Tag Archives: patient
“Nothing to worry about”? The meaning of a Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) diagnosis for patients put on a disease register
We interviewed a group of people who had been recruited to a trial for people with early stage Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The wider trial was concerned with finding out whether helping people with early stage CKD
Extracorporeal life support in polytraumatized patients
Major trauma is a leading cause of death, in particular amongst young patients, causing more than 5 million victims every year worldwide. Early causes of death (usually related to severe hemorrhage, pulmonary failure, cardiovascular shock or extensive
The factors associated with 30-day hospital readmission rates
When a patient is discharged from a hospital, why might they be re-hospitalized within a month? Campione et. аl reviewed 3 years of hospital claims data from four states to see which factors within a hospital might
Schistosomiasis infection: is it really diagnosed?
Schistosomiasis, also known as Bilharziazis, has been and remains one of the most common parasitic diseases worldwide. It affects millions of people in the developing world, mainly in Africa. In 1999, the WHO estimated schistosmiasis as the
The new technique for reduction of bilateral mandibular dislocation
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation is an unusual presentation to the emergency department (ED) and may occur in up to 5% of the population during their lifetime. Anterior dislocation is the most common type seen in clinical practice.
Palliative treatment of superior vena cava syndrome with use of stent
Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is a clinical diagnosis that is caused by compromised venous blood return from the head and upper extremities due to compression and obstruction of the SVC. Respiratory distress, dysphagia, swelling of the
The cellular advantage of using a macrolide for community-acquired pneumonia
Community-acquired pneumonia has been one of the top ten causes of death in the US over the last 60 years despite the widespread use of antimicrobials. National guidelines (at idsociety.org) recommend two primary antibiotic regimens – one
Lipids are major players in Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder affecting over 36 million people worldwide. Alzheimer’s patients suffer from dementia and memory loss and go through a progressive, irreversible and eventually fatal loss of cognitive functions. When Alois
Palpating the brain with MR Elastography to diagnose normal pressure hydrocephalus
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a treatable cause of dementia that accounts for about 6% of dementia cases. It is a condition of elderly individuals of unknown cause, and is characterized by the presence of excessive fluid
Morgellons disease: the search for a perpetrator
Morgellons disease is a poorly understood skin condition associated with Lyme disease. Patients suffering from the disease often have spontaneously-appearing, slowly-healing skin ulcers and may have crawling or stinging sensations in their skin. They may have one
OrderRex: Doctors who ordered this also ordered…
If your family member was ill and arrived at the hospital, you might expect them to receive a consistently excellent standard of care regardless of where they are and which particular doctor is on shift today. The
Antidepressants associated with falls in Parkinson’s patients
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects mobility and is commonly characterized, in advanced stages of the disease, by instability and falls. Falls are a major reason for hospitalization in Parkinson’s patients and may lead
Doc, I think I just bruised my elbow. Do I really need to wait for x-rays?
You’re late for work. You grab your bag and rush out the door. After catching the tip of your shoe on the step, you crash to the ground. Your right elbow — and your mug of coffee
Complementary therapies can increase survival in cancer patients
It is well known that a large percentage of cancer patients use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), usually with the goal of improving quality of life, providing supportive care as well as relieving pain
Bone marrow transplantation resets the clock in patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) accounts for about one third of all of leukemias. In the United States 15,000 patients are diagnosed with and 4,500 patients die of CLL every year. CLL is a diverse disease. Some patients
Stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system. Its main symptoms are motor disturbances such as tremors, rigidity and slowing of movements; although patients may also suffer from sleep disorders,
Considering patient values and preferences in healthcare decision-making
Healthcare decision-making is one of the most challenging aspects of medicine. In the past, doctors often based their decisions on dogma or personal experience often influenced by their personal value judgments. With the advent of evidence-based medicine
New test for assessing hospital water quality can lead to fewer patient infections
The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important pathogen that is often found in hospital water systems, from where it can lead to infections of patients, sometimes with severe consequences (e.g. blood infections, and infections in cystic fibrosis
Teledermatology improves patient access to specialist care in New Zealand
Teledermatology is the use of a cell phone or computer to provide dermatologic services. A patient or his or her healthcare provider can receive advice on the diagnosis and management of their skin condition while never seeing
High blood pressure is controlled more effectively by two drugs in one pill
Hypertension, or high blood pressure (BP), is a major global public health problem, both because of how common it is and its correlation with cardiovascular disease. It has been identified as one of the major risk factors
