Comparison of clinical and patient-based measures to assess medium-term outcomes following shoulder surgery for disorders of the rotator cuff.

Objective: To compare different assessments following shoulder surgery for impingement syndrome with or without rotator cuff tear or repair.

Methods: A prospective study of 93 patients was conducted. Standard assessments were performed before, at 6 months, and at 4 years following shoulder surgery using the patient-based Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire, and a surgeon-assessed Constant Shoulder Score.

Evidence for the validity and reliability of the ALS assessment questionnaire: the ALSAQ-40.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to assess the validity and reliability of a new disease specific measure of health-related quality of life for ALS/MND: the 40-item ALS Assessment Questionnaire (ALSAQ-40).

Design: We carried out a longitudinal postal survey. The two administrations of the questionnaire were separated by 3 months.

Treatment response of keloidal and hypertrophic sternotomy scars: comparison among intralesional corticosteroid, 5-fluorouracil, and 585-nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser treatments.

Objective: To compare the clinical response of keloidal and hypertrophic scars after treatment with intralesional corticosteroid alone or combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 5-FU alone, and the 585-nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser (PDL).

Design: Prospective, paired-comparison, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: A private ambulatory laser facility.

Atypical mycobacterial infection following blepharoplasty and full-face skin resurfacing with CO2 laser.

Background: With the popularity of laser skin resurfacing for the correction of photoaging and the improvement of acne scarring, it is important to note complications that may result from this procedure. Infections must be recognized and treated early, as some can result in permanent local destruction and systemic spread to other body sites.

Objective: To increase the awareness of an unusual infection that may result from laser resurfacing.

What does galvanic vestibular stimulation stimulate?

The technique of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) has been used for a long time. The stimulus produces stereotyped automatic postural and ocular responses. The mechanisms underlying these responses are not understood although they are commonly attributed to altered otolith output.

The prevalence of foot problems in older women: a cause for concern.

Background: Painful feet are an extremely common problem amongst older women. Such problems increase the risk of falls and hamper mobility. The aetiology of painful and deformed feet is poorly understood.

Diamond laser scalpel vs. steel scalpel: a side by side comparison of cutaneous wound healing.

Background And Objectives: To compare the cutaneous wound healing using the diamond laser scalpel with wound healing using a steel scalpel and electrocoagulation for hemostasis.

Study Design/materials And Methods: A prospective and randomized, comparative trial was conducted on eighteen patients. Fusiform excisions were performed using the diamond laser scalpel on one half of each excision and a steel scalpel with electrocoagulation for hemostasis on the other half.

Quality of life measurement: bibliographic study of patient assessed health outcome measures.

Objectives: To assess the growth of quality of life measures and to examine the availability of measures across specialties.

Design: Systematic searches of electronic databases to identify developmental and evaluative work relating to health outcome measures assessed by patients.

Main Outcome Measures: Types of measures: disease or population specific, dimension specific, generic, individualised, and utility.

Child/parent-assessed population health outcome measures: a structured review.

Aims: To identify generic measures of health-related quality of life (HRQL) for children and adolescents developed for use within general populations. Instruments are evaluated on the basis of evidence relating to their reliability and validity.

Methods: Systematic literature searches were used to identify instruments, which were then assessed against predefined criteria.

Efficacy of the 308-nm excimer laser for treatment of psoriasis: results of a multicenter study.

Objective: Our purpose was to demonstrate the efficacy of the 308-nm excimer laser for treatment of psoriasis.

Methods: This study was a multicenter open trial from 5 dermatology practices (one university-based and 4 private practices). Up to 30 patients per center with stable mild to moderate plaque-type psoriasis constituted the study population.

An evaluation of quinolone prescribing in a group of acute hospitals: development of an objective measure of usage.

Objectives: To develop an objective measure to enable hospital Trusts to compare their use of antibiotics.

Design: Self-completion, postal questionnaire with telephone follow up.

Sample: 4 hospital trusts in the English Midlands.

Blood pressure changes on upright tilting predict falls in older people.

Background: orthostatic hypotension may be an important risk factor for falls, though this has not yet been demonstrated in prospective studies. This may be because conventional methods of measuring blood pressure changes are too imprecise and not optimally timed.

Objectives: to determine whether changes in blood pressure induced by upright tilt are associated with falls in older people, and whether medication use and symptoms of dizziness are associated with blood pressure changes and falls.

A double-blind, side-by-side comparison study of low fluence long pulse dye laser to coolant treatment for wrinkling of the cheeks.

Background: Nonablative laser resurfacing with various lasers and light sources can improve skin texture and fine lines. The 595 nm pulsed dye laser has been reported to improve rhytides through nonablative mechanisms, minimizing the side effects and recovery period associated with traditional ablative resurfacing techniques.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the long pulse flashlamp pumped pulsed dye laser (LPDL) in improving rhytides and stimulating collagen synthesis and dermal remodeling.

Use of the short form health survey (SF-36) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: tests of data quality, score reliability, response rate and scaling assumptions.

Objectives: To evaluate response rate, data quality, score reliability and scaling assumptions of the 36 item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) in a large scale pan European survey of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients.

Design: A questionnaire based survey of patients diagnosed with ALS across 15 European countries. SAMPLE PATIENTS: presenting at neurological clinics for treatment of their condition were asked to partake in the survey.

Measuring mental health in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): a comparison of the SF-36 Mental Health Index with the Psychological General Well-Being Index.

Object: The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of the five-item mental health dimension of SF-36 (the Mental Health Index, MHI-5) with that of the 22-item Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWB) in patients presenting with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease, using tests of reliability and validity.

Design: A questionnaire-based survey of patients diagnosed with ALS across 15 European countries.

Sample: Patients presenting at neurological clinics for treatment of their ALS were asked to join the survey.

Postmortem stability of RNA isolated from bovine reproductive tissues.

Molecular biology is being increasingly used to address the complex problem of bovine infertility. One common concern shared by many of these studies is the postmortem delay in obtaining reproductive tissues and the effect this may have on RNA dependent studies. To address this concern, bovine ovarian, oviduct and uterine tissue samples, collected over intervals ranging from 0 to 96 h postmortem to freeze storage, were analysed to determine the potential effects on RNA quantity and quality.

Double-blind, half-face study comparing topical vitamin C and vehicle for rejuvenation of photodamage.

Background: Aging of the population, in particular the "baby boomers," has resulted in increased interest in methods of reversal of photodamage. Non-invasive treatments are in high demand, and our knowledge of mechanisms of photodamage to skin, protection of the skin, and repair of photodamage are becoming more sophisticated and complex.

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine if the topical use of a vitamin C preparation can stimulate the skin to repair photodamage and result in clinically visible differences, as well as microscopically visible improvement.

Facial resurfacing in patients with Fitzpatrick skin type IV.

Background And Objectives: Though post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is probably the most common complication of laser resurfacing and appears to correlate directly with the intensity of the patient's natural pigmentation, there is very little data that specifically addresses the risks of dyspigmentation in more darkly pigmented patients (Fitzpatrick skin types IV and above). The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term dyspigmentation of patients with skin type IV having radial laser resurfacing.

Study Design/materials And Methods: A retrospective review of the clinical efficacy, incidence of dyspigmentation and other adverse effects, as well as the pre/post-operative protocol of 22 patients with Fitzpatrick skin type IV who were a minimum of 1 year post-operative following facial laser resurfacing.

Patient-assessed health outcome measures for diabetes: a structured review.

Aims: To identify available disease-specific measures of health-related quality of life (HRQL) for diabetes and to review evidence for the reliability, validity and responsiveness of instruments.

Methods: Systematic searches were used to identify instruments. Instruments were assessed against predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Optimizing wound healing in the face after laser abrasion.

Background: Laser resurfacing is a popular procedure to improve the physical signs of photoaging. In addition to improvements in treatment modalities, optimizing posttreatment regimens will enhance patient care.

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of two forms of wound care for the face after laser abrasion.

Maximizing benefits and minimizing risk with CO2 laser resurfacing.

Laser resurfacing using the high-energy, pulsed and scanned CO2 laser produces the most dramatic improvement in severe photo-induced facial rhytides and deeply atrophic scars. More recently, the use of short- and long-pulsed erbium lasers in conjunction with CO2 laser resurfacing has been shown to speed healing by removing the upper layer of thermally induced necrotic tissue. The Er:YAG lasers are more superficial ablative tools that inflict less residual thermal damage on the tissue, thus allowing healing to occur without the requisite internal clearance of excessive debris.

Mortality, morbidity, and 1-year outcomes of primary elective total hip arthroplasty.

No representative data exist on the risks of adverse outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the United Kingdom. A prospective observational study of unselected THA operations was carried out in 5 U.K.

Does waiting for total hip replacement matter? Prospective cohort study.

Objectives: To assess the impact on the outcome of total hip replacement of the length of timing spent waiting for surgery.

Methods: One hundred and forty-three orthopaedic and general hospitals provided information about aspects of surgical practice for each total hip replacement conducted between September 1996 and October 1997 for publicly and privately funded operations in five English health regions. These data were linked to patient information about hip-related pain and disability status (measured using the Oxford Hip Score) before operation and at 3 and 12 months after.