Publications by authors named "Nima Makhdami"

Chronic post-surgical pain is reported by up to 40% of patients after lumbar microdiscectomy for sciatica, a complaint associated with disability and loss of productivity. We conducted a systematic review of observational studies to explore factors associated with persistent leg pain and impairments after microdiscectomy for sciatica. We searched eligible studies in MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL that explored, in an adjusted model, predictors of persistent leg pain, physical impairment, or failure to return to work after microdiscectomy for sciatica.

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  • The study aims to synthesize patient and caregiver values and preferences in managing atopic dermatitis (AD) to aid the development of clinical guidelines by relevant allergy associations.* ! -
  • A thorough review of numerous studies revealed that participants generally favor starting with nonmedical treatments and are concerned about side effects from medications, highlighting the importance of a strong patient-clinician relationship.* ! -
  • Findings indicate that patients prefer treatments that are odorless, minimally visible, and have a low impact on daily activities, with a specific emphasis on relieving itching and burning sensations.* !
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The efficacy and safety of parathyroid hormone (PTH) therapy for managing long-term hypoparathyroidism is being evaluated in ongoing clinical trials. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of currently available randomized controlled trials to investigate the benefits and harms of PTH therapy and conventional therapy in the management of patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism. To identify eligible studies, published in English, we searched Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane CENTRAL from inception to May 2022.

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The complications and symptoms of hypoparathyroidism remain incompletely defined. Measuring serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium levels early after total thyroidectomy may predict the development of chronic hypoparathyroidism. The study aimed (i) to identify symptoms and complications associated with chronic hypoparathyroidism and determine the prevalence of those symptoms and complications (Part I), and (ii) to examine the utility of early postoperative measurements of PTH and calcium in predicting chronic hypoparathyroidism (Part II).

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Background: Blood eosinophils predict the response to therapy, risk of exacerbation, and readmission in COPD. This study investigates whether blood eosinophils predict pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) outcomes in COPD.

Methods: We categorized patients into eosinophilic (blood eosinophils ≥300 cells/ml) or noneosinophilic (<300 cells/ml).

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  • Researchers studied how pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) affects survival in patients with a lung disease called fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD).
  • They looked at the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) of patients before and after PR to see if walking farther made a difference in surviving longer.
  • Results showed that patients who improved their 6MWD during PR had a better chance of living longer, and those who attended most of their PR sessions were even less likely to die.
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Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) lead to significant adverse effects in coronary arteries. Mipomersen is a second-generation antisense oligonucleotide that inhibits the synthesis of apolipoprotein B-100, an essential component of low density lipoprotein (LDL), and thus decreases the production of LDL. We aimed to determine the effect of mipomersen in patients with FH.

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Background And Objective: Physical frailty is associated with increased mortality and hospitalizations in older adults. We describe the prevalence of physical frailty and its prognostic impact in patients with a spectrum of fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods: Patients with fibrotic ILD at the McMaster University ILD programme were prospectively followed up from November 2015 to March 2020.

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Accessible models recapitulating the human airway that are amenable to study whole cannabis smoke exposure are needed for immunological and toxicological studies that inform public health policy and recreational cannabis use. In the present study, we developed and validated a novel three-dimensional (3D)-printed exposure system (IVES) that can be directly applied to study the effect of cannabis smoke exposure on primary human bronchial epithelial cells. Using commercially available design software and a 3D printer, we designed a four-chamber Transwell insert holder for exposures to whole smoke.

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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis are two forms of fatty liver disease with benign and malignant nature, respectively. These two conditions can cause an increased risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Given the importance and high prevalence of NAFLD, it is necessary to investigate the results of different studies in related scope to provide a clarity guarantee of effectiveness.

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  • - The airway epithelium plays a vital role in defending against respiratory viral infections, which cause over 2.5 million deaths annually, relying on receptors like TLRs and NLRP to activate immune responses.
  • - ABCF1, a special type of ABC transporter found in the human airway epithelium, acts as a cytosolic nucleic acid sensor that influences the production of important antiviral signals like CXCL10 and interferon-β.
  • - Research confirmed the presence of ABCF1 in human lung tissues and its role in enhancing antiviral responses, indicating its significance in TLR signaling and suggesting that it has a broader role in innate immunity beyond just detecting viral DNA.
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Purpose Of Review: This review will provide an overview of the components and current evidence to support pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD), focusing on the latest findings in enhancing quality of life and functional capacity using exercise training and education.

Recent Findings: Recent literature demonstrates a longer duration of pulmonary rehabilitation results in sustained improvements in functional capacity and quality of life in patients with ILD. Educational components tailored to ILD provide added value to supervised exercise training.

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Background: Canadian and international guidelines recommend specialized, multidisciplinary teams for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The objective of this cross-sectional clinical study was to investigate the effect of a care coordinator on IPF patient satisfaction and quality of life.

Methods: Forty IPF patients were enrolled from the practices of two physicians (n=20/physician), with either low (LCU) or high-coordinator use (HCU).

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Background. There is a considerable dissimilarity in the survival duration of the patients with gastric cancer. We aimed to assess the systemic inflammatory response (SIR) and nutritional status of these patients before the commencement of chemotherapy to find the appropriate prognostic factors and define a new score for predicting metastasis.

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