A 5-year natural history study in LAMA2-related muscular dystrophy and SELENON-related myopathy: the Extended LAST STRONG study.

Background: SELENON-related myopathy (SELENON-RM) is a rare congenital myopathy characterized by slowly progressive axial muscle weakness, rigidity of the spine, scoliosis, and respiratory insufficiency. Laminin-a2-related muscular dystrophy (LAMA2-MD) has a similar clinical phenotype, which ranges from severe, early-onset congenital muscular dystrophy type 1A (MDC1A) to milder forms presenting as childhood- or adult-onset limb-girdle type muscular dystrophy. The first 1.

The Impact of Scars After DIEP-Flap Breast Reconstruction on Satisfaction and HR-QoL: A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing BREAST-Q Scores.

Background: Although deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction is the most widely used technique for autologous breast reconstruction, this technique leads to large scars in visible areas on breast and abdomen. So far, limited studies have thoroughly addressed the impact of breast and abdominal scars on satisfaction and Health-related Quality of Life (HR-QoL).

Objectives: This research aimed to determine whether women with no/minor scar symptoms after undergoing DIEP-flap breast reconstruction differ in satisfaction and perceived HR-QoL from women with symptomatic scars.

Inter-rater reliability among healthcare professionals in assessing postoperative wound photos for the presence or absence of surgical wound dehiscence: A Pretest - Posttest study.

Background: Surgical wound dehiscence (SWD) has various definitions, which complicates accurate and uniform diagnosis. To address this, the World Union Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS) presented a consensus based definition and classification for SWD (2018).

Aim: This quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study investigates the inter-rater reliability among healthcare professionals (HCP) and wound care professionals (WCP) when assessing wound photos on the presence or absence of SWD before and after training on the WUWHS-definition.

Microneedling in Abdominal Scarring after DIEP-flap Breast Reconstruction to Improve Scar Quality: A Randomized Controlled Split Scar Trial.

Background: Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction leads to large scars in the breast and abdominal region. Common symptoms related to abdominal scarring include changes in color, stiffness, thickness, and irregularity of the skin. The aim of this study was to examine whether microneedling improves the abdominal scar quality after DIEP-flap breast reconstruction.

Successful addition of topical antibiotic treatment after surgery in treatment-refractory nontuberculous mycobacterial skin and soft tissue infections.

Treatment of skin and soft tissue infections with nontuberculous mycobacteria sometimes fails despite repeated debridements and long-term systemic antibiotic therapy. These treatment-refractory infections can cause significant morbidity and pose a treatment challenge. Following surgery, we treated three patients with negative pressure wound therapy with the instillation and dwell time of topical antibiotics, in addition to systemic antibiotic treatment.

Closed-Incision Negative-Pressure Therapy Reduces Donor-Site Surgical Wound Dehiscence in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstructions: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: In breast reconstruction operations, surgical wound dehiscence is a serious complication that generates a significant burden on patients and health care systems. There are indications that postoperative treatment with closed-incision negative-pressure therapy has been associated with reduced wound dehiscence rates. This randomized clinical trial examines the effect of closed-incision negative-pressure application on abdominal donor-site surgical wound dehiscence in low- and high-risk patients undergoing breast reconstruction with a deep inferior epigastric perforator flap.

Lessons learned from patients with spinal cord injury in managing pressure ulcers: A qualitative study.

Objectives: To explore how individuals with spinal cord injury self-manage the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers and to provide insight into experiences with self-management support.

Design: Qualitative study using semi-structured interview and a deductive thematic analysis.

Setting: Community.

The content and effectiveness of self-management support interventions for people at risk of pressure ulcers: A systematic review.

Background: Pressure ulcers are a common complication with a high impact on well-being and quality of life in people with impaired mobility and/or dysfunctional pain sensations. Prevention is therefore crucial. However, persons at risk seem to experience difficulties in adhering to self-management regimens that can help to prevent or diminish the development of pressure ulcers.

The impact of scars on health-related quality of life after breast surgery: a qualitative exploration.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to explore women's experiences after breast surgery with scar characteristics and symptoms, and its impact on their health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Material And Methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured face-to-face interviews was conducted among women following prophylactic, oncologic, or reconstructive breast surgery in the Netherlands. A directed content analysis was performed using guiding themes.

Infectious bronchitis virus Mass-type (GI-1) and QX-like (GI-19) genotyping and vaccine differentiation using SYBR green RT-qPCR paired with melting curve analysis.

Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) is a highly contagious virus of chicken, causing huge economic losses in the poultry industry. Many genotypes circulate in a given area, and optimal protection relies on vaccination with live attenuated vaccines of the same genotype. As these live vaccines are derived from field viruses and circulate, understanding the prevalence of different IBV genotypes in any area is complex.

Prospective and randomised evaluation of the protease-modulating effect of oxidised regenerated cellulose/collagen matrix treatment in pressure sore ulcers.

In chronic wounds, excess levels and activity of proteases such as elastase and plasmin have been detected. Oxidised regenerated cellulose/collagen matrix (ORC/collagen matrix) has been reported to ameliorate the wound microenvironment by binding and inactivating excess proteases in wound exudates. In this study, the levels and activity of elastase and plasmin in wound exudates of pressure sore ulcers were measured to determine the beneficial effect of ORC/collagen matrix treatment compared with control treatment with a foam dressing.

Migrant labor and wear-out in manual sugarcane harvesting in São Paulo, Brazil.

The scope of this paper is to describe the work of manual sugarcane harvesters, assessing the nutritional behavior and body composition between the beginning and the end of the harvest. A descriptive longitudinal study was made of harvesters in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil, who answered a socio-demographic questionnaire and authorized measurement of Body Mass Index, Body Fat Percentage and Arm Muscle Circumference at three stages. Creatine kinase on the skeletal isoform, C-reactive protein and plasma urea were measured at the end of the harvest.

Faster wound healing with topical negative pressure therapy in difficult-to-heal wounds: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Objective: A randomized clinical trial was conducted to determine the effectiveness and safety of topical negative pressure therapy in patients with difficult-to-heal wounds.

Methods: A total of 24 patients were randomly assigned to either treatment with topical negative pressure therapy or treatment with conventional dressing therapy with sodium hypochlorite. The study end point was 50% reduction in wound volume.

Early postoperative 30 degrees lateral positioning after coronary artery surgery: influence on cardiac output.

Aims And Objectives: We investigated whether: (i) Early postoperative lateral position after coronary artery bypass surgery may have a negative influence on the cardiac output and (ii) Whether turning procedures cause practical problems.

Background: Directly following surgery, coronary artery bypass patients are not receiving routine turning every two hours to prevent pressure ulcers, because a negative influence on hemodynamic parameters is assumed.

Design: Clinical trial.

Guideline implementation results in a decrease of pressure ulcer incidence in critically ill patients.

Objective: To describe the short-term and long-term effects of a hospital-wide pressure ulcer prevention and treatment guideline on both the incidence and the time to the onset of pressure ulcers in critically ill patients.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Adult intensive care department of a university medical center.

Epidemiology, risk and prevention of pressure ulcers in critically ill patients: a literature review.

New nursing interventions and pressure-redistributing devices in intensive care units, and specific risk factors affecting critically ill patients, mean that different factors must be taken into consideration in preventing pressure ulcers.

Implementation of a new policy results in a decrease of pressure ulcer frequency.

Objective: To determine the effects of a new policy on the efficiency of pressure ulcer care.

Design: Series of 1-day pressure ulcer surveys before and after the implementation.

Setting: A 900-bed University Medical Centre in The Netherlands.

Pharmaceutical promotion and GP prescription behaviour.

The aim of this paper is to empirically analyse the responses by general practitioners to promotional activities for ethical drugs by pharmaceutical companies. Promotion can be beneficial as a means of providing information, but it can also be harmful in the sense that it lowers price sensitivity of doctors and it merely is a means of maintaining market share, even when cheaper, therapeutically equivalent drugs are available. A model is estimated that includes interactions of promotion expenditures and prices and that explicitly exploits the panel structure of the data, allowing for drug specific effects and dynamic adjustments, or habit persistence.

Pressure ulcers: diagnostics and interventions aimed at wound-related complaints: a review of the literature.

Aims And Objectives: To describe the current scientific evidence in the field of diagnostics and treatment of pain, malodour and exudate from pressure ulcers and to give recommendations for practice, based on these findings.

Background: Patients with pressure ulcers are confronted with symptoms of chronic wounds and impaired wound healing. Assessment and treatment of these symptoms have received very little attention.

Venous leg ulcer patients: a review of the literature on lifestyle and pain-related interventions.

Background: Having a leg ulcer has a major impact on daily life. Lifestyle is mentioned in most leg ulcer guidelines but mostly without much emphasis on the subject.

Aims And Objectives: Evidence for the effect of nutrition, leg elevation and exercise on the healing of leg ulcers was reconsidered.

Prevalence, risk factors and prevention of pressure ulcers in Dutch intensive care units. Results of a cross-sectional survey.

Objective: Evaluating the prevalence, risk factors and prevention of pressure ulcers in Dutch intensive care units (ICUs).

Design: Cross-sectional design.

Setting: ICUs of acute care hospitals that participated in the 1998 and 1999 national prevalence surveys.

[Pressure sores in ICU patients--a literature review].

The purpose of this literature study is to gain an insight into the information available on epidemiological aspects, specific factors of risk, risk assessment instruments and preventive measures with respect to pressure sores with adult ICU patients. There are indications that the incidence of pressure sores in the ICU is higher than the average incidence of 3-10% in hospital populations. This higher incidence may be accounted for by specific risk factors, such as history before admission to the ICU, severity of the disease, the risk of prevention measures, the use of special medicine and the nutritional state.