Effectiveness of a guideline implementation tool for supporting management of mental health complications after mild traumatic brain injury in primary care: protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Mental health problems frequently interfere with recovery from mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) but are under-recognised and undertreated. Consistent implementation of clinical practice guidelines for proactive detection and treatment of mental health complications after mTBI will require evidence-based knowledge translation strategies. This study aims to determine if a guideline implementation tool can reduce the risk of mental health complications following mTBI.

Aerobic exercise and vascular cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of a progressive aerobic exercise training program on cognitive and everyday function among adults with mild subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment (SIVCI).

Methods: This was a proof-of-concept single-blind randomized controlled trial comparing a 6-month, thrice-weekly, progressive aerobic exercise training program (AT) with usual care plus education on cognitive and everyday function with a follow-up assessment 6 months after the formal cessation of aerobic exercise training. Primary outcomes assessed were general cognitive function (Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale [ADAS-Cog]), executive functions (Executive Interview [EXIT-25]), and activities of daily living (Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living [ADCS-ADL]).

Using the relationship between brain tissue regional saturation of oxygen and mean arterial pressure to determine the optimal mean arterial pressure in patients following cardiac arrest: A pilot proof-of-concept study.

Introduction: Prospectively assess cerebral autoregulation and optimal mean arterial pressure (MAPOPT) using the dynamic relationship between MAP and regional saturation of oxygen (rSO2) using near-infrared spectroscopy.

Methods: Feasibility study of twenty patients admitted to the intensive care unit following a cardiac arrest. All patients underwent continuous rSO2 monitoring using the INVOS(®) cerebral oximeter.

Gas density alters expiratory time constants before and after experimental lung injury.

What is the central question of this study? Does the induction of a model of lung injury affect the expiratory time constant (τE) in terms of either total duration or morphology? Does ventilation with gases of different densities alter the duration or morphology of τE either before or after injury? What is the main finding and its importance? The use of sulfur hexafluoride in ventilating gas mixtures lengthens total expiratory time constants before and after lung injury compared with both nitrogen and helium mixtures. Sulfur hexafluoride mixtures also decrease the difference and variability of τE between fast- and slow-emptying compartments before and after injury when compared with nitrogen and helium mixtures. Acute lung injury is characterized by regional heterogeneity of lung resistance and elastance that may lead to regional heterogeneity of expiratory time constants (τE).

Reexamining the Surfaces of Bone in Boys and Girls During Adolescent Growth: A 12-Year Mixed Longitudinal pQCT Study.

We revisit Stanley Garn's theory related to sex differences in endocortical and periosteal apposition during adolescence using a 12-year mixed longitudinal study design. We used peripheral quantitative computed tomography to examine bone parameters in 230 participants (110 boys, 120 girls; aged 11.0 years at baseline).

Action seniors! - secondary falls prevention in community-dwelling senior fallers: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Falls are a 'geriatric giant' and are the third leading cause of chronic disability worldwide. About 30% of community-dwellers over the age of 65 experience one or more falls every year leading to significant risk for hospitalization, institutionalization, and even death. As the proportion of older adults increases, falls will place an increasing demand and cost on the health care system.

Enhancing a Somatic Maturity Prediction Model.

Purpose: Assessing biological maturity in studies of children is challenging. Sex-specific regression equations developed using anthropometric measures are widely used to predict somatic maturity. However, prediction accuracy was not established in external samples.

A randomized feasibility trial of clonidine to reduce perioperative cardiac risk in patients on chronic beta-blockade: the EPIC study.

Purpose: Clonidine may help prevent cardiac complications in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery and receiving chronic beta-blocker therapy. We conducted a multicentre pilot randomized trial to estimate recruitment rates for a full-scale trial and to assess the safety and tolerability of combining clonidine with chronic beta-blockade.

Methods: Patients who were at elevated perioperative cardiac risk, receiving chronic beta-blockade, and scheduled for major non-cardiac surgery were recruited in a blinded (participants, clinicians, outcome assessors) placebo-controlled randomized trial at three Canadian hospitals.

Optical coherence tomography-based correlation between choroidal thickness and drusen load in dry age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: Spectral domain optical coherence tomography can be used to measure both choroidal thickness and drusen load. The authors conducted an exploratory study using spectral domain optical coherence tomography to determine if a correlation between choroidal thickness and drusen load exists in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration.

Methods: Forty-four patients with dry age-related macular degeneration were recruited.

Physical activity correlates with arterial stiffness in community-dwelling individuals with stroke.

Background: Physical inactivity contributes to atherosclerotic processes, which manifest as increased arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness is associated with myocardial demand and coronary perfusion and is a risk factor for stroke and other adverse cardiac outcomes. Poststroke mobility limitations often lead to physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors.

Phase II study of hypofractionated image-guided radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer: outcomes of 55 Gy in 16 fractions at 3.4 Gy per fraction.

Purpose: To estimate the late morbidity of a novel, hypofractionated external beam radiotherapy schedule of 55 Gy in 16 fractions (4 fractions/week, 3.4 Gy per fraction) for localized prostate cancer.

Methods And Materials: A multi-center phase 2 study enrolled seventy-three patients between September 2004 and June 2006.

Canadian Optically-guided approach for Oral Lesions Surgical (COOLS) trial: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Oral cancer is a major health problem worldwide. The 5-year survival rate ranges from 30-60%, and has remained unchanged in the past few decades. This is mainly due to late diagnosis and high recurrence of the disease.

Post-discharge management following hip fracture--get you back to B4: a parallel group, randomized controlled trial study protocol.

Background: Fall-related hip fractures result in significant personal and societal consequences; importantly, up to half of older adults with hip fracture never regain their previous level of mobility. Strategies of follow-up care for older adults after fracture have improved investigation for osteoporosis; but managing bone health alone is not enough. Prevention of fractures requires management of both bone health and falls risk factors (including the contributing role of cognition, balance and continence) to improve outcomes.

Blood flow index using near-infrared spectroscopy and indocyanine green as a minimally invasive tool to assess respiratory muscle blood flow in humans.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in combination with indocyanine green (ICG) dye has recently been used to measure respiratory muscle blood flow (RMBF) in humans. This method is based on the Fick principle and is determined by measuring ICG in the respiratory muscles using transcutaneous NIRS in relation to the [ICG] in arterial blood as measured using photodensitometry. This method is invasive since it requires arterial cannulation, repeated blood withdrawals, and reinfusions.

A randomized trial of external beam radiotherapy versus cryoablation in patients with localized prostate cancer.

Background: Localized prostate cancer can be treated several different ways, but head-to-head comparisons of treatments are infrequent. The authors of this report conducted a randomized, unblinded, noninferiority trial to compare cryoablation with external beam radiotherapy in these patients.

Methods: From December 1997 through February 2003, 244 men with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer were assigned randomly to receive either cryoablation or radiotherapy (122 men in each arm).

The DePICTORS Study: discrepancies in preliminary interpretation of CT scans between on-call residents and staff.

At many academic hospitals, radiology residents provide preliminary interpretations of CT studies performed outside of regular working hours. We examined the rate of discrepancies between resident interpretations and final reports issued by staff. We prospectively obtained 1,756 preliminary reports and corresponding final reports for computed tomography (CT) scans performed on call between November 2006 and March 2007.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation increases the risk of pelvic sepsis after radical excision of rectal cancer.

Purpose: This study was designed to examine the effect of neoadjuvant chemoradiation on pelvic sepsis after mesorectal excision for rectal cancer.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients who underwent curative mesorectal excision for rectal cancer during an eight-year period. Demographic, preoperative, perioperative data were collected.