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Aktuelle Urol 2018 Dec 6;49(6):519-524. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Spital Thurgau AG, Urologie, Frauenfeld.

The classical algorithm of the management of male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) includes a surgical approach in case pharmacological therapy has failed. Emerging minimally-invasive treatments (MITs) offer potential for rapid symptomatic relief, reducing the morbidity of invasive BPH surgery. Convective interstitial radiofrequency water vapour thermal ablation of the prostate with the Rezūm system is a novel MIT for the treatment of bothersome moderate-to-severe lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH. Read More

Aktuelle Urol 2018 Dec 6;49(6):500-508. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie und Kinderurologie der Universitätsmedizin Mainz, Mainz.

Introduction:  Virtual reality (VR) is an artificially simulated environment permitting interaction. On the other hand, augmented reality (AR) is an enhanced version of reality created by the use of technology to overlay digital information on an image of something being viewed through a device. Both technologies have partially been implemented in clinical daily routine. Read More

Horm Metab Res 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

Vitamin D has received attention for its potential to disrupt cancer processes. However, its effect in the treatment of prostate cancer is controversial. This study aimed to assess the effect of vitamin D supplementation on patients with prostate cancer. Read More

Horm Metab Res 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.

Cross-sectional studies in small and selected populations report a high prevalence of hypercortisolism in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), which could have therapeutic implications, if confirmed. We therefore estimated the prevalence of hypercortisolism in a large and unselected cohort of recently diagnosed T2D patients. Consecutive patients with recently diagnosed T2D first underwent an overnight dexamethasone (1 mg) suppression test (OD). Read More

Horm Metab Res 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Saolta University Health Care Group (SUHCG), Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland.

The aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR) is recommended for case detection of primary aldosteronism (PA). Several factors including medications can undermine its diagnostic accuracy. The objective was to explore the effect of Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibition on the ARR in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who were prescribed a Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitor (SGLT-2i) as part of routine clinical care. Read More

Pharmacopsychiatry 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Head of Department, Professor of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Danuvius Klinik GmbH, Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Technischen Universität München, Bavaria, Germany.

The combination of tiapride (TIA) and carbamazepine (CBZ) as an alternative treatment option to benzodiazepines and clomethiazole has been investigated by several investigations. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to further explore the efficacy of this combination in order to render more definite answers whether this combination can be recommendable in the clinical practice. We systematically searched electronic databases including PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, OVID, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and Scopus for human studies. Read More

Semin Neurol 2018 Dec 6;38(6):654-664. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA.

In the United States, there is a prescription medication misuse crisis including increases in unintentional drug overdose deaths, medications obtained on the illicit market (i.e., diversion), and in the number of individuals seeking treatment for addiction to prescription medications. Read More

Semin Neurol 2018 Dec 6;38(6):644-653. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Neurology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.

Neuropathic pain management is challenging, and typically requires a multifaceted approach. There are several treatment options, both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic. Of the available pharmacologic agents, those with the strongest supporting evidence include tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and certain antiseizure agents. Read More

Semin Neurol 2018 Dec 6;38(6):640-643. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.

Myofascial pain syndromes arise from acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain and often have a referred neuropathic component. It affects more than three quarters of the world's population and is one of the most important and overlooked causes of disability. The origins of pain are thought to reside anywhere between the motor end plate and the fibrous outer covering of the muscle, with involvement of microvasculature and neurotransmitters at the cellular level. Read More

Semin Neurol 2018 Dec 6;38(6):634-639. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.

Back pain is a top primary and urgent care complaint; radicular pain can be caused by herniation of the nucleus pulposus (intervertebral disc), spinal stenosis, or degenerative changes to the vertebrae. The focus of this clinical review will be the clinical approach and treatment of lumbar radicular pain, cervical radicular pain, and spinal stenosis. Usually localized through neurological history, exam, and imaging, specific signs and symptoms for lumbar radicular, spinal stenosis, and cervical radicular pain can help determine etiology. Read More

Semin Neurol 2018 Dec 6;38(6):603-607. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.

The trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias are a group of distinct primary headache disorders that share common characteristics of strict unilateral headache often accompanied by unilateral cranial autonomic features. Cluster headache is the most well-known example, but other than neurologists, practitioners often have limited familiarity with these disorders and treatment options. Delays in diagnosis are typical and treatment options remain suboptimal, associated with limited scientific research into these brain disorders. Read More

Horm Res Paediatr 2018 Dec 6;90(4):1-7. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Background: Despite the developments of recombinant growth hormone (rhGH) treatment and the benefits in long-term clinical health outcomes, evidence has shown that many children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) still fail to achieve their target adult height. Suboptimal outcomes have been largely attributed to treatment non-adherence.

Methods: A search of 11 electronic databases was undertaken to identify relevant articles, published in English, between 1985 and 2018. Read More

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2018 Dec 6;46(5-6):346-357. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Oslo Delirium Research Group, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Background: Delirium is associated with new-onset dementia, suggesting that delirium pathophysiology involves neuronal injury. Neurofilament light (NFL) is a sensitive biomarker for neuroaxonal injury.

Methods: NFL was measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (n = 130), preoperative serum (n = 192), and postoperative serum (n = 280) in hip fracture patients, and in CSF (n = 123) and preoperative serum (n = 134) in cognitively normal older adults undergoing elective surgery. Read More

Blood Purif 2018 Dec 6:1-5. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Weltenmacher GmbH, VR Training-Application, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Background/aim: Peritonitis rates in peritoneal dialysis (PD) vary considerably not only across countries but also between centers in the same country. Patient education has been shown to significantly reduce infection rates but up till now training lacks standardization with patients being trained using different methods and media (e.g. Read More

Public Health Genomics 2018 Dec 6:1-8. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

Aim: To develop a process for returning medically actionable genomic variants to Latino patients receiving care in a Federally Qualified Health Center.

Methods: Prior to recruitment, researchers met with primary care providers to (1) orient clinicians to the project, (2) establish a process for returning actionable and nonactionable results to participants and providers through the electronic health record, and (3) develop a process for offering clinical decision support for follow-up education and care. A Community Advisory Board was engaged to provide input on recruitment strategies and materials for conveying results to participants. Read More

Neonatology 2018 Dec 6;115(2):182-188. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New

Background: Pre-clinical research, which encompasses studies in animals and in the laboratory, has made significant contributions to the improvement of neonatal outcomes.

Methods: Here, we describe examples of how pre-clinical research can be the starting point on the journey to the development of new interventions to improve neonatal care and outcomes and discuss recent progress in ensuring methodological and ethical rigour in pre-clinical research involving animal models.

Results: Studies in pregnant sheep led to the serendipitous discovery that preterm lambs born after exogenous corticosteroid exposure were able to aerate their lungs. Read More

Cell Physiol Biochem 2018 Dec 6;51(5):2019-2029. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou,

Background/aims: β-Elemene is a bioactive sesquiterpene compound that exhibits a potent anti-tumor effect and is used in various clinical applications. However, little is known about its effect on the male reproductive system. The objective of this study was to investigate the in vitro actions of β-elemene on human sperm function and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Read More

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2018 Dec 6:1-10. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan,

Smoking is considered to be the main source of indoor pollution, and it has been identified as an important environmental factor contributing to asthma onset. We know that T helper 2 (Th2) response plays a crucial role in the process of asthma disease. We have investigated the reaction of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on Th polarization which is controlled by dendritic cells (DCs). Read More

Respiration 2018 Dec 6:1-10. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (IPPFE) is a rare interstitial pneumonia that is characterized by stiffness in both the upper lobes and pleura, which is evident on high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest. However, prognostic factors for IPPFE have not been identified yet.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the clinical prognostic factors affecting survival in patients with IPPFE. Read More

Cell Physiol Biochem 2018 Dec 6;51(5):2073-2084. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Faculty of Information Technology & State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China.

Background/aims: One of the most important impacts of personalized medicine is the connection between patients' genotypes and their drug responses. Despite a series of studies exploring this relationship, the predictive ability of such analyses still needs to be strengthened.

Methods: Here we present the Lq penalized network-constrained logistic regression (Lq-NLR) method to meet this need, in which the predictors are integrated into the gene expression data and biological network knowledge and are combined with a more aggressive penalty function. Read More

Cell Physiol Biochem 2018 Dec 6;51(5):2041-2051. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Endocrinology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University and Chongqing Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Chongqing,

Background/aims: Alarin has been reported to be related with increased food intake and body weight. The relationship of circulating Alarin with insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome (MetS), however, is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the physiological role of Alarin and its association with MetS in humans. Read More

Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2018 Nov 19;39:73-79. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, G05, 3.20E Parklands Drive, Southport, 4222, Australia; Recover Injury Research Centre, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Recovery Following Road Traffic Injuries, The University of Queensland, Level 7 Oral Health Centre, 288 Herston Road, Herston, Queensland, 4006, Australia. Electronic address:

Background: A prognostic clinical prediction rule (whiplash CPR) has been validated for use in individuals with acute whiplash associated disorders (WAD). The clinical utility of this tool is unknown.

Objectives: To investigate: 1) the level of agreement between physiotherapist- and whiplash CPR-determined prognostic risk classification of people with acute WAD; 2) which clinical findings are used by physiotherapists to classify prognostic risk; and 3) whether physiotherapists plan to differ the number of treatment sessions provided based on prognostic risk classification. Read More

Am Heart J 2018 Oct 25;208:11-20. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

Department of Cardiology, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia; College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address:

Background: Elevated troponin level findings among patients presenting with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or another intercurrent illness undeniably identifies patients at increased risk of mortality. Whilst enhancing our capacity to discriminate risk, the use of high-sensitivity troponin assays frequently identifies patients with myocardial injury (i.e. Read More