scholarly journals Auricular Acupressure Combined with Self-Help Intervention for Treating Chronic Tinnitus: A Longitudinal Observational Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winfried Schlee ◽  
Jorge Simões ◽  
Rüdiger Pryss
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Sound Perception ◽  
Medical Disorders ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Longitudinal Observational Study ◽  
Auricular Acupressure ◽  
Ecological Momentary

Tinnitus is a phantom sound perception in the ears or head and can arise from many different medical disorders. Currently, there is no standard treatment for tinnitus that reliably reduces tinnitus. Individual patients reported that acupressure at various points around the ear can help to reduce tinnitus, which was investigated here. With this longitudinal observational study, we report a systematic evaluation of auricular acupressure on 39 tinnitus sufferers, combined with a self-help smartphone app. The participants were asked to report about tinnitus, stress, mood, neck and jaw muscle tensions twice a day using an ecological momentary assessment study design for six weeks. On average, 123.6 questionnaires per person were provided and used for statistical analysis. The treatment responses of the participants were heterogeneous. On average, we ob-served significant negative trends for tinnitus loudness (Cohen’s d effect size: -.861), tinnitus dis-tress (d = -.478), stress (d = -.675), and tensions in the neck muscles (d = -.356). Comparison with a matched control group revealed significant improvements for tinnitus loudness (p = .027) and self-reported stress level (p = .003). The positive results of the observational study motivate fur-ther research including a randomized clinical trial and long-term assessment of the clinical im-provement.

scholarly journals Auricular Acupressure Combined with Self-Help Intervention for Treating Chronic Tinnitus: A Longitudinal Observational Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (18) ◽  
pp. 4201
Author(s):  
Winfried Schlee ◽  
Jorge Simoes ◽  
Rüdiger Pryss
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Sound Perception ◽  
Medical Disorders ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Longitudinal Observational Study ◽  
Auricular Acupressure ◽  
Tinnitus Distress ◽  
Ecological Momentary

Tinnitus is a phantom sound perception in the ears or head and can arise from many different medical disorders. Currently, there is no standard treatment for tinnitus that reliably reduces tinnitus. Individual patients reported that acupressure at various points around the ear can help to reduce tinnitus, which was investigated here. With this longitudinal observational study, we report a systematic evaluation of auricular acupressure on 39 tinnitus sufferers, combined with a self-help smartphone app. The participants were asked to report on tinnitus, stress, mood, neck, and jaw muscle tensions twice a day using an ecological momentary assessment study design for six weeks. On average, 123.6 questionnaires per person were provided and used for statistical analysis. The treatment responses of the participants were heterogeneous. On average, we observed significant negative trends for tinnitus loudness (Cohen’s d effect size: −0.861), tinnitus distress (d = −0.478), stress (d = −0.675), and tensions in the neck muscles (d = −0.356). Comparison with a matched control group revealed significant improvements for tinnitus loudness (p = 0.027) and self-reported stress level (p = 0.003). The positive results of the observational study motivate further research including a randomized clinical trial and long-term assessment of the clinical improvement.

scholarly journals Auricular Acupressure Combined with Self-Help Intervention for Treating Chronic Tinnitus: A Longitudinal Observational Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winfried Schlee ◽  
Jorge Simões ◽  
Patrick Neff ◽  
Rüdiger Pryss
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Chronic Tinnitus ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Longitudinal Observational Study ◽  
Auricular Acupressure ◽  
Treatment Mechanisms

More research, including a randomized controlled trial, is needed to further investigate the the combined treatment and gain better understanding of the treatment mechanisms.

A prospective observational study of combinatorial abiraterone (AA) and radical radiotherapy (RT) in node-positive (N+) prostate cancer (PCa).

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e17555-e17555
Author(s):  
Mark Ting Le Tan ◽  
Wai Yee Woo ◽  
Adelene Sim Yen Ling ◽  
Jeffrey Tuan ◽  
Terence Wee Kiat Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Treatment Protocol ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Genetic Profiling ◽  
Psma Pet ◽  
Psa Response ◽  
Secondary Endpoints

e17555 Background: The conventional treatment backbone of N+ PCa has been hormonal therapy (HT) alone. Nonetheless, evidence from the STAMPEDE trial suggests that there could be survival benefit with the addition of local RT or AA, and there may be synergy between RT and AA in these advanced patients. We therefore conducted a prospective observational study to evaluate the efficacy of combination AA+HT+RT in patients with N+ PCa. Here, we report the preliminary biochemical response and toxicity data. Methods: Patients with N+M0/N+M1a, biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate were enrolled. Patients were staged by 68Ga-PSMA-PET or whole body MRI. Exclusion criteria were i) ECOG ≥2; ii) cardiac event of < 6 mo interval; iii) bone and visceral metastasis. Treatment protocol entailed 18 mo of combination AA (1000 mg plus 5 mg prednisolone once daily) and HT (LHRH agonist/antagonist); RT was delivered to the prostate (78 Gy) +/- pelvis (54 Gy with simultaneous boost of 60-66 Gy to grossly involved lymph nodes in M0 patients). This was matched against a control group that received long-term HT +/- RT (N = 38). Primary endpoint of this analysis was PSA ≤0.1 ng/ml at 6 mo; secondary endpoints were PSA ≤0.1 ng/ml, testosterone ≤0.7 nmol/l at 12 mo, and toxicity outcomes. Germline genetic profiling was performed in all patients. Results: From Feb 2017 to Aug 2019, 18 men were recruited to this study, with a median fu of 15 mo (range 6.0-35.0 mo). Median age was 66.0 y (IQR 62.0-71.0y); median baseline PSA was 18.2 ng/ml (range 3.0-272); 66.7% had GS 8-10 disease; and 22.2% had M1a disease. Combination AA+HT+RT achieved PSA of ≤0.1 ng/ml in 80.0% (N = 12) and 93.3% (N = 14) of patients at 6 mo and 12 mo, respectively, in contrast to 29.4% and 25.0% of patients who were treated with HT+RT and HT alone, respectively. We observed profound castration of 87.5% (N = 14) at 6 mo, and 91.7% (N = 11) at 12 mo. Four and 6 patients experienced acute G2 genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities during RT, respectively; 2 patients reported late G2 GU. One patient experienced G2 fatigue and G1 liver enzyme dysfunction, resulting in dose reduction of AA. Genetic testing revealed a patient with BRCA2 frameshift mutation; interestingly, this patient failed to achieve a PSA of ≤0.1 ng/ml at 12 mo. Conclusions: We demonstrate that combinatorial AA+HT and definitive RT is well tolerated, and yield a pronounced early PSA response in N+ PCa. Long-term data will inform if this early efficacy signal leads to improved survival in these patients.

Long-Term Effectiveness of Guided Self-Help for Parents of Children With ADHD in Routine Care—An Observational Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manfred Döpfner ◽  
Hannah Liebermann-Jordanidis ◽  
Claudia Kinnen ◽  
Nora Hallberg ◽  
Laura Mokros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Routine Care ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Children With Adhd ◽  
Self Help

Objective:To assess long-term effectiveness of guided self-help for parents of children with ADHD under routine care conditions. Method: 6- to 12-year-old children diagnosed with ADHD were enrolled in an observational study on a 1-year telephone-assisted parent-administered behavioral intervention. N = 136 families who completed the intervention participated in a follow-up assessment. Pre-, post-, and follow-up data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA with planned contrasts. Clinical significance was analyzed according to the reliable change index. Results: Child ADHD symptoms (primary outcome), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms, overall behavioral problems, and quality of life improved during the intervention. There was a further improvement in ADHD symptoms at follow-up, with a medium effect size. Improvements during treatment in ODD symptoms, overall behavioral problems, and quality of life were maintained at follow-up. Conclusion: The findings suggest that telephone-assisted self-help interventions may result in a long-term reduction of child behavior problems.

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