Objective: To assess the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic low back pain.
Methods: Patients (n = 60) with chronic low back pain were recruited and randomly allocated to either Acupuncture therapy or Placebo transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) groups. Patients were treated weekly for 6 weeks, and blinded assessments were carried out pre- and post-treatment using the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and visual analog scales (VAS) for pain, the Short-form 36 quality-of-life questionnaire, and a simple range of motion measurement. A total of 46 patients completed the trial and were followed up at 6 months.
Results: Analysis of results using t tests showed that in both groups there were significant pre-post improvements for all scores, except for MPQ scores in the Placebo-TENS group. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups for any of the outcome measures at the end of treatment. Results from the 6-month follow-up would suggest that the response was better in the acupuncture group.
Discussion: Further research is necessary to fully assess the efficacy of this treatment in combating chronic low back pain using larger sample sizes or alternative control groups.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00002508-200311000-00004 | DOI Listing |
Lipids Health Dis
January 2025
Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University West China School of Medicine, 37 Guoxue Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice. Triglyceride glucose index (Tyg), a convenient evaluation variable for insulin resistance, has shown associations with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, studies on the Tyg index's predictive value for adverse prognosis in patients with AF without diabetes are lacking.
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January 2025
School of Computing, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.
Mechanical ventilation is the process through which breathing support is provided to patients who face inconvenience during respiration. During the pandemic, many people were suffering from lung disorders, which elevated the demand for mechanical ventilators. The handling of mechanical ventilators is to be done under the assistance of trained professionals and demands the selection of ideal parameters.
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January 2025
College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
Introduction: Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) can experience intermittent claudication, which limits walking capacity and the ability to undertake daily activities. While exercise therapy is an established way to improve walking capacity in people with PAD, it is not feasible in all patients. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) provides a way to passively induce repeated muscle contractions and has been widely used as a therapy for chronic conditions that limit functional capacity.
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Renal Division, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; National Taiwan University Hospital Study Group of ARF (NSARF), Taipei, Taiwan.
Rationale & Objective: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) improve cardiac and kidney outcomes in patients with diabetes; however their efficacy in individuals with reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is uncertain. This study evaluated the effects of GLP-1RAs on kidney and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported through May 25, 2024.
Int J Med Microbiol
January 2025
Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume 830-0011, Japan.
Cardiovascular diseases, primarily caused by atherosclerosis, are a major public health concern worldwide. Atherosclerosis is characterized by chronic inflammation and lipid accumulation in the arterial wall, leading to plaque formation. In this process, macrophages play a crucial role by ingesting lipids and transforming into foam cells, which contribute to plaque instability and cardiovascular events.
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