Purpose To characterize the clinical and biological properties of biodegradable collagen matrices (BCMs) for possible glaucoma drainage device implantation. Methods A total of 68 refractory glaucoma eyes, followed up postoperatively for at least 6 months, were consecutively enrolled after retrospective chart review. The BCM-augmented Ahmed valve implantations (BAAVI) using our Ologen-6 and Ol...

OBJECTIVE We prospectively investigated in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes if bedtime treatment with ≥1 hypertension medications exerts better blood pressure control and cardiovascular risk reduction than conventional therapy, in which all medications are ingested in the morning. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded end point trial...

Childhood asthma is highly prevalent, affecting approximately nine million children in the United States. Negative effects of pediatric asthma are disproportionately experienced by ethnic minorities living in low-income, urban settings. Given the great diversity in families’ ways of addressing children’s asthma symptoms, sociocultural factors underlying asthma disparities must be examined. The ...

Objectives: Homeopathy is the most important field of alternative medicine. At present, over 3000 organic medications have been registered in the homeopathy pharmacopeia; out of which, 70% have herbal, 20% have mineral and the remaining have animal origins. Evidence shows that homeopathy may be beneficial in dentistry and oral medicine. However, this is a less known field for dentists. Therefor...

Background In life-threatening emergencies with intravascular volume depletion, shock, or even cardiac arrest, obtaining conventional intravascular access can be difficult due to peripheral vascular shutdown. Intraosseous (IO) access is recommended during resuscitation when conventional intravenous access is difficult and is a fast and safe method for administration of fluids, blood products, a...

Examines the issues around conventional schizophrenia treatment including the problems with side effects and noncompliance, the introduction of newer atypical neuroleptics and their potential for improvement, and issues around pharmaceutical research and public pressures to get new medications approved. Also discusses costs and benefits of atypical neuroleptics in comparison with conventional n...

CONTEXT Morbidity and mortality rates in hemodialysis patients remain excessive. Alterations in the delivery of dialysis may lead to improved patient outcomes. OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of frequent nocturnal hemodialysis vs conventional hemodialysis on change in left ventricular mass and health-related quality of life over 6 months. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A 2-group, parall...

BACKGROUND Despite safety-related concerns, psychotropic medications are frequently prescribed to manage behavioural symptoms in older adults, particularly those with dementia. We assessed the comparative safety of different classes of psychotropic medications used in nursing home residents. METHODS We identified a cohort of patients who were aged 65 years or older and had initiated treatment...

BACKGROUND Treatment of end stage renal disease patients with short daily hemodialysis has been associated with an improvement in blood pressure. It is unclear from these studies if anti-hypertensive management had been optimized prior to starting short daily hemodialysis. Also, the potential mechanism(s) of blood pressure improvement remain to be fully elucidated. STUDY DESIGN, SETTING AND P...