Perioperative celecoxib administration for pain management after total knee arthroplasty – A randomized, controlled study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended for multimodal postoperative pain management. We evaluated opioid-sparing effects and rehabilitative results after perioperative celecoxib administration for total knee arthroplasty.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a prospective, randomized, observer-blind control study. Eighty patients that underwent total knee arthroplasty were randomized into two groups of 40 each. The study group received a single 400 mg dose of celecoxib, one hour before surgery, and 200 mg of celecoxib every 12 hours for five days, along with patient-controlled analgesic (PCA) morphine. The control group received only PCA morphine for postoperative pain management. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, active range of motion (ROM), total opioid use and postoperative nausea/vomiting were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Groups were comparable for age, pre-operative ROM, operation duration and intraoperative blood loss. Resting VAS pain scores improved significantly in the celecoxib group, compared with controls, at 48 hrs (2.13 ± 1.68 vs. 3.43 ± 1.50, p = 0.03) and 72 hrs (1.78 ± 1.66 vs. 3.17 ± 2.01, p = 0.02) after surgery. Active ROM also increased significantly in the patients that received celecoxib, especially in the first 72 hrs [40.8° ± 17.3° vs. 25.8° ± 11.5°, p = 0.01 (day 1); 60.7° ± 18.1° vs. 45.0° ± 17.3°, p = 0.004 (day 2); 77.7° ± 15.1° vs. 64.3° ± 16.9°, p = 0.004 (day 3)]. Opioid requirements decreased about 40% (p = 0.03) in the celecoxib group. Although patients suffering from post-operative nausea/vomiting decreased from 43% in control group to 28% in celecoxib group, this was not significant (p = 0.57). There were no differences in blood loss (intra- and postoperative) between the groups. Celecoxib resulted in no significant increase in the need for blood transfusions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Perioperative celecoxib significantly improved postoperative resting pain scores at 48 and 72 hrs, opioid consumption, and active ROM in the first three days after total knee arthroplasty, without increasing the risks of bleeding.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00598234</p

Women with endometriosis have higher comorbidities: Analysis of domestic data in Taiwan

AbstractEndometriosis, defined by the presence of viable extrauterine endometrial glands and stroma, can grow or bleed cyclically, and possesses characteristics including a destructive, invasive, and metastatic nature. Since endometriosis may result in pelvic inflammation, adhesion, chronic pain, and infertility, and can progress to biologically malignant tumors, it is a long-term major health issue in women of reproductive age. In this review, we analyze the Taiwan domestic research addressing associations between endometriosis and other diseases. Concerning malignant tumors, we identified four studies on the links between endometriosis and ovarian cancer, one on breast cancer, two on endometrial cancer, one on colorectal cancer, and one on other malignancies, as well as one on associations between endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome, one on links with migraine headache, three on links with pelvic inflammatory diseases, four on links with infertility, four on links with obesity, four on links with chronic liver disease, four on links with rheumatoid arthritis, four on links with chronic renal disease, five on links with diabetes mellitus, and five on links with cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, etc.). The data available to date support that women with endometriosis might be at risk of some chronic illnesses and certain malignancies, although we consider the evidence for some comorbidities to be of low quality, for example, the association between colon cancer and adenomyosis/endometriosis. We still believe that the risk of comorbidity might be higher in women with endometriosis than that we supposed before. More research is needed to determine whether women with endometriosis are really at risk of these comorbidities

Extending RC4 to Construct Secure Random Number Generators

We consider a general framework for constructing non-linear generators by adding a (32-bit or larger) pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) as a baseline generator to the basic RC4 design, in which an index-selection scheme similar to RC4 is used. We refer to the proposed design as the eRC (enhanced/extended RC4) design. We discuss several advantages of adding a good baseline generator to the RC4 design, including new updating schemes for the auxiliary table. We consider some popular PRNGs with the nice properties of high-dimensional equi-distribution, efficiency, long period, and portability as the baseline generator. We demonstrate that eRC generators are very efficient via extensive empirical testing on some eRC generators. We also show that eRC is flexible enough to choose minimal design parameters for eRC generators and yet the resulting eRC generators still pass stringent empirical tests, which makes them suitable for both software and hardware implementations

Extending RC4 to construct secure random number generators

We consider a general framework for constructing non-linear generators by adding a (32-bit or larger) pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) as a baseline generator to the basic RC4 design, in which an index-selection scheme similar to RC4 is used. We refer to the proposed design as the eRC (enhanced/ extended RC4) design. We discuss several advantages of adding a good baseline generator to the RC4 design, including new updating schemes for the auxiliary table. We consider some popular PRNGs with the nice properties of high-dimensional equi-distribution, efficiency, long period, and portability as the baseline generator. We demonstrate that eRC generators are very efficient via extensive empirical testing on some eRC generators. We also show that eRC is flexible enough to choose minimal design parameters for eRC generators and yet the resulting eRC generators still pass stringent empirical tests, which makes them suitable for both software and hardware implementations

Population-Based Breast Cancer Screening With Risk-Based and Universal Mammography Screening Compared With Clinical Breast Examination A Propensity Score Analysis of 1 429 890 Taiwanese Women

IMPORTANCE Different screening strategies for breast cancer are available but have not been researched in quantitative detail. ;OBJECTIVE To assess the benefits and the harms of risk-based and universal mammography screening in comparison with annual clinical breast examination (CBE). DESIGN Population-based cohort study comparing incidences of stage II+ disease and death from breast cancer across 3 breast cancer screening strategies, with adjustment for a propensity score for participation based on risk factors for breast cancer and comparing the 3 strategies for overdetection between January 1999 and December 2009. Asymptomatic women attending outreach screening in the community or undergoing mammography in hospitals were enrolled in the 3 screening programs. ;INTERVENTIONS Risk-based biennial mammography, universal biennial mammography, and annual CBE. ;MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Detection rates, stage II+ disease incidence, mortality from breast cancer, and overdiagnosis were compared using a time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression model. ;RESULTS A total of 1 429 890 asymptomatic women attending outreach screening in the community or undergoing mammography in hospitals were enrolled in the 3 screening programs. Detection rates (prevalent screen and subsequent screens per 1000) were the highest for universal biennial mammography (4.86 and 2.98, respectively), followed by risk-based mammography (2.80 and 2.77, respectively), and lowest for annual CBE (0.97 and 0.70, respectively). Universal biennial mammography screening, compared with annual CBE, was associated with a 41% mortality reduction (risk ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.48-0.73) and a 30% reduction of stage II+ breast cancer (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.66-0.74). Risk-based mammography screening was associated with an 8% reduction of stage II+ breast cancer (RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-0.99) but was not associated with a statistically significant mortality reduction (risk ratio [ RR], 0.86; 95% CI, 0.73-1.02). Estimates of overdiagnosis were no different from CBE for risk-based screening and 13% higher than CBE for universal mammography. ;CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Compared with population-based screening for breast cancer with annual CBE, universal biennial mammography resulted in a substantial reduction in breast cancer deaths, whereas risk-based biennial mammography resulted in only a modest benefit. Compared with annual CBE, risk-based and universal mammography screening did not result in significant overdiagnosis of breast cancer

Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders

<p><b>Article full text</b></p> <p><br></p> <p>The articles within this thematic series can be found here. <a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/40120/6/1/suppl/page/1">https://link.springer.com/journal/40120/6/1/suppl/page/1</a></p><p></p> <p><br></p> <p><b>Provide enhanced content for this article</b></p> <p><br></p> <p>If you are an author of this publication and would like to provide additional enhanced content for your article then please contact <a href="http://www.medengine.com/Redeem/”mailto:[email protected]”"><b>[email protected]</b></a>.</p> <p><br></p> <p>The journal offers a range of additional features designed to increase visibility and readership. All features will be thoroughly peer reviewed to ensure the content is of the highest scientific standard and all features are marked as ‘peer reviewed’ to ensure readers are aware that the content has been reviewed to the same level as the articles they are being presented alongside. Moreover, all sponsorship and disclosure information is included to provide complete transparency and adherence to good publication practices. This ensures that however the content is reached the reader has a full understanding of its origin. No fees are charged for hosting additional open access content.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Other enhanced features include, but are not limited to:</p> <p><br></p> <p>• Slide decks</p> <p>• Videos and animations</p> <p>• Audio abstracts</p> <p>• Audio slides</p