CG@ only ( @ and @ ng h/mL ) and demonstrated a statistically significant difference ( P < @ ) .


However , there were no statistically significant differences in vital signs , clinical laboratory test results , ECGs , or AEs between treatments .


Although the AUC of CG@ increased by @ % with the concurrent medication of ketoconazole , it is considered that concurrent administration of CG@ with ketoconazole would not change the safety profile of CG@ .


Advanced glycation endproducts ( AGEs ) contribute to the development of vascular complications of diabetes and have been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes .


Since AGEs are generated within foodstuffs upon food processing , it is increasingly recognised that the modern diet is replete with AGEs .


AGEs are thought to stimulate chronic low-grade inflammation and promote oxidative stress and have been linked to the development of insulin resistance .


Simple therapeutic strategies targeted at attenuating the progression of chronic low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance are urgently required to prevent or slow the development of type @ diabetes in susceptible individuals .


Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiota has been shown to confer a number of health benefits to the host , but its effect on advanced glycation is unknown .


The aim of this article is to describe the methodology of a double-blind placebo-controlled randomised crossover trial designed to determine the effect of @week consumption of a prebiotic dietary supplement on the advanced glycation pathway , insulin sensitivity and chronic low-grade inflammation in adults with pre-diabetes .


Thirty adults with pre-diabetes ( Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Impaired Fasting Glucose ) aged between @-@ years will be randomly assigned to receive either @ grams of prebiotic ( inulin/oligofructose ) daily or @ grams placebo ( maltodextrin ) daily for @weeks .


After a @-week washout period , study subjects will crossover to receive the alternative dietary treatment for @weeks .


The primary outcome is the difference in markers of the advanced glycation pathway carboxymethyllysine ( CML ) and methylglyoxal ( MG ) between experimental and control treatments .


Secondary outcomes include HbA@c , insulin sensitivity , lipid levels , blood pressure , serum glutathione , adiponectin , IL-@ , E-selectin , myeloperoxidase , C-reactive protein , Toll-like Receptor @ ( TLR@ ) , soluble receptor for AGE ( sRAGE ) , urinary @-isoprostanes , faecal bacterial composition and short chain fatty acid profile .


Anthropometric measures including BMI and waist circumference will be collected in addition to comprehensive dietary and lifestyle data .


Prebiotics which selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the human colon might offer protection against AGE-related pathology in people at risk of developing type @ diabetes .


The @ GOLD classification system for COPD distinguishes four stages : A ( low symptoms , low exacerbation risk ) , B ( high symptoms , low risk ) , C ( low symptoms , high risk ) and D ( high symptoms , high risk ) .


Assessment of risk is based on exacerbation history and airflow obstruction , whatever results in a higher risk grouping .


The previous system was solely based on airflow obstruction .


Earlier studies compared the predictive performance of new and old classification systems with regards to mortality and exacerbations .


The objective of this study was to compare the ability of both classifications to predict the number of future ( total and severe ) exacerbations and mortality in a different patient population , and to add an outcome measure to the comparison : lung function decline .


Patient-level data from the UPLIFT trial were used to analyze @-year survival in a Weibull model , with GOLD stages at baseline as covariates .


A generalized linear model was used to compare the numbers of exacerbations ( total and severe ) per stage .


Analyses were repeated with stages C and D divided into substages depending on lung function and exacerbation history .


Lung function decline was analysed in a repeated measures model .


Mortality increased from A to D , but there was no difference between B and C. For the previous GOLD stages @-@ , survival curves were clearly separated .


Yearly exacerbation rates were : @ , @ and @ for stages @-@ ; and @ , @ , @ and @ for A-D .


Annual rates of lung function decline were : @ , @ and @ml for stages @-@ and @ , @ , @ and @ for stages A-D .


With regards to model fit , the new system performed worse at predicting mortality and lung function decline , and better at predicting exacerbations .


Distinguishing between the sub-stages of high-risk led to substantial improvements .


The new classification system is a modest step towards a phenotype approach .


It is probably an improvement for the prediction of exacerbations , but a deterioration for predicting mortality and lung function decline .


To estimate whether continuous combined oral contraceptive pill ( OCP ) use leads to higher continuation and lower pregnancy rates over @ months than cyclic use in a developing country setting .


We enrolled healthy women aged @ to @ years , in Santo Domingo , Dominican Republic .


We randomly assigned women to cyclic or continuous use of OCPs .


Participants made quarterly clinic visits for @ months .


During follow-up , we reviewed OCP adherence and continuation , side effects , and bleeding , and we tested for pregnancy .


We enrolled @ women ( mean age , @ years ) and @ ( @ % ) completed the study .


In intent-to-treat analyses , @ % of the continuous use group and @ % of the cyclic group continued OCPs at @ months ( P = @ ) .


The main reason for OCP discontinuation in both groups was running out of OCPs or forgetting .


Across all visits , @ % of women in the continuous use group and @ % of women in the cyclic group ever reported missing three or more OCPs in the past month ( P = @ ) .


In multivariable analyses , regimen was not associated with discontinuation , but both previous birth and perceived ease of use of OCPs decreased risk of discontinuation , whereas desire for reduced menstruation increased risk of discontinuation .


Although more women reported amenorrhea or infrequent bleeding in the continuous use group , more women in the cyclic group found their bleeding patterns acceptable .


Bleeding was not associated with discontinuation in multivariable analyses .


Pregnancy rates at @ months were similar ( @ % continuous and @ % cyclic ) .


Continuous and cyclic OCP regimens were associated with similar @-month continuation and pregnancy rates .


Few factors predicted OCP discontinuation or pregnancy .


Project Renaissance is a randomized controlled trial of an HIV/hepatitis C virus ( HCV ) / sexually transmitted infection ( STI ) prevention intervention conducted in Almaty , Kazakhstan .


We hypothesized that couples assigned to the intervention of interest will have lower incidence of HIV , HCV , STIs , rates of unprotected sex , and unsafe injection over the @-month follow-up period compared with those assigned to an attention control arm .


A total of @ couples ( @ participants ) where one or both partners reported injecting drugs in the past @ days were randomized to @ of @ arms : ( @ ) a @-session HIV/HCV/STI prevention intervention ( risk reduction : RR ) or ( @ ) a @-session Wellness Promotion ( WP ) intervention .


Over the @-month follow-up period , assignment to RR compared with WP significantly lowered the incidence of HCV infection by @ % -LSB- incidence rate ratios ( IRR ) = @ , @ % ( CI ) confidence interval : @ to @ , P = @ -RSB- .


Although differences were not statistically significant , RR participants had a lower incidence of HIV infection by @ % ( IRR = @ , @ % CI : @ to @ , P = @ ) and any STI by @ % ( IRR = @ , @ % CI : @ to @ , P = @ ) than WP participants .


RR participants reported significantly fewer numbers of unprotected vaginal sex acts with their study partners ( IRR = @ , @ % CI : @ to @ , P = @ ) and more consistent condom use ( odds ratios = @ , @ % CI : @ to @ , P = @ ) over the entire follow-up period compared with WP participants .


Project Renaissance demonstrated a significant effect for biological and behavioral endpoints .


Findings draw attention to an HIV/HCV/STI prevention intervention strategy that can be scaled up for drug-involved couples in harm reduction programs , drug treatment , and criminal justice settings .


To compare the effectiveness of fluoride vanish , fluoride foam , pit and fissure sealant with fluoride in prevention of dental caries , and investigate appropriate approach to prevent dental caries at schools .


A randomized controlled clinical trial with @ parallel groups was conducted .


Totally @ children from @ schools and @ classes with a mean age of @ to @ years were included .


They were randomly allocated into @ groups : ( @ ) fluoride vanish , semi-annual application ; ( @ ) fluoride foam , semi-annual application ; ( @ ) resin sealant , single placement ; and ( @ ) placebo control with oral hygiene instruction .


Follow-up examinations were conducted after @ years to monitor dental caries increment of first molars among these children .


Data analysis was performed using SPSS @ software package .


Two years later , @ children ( @ % ) were examined .


The results of multiple factor ANCOVA showed that fluoride vanish and resin sealant had significantly lower mean dental caries increment on tooth surface compared with control group ( P < @ ) .


No significant difference of mean dental caries increment on tooth surface was found between fluoride foam and control group ( P > @ ) .


The placement of resin sealant with fluoride and annual application of fluoride protector are effective in prevention of dental caries in permanent teeth of children .


Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of health care-associated infection in US hospitals .


Recurrence occurs in @ % to @ % of patients .


To determine the safety , fecal colonization , recurrence rate , and optimal dosing schedule of nontoxigenic C. difficile strain M@ ( VP@ ; NTCD-M@ ) for prevention of recurrent C. difficile infection ( CDI ) .


Phase @ , randomized , double-blind , placebo-controlled , dose-ranging study conducted from June @ to June @ among @ patients aged @ years or older who were diagnosed as having CDI ( first episode or first recurrence ) and had successfully completed treatment with metronidazole , oral vancomycin , or both at @ study centers in the United States , Canada , and Europe .


Patients were randomly assigned to receive @ of @ treatments : oral liquid formulation of NTCD-M@ , @ ( @ ) spores/d for @ days ( n = @ ) , @ ( @ ) spores/d for @ days ( n = @ ) , or @ ( @ ) spores/d for @ days ( n = @ ) , or placebo for @ days ( n = @ ) .


The primary outcome was safety and tolerability of NTCD-M@ within @ days of treatment .


Exploratory secondary outcomes included fecal colonization with NTCD-M@ from end of study drug through week @ and CDI recurrence from day @ through week @ .


Among @ patients who started treatment , @ completed treatment .


One or more treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in @ % of patients receiving NTCD-M@ and @ % of patients receiving placebo .


Diarrhea and abdominal pain were reported in @ % and @ % of patients receiving NTCD-M@ and @ % and @ % of placebo patients , respectively .


Serious treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in @ % of patients receiving placebo and @ % of all patients who received NTCD-M@ .


Headache was reported in @ % of patients receiving NTCD-M@ and @ % of placebo patients .


Fecal colonization occurred in @ % of NTCD-M@ patients : @ % with @ ( @ ) spores/d and @ % with @ ( @ ) spores/d .


Recurrence of CDI occurred in @ ( @ % ) of @ placebo patients and @ ( @ % ) of @ NTCD-M@ patients ( odds ratio -LSB- OR -RSB- , @ ; @ % CI , @-@ @ ; P = @ ) ; the lowest recurrence was in @ ( @ % ) of @ patients receiving @ ( @ ) spores/d for @ days ( OR , @ ; @ % CI , @-@ @ ; P = @ vs placebo -RSB- ) .


Recurrence occurred in @ ( @ % ) of @ patients who were colonized vs @ ( @ % ) of @ patients who received NTCD-M@ and were not colonized ( OR , @ ; @ % CI , @-@ @ ; P < @ ) .


Among patients with CDI who clinically recovered following treatment with metronidazole or vancomycin , oral administration of spores of NTCD-M@ was well tolerated and appeared to be safe .


Nontoxigenic C. difficile strain M@ colonized the gastrointestinal tract and significantly reduced CDI recurrence .


Untreated behavioral and mental health problems beginning in early childhood are costly problems affecting the long-term health and wellbeing of children , their families , and society .


Although parent training ( PT ) programs have been demonstrated to be a cost-effective intervention modality for treating childhood behavior problems , they have been less effective for children from low-income and underserved racial and ethnic populations .


The purpose of this randomized trial is to compare the effectiveness , cost , and social validity of two manualized evidence-based PT programs that were developed and tested on different populations and employ different delivery models : ( @ ) The Chicago Parent Program ( CPP ) , a group-based program developed in collaboration with a community advisory board of African-American and Latino parents ; and ( @ ) Parent-Child Interaction Therapy ( PCIT ) , an individualized parent-child coaching model considered to be ` the gold standard ' for parents of children with externalizing behavior problems .


This trial uses an experimental design with randomization of parents seeking behavioral treatment for their @ - to @-year-old children at a mental health clinic in Baltimore , MD ( @ % African-American or multi-racial ; @ % receiving Medicaid ) .


Using block randomization procedures , @ parents are randomized to CPP or PCIT .


Clinicians ( n = @ ) employed in the mental health clinic and trained in CPP or PCIT are also recruited to participate .


Primary outcomes of interest are reductions in child behavior problems , improvements in parenting , perceived value of the interventions from the perspective of parents and clinicians , and cost .


Parent distress and family social risk are assessed as modifiers of treatment effectiveness .


We hypothesize that CPP will be at least as effective as PCIT for reducing child behavior problems and improving parenting but the programs will differ on cost and their social validity as perceived by parents and clinicians .


This is the first study to compare the effectiveness of a PT program originally designed with and for parents from underserved racial and ethnic populations ( CPP ) against a well-established program considered to be the ` the gold standard ' ( PCIT ) with a high-risk population of parents .


Challenges related to conducting a randomized trial in a fee-for-service mental health clinic serving urban , low-income families are discussed .


To compare treatment satisfaction between real-time continuous glucose monitoring ( RT-CGM ) and internet-blood glucose monitoring ( IBGM ) in adults with type @ diabetes treated with insulin .


This study recruited @ patients who completed a parallel randomized controlled trial comparing a RT-CGM to an IBGM .


Patients in the RT-CGM group monitored their blood-glucose levels bi-weekly and emailed results to their endocrinologist .


Patients in the IBGM group also monitored their blood-glucose levels bi-weekly , but entered their data into an IBGM .


Both groups used a secure website to submit blood-glucose readings and to receive feedback from their endocrinologist .


Feedback included changes in therapy , suggestions on testing frequency , lifestyle modifications and/or encouragement to continue with no changes .


At the end of @ months , treatment satisfaction was measured using the @-item Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire .


In this study , `` treatment '' refers to the blood glucose monitoring system to which patients were randomized .


Thirty-two of the @ patients completed the treatment satisfaction questionnaire ( @ % ) .


Compared to the RT-CGM group , the IBGM group reported a significantly higher level of overall treatment satisfaction ( @ vs. @ , p < @ ) .


Ratings of individual satisfaction components including convenience , flexibility , likelihood of recommending treatment to others , and willingness to continue with treatment were also found to be significantly higher in the IBGM group .


Patients using IBGM are more satisfied with their blood glucose monitoring system compared to those using RT-CGM .


To compare the efficacy differences between fire needling therapy and oxycycline tablets for the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris .


Sixty cases of moderate to severe acne vulgaris were randomly divided into a fire needling group and a medication group , @ cases in each one .


The pricking method of fire needling at Ashi points around damaged skin was applied in the fire needling group , once every five days for totally @ times .


The oral administration of oxycycline tablets , @ mg , was applied in the medication group , twice daily for @ days , also external application of adapalene gel before sleep was adopted .


The fading time of skin damage , including papule , pustule , nodule and cyst in the two groups was recorded and clinical efficacy was compared .


After the treatment , two-month follow-up was performed to observe the recurrence rate in the two groups .


The curative rate was @ % ( @/@ ) in the fire needling group , which was statistically different from @ % ( @/@ ) in the medication group ( P < @ ) .


The fading time of each type of skin damage in the fire needling group was shorter than that in the medication group -LSB- papule : ( @ + / - @ ) d vs ( @ + / - @ ) d ; pustule : ( @ + / - @ ) d vs ( @ + / - @ ) d ; nodule : ( @ + / - @ ) d vs ( @-@ @ ) d ; cyst : ( @ + / - @ ) d vs ( @ + / - @ ) d , all P < @ -RSB- .


The recurrence rate was @ % ( @/@ ) in the fire needling group , which was not significantly different from @ % ( @/@ ) in the medication group ( P > @ ) .


The acne vulgaris could be fast and effectively treated by fire needling therapy , which has shorter fading time than oxycycline tablets .


However , the preventive effect is not different between the two theraies .


Little research has examined whether alcohol reduction interventions improve antiretroviral therapy ( ART ) adherence and HIV treatment outcomes .


This study assesses the efficacy of an intervention for reducing alcohol use among HIV patients on ART who are hazardous/harmful drinkers .


Specific aims include adapting a blended Motivational Interviewing ( MI ) and Problem Solving Therapy ( PST ) intervention for use with HIV patients ; evaluating the efficacy of the intervention for reducing alcohol consumption ; and assessing counsellors ' and participants ' perceptions of the intervention .


A randomised controlled trial will evaluate the intervention among ART patients in public hospital-based HIV clinics in Tshwane , South Africa .


We will recruit patients who are HIV-positive , on ART for at least @months , and classified as harmful/hazardous drinkers using the AUDIT-@ .


Eligible patients will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions .


Patients in the experimental group will receive the MI-PST intervention to reduce harmful/hazardous alcohol use .


Patients in the equal-attention wellness intervention group will receive an intervention focused on addressing health risk behaviours .


Patients in the control condition will receive treatment as usual .


Participants will complete an interviewer-administered questionnaire at baseline and @ , @ and @months post-randomisation to assess alcohol consumption , ART adherence , physical and mental health .


We will also collect biological specimens to test for recent alcohol consumption , CD@ counts and HIV RNA viral loads .


The primary outcome will be reduction in the volume of alcohol consumed .


Secondary outcomes include reduction in harmful/hazardous use of alcohol , reduction in biological markers of drinking , increase in adherence rates , reductions in viral loads , and increases in CD@ T-cell counts .


A process evaluation will ascertain counsellors ' and participants ' perceptions of the acceptability and effectiveness of the interventions .


We have obtained ethical approval and approval from the study sites and regional and provincial health departments .


The study has implications for clinicians , researchers and policy makers as it will provide efficacy data on how to reduce harmful/hazardous alcohol consumption among HIV patients and will shed light on whether reducing alcohol consumption impacts on HIV treatment adherence and other outcomes .


Steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists , when added to a renin-angiotensin system blocker , further reduce proteinuria in patients with chronic kidney disease but may be underused because of a high risk of adverse events .


To evaluate the safety and efficacy of different oral doses of the nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist finerenone , given for @ days to patients with diabetes and high or very high albuminuria who are receiving an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker .


Randomized , double-blind , placebo-controlled , parallel-group study conducted at @ sites in @ countries .


Patients were recruited from June @ to February @ and the study was completed in August @ .


Of @ screened patients , @ were randomized and @ received study drug .


Participants were randomly assigned to receive oral , once-daily finerenone ( @ mg/d , n = @ ; @ mg/d , n = @ ; @ mg/d , n = @ ; @ mg/d , n = @ ; @ mg/d , n = @ ; @ mg/d , n = @ ; and @ mg/d , n = @ ) or matching placebo ( n = @ ) for @ days .


The primary outcome was the ratio of the urinary albumin-creatinine ratio ( UACR ) at day @ vs at baseline .


Safety end points were changes from baseline in serum potassium and estimated glomerular filtration rate .


The mean age of the participants was @ years ; @ % were male .


At baseline , @ % of patients treated had very high albuminuria ( UACR @ mg/g ) and @ % had an estimated glomerular filtration rate of @ mL/min/@ @ m@ or lower .


Finerenone demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in UACR .


The primary outcome , the placebo-corrected mean ratio of the UACR at day @ relative to baseline , was reduced in the finerenone @ - , @ - , @ - , and @-mg/d groups ( for @ mg/d , @ -LSB- @ % CI , @-@ @ ; P = @ -RSB- ; for @ mg/d , @ -LSB- @ % CI , @-@ @ ; P = @ -RSB- ; for @ mg/d , @ -LSB- @ % CI , @-@ @ ; P < @ -RSB- ; for @ mg/d , @ -LSB- @ % CI , @-@ @ ; P < @ -RSB- ) .


The prespecified secondary outcome of hyperkalemia leading to discontinuation was not observed in the placebo and finerenone @-mg/d groups ; incidences in the finerenone @ - , @ - , and @-mg/d groups were @ % , @ % , and @ % , respectively .


There were no differences in the incidence of the prespecified secondary outcome of an estimated glomerular filtration rate decrease of @ % or more or in incidences of adverse events and serious adverse events between the placebo and finerenone groups .


Among patients with diabetic nephropathy , most receiving an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker , the addition of finerenone compared with placebo resulted in improvement in the urinary albumin-creatinine ratio .


Further trials are needed to compare finerenone with other active medications .


Allogeneic red blood cell ( RBC ) transfusion is associated with significant increases in mortality and major morbidity in patients admitted to the intensive care unit , and the blood supplies it requires are an increasingly scarce and costly resource .


Despite high levels of compliance with recommended transfusion thresholds in the ICU , RBC transfusion remains common .


Novel interventions to reduce the incidence of RBC transfusion are required .


To describe the study protocol for a randomised controlled trial , the Intravenous Iron or Placebo for Anaemia in Intensive Care ( IRONMAN ) trial , comparing intravenous ( IV ) iron with placebo in patients who are admitted to an ICU and are anaemic .


A Phase IIb multicentre , randomised , placebo-controlled trial .


Patients admitted to the ICU with a haemoglobin ( Hb ) level < @ g/L and predicted to require critical care beyond the next calendar day will be randomly assigned in a @ : @ ratio to receive IV ferric carboxymaltose ( @ mg ) or placebo .


The primary end point will be the mean number of RBC units transfused from study enrolment to discharge from hospital .


Secondary end points will include change in Hb level and incidence of nosocomial infection .


The IRONMAN trial is designed to determine whether IV iron administered to patients admitted to an ICU and who are anaemic is associated with a reduction in RBC transfusion , compared with placebo in addition to standard care .


The results of this trial may determine whether a Phase III trial of IV iron in ICUs is feasible .


To assess and compare the efficacy of single buccal and palatal infiltration of lidocaine , mepivacaine , or articaine with @:@ epinephrine by maxillary anesthetic injection .


A double-blinded , randomized , clinical trial was conducted with @ patients undergoing upper premolar extraction .


The patients were randomly allocated into one of three groups , according to the local anesthetic agent used : @ % lidocaine , @ % mepivacaine , or @ % articaine , all with @:@ epinephrine , and were blinded to the anesthetic used .


The extent of anesthetization , pulpal anesthetization in adjacent teeth , pain on injection , and adverse effects of the anesthetic agents were assessed .


The extent of anesthetization produced by @ % articaine ( @mm ) was statistically more significant ( P@ @ ) than @ % lidocaine ( @mm ) and @ % mepivacaine ( @ mm ) .


The successful anesthetization of adjacent teeth occurred more often in the articaine group than in the lidocaine and mepivacine groups , although not to a statistically-significant extent .


The pain scores for the injections were comparable between the three groups .


Local anesthetization using @ % articaine with @:@ epinephrine covers a wider area of soft tissue and adjacent teeth than @ % lidocaine or @ % mepivacaine with @:@ epinephrine , which is sufficient for the extraction of one or two teeth .


To investigate the role of @,@-dihydroxyvitamin D@ in the posterior transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion ( TLIF ) for patients with osteoporosis and lumbar degenerative disease .


Between November @ll and October @ , @ patients with osteoporosis and lumbar degenerative disease were treated with TLIF and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed .


The patients were divided into @ groups based on the administration of @,@-dihydroxyvitamin D@ .


After TLIF operation , @,@-dihydroxyvitamin D@ was used in @ patients ( trial group ) , and was not used in @ patients ( control group ) .


There was no significant difference in gender , age , etiology , affected segment , and disease duration between @ groups ( P > @ ) .


Lumbar interbody fusion was observed by X-ray and thin-section CT scan reconstruction of lumbar spine according to Brantigan assessment system at @ months after operation and last follow-up .


Clinical outcome was evaluated by Oswestry disability index ( ODI ) before and after operation .


The patients of @ groups were followed up @-@ months ( mean , @ months ) .


No fixation loosening or breaking occurred during follow-up .


ODI scores in both groups were significantly improved at @ months after operation and last follow-up ( P < @ ) when compared with preoperative value .


Although at preoperation there was no significant difference in ODI score between @ groups ( P > @ ) , ODI score of trial group was significantly lower than that of control group at @ months after operation and last follow-up ( P < @ ) .


At @ months after operation , the interbody fusion rate was @ % ( @/@ ) in trial group and @ % ( @/@ ) in control group , showing significant difference ( @ = @ , P = @ ) ; at last follow-up , the fusion rate was @ % ( @/@ ) in trial group and @ % ( @/@ ) in control group , showing significant difference ( @ = @ , P = @ ) .


@,@-dihydroxyvitamin D@ can improve the lumbar interbody fusion rate and general conditions in the patients with osteoporosis and lumbar degenerative disease .


The incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction ( PMI ) globally is known to be around @ to @ % and can prolong hospitalization , increased morbidity and mortality .


Little is known about the pathophysiology and risk factors for PMI .


We investigate the presence of elevated novel cardiac markers and preoperative coronary artery plaque through contemporary laboratory techniques to determine the correlation with PMI , as well as studying ivabradine and atorvastatin as protective pharmacotherapies against PMI in the context of orthopedic surgery .


We aim to enroll @ patients aged above @ years who suffer from neck of femur fracture requiring surgery .


Patients will be randomized to four arms ( no study drugs , atorvastatin only , ivabradine only and ivabradine and atorvastatin ) .


Our primary outcome is incidence of PMI .


All patients will receive an electrocardiogram , cardiac echocardiography , measurement of novel cardiac biomarkers and computed tomography ( CT ) coronary angiography .


A telephone interview post discharge will be conducted at @ days , @ days and @ year .


We postulate that ivabradine and atorvastatin will reduce the rate and magnitude of PMI following surgery by reducing heart rate and attenuating catecholamine-induced tachycardia postoperatively .


Secondly , we postulate that postoperative reduction in heart rate and catecholamine-induced tachycardia with ivabradine will correlate with a reduction in cardiovascular novel biomarkers which will reduce atrial stretch and postoperative incidence of arrhythmia .


We aim to demonstrate that treatment with ivabradine and atorvastatin will cause a reduction in the incidence and magnitude of PMI , the benefit of which is derived primarily in patients with greater atherosclerotic burden as measured by higher CT coronary calcium scores .


The aim of the present study was to evaluate the natural course of acute incomplete stent apposition ( ISA ) after second-generation everolimus-eluting stent ( EES ) when compared with first-generation sirolimus-eluting stent ( SES ) by using optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) .


From the OCT substudy of the RESET trial , we identified @ patients ( EES = @ and SES = @ ) who successfully underwent serial OCT examination at post-stenting and @-@-month follow-up .


The presence of ISA was assessed in the OCT images , and ISA distance was measured from the centre of the strut blooming to the adjacent lumen border .


Incomplete stent apposition was observed in all EES and SES at post-stenting , and it was persistent in @ % of EES and @ % of SES at @-@-month follow-up .


Maximum ISA distance was significantly decreased during the follow-up period in both EES ( @ @-@ @ m , P < @ ) and SES ( @ @-@ @ m , P < @ ) .


Receiver-operating curve analysis identified that the best cut-off value of OCT-estimated ISA distance at post-stenting for predicting late-persistent ISA at @-@-month follow-up in EES and SES was > @ and > @ m , respectively .


The second-generation EES showed better healing of acute ISA in comparison with the first-generation SES .


Optical coherence tomography can predict late-persistent ISA after DES implantation and provide useful information to optimize PCI .


Small single-center comparative studies suggest improved outcomes in cardiac resynchronization therapy ( CRT ) patients implanted with a quadripolar left ventricular ( LV ) lead in comparison with non-quadripolar ( bipolar ) leads .


This study represents the first large multicenter prospective registry comparing implant and @-month postoperative lead performance following CRT-defibrillator ( CRT-D ) implantation with quadripolar vs. bipolar leads .


During a @-month period , @ consecutive patients having CRT-D implantation attempts with either a quadripolar ( n = @ ) or bipolar LV lead ( n = @ ) were enrolled in the registry .


The primary outcome of the study was LV lead failure defined as any abnormality , excluding infection , resulting in surgical lead revision or CRT termination .


Additionally , operative and follow-up data were analyzed for significant difference between groups .


Baseline characteristics of both groups were similar .


In @ % of quadripolar leads versus @ % of bipolar leads , the LV lead successfully engaged the predefined ideal target side branch ( p = @ ) .


Implant duration and fluoroscopy times were significantly shorter when a quadripolar lead was used ( p = @ and p = @ , respectively ) .


The primary end point occurred in six patients ( @ % ) in the quadripolar group and in @ patients ( @ % ) in the bipolar group ( p = @ ) .


Clinically significant phrenic nerve stimulation ( PNS ) occurred in @ vs. @ % of quadripolar vs. bipolar patients , respectively ( p = @ ) ; all PNS were resolved noninvasively through programming in the quadripolar group vs. @ % in bipolar group ( p = @ ) .


The use of a bipolar lead was associated with a higher risk of surgical LV lead revision ( @ vs. @ % ; p = @ ) and a higher incidence of dislodgment ( @ vs. @ % ; p = @ ) .


This multicenter study demonstrates that the use of a quadripolar LV lead results in significantly lower rates of lead-related problems and reduced procedural and fluoroscopic times for biventricular system implantation .


This has important implications for LV pacing lead choice .


Rapid sputum culture conversion at @ months indicates the sterilizing capacity and potential of regimens to shorten duration of tuberculosis treatment .


We compared results of sputum culture conversion by moxifloxacin and control regimens and identified factors affecting sputum culture positivity after @ months of treatment .


Human immunodeficiency virus-uninfected adults with newly diagnosed smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis were randomized to receive a @ - or @-month moxifloxacin regimen ( moxifloxacin -LSB- M -RSB- , isoniazid -LSB- H -RSB- , rifampicin -LSB- R -RSB- , pyrazinamide -LSB- Z -RSB- , ethambutol -LSB- E -RSB- ) or the control regimen ( RHZE thrice weekly ) .


Bacteriological assessments were done at @ , @ , @ , and @ days of treatment .


Because all patients in the moxifloxacin groups received @ months of daily RHZEM , they were grouped together for analysis .


Statistical methods included ( @ ) test and logistic regression analysis .


Sputum culture conversion was analyzed in @ ( @ in the moxifloxacin group and @ in the control group ) of @ enrolled patients .


Ninety-five percent of @ patients in the moxifloxacin group and @ % of @ patients in the control group had negative sputum cultures at month @ ( P < @ ) .


The control regimen , age ( @ years ) , initial sputum culture grade ( @ + or @ + ) , and male sex were significantly associated with higher odds of positive sputum cultures at @ months .


A @-drug daily regimen with moxifloxacin results in significantly higher sputum culture conversion in the first @ months compared with a thrice-weekly , @-drug regimen in patients with newly diagnosed sputum-positive pulmonary tuberculosis .


Randomized clinical trial .


To compare the effectiveness of the Alfredson eccentric heel-drop protocol with a `` do-as-tolerated '' protocol for nonathletic individuals with midportion Achilles tendinopathy .


The Alfredson protocol recommends the completion of @ eccentric heel drops a day .


However , completing this large number of repetitions is time consuming and potentially uncomfortable .


There is a need to investigate varying exercise dosages that minimize the discomfort yet retain the clinical benefits .


Twenty-eight individuals from outpatient physiotherapy departments were randomized to either the standard ( n = @ ) or the do-as-tolerated ( n = @ ) @-week intervention protocol .


Apart from repetition volume , all other aspects of management were standardized between groups .


Tendinopathy clinical severity was assessed with the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles ( VISA-A ) questionnaire .


Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analog scale ( VAS ) .


Both were assessed at baseline , @ weeks , and @ weeks .


Treatment satisfaction was assessed at week @ .


Adverse effects were also monitored .


There was a statistically significant within-group improvement in VISA-A score for both groups ( standard , P = @ ; do as tolerated , P < @ ) and VAS pain for the do-as-tolerated group ( P = @ ) at week @ , based on the intention-to-treat analysis .


There was a statistically significant between-group difference in VISA-A scores at week @ , based on both the intention-to-treat ( P = @ ) and per-protocol analyses ( P = @ ) , partly due to a within-group deterioration at week @ in the standard group .


There were no statistically significant between-group differences for VISA-A and VAS pain scores at week @ , the completion of the intervention .


There was no significant association between satisfaction and treatment groups at week @ .


No adverse effects were reported .


Performing a @-week do-as-tolerated program of eccentric heel-drop exercises , compared to the recommended @ repetitions per day , did not lead to lesser improvement for individuals with midportion Achilles tendinopathy , based on VISA-A and VAS scores .