Cardiac rehabilitation adapted to transient ischaemic attack and stroke (CRAFTS): a randomised controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Coronary Heart Disease and Cerebrovascular Disease share many predisposing, modifiable risk factors (hypertension, abnormal blood lipids and lipoproteins, cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes mellitus). Lifestyle interventions and pharmacological therapy are recognised as the cornerstones of secondary prevention. Cochrane review has proven the benefits of programmes incorporating exercise and lifestyle counselling in the cardiac disease population. A Cochrane review highlighted as priority, the need to establish feasibility and efficacy of exercise based interventions for Cerebrovascular Disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A single blind randomised controlled trial is proposed to examine a primary care cardiac rehabilitation programme for adults post transient ischemic attack (TIA) and stroke in effecting a positive change in the primary outcome measures of cardiac risk scores derived from Blood Pressure, lipid profile, smoking and diabetic status and lifestyle factors of habitual smoking, exercise and healthy eating participation. Secondary outcomes of interest include health related quality of life as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Stroke Specific Quality of Life scale and WONCA COOP Functional Health Status charts and cardiovascular fitness as measured by a sub-maximal fitness test.</p> <p>A total of 144 patients, over 18 years of age with confirmed diagnosis of ischaemic stroke or TIA, will be recruited from Dublin community stroke services and two tertiary T.I.A clinics. Exclusion criteria will include oxygen dependence, unstable cardiac conditions, uncontrolled diabetes, major medical conditions, claudication, febrile illness, pregnancy or cognitive impairment. Participants will be block-statified, randomly allocated to one of two groups using a pre-prepared computer generated randomisation schedule. Both groups will receive a two hour education class on risk reduction post stroke. The intervention group will receive a 10 week programme of supervised aerobic exercises (twice weekly) and individually tailored brief intervention lifestyle counselling. Both groups will be tested on week one and week ten of the programme. Follow-up at 1 year will assess longer term benefits. Analysis will test for significant changes in the key variables indicated.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Application of the Cardiac Rehabilitation paradigm to patients with ischaemic stroke or TIA has not been explored despite the obvious overlap in aetiology. It is hoped the anticipated improvement in vascular risk factors and fitness resulting from such a programme will enhance health and social gain in this population.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials ISCTRN90272638.</p

Efficacy and safety of prolonged-release lanreotide in patients with gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors and hormone-related symptoms

Purpose: To evaluate the prolonged release (PR) of the long-acting somatostatin analog lanreotide in patients with gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors and its effect on hormone-related symptomatology, tumor markers, tumor size, tolerability, and quality of life (QOL), Patients and Methods: Eligible patients had the follow substantial daily symptoms: for patients with carcinoid tumors, three or more stools and/or 1.5 or more flushing episodes; for patients with gastrinoma, greater than 50% elevated basic acid output; and for patients with vasoactive intestinal peptide-secreting tumors (VIPomas), four or more stools and/or a stool volume of greater than or equal to 800 mt, a measurable tumor, and an elevated biochemical tumor marker (greater than or equal to two times the upper limit of the normal reference range), Lanreotide PR was administered intramuscularly every 14 days at 30 mg for 6 months. We measured efficacy by studying symptoms, tumor markers, tumor size, and QOL, Side effects were scored according to the National Cancer Institute's toxicity grading system and ultrasound examination of the gallbladder. Results: Fifty-five patients were included in the study (48 patients with carcinoid tumors, six patients with gastrinoma, and one patient with VIPoma), Symptomatic improvement(> 50% reduction) occurred in 38% of the assessable patients with carcinoid tumors, in 67% of the gastrinoma patients, and in the VIPoma patient. Tumor markers normalized in two of 45 assessable patients, 19 patients exhibited a reduction(> 50%), 19 patients exhibited no change, and tumor markers rose by more than 50% in five patients. Tumor size was reduced in two of 31 assessable patients and remained stable in 25 patients; four patients experienced progression, QOL assessments after 1 month showed improvements in emotional and cognitive function, and diminished fatigue, sleeping disorders, and diarrhea, Eight of 30 assessable patients developed gallstones. Conclusion: Lanreotide PR is a well-tolerated somatostatin analog with significant clinical, biochemical, and antitumor effects that bring about a significant improvement in QOL for patients with neuroendocrine tumors. (C) 1999 by American Society of Clinical Oncology

Reabilitação das fraturas do rádio distal Rehabilitation of distal radius fractures

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a evidência do efeito e eleição da conduta terapêutica nas fraturas do rádio distal. A revisão sistemática utilizou as bases de dados PubMed, Lilacs, Pedro, Cochrane, Scielo, OTseeker, sem restrições de período de publicação, com as seguintes palavras chaves: fraturas do rádio, reabilitação, terapia ocupacional, fisioterapia, incluindo línguas inglesa, espanhola, francesa e portuguesa. Os estudos encontrados foram avaliados independentemente pelos dois autores utilizando critérios da escala PEDro. Estudos não experimentais foram incluídos em busca de esclarecimentos sobre a reabilitação. Foram encontrados 22 estudos, sendo 14 ensaios clínicos controlados randomizados (ECRs). Dentre eles, quatro compararam mobilização precoce com tratamento convencional apresentando evidência moderada a favor da primeira; sete confrontaram tratamento baseado em exercícios domiciliares com tratamento em consultório apontando evidência conflitiva (um deles também comprovou eficácia de mobilização acessória passiva); e três analisaram eficácia de procedimentos terapêuticos: campo eletromagnético pulsado, drenagem linfática, ultra-som, indicando evidências limitadas. Os nove estudos não experimentais encontrados não apresentaram informações suficientes sobre os questionamentos desta pesquisa. Observou-se uma tendência dos autores em utilizar os princípios gerais da reabilitação ao elaborar condutas terapêuticas, mas os procedimentos utilizados não estão bem atestados pela literatura.<br>The aim of this study was to assess the evidence regarding the adoption and effectiveness of therapeutic procedures employed for rehabilitation of distal radius fractures. This systematic review used the following databases: PubMed, Lilacs, PEDro, Cochrane, Scielo and OTseeker, without time restrictions. The following keywords were searched for: distal radius fracture, rehabilitation, occupational therapy, physiotherapy including reports in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. Twenty-two studies were retrieved and analyzed by two independent investigators following the PEDro scale criteria. Other non-experimental studies were included for additional information regarding certain rehabilitation approaches. Of the 14 randomized controlled clinical trials, four compared early mobilization to conventional therapy, showing moderate evidence in favor of earlier mobilization. Seven compared home therapy based on orientations to individual conventional therapy and found conflicting evidences. Three studies also analyzed the efficacy of the following specific therapeutic procedures: Pulsating magnetic field, lymphatic drainage, and ultrasound, which showed limited empirical support. The nine non-experimental studies did not add sufficient information regarding these issues. There was a trend to employ general principles of rehabilitation when elaborating these therapeutic approaches, but these procedures were not adequately supported by literature