Preliminary Prospective and Randomized Study of Highly Purified Polynucleotide vs Placebo in Treatment of Moderate to Severe Acne Scars

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonino Araco ◽  
Francesco Araco
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Study ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Cellular Growth ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Severe Acne ◽  
Cell Vitality ◽  
Acne Scars ◽  
Atrophic Scar ◽  
Patient Responses ◽  
Double Blinded

Abstract Background Managing acne scars is a challenge and therapies are divided into nonsurgical and surgical. Highly Purified Technology Polynucleotides (PN-HPT) is a compound that contains a mixture of DNA polymers of different lengths. Numerous studies have shown that PN-HPT also serves as an energy source, thus influencing cellular growth and cell vitality. Objectives The authors aimed to assess the improvement in dermal quality and acne scars after PN-HPT vs placebo according to Antera 3D and the patient responses to the patient satisfaction questionnaire after a comparison of pretreatment and posttreatment photographs at 1 and 3 months. Methods Included were women aged 30 to 50 years with grade 3 to 4 moderate-to-severe atrophic scars according to the Goodman classification; nonsmokers; and had not had active acne during the past 5 years. Ten patients (PN-HPT group) were treated with 4.0 mL of PN-HPT, and 10 patients (control) were treated with 4.0 mL of normal saline. All medical treatments were performed in a double-blinded manner; neither the injection doctor nor the patient knew if the PN-HPT or the placebo was being administered. Results Twenty women who fit the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. Only patients in the PN-HPT group improved significantly at 1 and 3 months after treatment compared with baseline. Conclusions This prospective and randomized study showed that PN-HPT in monotherapy was safe and effective treatment for atrophic scar acne compared with placebo. Prospective and randomized studies will be necessary to investigate the clinical effectiveness in a larger cohort of patients and for a longer follow-up. Level of Evidence: 2

scholarly journals Spontaneous Preterm Birth: Is Prevention with Aspirin Possible?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Berger ◽  
Ioannis Kyvernitakis ◽  
Holger Maul
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Preterm Births ◽  
Spontaneous Preterm Birth ◽  
Dose Aspirin ◽  
Nulliparous Women ◽  
Low Dose Aspirin ◽  
Secondary Analyses ◽  
Double Blinded

Abstract Background The rate of preterm births in Germany is 8.6%, which is very high compared to other European countries. As preterm birth contributes significantly to perinatal morbidity and mortality rates, the existing prevention strategies need to be optimized and expanded further. About ⅔ of all women with preterm birth have preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes. They are bracketed together under the term “spontaneous preterm birth” as opposed to iatrogenic preterm birth, for example as a consequence of preeclampsia or fetal growth retardation. Recent studies suggest that low-dose aspirin does not just reduce the rate of iatrogenic preterm births but can also further reduce the rate of spontaneous preterm births. This review article presents the current state of knowledge. Method A selective literature search up until April 2020 was done in PubMed, using the terms “randomized trial”, “randomized study”, “spontaneous preterm birth”, and “aspirin”. Results Secondary analyses of prospective randomized studies on the prevention of preeclampsia with low-dose aspirin show that this intervention also significantly reduced the rate of spontaneous preterm births in both high-risk and low-risk patient populations. The results of the ASPIRIN trial, a prospective, randomized, double-blinded multicenter study carried out in six developing countries, also point in this direction, with the figures showing that the daily administration of 81 mg aspirin starting before 14 weeks of gestation lowered the preterm birth rate of nulliparous women without prior medical conditions by around 11% (11.6 vs. 13.1%; RR 0.89; 95% CI: 0.81 – 0.98, p = 0.012). Conclusion Further studies on this issue are urgently needed. If these confirm the currently available results, then it would be worth discussing whether general aspirin prophylaxis for all pregnant women starting at the latest in 12 weeks of gestation is indicated.

Quality Assessment of HTA reports: a Critical Appraisal Toolkit within an institutional HTA program

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Bossi ◽  
M Tringali ◽  
P Colombo ◽  
C Mazzali ◽  
G Puleo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Critical Appraisal ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Lombardy Region ◽  
Double Blinded ◽  
Sustainable Health ◽  
Local Healthcare

Abstract Issue With population aging, increased demand for healthcare and limited availability of economic and human resources, well-functioning and sustainable health systems have to rely on rigorous and evidence-based assessments of complex technologies' clinical effectiveness and safety. The Lombardy Region in Northern Italy has a well-established HTA program that offers technical support to its hospitals' network to produce and to review Health Technology Assessment (HTA) reports. Description of the Problem To better coordinate the HTA network and to reduce self-referencing of University and Community hospitals, Lombardy Region carried out an intense field training and distance learning from year 2017, with a project aimed at involving health care professionals in an accurate evaluation of technologies in 18 HTA reports. The regional HTA Supporting Centre developed a Toolkit for the critical appraisal of reports and supporting literature to improve the quality of hospital-based reports. Results In compliance with the regional Law DGR XI/1046 17.12.2018 and the framework proposed, during year 2019 hospitals used the Toolkit to help writing complete and good quality HTA reports on 37 different technologies. With a Public Health resident internship, the Toolkit was revised, extended and then used in 2020 by the hospital's HTA network during the double blinded peer review, mandated by the regional Law DGR XI/2672 16.12.2019, of the year 2019 HTA reports. Detailed results will be presented at the conference. Lessons We observed an increase in number of HTA reports from 2018 to 2019, a greater language's and format's homogeneity and an improvement in the quality of some reports, which will be submitted to the Regional HTA Committee for appraisal and reimbursement. Key messages The development and use of a Critical Appraisal Toolkit in an Regional HTA program can help hospitals write complete and good quality HTA reports. A centrally supported quality improvement of distributed assessment activities in a network of hospitals can enhance the production of HTA reports, relevant to the needs of a local healthcare system.

A comparison of intramedullary cannulated screws versus miniplates for fixation of unstable metacarpal diaphyseal fractures

2021 ◽  
pp. 175319342110215
Author(s):  
Birkan Kibar ◽  
Ali Cavit ◽  
Abdullah Örs
Keyword(s):  
Plate Fixation ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Good Alternative ◽  
Active Movement ◽  
Cannulated Screws ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Visual Analogue Pain ◽  
Plate Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Diaphyseal Fractures

We carried out a prospective randomized study to compare the clinical and radiological results of metacarpal diaphyseal fractures treated with retrograde intramedullary headless cannulated screws (IHCS) and plates. Fractures were fixed with IHCS in 34 patients (37 metacarpals) and locked miniplates in 35 patients (40 metacarpals). The mean age was 33 years (range 18–61) in the IHCS group and 32 years (range 17–68) in plate group. All patients were followed up for 1 year. All fractures in the IHCS group united but there was one nonunion in the plate group. At final follow-up, there was no significant difference between the groups in total active movement, visual analogue pain score, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score and grip strength, although the study was not sufficiently powered to exclude differences with certainty. IHCS is a safe and fast technique that is a good alternative to plate fixation in metacarpal diaphyseal fractures. Level of evidence: I

scholarly journals The Clinical Effectiveness of Intralesional Injection of 2% Zinc Sulfate Solution in the Treatment of Common Warts

Scientifica ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Essam-elden Mohamed Mohamed ◽  
Khaled Mohamed Tawfik ◽  
Asmaa Moneir Mahmoud
Keyword(s):  
Zinc Sulfate ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Sulfate Solution ◽  
Late Complications ◽  
Intralesional Injection ◽  
Significant Relation ◽  
Zinc Sulfate Solution ◽  
Common Warts ◽  
Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation

Objective.To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of intralesional injection of 2% zinc sulfate solution in the treatment of common warts.Patients and Methods.One hundred and twenty patients (78 females and 42 males) aged 5–55 years with 225 common warts participated in this prospective monocentric randomized study. All lesions were treated with intralesional injection of 2% zinc sulfate.Results.From 225 warts injected, 135 warts (60%) cured from the first session, 51 warts (22.67%) cured from the second session, and 12 warts (5.33%) cured from the third session. There is no significant relation between improvement and patient’s ages, duration, or number of warts (P<0.05). All patients complained from pain during injection, and all treated lesions showed redness, tenderness, and swelling in the first 3 days after injection. Late complications were postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in 90 patients (75%), scaring in 9 patients (7.5%), and ulceration in 3 patients (2.5%). Recurrence occurred in 3 lesions (1.33%).Conclusion.The clinical data indicate that intralesional injection of 2% zinc sulfate is an effective maneuver in the treatment of common warts; however, its associated complications limit its use.

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