Convalescent or standard plasma versus standard of care in the treatment of COVID-19 patients with respiratory impairment: short and long-term effects. A three-arm randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: The efficacy of early treatment with convalescent plasma in patients with COVID-19 is debated. Nothing is known about the potential effect of other plasma components other than anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Methods: To determine whether convalescent or standard plasma would improve outcomes for adults in early phase of Covid19 respiratory impairment we designed this randomized, three-arms, clinical trial (PLACO COVID) blinded on interventional arms that was conducted from June 2020 to August 2021.

Pattern of injuries amongst tennis players in Accra, Ghana.

Background: Tennis is a popular global sport characterised by repeated, explosive motions and the involvement of several muscle groups during different strokes, which fluctuates randomly from brief periods of maximal or near maximal work to longer periods of moderate and low intensity activity.

Objectives: To determine the pattern of injuries amongst tennis players in Accra.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 142 male and female participants selected from tennis clubs in Accra and the Accra sports stadium.

The effects of high intensity laser therapy on pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of high intensity laser therapy (HILT) on pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. [Subjects and Methods] In this study, an experiment was conducted on 20 subjects who were divided into the control group (n=10), which would receive conservative physical therapy (CPT), and the experimental group (n=10), which would receive effects of high intensity laser therapy after conservative physical therapy. All patients received their respective therapies three times each week over a four-week period.

Effects of the application of Low-Dye taping on the pain and stability of patients with plantar fasciitis.

[Purpose] This study examined how the application of Low-Dye (LD) taping affected the pain and stability of patients with plantar fasciitis. [Subjects] The subjects were 30 patients with plantar fasciitis who were divided into two groups: a Low-Dye taping group (LTG, n=15) and a conservative treatment group (CTG, n=15). [Methods] The treatments were performed three times a week for six weeks in both groups.

Effects of lumbar stabilization exercise on functional disability and lumbar lordosis angle in patients with chronic low back pain.

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of lumbar stabilization exercises on the functional disability and lumbar lordosis angles in patients with chronic low back pain. [Subjects] The subjects were 30 patients with chronic low back pain divided into a lumbar stabilization exercise group (n = 15) and a conservative treatment group (n = 15). [Methods] The lumbar stabilization exercise and conservative treatment groups performed an exercise program and conservative physical treatment, respectively.

Effects of flexion-distraction manipulation therapy on pain and disability in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of flexion-distraction manipulation therapy on pain and disability in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. [Subjects] Thirty patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were divided into two groups: a conservative treatment group (n=15) and a flexion-distraction manipulation group (n=15). [Methods] The conservative treatment group received conservative physical therapy, and the flexion-distraction group received both conservative physical therapy and flexion-distraction manipulation therapy.

The effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on pain, disability, and depression of chronic low back pain patients.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on pain, disability, and depression of chronic low back pain patients. [Subjects] In this study, 30 chronic low back pain patients were divided into an extracorporeal shock wave therapy group (ESWTG, n=15) and a conservative physical therapy group (CPTG, n=15). [Methods] The ESWTG received extracorporeal shock wave therapy and the CPTG received general conservative physical therapy two times per week for six weeks.

Seasonal recurrence of acute episodes of Menière's disease.

Yearly occurrence of acute episodes of Menière's disease has been studied in a group of 114 patients observed from January 1972 to December 1984. Monthly frequency variations were found to be casual and void of statistical significance. Primary episodes apparently occurred more often during the June-August period; statistical analysis confirmed the significance of the phenomenon at a level of 0,025 (chi 2 test).