Clinical characteristics of periodic limb movements during sleep categorized by continuous positive airway pressure titration polysomnography in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Sleep and Breathing - The presence of periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) varies among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) undergoing treatment with continuous positive airway...     

Surgical management in a severe OSA patient diagnosed with Stickler syndrome

Stickler syndrome is a genetic disorder of connective tissue. One of the major symptoms associated with this disorder is an oro-facial malformation, which may cause a submucous cleft or a complete cleft of the hard palate. A 32-year-old man diagnosed with Stickler syndrome and a submucosal cleft palate (SMCP) visited our hospital with a chief complaint of excessive daytime sleepiness. The patient was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and administration of a polysomnography test revealed an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 30.9 events/hour (h). Auto-titrating continuous positive airway pressure was initiated to control the OSA symptoms and subsequently the patient showed some improvement. However, due to continuous velopharyngeal insufficiency symptoms, intravelar veloplasty was performed. Three months after surgery, the AHI had decreased to 12.4 events/h. Recent studies have described a greater risk for OSA in individuals with cleft palate, than in the general population. The present case demonstrates surgical success in a patient with OSA and SMCP, suggesting that palatal surgery may be considered an optional surgical treatment for OSA patients with SMCP.     

Overweight and obesity as risk factors for biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy

International Journal of Clinical Oncology - Previous studies have shown a relationship between the occurrence and recurrence of prostate cancer; however, this relationship remains controversial....     

Comparing the efficacy of integrative body-mind-spirit intervention with cognitive behavioral therapy in patient-caregiver parallel groups for lung cancer patients using a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Purposes/objectives: This paper reports the comparative efficacies of integrative body-mind-spirit intervention (I-BMS) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in patient-caregiver parallel groups for Chinese patients with lung cancer.

Design: Randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Methods: One hundred and fifty-seven patient-caregiver dyads with no marked functional impairment were randomized into one of the two interventions with eight weekly patient-caregiver parallel groups. Assessments were conducted at baseline, within one, eight- and sixteen-weeks post-intervention. Effects of treatment group across time were analyzed by multilevel modeling.

Findings: CBT led to greater reduction in emotional vulnerability than I-BMS. I-BMS resulted in greater increase in overall QoL and spiritual self-care, and more reduction in depression than CBT. Patients in both interventions experienced improvement in physical, emotional and spiritual, except social, domains of QoL.

Conclusion: I-BMS was more efficacious for diverse domains of QoL, and CBT was more effective for emotional well-being, despite the relatively small between-group effect sizes.

Implications for psychosocial providers/policy: (1) With the expanding repertoire of psychosocial interventions for families facing lung cancer, it has become imperative to investigate the comparative efficacies of empirically supported and culturally adapted interventions. (2) Our findings show that I-BMS was more effective for diverse domains of QoL, while CBT was more efficacious with emotional well-being, although both interventions led to significant improvements in physical, emotional and spiritual domains of patient QoL. (3) Patient-caregiver parallel groups have been shown to be effective for enhancing QoL of Chinese lung cancer patients. (4) Care professionals are encouraged to dispense interventions based on the idiosyncratic needs and preferences of the patients to maximize the treatment effects.     

Structures at Risk From an Intermetatarsal Screw for Lapidus Bunionectomy: A Cadaveric Study

The Lapidus bunionectomy is performed to treat hallux valgus. Recurrence of the deformity remains a concern. A transverse intermetatarsal screw spanning the base of the first metatarsal to the base of the second can increase stability. The neurovascular bundle is located within the proximity of this screw. In this study, we assessed the structures at risks with the use of this technique. In 10 specimens, a guide wire was placed, and a 4.0-mm cannulated screw was inserted. The neurovascular bundle was dissected and inspected for direct trauma to the neurovascular bundle, and the proximity of the screw was measured using a digital caliper. Ten cadaveric specimens were used. The dorsalis pedis artery and deep peroneal nerve were free from injury in 9 of 10 specimens. In those 9 specimens, the neurovascular bundle was located dorsal in relation to the screw. The mean distance of the screw to the neurovascular bundle was 7.1 ± 3.3 mm. The mean distance from the screw to the first tarsometatarsal joint (TMTJ) was 14.7 ± 4.3 mm. The mean distance from the screw as it entered the second metatarsal to the second TMTJ was 18.0 ± 7.2 mm. In 1 specimen, the screw was found to be traversing through the neurovascular bundle. The distance from the screw to the first TMTJ was 15.0 mm. The distance of the screw from where it entered the second metatarsal to the second TMTJ was 24.0 mm. Although the intermetatarsal screw avoided the neurovascular cases in most instances, there is some anatomic risk to the neurovascular bundle. Further study is warranted to evaluate clinical results using the intermetatarsal screw for the modified Lapidus procedure.