scholarly journals Pilot Study Results from a Brief Intervention to Create Smoke-Free Homes

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle C. Kegler ◽  
Cam Escoffery ◽  
Lucja Bundy ◽  
Carla J. Berg ◽  
Regine Haardörfer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
Smoking Ban ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Study Results ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Home Smoking Ban

Very few community-based intervention studies have examined how to effectively increase the adoption of smoke-free homes. A pilot study was conducted to test the feasibility, acceptability, and short-term outcomes of a brief, four-component intervention for promoting smoke-free home policies among low-income households. We recruited forty participants (20 smokers and 20 nonsmokers) to receive the intervention at two-week intervals. The design was a pretest-posttest with follow-up at two weeks after intervention. The primary outcome measure was self-reported presence of a total home smoking ban. At follow-up, 78% of participants reported having tried to establish a smoke-free rule in their home, with significantly more nonsmokers attempting a smoke-free home than smokers (P=.03). These attempts led to increased smoking restrictions, that is, going from no ban to a partial or total ban, or from a partial to a total ban, in 43% of the homes. At follow-up, 33% of the participants reported having made their home totally smoke-free. Additionally, smokers reported smoking fewer cigarettes per day. Results suggest that the intervention is promising and warrants a rigorous efficacy trial.

External Qigong for Chronic Pain

2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (04) ◽  
pp. 695-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Vincent ◽  
Jamia Hill ◽  
Kelly M. Kruk ◽  
Stephen S. Cha ◽  
Brent A. Bauer
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Analog Scale ◽  
Experienced Pain ◽  
Before And After ◽  
To Receive

External qigong as a pharmacotherapy adjunct was investigated in 50 subjects with chronic pain (pain lasting > 3 months with pain score of ≥ 3 on 0–10 numeric analog scale) who presented to a qigong healing center. Participants were randomized to receive either external qigong treatment (EQT) or equivalent attention time (EAT) in weekly 30-min sessions for four consecutive weeks. Outcomes were assessed before and after sessions. The primary outcome measure was intensity of pain by a 10-cm visual analog scale used to rate all pain severity measurements. At 8-week follow-up, participants were contacted by telephone and mailed a questionnaire. Most had experienced pain for > 5 years (66%); the rest, for > 3 to 5 years (8%), 1 to 3 years (10%), or < 1 year but > 3 months (10%). The most frequent concomitant diagnoses were multifactorial (26%), osteoarthritis (18%), and low back pain (12%). Most patients were also receiving other treatments (74%); none previously had EQT. Participants were randomly assigned to EQT ( n = 26) or EAT ( n = 24). These groups had no significant differences at baseline except for prior awareness of qigong (EQT 31% vs. EAT 63%; p = 0.025). Compared to the EAT group, EQT participants had a significant decrease in pain intensity in the 2nd ( p = 0.003), 3rd ( p < 0.001), and 4th weeks of treatment ( p = 0.003). At week 8, these differences in overall decreased pain intensity persisted but were not statistically significant.

scholarly journals Psoas muscle area index as a predictor of major adverse cardiovascular and limb events in patients with infrarenal aortic occlusions

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-140
Author(s):  
Ender Özgün Çakmak ◽  
Emrah Erdoğan ◽  
Cengiz Köksal ◽  
Mesut Şişmanoğlu ◽  
Uğur Fındıkçıoğlu
Keyword(s):  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Psoas Muscle ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Hazard Ratios ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Computed Tomography Scans ◽  
The Mean

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the total psoas muscle area index (TPAI) was a predictive factor of major adverse cardiovascular and limb events (MACLEs) in patients with infrarenal aortic occlusion (IAO). Patients and methods: Between January 2011 and December 2019, a total of 72 patients with IAO (56 males, 16 females; mean age: 58.8±7.0 years; range, 46 to 75 years) were retrospectively reviewed. The TPAI was measured by dividing total psoas muscle area to squared patient height. The primary outcome measure was MACLEs. To estimate the effect of TPAI and clinical factors on prognosis, hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used. Results: The median follow-up was 32 months (interquartile range 15.9-44). The patients were divided into two groups as MACLE-positive (n=30, 41.6%) and MACLE-negative (n=42, 58.4%). The mean TPAI for MACLE-negative and MACLE-positive patients was 615±171 mm2/m2 and 521±129 mm2/m2, respectively (p=0.036). The presence of increased TPAI values was associated with the decreased MACLE rate (HR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.09-0.42; p=0.008). Conclusion: Our study results indicate that the TPAI measured by computed tomography scans is an independent prognostic factor for MACLEs in patients with chronic IAO.

A Pilot Study of Mobile Telephone Message Interventions with Suicide Attempters in China

Crisis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Chen ◽  
Brian L. Mishara ◽  
Xiao Xian Liu
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Mobile Telephone ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Quick Method ◽  
Suicide Attempters ◽  
To Receive

Background: In China, where follow-up with hospitalized attempters is generally lacking, there is a great need for inexpensive and effective means of maintaining contact and decreasing recidivism. Aims: Our objective was to test whether mobile telephone message contacts after discharge would be feasible and acceptable to suicide attempters in China. Methods: Fifteen participants were recruited from suicide attempters seen in the Emergency Department in Wuhan, China, to participate in a pilot study to receive mobile telephone messages after discharge. All participants have access to a mobile telephone, and there is no charge for the user to receive text messages. Results: Most participants (12) considered the text message contacts an acceptable and useful form of help and would like to continue to receive them for a longer period of time. Conclusions: This suggests that, as a low-cost and quick method of intervention in areas where more intensive follow-up is not practical or available, telephone messages contacts are accessible, feasible, and acceptable to suicide attempters. We hope that this will inspire future research on regular and long-term message interventions to prevent recidivism in suicide attempters.

Comparative study of intracranial access in thrombectomy using next generation 0.088 inch guide catheter technology

2021 ◽  
pp. neurintsurg-2021-017341
Author(s):  
Devin V Bageac ◽  
Blake S Gershon ◽  
Jan Vargas ◽  
Maxim Mokin ◽  
Zeguang Ren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Anterior Circulation ◽  
Guide Catheter ◽  
Catheter Failure ◽  
Catheter Technology ◽  
Intracranial Vasculature

BackgroundMost conventional 0.088 inch guide catheters cannot safely navigate intracranial vasculature. The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety of stroke thrombectomy using a novel 0.088 inch guide catheter designed for intracranial navigation.MethodsThis is a multicenter retrospective study, which included patients over 18 years old who underwent thrombectomy for anterior circulation large vessel occlusions. Technical outcomes for patients treated using the TracStar Large Distal Platform (TracStar LDP) or earlier generation TRX LDP were compared with a matched cohort of patients treated with other commonly used guide catheters. The primary outcome measure was device-related complications. Secondary outcome measures included guide catheter failure and time between groin puncture and clot engagement.ResultsEach study arm included 45 patients. The TracStar group was non-inferior to the control group with regard to device-related complications (6.8% vs 8.9%), and the average time to clot engagement was 8.89 min shorter (14.29 vs 23.18 min; p=0.0017). There were no statistically significant differences with regard to other technical outcomes, including time to recanalization (modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) ≥2B). The TracStar was successfully advanced into the intracranial internal carotid artery in 33 cases (73.33%); in three cases (6.67%), it was swapped for an alternate catheter. Successful reperfusion (mTICI 2B-3) was achieved in 95.56% of cases. Ninety-day follow-up data were available for 86.67% of patients, among whom 46.15% had an modified Rankin Score of 0–2%, and 10.26% were deceased.ConclusionsTracstar LDP is safe for use during stroke thrombectomy and was associated with decreased time to clot engagement. Intracranial access was regularly achieved.

scholarly journals Intracameral Bevacizumab Versus Sub-Tenon’s Mitomycin C as Adjuncts to Trabeculectomy: 3-Year Results of a Prospective Randomized Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2054
Author(s):  
Gerasimos Kopsinis ◽  
Dimitrios Tsoukanas ◽  
Dimitra Kopsini ◽  
Theodoros Filippopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Mitomycin C ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
Complication Rates ◽  
Filtration Surgery ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Exfoliative Glaucoma

Conjunctival wound healing determines success after filtration surgery and the quest for better antifibrotic agents remains active. This study compares intracameral bevacizumab to sub-Tenon’s mitomycin C (MMC) in trabeculectomy. Primary open-angle or exfoliative glaucoma patients were randomized to either bevacizumab (n = 50 eyes) or MMC (n = 50 eyes). The primary outcome measure was complete success, defined as Intraocular Pressure (IOP) > 5 mmHg and ≤ 21 mmHg with a minimum 20% reduction from baseline without medications. Average IOP and glaucoma medications decreased significantly in both groups at all follow-up points compared to baseline (p < 0.001), without significant difference between groups at 3 years (IOP: bevacizumab group from 29 ± 9.4 to 15 ± 3.4 mmHg, MMC group from 28.3 ± 8.7 to 15.4 ± 3.8 mmHg, p = 0.60; Medications: bevacizumab group from 3.5 ± 0.9 to 0.5 ± 1, MMC group from 3.6 ± 0.7 to 0.6 ± 1.1, p = 0.70). Complete success, although similar between groups at 3 years (66% vs. 64%), was significantly higher for bevacizumab at months 6 and 12 (96% vs. 82%, p = 0.03; 88% vs. 72%, p = 0.04, respectively) with fewer patients requiring medications at months 6, 9 and 12 (4% vs. 18%, p = 0.03; 6% vs. 20%, p = 0.04; 8% vs. 24%, p = 0.03, respectively). Complication rates were similar between groups. In conclusion, intracameral bevacizumab appears to provide similar long-term efficacy and safety results as sub-Tenon’s MMC after trabeculectomy.

scholarly journals Proof-of-concept single-arm trial of bevacizumab therapy for brain arteriovenous malformation

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. e000114
Author(s):  
Rachel Muster ◽  
Nerissa Ko ◽  
Wade Smith ◽  
Hua Su ◽  
Melissa A Dickey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Drug Effects ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Bevacizumab Treatment ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
Radiographic Changes

Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) are relatively rare, although their potential for secondary intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) makes their diagnosis and management essential to the community. Currently, invasive therapies (surgical resection, stereotactic radiosurgery and endovascular embolisation) are the only interventions that offer a reduction in ICH risk. There is no designated medical therapy for bAVM, although there is growing animal and human evidence supporting a role for bevacizumab to reduce the size of AVMs. In this single-arm pilot study, two patients with large bAVMs (deemed unresectable by an interdisciplinary team) received bevacizumab 5 mg/kg every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. Due to limitations of external funding, the intended sample size of 10 participants was not reached. Primary outcome measure was change in bAVM volume from baseline at 26 and 52 weeks. No change in bAVM volume was observed 26 or 52 weeks after bevacizumab treatment. No clinically important adverse events were observed during the 52-week study period. There were no observed instances of ICH. Sera vascular endothelial growth factor levels were reduced at 26 weeks and returned to baseline at 52 weeks. This pilot study is the first to test bevacizumab for patients with bAVMs. Bevacizumab therapy was well tolerated in both subjects. No radiographic changes were observed over the 52-week study period. Subsequent larger clinical trials are in order to assess for dose-dependent efficacy and rarer adverse drug effects.Trial registration number: NCT02314377.

scholarly journals Computerised cognitive–behavioural therapy for adults with intellectual disability: randomised controlled trial

2017 ◽  
Vol 211 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Cooney ◽  
Catherine Jackman ◽  
David Coyle ◽  
Gary O'Reilly
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Outcome Measure ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Randomised Controlled

BackgroundDespite the evidence base for computer-assisted cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) in the general population, it has not yet been adapted for use with adults who have an intellectual disability.AimsTo evaluate the utility of a CBT computer game for adults who have an intellectual disability.MethodA 2 × 3 (group × time) randomised controlled trial design was used. Fifty-two adults with mild to moderate intellectual disability and anxiety or depression were randomly allocated to two groups: computerised CBT (cCBT) or psychiatric treatment as usual (TAU), and assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment and 3-month follow-up. Forty-nine participants were included in the final analysis.ResultsA significant group x time interaction was observed on the primary outcome measure of anxiety (Glasgow Anxiety Scale for people with an Intellectual Disability), favouring cCBT over TAU, but not on the primary outcome measure of depression (Glasgow Depression Scale for people with a Learning Disability). A medium effect size for anxiety symptoms was observed at post-treatment and a large effect size was observed after follow-up. Reliability of Change Indices indicated that the intervention produced clinically significant change in the cCBT group in comparison with TAU.ConclusionsAs the first application of cCBT for adults with intellectual disability, this intervention appears to be a useful treatment option to reduce anxiety symptoms in this population.

scholarly journals Motivational Interviewing Case Management (MICM) for Persons on Probation or Parole Entering Sober Living Houses

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (11) ◽  
pp. 1634-1659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas L. Polcin ◽  
Rachael Korcha ◽  
Jane Witbrodt ◽  
Amy A. Mericle ◽  
Elizabeth Mahoney
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Case Management ◽  
Motivational Interviewing ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Probation And Parole ◽  
New Policies ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Housing Options ◽  
Drug Free

The failure of incarceration as a response to drug offenses has resulted in new policies supporting community-based alternatives. One challenge has been finding appropriate housing for persons on probation and parole. Sober living houses (SLHs) are alcohol- and drug-free living environments that are increasingly being used as housing options for these individuals. The current study examined 6- and 12-month outcomes for 330 persons on probation or parole who entered 49 SLHs. Residents in 22 houses ( n = 149 individuals) were randomly assigned to receive a “Motivational Interviewing Case Management” (MICM) intervention and residents in the other 27 houses ( n = 181 individuals) received SLH residency as usual. At 6- and 12-month follow-up, both study conditions showed significant improvement relative to baseline on substance abuse, criminal justice, HIV risk, and employment outcomes. For persons who attended at least one MICM session, there were better criminal justice outcomes compared with the SLH as usual group.

scholarly journals One-year clinical and angiographic outcomes after percutaneous coronary interventions in ostial versus distal left main lesions – a retrospective single center study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tilman Stephan ◽  
Nadine Goldberger ◽  
Mirjam Keßler ◽  
Dominik Felbel ◽  
Manuel Rattka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Coronary Intervention ◽  
Target Lesion ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
Left Main ◽  
Cardiac Events ◽  
Percutaneous Coronary

Abstract Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of left main coronary artery disease (LMD) is associated with appropriate clinical and angiographic outcomes, resulting in a class I recommendation in patients with less complex coronary anatomy. Due to higher SYNTAX scores and worse clinical outcomes, PCI in distal LMD is accomplished with a lower strength of recommendations for revascularization compared to ostial LM lesions. We compare angiographic and clinical outcomes of ostial/midshaft lesions versus distal lesion in LMD after PCI. Methods: This retrospective study included 176 patients with LMD undergoing PCI with drug-eluting stents. The study population was divided into 34 patients with ostial/midshaft LMD and 142 patients with distal LMD. Patients were routinely scheduled for 9 months of angiographic and 12 months of clinical follow-up. Quantitative coronary analysis (QCA) was performed for all lesions, using an 11-segment model. Primary outcome was MACE (major adverse cardiac events) defined as a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization (TLR). Results: The primary outcome measure was comparable in both cohorts after 12 months follow-up (20.6% in ostial/midshaft LMD vs. 17.6% in distal LMD, P=0.71). As expected, TLR rates were increased in distal LM lesions compared to ostial LM lesions, but without reaching statistical significance (14.1% vs. 5.9%, P=0.15). Late lumen loss (LLL) in ostial/midshaft LMD was 0.42±0.33mm. In distal LM lesions value for LLL in the main vessel was 0.42±0.97 mm, with the highest values observed in segments adjacent to the bifurcation (0.37±1.13mm and 0.37±0.73 mm). On cox proportional regression analysis LLL in a bifurcation segment (P=0.03, HR 1.68 [1.1-2.7]) and diabetes mellitus (P=0.046, HR 2.77 [1.0-7.5] were independent correlates for occurrence of MACE. Conclusion: PCI of distal LM lesions result in comparable angiographic and clinical outcomes compared to ostial LM lesions. Highest rates for binary restenosis were observed in segments nearest to the bifurcation.

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