Medicine

Effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of postoperative pain: A protocol for a systematic review of randomized controlled trial Background: This aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for the treatment of patients with postoperative pain (PPP). Methods: We will carry out a systematic review of the published literature and will comprehensively search Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from inception to the present with no language restrictions. Randomized controlled trials comparing acupuncture with other interventions or sham acupuncture will be included. Two reviewers will independently conduct study selection, data collection, and study quality. A third reviewer will resolve any discrepancies. We will apply RevMan 5.3 software for statistical analysis. Results: The protocol of this study will systematically assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for patients with PPP. The primary outcome is postoperative pain intensity. The secondary outcomes comprise of: analgesic consumption, postoperative recovery parameters, vital signs, quality of life, and treatment related adverse events. Conclusion: This study will summarize the current evidence base for the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for patients with PPP.

The efficacy of celecoxib for pain management of arthroscopy: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Background: The efficacy of celecoxib for pain management of arthroscopy remains controversial. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess if celecoxib before the surgery decreases postoperative pain intensity of arthroscopy. Methods: We search PubMed, Embase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of celecoxib versus placebo on pain control of arthroscopy. Results: Five RCTs are included in the meta-analysis. Celecoxib is administered at 200 mg or 400 mg dosage before the surgery. Overall, compared with control group for arthroscopy, preemptive celecoxib has remarkably positive impact on pain scores at 2 to 6 hours (standard mean difference (SMD) = −0.66; 95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.95 to −0.36; P < .0001) and 24 hours after the surgery (SMD = −1.26; 95% CI = −1.83 to −0.70; P < 0.0001), analgesic consumption (SMD  = −2.73; 95% CI = −5.17 to −0.28; P = .03), as well as the decrease in adverse events (risk ratio (RR) = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.39 to 0.79; P = .001), but shows no obvious effect on first time for analgesic requirement (SMD  = 0.02; 95% CI = −0.22 to 0.26; P = .87), nausea, or vomiting (RR = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.42 to 1.17; P = .18). Conclusion: Celecoxib administered at 200 mg or 400 mg dosage before the surgery decreases postoperative pain intensity of arthroscopy.

Impact of number of medications and age on adherence to antihypertensive medications: A nationwide population-based study This study tried to investigate the effects of number of medications and age on antihypertensive medication adherence in a real-world setting using a nationwide representative cohort. We obtained data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) of Korea, which is a sample of 2.2% (N = 1,048,061) of total population (N = 46,605,433). Patients aged 20 years or older (N = 150,550) who took antihypertensive medications for at least 1 year were selected. Medication possession ratio (MPR) was used for measuring adherence. The subjects were divided into 5 subgroups according to total number of medications: 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–8, and 9 or more. The mean age and the mean number of medications were 60.3 ± 12.6 years and 4.1 ± 2.2, respectively. The mean MPR was 80.4 ± 23.9%, and 66.9% (N = 100,645) of total subjects were adherent (MPR ≥ 80%). The overall tendency of antihypertensive medication adherence according to the total number of medications displayed an inverted U-shape with a peak at 3–4 drugs. Adherence consistently increased as the age increased until age 69 and started to decrease from age 70. The proportion of adherent patients (MPR ≥ 80%) according to the total number of medications also showed an inverted U-shape with a peak at 3–4 drugs. When the same number of drugs was taken, the proportion of adherent patients according to age featured an inverted U- shape with a peak at 60 to 69 years. Patients taking 9 or more total drugs had the overall odds ratio (95% CI) of non-adherence (MPR < 80%) with 1.17 (1.11–1.24) compared with those taking 1 to 8 total drugs and the odds ratios in the age subgroups of 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69 years were 1.57 (1.31–1.87), 1.21 (1.08–1.36), and 1.14 (1.04–1.25), respectively (P < .05). Association between age, total number of medications, and antihypertensive adherence displayed an inverted U-shape with a peak at 3 to 4 total medications and at age 60 to 69 years. When the total number of drugs was 9 or more, adherence decreased prominently, regardless of age.

A very rare presentation of lung cancer: Metastases to the distal phalanx of index–case report Rationale: Acrometastases of the hand are an unusual sign of lung cancer onset and may often be mistaken for other benign disorders, thus delaying diagnosis and treatment. Patient concerns: A 58-year-old man presented at the Rheumatology Clinic with a lump in the distal phalanx of the right index finger associated with intense pain, swelling, rib pain, and hemoptysis. Diagnoses: Given the clinical manifestations, an x-ray of the right hand was performed, and it revealed an osteolytic lesion in the distal phalanx of the right index finger. The subsequent CT of the thorax and abdomen showed a lung tumor, osteolytic lesions in the ribs, sternum, and the thoracic spine. Interventions: Amputation of the phalanx was decided on account of intense pain refractory to NSAIDs and opioids. Pathology assessment established the diagnosis of bone metastases secondary to lung adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent 6 cycles of first-line palliative chemotherapy with cisplatin and gemcitabine with partial response according to the RECIST 1.1. criteria. EGFR and ALK testing were not available at the time. A year later, the patient presented with progressive disease, which lead to 6 more cycles of chemotherapy with docetaxel. The disease progressed during chemotherapy and the patient was switched to erlotinib. Outcomes: After 7 months of anti-EGFR treatment, the patient passed away due to disease progression, thus having an overall survival of 25 months. Lessons: On rare occasions, acrometastases of the hand may be the first manifestation of a lung cancer and, as such, they must be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of rheumatologic disorders. They are a poor prognosis marker, but some cases like this one can have a better survival than reported in the literature, most likely due to that particular cancer's biology.

Western Alliance 5th Annual Symposium, in collaboration with the National Centre for Farmer Health, Hamilton, Victoria, Australia 12 –14th Sept 2018 No abstract available

Lab monitoring and acute care utilization during initiation of renin angiotensin aldosterone inhibitors or diuretics in chronic kidney disease Renin angiotensin aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) and diuretics are among the most frequently prescribed anti-hypertensives. Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are particularly at risk for electrolyte disturbances and kidney injury but the appropriate use of lab monitoring following RAASi or diuretic initiation is uncertain in CKD. We describe the frequency and time interval of lab monitoring during initiation of RAASi and diuretics in CKD and assess whether close lab monitoring associates with one-year risk of emergency department (ED) visit or hospitalization. We evaluated an observational cohort of 8,217 individuals with stage 3–5 non-dialysis CKD newly prescribed a RAASi (52.3%) or diuretic (47.7%) from thirty-six primary care offices affiliated with Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital between 2009 and 2011. Overall, 3306 (40.2%) individuals did not have pre-prescription labs done within 2 weeks, and 5957 (72.5%) did not have post-prescription labs done within 2 weeks which includes 524 (6.4%) individuals without post-prescription within 1 year. Close monitoring occurred in only 1547 (20.1%) and was more likely in individuals prescribed diuretics compared to RAASi (adjusted OR 1.39; 95%CI 1.20–1.62), with CKD stage 4,5 compared with stage 3 (adjusted OR 1.47; 95%CI 1.16–1.86) and with cardiovascular disease (adjusted OR 1.42; 95%CI 1.21–1.66). Close monitoring was not associated with decreased risk of ED visit or hospitalization. Close lab monitoring during initiation of RAASi or diuretics was more common in participants with cardiovascular disease and advanced CKD suggesting physicians selected high-risk individuals for close monitoring. As nearly 80% of individuals did not receive close lab monitoring there may be value in future research on electronic physician decision tools targeted at lab monitoring.

Reactive arthritis induced by active extra-articular tuberculosis: A case report Rationale: Rare cases of reactive arthritis induced by active extra-articular tuberculosis (Poncet disease) have been reported. Complete response to antitubercular treatment and evidence of active extra-articular tuberculosis are the most important clinical features of Poncet disease. We report the case of successfully treated a patient with reactive arthritis induced by active extra-articular tuberculosis with a TNF inhibitor after sufficient antitubercular treatment. Patient concerns: A 56-year-old Japanese man was admitted to our department with polyarthralgia, low back pain, and high fever. The results of rheumatoid factor, anti-citrullinated protein antibody, human leukocyte antigen B27, and the assays for the detection of infections (with an exception of T-SPOT.TB) were all negative. Fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose–positron emission tomography with CT (PET/CT) showed moderate uptake in the right cervical, right supraclavicular, mediastinal, and abdominal lymph nodes. As magnetic resonance imaging and power Doppler ultrasonography showed peripheral inflammation (tendinitis, tenosynovitis, ligamentitis, and enthesitis in the limbs). Diagnosis: A diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis was eventually established on the basis of lymph node biopsy results. There was no evidence of a bacterial infection including acid-fast bacteria in his joints, and the symptoms of polyarthralgia and low back pain were improved but not completely resolved with NSAID therapy; in addition, a diagnosis of reactive arthritis induced by active extraarticular tuberculosis was made. Interventions: The patient experienced persistent peripheral inflammation despite antitubercular treatment for more than nine months and was then successfully treated with a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (adalimumab 40 mg every 2 weeks). Outcomes: Finally, the patient responded to the treatment and has been in remission for over 4 months as of this writing. Lessons: In patients who present with symptoms associated with spondyloarthritis, it is important to distinguish between classic reactive arthritis and reactive arthritis induced by extra-articular tuberculosis infection. Introduction of biological agents should be carefully considered in settings where reactive arthritis induced by active extra-articular tuberculosis shows progression to chronicity despite sufficient antitubercular treatment.

Combination therapy: Meta-analysis of the effects of TACE and cryoablation on hepatocellular carcinoma Background: This study systematically reviews the data for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) alone or combined TACE and cryoablation therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma, aiming to provide clinical choice references for treatment of cancer. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Google Scholar) were systematically searched to include relevant studies published in English and Chinese between Jan 1, 2000, to July 31, 2017. The analysis was conducted in RevMan 5.3 based on random effects models. Results: Nineteen trials (n = 1427) were included. Combined TACE and cryoablation therapy had higher survival rate (1-year survival [RR 1.37; 95%-CI 1.26,1.49], 2-year survival [RR 1.50; 95%-CI 1.25,1.79], 3-year survival [RR 1.67; 95%-CI 1.16,2.40]), complete necrosis [RR 2.53; 95%-CI 2.07,3.10] and tumor control [RR 1.57; 95%-CI 1.40,1.75], which is more favorable for long-term efficacy of non-surgical hepatocellular carcinoma. Tumor recurrence of control group was above combination therapy [RR 0.27; 95%-CI 0.17, 0.43]. Compared with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, effect of combination therapy occurred mainly in the survival, complete necrosis, tumor control, and recurrence. Taking combination therapy was generally more effective than taking TACE only. Conclusion: Compared with TACE only used to treat cancer, combination therapy had the best effect profile in general, and it had better survival in HCC when taking an integrated approach. The prognosis of treatments based on combination therapy is modulated by cryoablation.

Aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio can reduce the need for transient elastography in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B In the absence of liver biopsy and transient elastography (TE), aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio (APRI), fibrosis-4 score (FIB-4), and gammaglutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio (GPR) are simple and inexpensive methods for the detection of liver fibrosis. Aims: We compared the performance of APRI, FIB-4, and GPR scores against TE in predicting the presence of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, determined the optimal cut-off values for fibrosis and cirrhosis prediction, and reviewed the need for further TE assessment in resource-limited areas in China. Methods: TE and basic laboratory tests were performed in 2014 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and then compared to APRI, FIB-4, and GPR. Results: For the detection of significant fibrosis, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves for APRI, FIB-4, and GPR were 0.83, 0.75, and 0.77, respectively. For the detection of cirrhosis, the AUROC curves for APRI, FIB-4, and GPR were 0.90, 0.84, and 0.84, respectively. The cutoff of APRI was 0.35, with 78% sensitivity and 63% negative predictive value (NPV), to exclude significant fibrosis (F ≥ 2). At an APRI of 0.6, results showed a 94% specificity, 100% positive predictive value (PPV) and 7.9 positive likelihood ratio (PLR) in detecting significant fibrosis. Thus, patients with an APRI of <0.35 or >0.6 demonstrated correct prediction of liver fibrosis. These results translated to 1250 out of the 2014 patients avoiding the need for TE with a diagnostic accuracy of >80%. Conclusions: The APRI score accurately assessed fibrosis and reduced the need for TE in almost two-thirds of Chinese patients with CHB.

Effect of placement of acetabular prosthesis on hip joint function after THA The good recovery of hip function after THA depends on reconstruction of acetabular prosthesis accurately. So we investigated the effect of acetabular prosthesis placement on hip joint function after THA and analyzed the clinical data of 432 patients with unilateral THA retrospectively . The patients were followed-up to evaluate the Harris score and hip range of motion (ROM). The hip ROM, the Harris score and the good rate of Harris score were compared between different groups. Comparison of the good rate of Harris score showed that 85%∼100% group of the rotation center horizontal position ratio was higher than >100% group; 80%∼120% group of the rotation center vertical position ratio was higher than >160% group; and the 90%∼110% group and 110%∼130% group of femoral offset ratio were higher than 90% and >130% groups. Comparison of Harris score showed that 85%∼100% and 70%∼85% groups of rotation center horizontal position ratio were higher than 70% and >100% groups; 80%∼120% group of rotation center vertical position ratio was the highest; and 90%∼110% group and 110%∼130% group of femoral offset ratio were higher than >130% and 90% groups. Comparison of hip ROM showed that 85%∼100% and 70%∼85% groups of the rotation center horizontal position ratio were higher than 70% and >100% groups; 80%∼120% group of the rotation center vertical position ratio was the highest; and hip ROM from high to low are 90%∼110%, 110%∼130%, >130% and 90% groups of femoral offset ratio. These findings indicated that during the early follow-up period of THA, if the horizontal position of femoral head rotation center was reconstructed in 0.85 to 1 times of healthy side when compared with reconstruction >1 times of the healthy side and if the vertical position of femoral head rotation center was reconstructed in 0.8 to 1.2 times of the healthy side when compared with reconstruction in >1.6 times of the healthy side, better hip function recovery and optimal hip ROM were obtained. The optimal reconstruction range of femoral offset is 0.9 to 1.3 times of the healthy side.