Interruption of outpatient follow-up in physical and rehabilitation medicine: Observational cross-sectional study of deleterious consequences of the first COVID-19 lockdown in France.
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SUBMITTER: Laffont I
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8084630 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:PurposeThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic reshaped the usual risk: benefit equilibrium that became a trade-off between the infection exposure risk for the patient (and for staff) and the risk associated with delaying or cancelling the nuclear medicine examination. This study aimed at quantifying the impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown in France on nuclear medicine examination volume together with volume of examination cancellation and non-attendance.MethodsWe retrospectively assessed the volume of planned examinations from 1 month before to 1 month after the first lockdown in French high-volume nuclear medicine departments (NMD) sharing the same information management system including both university hospitals, UH (n = 7), and cancer centres, CC (n = 2).ResultsThe study enrolled 31,628 consecutive patients referred for a nuclear medicine examination performed or not (NMEP or NMEnP). The total volume of NMEP significantly dropped by 43.4% between the 4 weeks before and after the starting of the lockdown. The comparison of the percentage of NMEP and NMEnP between UH and CC is significantly different (p < 0.001). The percentage of NMEP during the study was 67.9% in UH vs 84.7% in CC. Percentages of NMEnP in UH and CC were due respectively to cancellation by the patient (14.9 vs 7.4%), cancellation by the NMD (9.5 vs 3.4%), cancellation by the referring physician (5.1 vs 4.4%) and non-attender patients (2.7 vs 0.2%).ConclusionThe study underlines the public health issue caused by COVID-19 above the pandemic itself and should be useful in preparing for potential resource utilisation and staffing requirements.
| S-EPMC8224993 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of Chinese Medicine (CM) on the health condition of the post-COVID-19 patients, particularly with the CM Syndrome diagnosis and Body Constitutions (BC), as well as related clinical characteristics.Methods150 participants who had COVID-19 and discharged from Hong Kong public hospitals were recruited. They were provided with three to six months of CM treatments, during which assessments were made per month and at follow-up on their CM syndromes, BC, lung functions, and other medical conditions. This study was divided into two parts: (1) Retrospective survey: medical history of participants during COVID-19 hospitalization was collected during the baseline visit; (2) Prospective observation and assessments: clinical symptoms, lung functions, and BC status were evaluated in participants receiving CM treatment based on syndrome differentiation and clinical symptoms.ResultsThe median hospitalization period was 16 days. Symptoms were presented in 145 (96.6%) patients at the day they were diagnosed with COVID-19. Fever, fatigue, and dry cough were the most common symptoms, exhibiting in 59.3% (89 of 150), 55.3% (83 of 150), and 46% (70 of 150) participants, respectively. Among the 150 post-COVID patients, majority (71.3%) were of the two particular post-COVID CM Syndromes (Qi Deficiency of Lung and Spleen, and Qi and Yin Deficiency). Upon CM treatment, there was an observable increase in participants reaching a balanced BC (i.e. healthy body conditions). The increase was observed to be more prominent in those without the particular CM Syndromes compared to those with the CM Syndromes. Main clinical symptoms in participants with the CM Syndromes decreased upon CM treatment. Occurrence of fatigue also dropped after CM treatment though not all accompanied clinical symptoms were resolved fully. Further to the improvement in terms of CM assessments, lung functions of the participants were found to show improvement after treatment. Both the performance in 6MWT and scores in the LFQ improved upon CM treatments (P < 0.05).ConclusionThis study provided evidence for individualized CM treatment on COVID-19 rehabilitation concerning the clinical symptoms improvements, lung functions improvement, and achieving a balanced BC. It is believed that CM may be a key to further promote rehabilitation and resolution of residual symptoms. Long-term large scale follow-up studies on sub-categorising post-COVID patients according to different CM syndromes would be required to further elucidate treatment of persistent symptoms that may be associated with long-COVID.
| S-EPMC9395813 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC11372889 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Recent work has implicated spreading depolarization (SD) as a key contributor the progression of acute brain injuries, however development of interventions selectively targeting SD has lagged behind. Initial clinical intervention efforts have focused on observations that relatively high doses of the sedative agent ketamine can completely suppress SD. However, blocking propagation of SD could theoretically prevent beneficial effects of SD in surrounding brain regions. Selective targeting of deleterious consequences of SD (rather than abolition) could be a useful adjunct approach, and be achieved with lower ketamine concentrations. We utilized a brain slice model to test whether deleterious consequences of SD could be prevented by ketamine, using concentrations that did not prevent the initiation and propagation of SD. Studies were conducted using murine brain slices, with focal KCl as an SD stimulus. Consequences of SD were assessed with electrophysiological and imaging measures of ionic and synaptic recovery. Under control conditions, ketamine (up to 30??M) did not prevent SD, but significantly reduced neuronal Ca2+ loading and the duration of associated extracellular potential shifts. Recovery of postsynaptic potentials after SD was also significantly accelerated. When SD was evoked on a background of mild metabolic compromise, neuronal recovery was substantially impaired. Under compromised conditions, the same concentrations of ketamine reduced ionic and metabolic loading during SD, sufficient to preserve functional recovery after repetitive SDs. These results suggest that lower concentrations of ketamine could be utilized to prevent damaging consequences of SD, while not blocking them outright and thereby preserving potentially protective effects of SD.
| S-EPMC6261532 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundOutpatient medical follow-up post-stroke is not only crucial for secondary prevention but is also associated with a reduced risk of rehospitalization. However, being voluntary and non-urgent, it is potentially determined by both healthcare needs and the socio-demographic context of stroke survivor-caregiver dyads. Therefore, we aimed to examine the role of caregiver factors in outpatient medical follow-up (primary care (PC) and specialist outpatient care (SOC)) post-stroke.MethodStroke survivors and caregivers from the Singapore Stroke Study, a prospective, yearlong, observational study, contributed to the study sample. Participants were interviewed 3-monthly for data collection. Counts of PC and SOC visits were extracted from the National Claims Database. Poisson modelling was used to explore the association of caregiver (and patient) factors with PC/SOC visits over 0-3 months (early) and 4-12 months (late) post-stroke.ResultsFor the current analysis, 256 stroke survivors and caregivers were included. While caregiver-reported memory problems of a stroke survivor (IRR: 0.954; 95% CI: 0.919, 0.990) and caregiver burden (IRR: 0.976; 95% CI: 0.959, 0.993) were significantly associated with lower early post-stroke PC visits, co-residing caregiver (IRR: 1.576; 95% CI: 1.040, 2.389) and negative care management strategies (IRR: 1.033; 95% CI: 1.005, 1.061) were significantly associated with higher late post-stroke SOC visits.ConclusionWe demonstrated that the association of caregiver factors with outpatient medical follow-up varied by the type of service (i.e., PC versus SOC) and temporally. Our results support family-centred care provision by family physicians viewing caregivers not only as facilitators of care in the community but also as active members of the care team and as clients requiring care and regular assessments.
| S-EPMC8048235 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveTo assess the impact of the closure of group-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) training during the first COVID-19 lockdown in spring 2020 on patients' physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiovascular risk, and to describe the patient experience of lockdown and home-based exercise training during lockdown.DesignMixed methods study. Prospectively collected post-lockdown measurements were compared to pre-lockdown medical record data. Quantitative measurements were supplemented with qualitative interviews about the patient experience during lockdown.SettingOutpatient CR centre in Salzburg, Austria.ParticipantsTwenty-seven patients [six female, mean (SD) age 69 (7.4) years] who attended weekly CR training sessions until the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020.Outcome measuresQuantitative: exercise capacity (maximal ergometer test, submaximal ergometer training), cardiovascular risk (Framingham risk score, blood pressure, body mass index, lipids). Qualitative: individual semi-structured interviews.ResultsExercise capacity had significantly reduced from pre- to post-lockdown: mean (SD) power (W) in maximal ergometry 165 (70) vs. 151 (70), p < 0.001; submaximal ergometer training 99 (40) vs. 97 (40), p = 0.038. There was no significant difference in Framingham risk score and other cardiovascular risk factors. Qualitative data showed that almost all patients had kept physically active during lockdown, but 17 (63%) said they had been unable to maintain their exercise levels, and 15 (56%) felt their cardiorespiratory fitness had deteriorated. Many patients missed the weekly CR training and the motivation and sense of community from training together with others. Several patients stated that without professional supervision they had felt less confident to carry out home-based exercise training at high intensity.ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of group-based supervised exercise training for patients who engage well in such a setting, and the detrimental impact of disruption to this type of CR service on physical activity levels and exercise capacity. Additionally, learning from the COVID-19 pandemic may inform the development and implementation of remote CR modalities going forward.
| S-EPMC8887562 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundWe developed a questionnaire on a web application for analyzing COVID-19 contamination circumstances in France during the second wave of the pandemic.ObjectiveThis study aims to analyze the impact on contamination characteristics before and after the second partial lockdown in France to adapt public health restrictions to further prevent pandemic surges.MethodsBetween December 15 and 24, 2020, after a national media campaign, users of the sourcecovid.fr web application were asked questions about their own or a close relative's COVID-19 contamination after August 15, 2020, in France. The data of the contamination's circumstances were assessed and compared before and after the second partial lockdown, which occurred on October 25, 2020, during the second wave of the pandemic and was ongoing on December 24, 2020.ResultsAs of December 24, 2020, 441,000 connections on the web application were observed. A total of 2218 questionnaires were assessable for analysis. About 61.8% (n=1309) of the participants were sure of their contamination origin, and 38.2% (n=809) thought they knew it. The median age of users was 43.0 (IQR 32-56) years, and 50.7% (n=1073) were male. The median incubation time of the assessed cohort was 4.0 (IQR 3-5) days. Private areas (family's or friend's house) were the main source of contamination (1048/2090, 50.2%), followed by work colleagues (579/2090, 27.7%). The main time of day for the contamination was the evening (339/961, 35.3%) before the lockdown and was reduced to 18.2% (86/473) after the lockdown (P<.001). The person who transmitted the virus to the user before and after the lockdown was significantly different (P<.001): a friend (382/1317, 29% vs 109/773, 14.1%), a close relative (304/1317, 23.1% vs 253/773, 32.7%), or a work colleague (315/1317, 23.9% vs 264/773, 34.2%). The main location where the virus was transmitted to the users before and after the lockdown was significantly different too (P<.001): home (278/1305, 21.3% vs 194/760, 25.5%), work (293/1305, 22.5% vs 225/760, 29.6%), collective places (430/1305, 33% vs 114/760, 15%), and care centers (58/1305, 4.4% vs 74/760, 9.7%).ConclusionsModalities of transmissions significantly changed before and after the second lockdown in France. The main sources of contamination remained the private areas and with work colleagues. Work became the main location of contamination after the lockdown, whereas contaminations in collective places were strongly reduced.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04670003; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04670003.
| S-EPMC8095346 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Parasitic nematodes pose a serious threat to agriculture, livestock, and human health. Increasing resistance to antiparasitic agents underscores the need to replenish our anthelmintic arsenal. The nonpathogenic Caenorhabditis elegans, which serves as an effective model of parasitic helminths, has been used to search for new anthelmintic leads. We previously reported small-molecule inhibitors of the essential C. elegans protein UDP-galactopyranose mutase (UGM or Glf). This enzyme is required for the generation of galactofuranose (Galf)-containing glycans and is needed in nematodes for proper cuticle formation. Though our first-generation inhibitors were effective in vitro, they elicited no phenotypic effects. These findings are consistent with the known difficulty of targeting nematodes. C. elegans is recalcitrant to pharmacological modulation; typically, less than 0.02% of small molecules elicit a phenotypic effect, even at 40 ?M. We postulated that the lack of activity of the UGM inhibitors was due to their carboxylic acid group, which can be exploited by nematodes for detoxification. We therefore tested whether replacement of the carboxylate with an N-acylsulfonamide surrogate would result in active compounds. UGM inhibitors with the carboxylate mimetic can phenocopy the deleterious consequences of UGM depletion in C. elegans. These findings support the use of UGM inhibitors as anthelmintic agents. They also outline a strategy to render small-molecule carboxylates more effective against nematodes.
| S-EPMC5704970 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundPaediatric outpatient prescription (POP) monitoring is pivotal to identify inadequate prescriptions and optimize drug use. We aimed at describing recent trends in POPs in France.MethodsAll reimbursed dispensations of outpatient prescribed drugs (excluding vaccines) were prospectively collected for the paediatric population (<18 years old) in the French national health database in 2010-2011 and 2018-2019 (mean 117,356,938/year). POP prevalence (proportion of children receiving ≥1 drug prescriptions/year) was calculated by age groups and compared by prevalence rate ratios (PRRs). Given the large sample size, 95% confidence intervals of POP prevalences and PRRs did not differ from estimates.FindingsAmong the 14,510,023 children resident in France in 2018-2019, mean POP prevalence was 857‰ children. Most prescribed therapeutic classes were analgesics (643‰), antibiotics (405‰), nasal corticosteroids (328‰), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (244‰), antihistamines (246‰) and systemic corticosteroids (210‰). POPs decreased with age from 976‰ for infants to 782‰ for adolescents. Children <6 years old were notably more exposed to inhaled corticosteroids (PRR=3.06), non-penicillin beta-lactam antibacterial agents (PRR=3.05) and systemic corticosteroids (PRR=2.11) than older ones. The POP prevalence was slightly higher (PRR=1.04) during 2018-2019 than 2010-2011, with marked increases for anti-emetics (PRR=1.84), vitamin D (PRR=1.49), proton pump inhibitors (PRR=1.42), systemic contraceptives (PRR=1.24) and nasal corticosteroids (PRR=1.21) and decreases for propulsive/prokinetic agents (PRR=0.09), NSAIDs (PRR=0.73) and systemic antibiotics (PRR=0.88).InterpretationPOP remained highly prevalent in France throughout the 2010s, especially for children <6 years old, with only a few improvements for selected therapeutic classes. These findings should prompt clinical guidance campaigns and/or regulatory policies.FundingInternal funding.
| S-EPMC8454786 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (OP-CR) is a highly beneficial program but vastly under utilized.The efficacy of a text-messaging program was analyzed to determine if implementation could improve number of OP-CR sessions completed. All patients enrolled in OP-CR from July 2011 through December 2012 were invited to join a text-messaging program on their first visit. The program required that the patient possesses a cell phone with texting capabilities. Participants received three to five text-messages per week offering heart-healthy tips and requests for body weight, minutes of exercise, blood pressure, and medication adherence. Patients enrolled (n = 52) in the texting program (Tx) were compared with those who were not (n = 185) (NTx) in several clinical indices and were compared using matched pairs (same subjects), comparison of means and frequencies, chi-square statistics, t-tests, and the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test.Significantly more patients in the Tx group completed the OP-CR program (61.5% versus 50%, p = 0.01). For those completing OP-CR, subjects in the Tx group completed significantly more sessions (31.4) than the NTx group (25.3) (p = 0.01). Additionally, significantly more in the Tx group were younger than those in the Ntx group.Patients enrolled in OP-CR who participated in a text-messaging program were younger, attended significantly more sessions and were significantly more likely to complete the program.
| S-EPMC5497246 | biostudies-other