Quinidine Revisited

One of the earliest antiarrhythmic drugs developed, quinidine had a significant role in the treatment of many arrhythmias. After concerns for increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia and death with quinidine emerged, the use of quinidine fell dramatically in favor of newer antiarrhythmic medications. However, recent trials have generated renewed interest in the use of quinidine. In particular, quinidine appears to be safe and efficacious in combination with verapamil for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Quinidine has also been used successfully to treat idiopathic ventricular fibrillation, Brugada syndrome, and Short QT syndrome. Although it is one of the oldest drugs in our armamentarium, quinidine continues to have a role in modern cardiology.     

The Association between health-related quality of life and prosthetic status and prosthetic needs in Taiwanese adults

Summary  The objective of this study was to describe aspects of prosthetic statuses and needs and to evaluate their relationship with health-related quality of life in Taiwan. The study participants, aged 18 years and above, were recruited from a community survey, and each of the total 2469 participants received a dental examination and completed a questionnaire. Multivariable analysis was used to assess the adjusted means of health-related quality of life (SF-36) in both prosthetic status and need. The results showed that 12·6% of those aged 65 years and above were edentulous. The proportion of prosthetic need increased as age increased (39·7% to 61·3%). Multivariate analysis revealed that participants with 'removable prosthesis' had higher physical health scores than those with 'non-removable prosthesis'. The scores of mental health measurement decreased in people with need for full prostheses in relation to people without need for any prosthesis. Therefore, fulfilling prosthetic needs is not only about recovering oral masticatory function, but also concerns improvement of both physical and mental health-related quality of life.     

Timing of IUI Treatment after hCG Administration 1-48 h Affecting Pregnancy Rate

Objective To compare the different time of administration of hCG affecting pregnancy rate of IUI.
Methods A total of 189 infertile couples underwent 331 cycles of lUI with husband＇s sperm. They were separated into 3 groups according to the time of hCG administration in IUI： hCG 1-23 h （group A）; hCG 24-36 h （group B）; hCG 37-48 h （group C）.
Results There were no statistical differences among 3 groups. None of the other relative factors, such as the female age, the different methods of ovulation and the cause of infertility, showed differences in pregnancy rate among 3 groups.
Conclusion IUI can be performed any time after administration of hCG （1-48 h）.     

短信提醒系统提高结核患者治疗依从性的可行性研究

目的 调查重庆市部分区县结核病患者移动电话拥有率及使用情况,了解其基本信息,为进一步开展短信提醒系统干预试点提供依据.方法 采用分层整群抽样法,选择重庆市结核病高发的4个区县,对两个月内就诊的疑似和确诊病例进行定量和定性调查,定量数据用EpiData 3.1进行双录入核查,用x2检验及logistic回归分析其影响因素,定性资料运用MAXQDA软件进行整理,用主体框架法分析.结果 接受问卷调查的1248名患者中,91.1%的患者或家属拥有移动电话,914人(80.4%)能够接收短信,81%的被调查者对短信提醒系统干预表示赞成;影响移动电话拥有率和短信接收的主要因素为年龄、职业、受教育程度和长期居住地;男性、19～49岁年龄组、高中及以上学历人群更容易拥有移动电话,定性访谈与定量调查结果一致.结论 重庆市结核病患者移动电话拥有率和短信接收率均较高,就使用情况及对发送短信进行相关提醒干预的看法而言,在重庆地区实施短信提醒系统对结核病患者进行服药和就诊干预可行.     

The Effect of Rise/Fall Time on Vestibular-evoked Myogenic Potential Triggered by Short Tone Bursts

Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) are used more and more frequently as a clinical tool to test if the sacculocollic reflexes are intact in patients. They can be evoked by short tone bursts (STBs) as well as by clicks. Although most previous studies used traditional clicks to generate VEMP responses, our clinical experience showed that STBs were prone to evoke them more clearly, at least in some patients. Four kinds of STB stimulation patterns in a random order were used to test 22 ears using changing rise/fall times (0.3, 1, 3 and 10 ms). VEMP responses (p13/n23) triggered by these patterns were clearly observed in all 22 ears. When the rise/fall time was prolonged from 0.3 to 10 ms, the p13 latency was prolonged in parallel. There was a similar trend for the n23 latency, although a significant difference was not attained between 0.3 ms and 1 ms rise/fall times. Considering the p13 and n23 latencies for the 4 rise/fall times, the variances were smallest for the 1 ms stimulation, meaning that it caused the smallest interaural latency differences. The amplitude or relative amplitude in the individual ears tested was lowest for the 10 ms stimulation, being comparable among the other 3 rise/fall times. In conclusion, the 1 ms rise/fall time was a remarkable stimulation pattern because its VEMP responses were simultaneously more constant and conspicuous.     

Bilateral ampulary pregnancy after clomifen citrate and intrauterine insemination – a unique case report

Abstract

We report a case with bilateral tubal ampullary pregnancy after Clomifen Citrate medication. The first conception in the right tube was after intrauterine insemination or intercourse performed before insemination, while the second one was achieved 10?d after insemination, during the intercourse, in the left tube. This life-threatening and routinely unexpected finding must always have in mind all doctors dealing with patients in emergency care, especially those receiving fertility enhancing drugs. According to the literature data available, this is the first and unique such case in the literature.     

The short physical performance battery as a predictor for long term disability or institutionalization in the community dwelling population aged 65 years old or older

Abstract

Background: The short physical performance battery (SPPB) is a physical performance measure that has been used to predict long term disability and/or future institutionalization in adults aged 65 years old or older. The test involves three dedicated physical performance activities, scored from 0 to 4, with a summated score of 12. Higher scores reflect higher levels of function.

Objectives: The purpose of this systematic literature review was to investigate the ability of the SPPB to predict long term disability or future institutionalization in community dwellers aged 65 years old or older living in the United States.

Methods: This review used the search engines PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library, and investigated all articles that studied the SPPB as a predictor of either long term disability or future institutionalization. Studies were included if each incorporated the SPPB, involved a community dwelling population, was written in English, was a longitudinal trial, and reported on functional decline or disability, or institutionalization. Qualitative scoring was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS); each study was scored in three categories: selection, comparability, and outcome.

Results: Five articles met the inclusion criteria for this study, of the five, three evaluated the capability of the SPPB to predict long term disability and two used the SPPB to predict institutionalization. Studies found that a baseline score of 4–6 on the SPPB indicated that the individual had a 2·9–4·9 increase in risk of developing a future disability, and a score of 7–9 on the SPPB found a 1·6–2·1 relative risk of developing a future disability. A baseline score of 10–12 on the SPPB was predictive of no future disability. Lower SPPB scores were related to increased odds of institutionalization and increased functional decline/disability. The NOS scores of the included trials ranged from two to three stars for each category demonstrating moderate to good quality.

Conclusion: Of the investigated studies on the subject, it can be concluded that the SPPB is a predictor of long term disability or institutionalization in US community dwellers aged 65 years old or older.