Effectiveness of physical therapy interventions for children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review

Background To assess the effectiveness of physical therapy (PT) interventions on functioning in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods A search was made in Medline, Cinahl, PEDro and the Cochrane library for the period 1990 to February 2007. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on PT interventions in children with diagnosed CP were included. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality and extracted the data. The outcomes measured in the trials were classified using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Results Twenty-two trials were identified. Eight intervention categories were distinguished. Four trials were of high methodological quality. Moderate evidence of effectiveness was established for two intervention categories: effectiveness of upper extremity treatments on attained goals and active supination, and of prehensile hand treatment and neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT) or NDT twice a week on developmental status, and of constraint-induced therapy on amount and quality of hand use. Moderate evidence of ineffectiveness was found of strength training on walking speed and stride length. Conflicting evidence was found for strength training on gross motor function. For the other intervention categories the evidence was limited due to low methodological quality and the statistically insignificant results of the studies. Conclusion Due to limitations in methodological quality and variations in population, interventions and outcomes, mostly limited evidence on the effectiveness of most PT interventions is available through RCTs. Moderate evidence was found for some effectiveness of upper extremity training. Well-designed trials are needed especially for focused PT interventions.BioMed Central Open acces

Clear cell carcinoid tumor of the distal common bile duct

BACKGROUND: Carcinoid tumors rarely arise in the extrahepatic bile duct and can be difficult to distinguish from carcinoma. There are no reports of clear cell carcinoid (CCC) tumors in the distal bile duct (DBD) to the best of our knowledge. Herein, we report a CCC tumor in the DBD and review the literature concerning extrahepatic bile duct carcinoid tumors. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-old man presented with fever and occult obstructive jaundice. Ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography (MRCP) demonstrated a nodular tumor projection in the DBD without regional lymph node swelling. Under suspicion of carcinoma, we resected the head of the pancreas along with 2(nd )portion duodenectomy and a lymph node dissection. The surgical specimen showed a golden yellow polypoid tumor in the DBD (0.8 × 0.6 × 0.5 cm in size). The lesion was composed of clear polygonal cells arranged in nests and a trabecular pattern. The tumor invaded through the wall into the fibromuscular layer. Immunohistochemical stains showed that neoplastic cells were positive for neuron-specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and pancreatic polypeptide and negative for inhibin, keratin, CD56, serotonin, gastrin and somatostatin. The postoperative course was uneventful and he is living well without relapse 12 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Given the preoperative difficulty in differentiating carcinoid from carcinoma, the pancreaticoduodenectomy is an appropriate treatment choice for carcinoid tumors located within the intra-pancreatic bile duct

Comparison between dexmedetomidine and remifentanil infusion in emergence agitation during recovery after nasal surgery

Background. Postoperative emergency agitation (EA) is a common problem. Dexmedetomidine and remifentanil may be used to prevent this problem. Our primary aim was to compare dexmedetomidine, remifentanil, and placebo with respect to their effectiveness in preventing postoperative EA. Material and methods. Ninety patients undergoing nasal surgery were randomized into three groups. The dexmedetomidine group (group D, n = 30) received dexmedetomidine infusion at a rate of 0.4 mu g kg(-1) h(-1); the remifentanil group (group R, n = 30) received remifentanil infusion at a rate of 0.05 mu g kg(-1) min(-1) from induction of anesthesia until extubation; and the control group (group S, n = 30) received a volume-matched normal saline infusion as a placebo. Propofol (1.5-2 mg kg(-1)) and fentanyl (1 mu g kg(-1)) were used to initiate anesthesia, and desflurane was used to maintain anesthesia. The incidence of agitation, hemodynamic parameters, and recovery characteristics were evaluated during emergence. Results. The incidence of EA was significantly higher in group S (46.7 \%) compared with groups R and D (3.3 and 20 \%, respectively; p < 0.001). The lowest incidence of EA was detected in group R (p = 0.046). Residual sedation in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) was similar in all groups (p = 0.947). The incidence of nausea or vomiting was significantly lower in group D than in groups R and S (p = 0.043). Administration of analgesics in the PACU was higher in group R than in groups S and D (p = 0.015). Conclusion. Anesthetic maintenance with either remifentanil or dexmedetomidine infusion until extubation provided a more smooth and hemodynamically stable emergence, without complications after nasal surgery. While remifentanil was superior to dexmedetomidine with regard to avoiding EA, dexmedetomidine was more effective than remifentanil regarding vomiting and pain