Purpose: The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) without chemoprophylaxis could be as high as 50% in Caucasians. However, according to several subsequent studies, the incidence of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in Asians was much lower. The routine use of chemoprophylaxis, which could potentially cause increased bleeding, infection, and wound complications, has been questioned in low-incidence populations. The objective of this study is to determine the incidence of VTE after primary THA without chemoprophylaxis in an Asian population using a fast-track rehabilitation protocol and to verify the safety profile for use of ‘mechanical prophylaxis alone’ in patients with standard risk of VTE. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 542 Hong Kong Chinese patients who underwent primary THA without chemoprophylaxis. All patients received intermittent pneumatic compression and graduated compression stockings as mechanical prophylaxis. Multimodal pain management was applied in order to facilitate early mobilisation. Routine duplex ultrasonography was performed between the fourth and seventh postoperative day for detection of proximal DVT. Results: All patients were Chinese (mean age, 63.0±11.9 years). Six patients developed proximal DVT (incidence rate, 1.1%). None of the patients had symptomatic or fatal pulmonary embolism. Conclusion The incidence of VTE after primary THA without chemical prophylaxis can be low in Asian populations when following a fast-track rehabilitation protocol. Mechanical prophylaxis alone can be regarded as a reasonably safe practice in terms of a balanced benefit-to-risk ratio for Asian patients with standard risk of VTE.

Purpose: The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) without chemoprophylaxis could be as high as 50% in Caucasians. However, according to several subsequent studies, the incidence of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in Asians was much lower. The routine use of chemoprophylaxis, which could potentially cause increased bleeding, infection, and wound complications, has been questioned in low-incidence populations. The objective of this study is to determine the incidence of VTE after primary THA without chemoprophylaxis in an Asian population using a fast-track rehabilitation protocol and to verify the safety profile for use of ‘mechanical prophylaxis alone’ in patients with standard risk of VTE. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 542 Hong Kong Chinese patients who underwent primary THA without chemoprophylaxis. All patients received intermittent pneumatic compression and graduated compression stockings as mechanical prophylaxis. Multimodal pain management was applied in order to facilitate early mobilisation. Routine duplex ultrasonography was performed between the fourth and seventh postoperative day for detection of proximal DVT. Results: All patients were Chinese (mean age, 63.0±11.9 years). Six patients developed proximal DVT (incidence rate, 1.1%). None of the patients had symptomatic or fatal pulmonary embolism. Conclusion The incidence of VTE after primary THA without chemical prophylaxis can be low in Asian populations when following a fast-track rehabilitation protocol. Mechanical prophylaxis alone can be regarded as a reasonably safe practice in terms of a balanced benefit-to-risk ratio for Asian patients with standard risk of VTE.

Purpose: The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) without chemoprophylaxis could be as high as 50% in Caucasians. However, according to several subsequent studies, the incidence of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in Asians was much lower. The routine use of chemoprophylaxis, which could potentially cause increased bleeding, infection, and wound complications, has been questioned in low-incidence populations. The objective of this study is to determine the incidence of VTE after primary THA without chemoprophylaxis in an Asian population using a fast-track rehabilitation protocol and to verify the safety profile for use of ‘mechanical prophylaxis alone’ in patients with standard risk of VTE. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 542 Hong Kong Chinese patients who underwent primary THA without chemoprophylaxis. All patients received intermittent pneumatic compression and graduated compression stockings as mechanical prophylaxis. Multimodal pain management was applied in order to facilitate early mobilisation. Routine duplex ultrasonography was performed between the fourth and seventh postoperative day for detection of proximal DVT. Results: All patients were Chinese (mean age, 63.0±11.9 years). Six patients developed proximal DVT (incidence rate, 1.1%). None of the patients had symptomatic or fatal pulmonary embolism. Conclusion The incidence of VTE after primary THA without chemical prophylaxis can be low in Asian populations when following a fast-track rehabilitation protocol. Mechanical prophylaxis alone can be regarded as a reasonably safe practice in terms of a balanced benefit-to-risk ratio for Asian patients with standard risk of VTE.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Heparin ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged

Purpose: Controlling blood pressure minimizes the risk of cardiovascular events among patients with hypertension. Despite regular follow-ups, the hypertension management for patients aged ≥45 years is limited as evidenced from a decreased control rate. This pilot study aimed to test a theory-guided educational program for community-dwelling patients with hypertension. Methods: Sixty-nine patients with hypertension aged ≥45 years and having high blood pressure (>130/80 mmHg) were recruited in this two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial. Participants in the intervention group underwent a program guided by the Health Promotion Model, whereas those in the control group received usual care. Data were collected at baseline, week 8, and week 12 and used to assess the blood pressure, pulse pressure, self-efficacy, and adherence to hypertension management. Data were analyzed using a generalized estimating equation based on the intention-to-treat principle. Process evaluation was conducted to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the educational program. Results: The results obtained using the generalized estimating equation revealed that the educational program led to reduction in the systolic blood pressure (β = −7.12, p = .086) and pulse pressure (β = −8.20, p = .007) and to improve self-efficacy (β = 2.61, p = .269) at week 12. The program had a small-to-moderate effect on the reduction of systolic blood pressure (effect size = −0.45) and pulse pressure (effect size = −0.66) and self-efficacy (effect size = 0.23). The participants were highly satisfied with the educational program. Conclusions The educational program was found to be feasible and acceptable and may be incorporated into current hypertension management practices at the community level.

Adult ; Humans ; Hyperoxaluria, Primary ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Transaminases ; deficiency

No abstract available.
Asia

In this study we take a closer look at the diseases that afflicted Japanese police officers who were stationed in a remote mountainous region of Taiwan from 1921 to 1944. Samples were taken from the latrine at the Huabanuo police outpost, and analyzed for the eggs of intestinal parasites, using microscopy and ELISA. The eggs of Eurytrema sp., (possibly E. pancreaticum), whipworm and roundworm were shown to be present. True infection with Eurytrema would indicate that the policemen ate uncooked grasshoppers and crickets infected with the parasite. However, false parasitism might also occur if the policemen ate the uncooked intestines of infected cattle, and the Eurytrema eggs passed through the human intestines. These findings provide an insight into the diet and health of the Japanese colonists in Taiwan nearly a century ago.
Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cattle ; Diet ; Eggs ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Grasshoppers ; Gryllidae ; Humans ; Intestines ; Microscopy ; Ovum ; Parasites ; Police ; Taiwan ; Toilet Facilities

Humans ; Adult ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Acute Kidney Injury/therapy* ; Critical Illness/therapy*