ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the current situation of puncture-related pain in patients with the arteriovenous fistula undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and its correlated factors. Methods A total of 180 hemodialysis patients with the arteriovenous fistula undergoing maintenance hemodialysis were investigated with demographic data questionnaire, visual analogue scale and pain self-efficacy questionnaire. Results The effective questionnaires rate was 93.89%(169/180). The median score of puncture-related pain was 5 scores, the score of pain self-efficacy was (31.42±14.59) scores;multivariate analysis demonstrated that the puncture-related pain was positively correlated with the patient gender, using time of arteriovenous fistula and pain self-efficacy ( β=0.152,-0.017,-0.409, P<0.05), OR (95%CI)were 2.069 (1.206-3.148), 0.803(0.710-0.984), 1.004(0.886-1.431). There was negative correlation between the puncture-related pain score and pain self-efficacy in these patients, r=-0.647, P<0.01. Conclusions Puncture-related pain is common sense in patients with the arteriovenous fistula undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, some factors including the patient gender, using time of arteriovenous fistula and pain self-efficacy influence this feeling.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To systematically review the effectiveness of administering Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) for preventing respiratory infections in children. Design: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Data sources: Electronic databases and trial registries. Results: Four RCTs involving 1805 participants met the inclusion criteria. Compared with placebo, LGG administration was associated with a reduced incidence of acute otitis media (four RCTs, n=1805, RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.64-0.91, fixed effects model, NNT 17, 95% CI 11-46), a reduced risk of upper respiratory infections (one RCT, n=281, RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.50-0.78, NNT 4, 95% CI 3-8) and antibiotic treatments (four RCTs, n=1805, RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.71-0.91, fixed effects model). There was no significant difference between the LGG and the control groups in the risk of overall respiratory infections and the incidence of lower respiratory infections. However, subgroup analysis of two studies on children older than 1 year showed significant reduction in the risk of overall respiratory infections (two RCTs, n=794, RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.57-0.92, random effects model, NNT 8, 95% CI 5-14). Adverse effects were similar in both groups. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion: The administration of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG compared with placebo has the potential to reduce the incidence of acute otitis media, the upper respiratory infections and antibiotic use in children.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To detect telomerase activity in patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) and to study the role of telomerase in the tumorigenesis of MF.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The technique of PCR-ELISA was employed to detect telomerase activity in 35 patients with various stages of MF.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>92.3% tumor stage of MF, 78.6% plaque stage of MF and 75.0% patch stage of MF had positive telomerase activity. The control samples had no telomerase activity. Telomerase activity in tumor stage of MF was significantly higher than that in plaque stage, while the latter was higher than that in patch stage. Telomerase activity was correlated with the stage of MF.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High level of telomerase activity frequently occurred in patients with MF, suggesting that telomerase might play an important role in the tumorigenesis of MF and is a useful marker for the diagnosis of MF possibly.</p>