Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) attributable to conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic low back pain is the most common cause of disability globally, for which no effective remedy exists. Although acupuncture is one of the most popular sensory stimulation therapies and is widely used in numerous pain conditions, its efficacy remains controversial. This review summarizes and expands upon the current research on the therapeutic properties of acupuncture for patients with CMP to better inform clinical decision-making and develop patient-focused treatments.

We examined 16 review articles and 11 randomized controlled trials published in the last 5years on the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in adults with CMP conditions. The available evidence suggests that acupuncture does have short-term pain relief benefits for patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain and is a safe and reasonable referral option. Acupuncture may also have a benefhe superiority of short-term analgesic effects over various controls and suggested that acupuncture may be efficacious for CMP. These reported benefits should be verified in more high-quality randomized controlled trials.
Racial disparities in surgery are increasingly recognized. We evaluated the impact of race on presentation, preoperative evaluation, and surgical outcomes for patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).

We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for PHPT at a single center (1997-2015). Patients were classified by self-identified race, as African-American or White. The primary outcome was disease severity at referral. The secondary outcome was completeness of preoperative evaluation. Operative success and surgical cure were evaluated.

A total of 2392 patients were included. The majority of patients (87.6%) were White. African-American patients had higher rates of comorbid disease as well as higher preoperative calcium (10.9 vs.10.8mg/dl, p < 0.001) and PTH levels (122 vs. 97pg/ml, p < 0.001). White patients were more likely to have history of bone loss documented by DXA and nephrolithiasis. African-American patients had lower rates of complete preoperative evaluation including DXA scan. Operatively, African-American patients had larger glands by size (1.7 vs. 1.5cm, p < 0.001) and mass (573 vs. 364mg, p < 0.001). We observed similar operative success (98.9 vs. 98.0%, p = 0.355) and cure rates (98.3 vs. 97.0%, p = 0.756).

At the time of surgical referral, African-American patients with PHPT have more biochemically severe disease and higher rates of incomplete evaluation. Operative success and cure rates are comparable.
At the time of surgical referral, African-American patients with PHPT have more biochemically severe disease and higher rates of incomplete evaluation. Operative success and cure rates are comparable.
In Ukraine, the 1-year mortality for colorectal cancer is much higher than that seen in high-income countries. We investigated practice patterns of colorectal cancer treatment in a region of Ukraine to account for high mortality rates.

An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used. Data from patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer in Ivano-Frankivsk from 2011 to 2015 were collected via retrospective chart review, and descriptive statistics were calculated. Semi-structured interviews were performed with local practicing surgeons and oncologists until thematic saturation was reached.

A total of 960 patients who underwent surgery were identified in the Ivano-Frankivsk region with colon (689) or rectal (271) cancer. 11.7% of patients underwent preoperative CT of the abdomen and pelvis, and only 1.7% underwent CT of the chest. 4.1% of patients underwent a complete preoperative colonoscopy, while 31.0% had incomplete colonoscopies. Postoperatively, 31.1% of patients with stage II colon cancer and 43.9% of patients with stage III colon cancer underwent adjuvant chemotherapy. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/GDC-0449.html For patients with stage II and III rectal cancers, 20.9% and 33.3% underwent chemotherapy, while 68.4% and 66.7% underwent radiation therapy, respectively. Fifteen physicians completed interviews. Two major themes emerged regarding physician perceptions on providing colorectal cancer care lack of resources and systems level issues negatively impacting patient care.

In this region in Ukraine, staging practices for colorectal malignancies are inconsistent and inadequate, and adjuvant treatments are varied. This is likely attributable to the lack of resources facing providers and the prohibitively high cost of care to patients.
In this region in Ukraine, staging practices for colorectal malignancies are inconsistent and inadequate, and adjuvant treatments are varied. This is likely attributable to the lack of resources facing providers and the prohibitively high cost of care to patients.
Our aim was to identify predictors of mortality and limb loss in iatrogenic and civilian arterial trauma.

Cases were identified by searching prospectively maintained registries. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent outcome predictors.

During the study period, 285 patients with arterial trauma were managed with endovascular (n = 20) or open (n = 265) repair. Iatrogenic injuries increased in frequency during the course of the study, from 23.9% during the first decade to 35.9 and 55.7% during the second and third decade, respectively (p < 0.001). Endovascular management increased in frequency during the course of the study, from 0% during the first decade to 5.1 and 11.1% during the second and third decade, respectively (p = 0.005). Mortality was 9.8%, and limb loss (in cases with injury of the aorta or limb arteries, n = 259) was 6.2%. Independent predictors of mortality included increased age (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval [OR, 95% CI] 1.05 (1.02-1.07), p < 0.001fication of unfavourable outcome predictors may help clinicians involved with arterial trauma to escalate the level of care.