Abstract Introduction Leucine supplementation improves muscle protein synthesis in physiological studies and has been proposed as a treatment to improve mass physical performance. We tested the effects of leucine randomised controlled trial enrolling patients with sarcopenia. Methods conducted placebo-controlled, parallel group, double-blind, two-by-two factorial trial. Participants aged 70 ove...

BACKGROUND Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is used increasingly as an alternative to thoracotomy for lobectomy in the treatment of early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer, but remains controversial and worldwide adoption rates are low. Non-randomised studies have suggested that VATS reduces postoperative morbidity, but there is little high-quality evidence to show its superiority ove...

Introduction Chronic recurrent mutifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) (OMIM-number-259680), a rare form of autoinflammatory disease of the bone marrow of unknown aetiology, which takes a sub-acute course. First described in 1972 by Gideon et al, CRMO is primarly a diagnosis of exclusion as suggested by negative bone biopsy for neoplasms and negative bone culture to rule out infectious causes. In our ca...

INTRODUCTION While the care of HIV-positive patients, including the detection and management of comorbidities, has historically been provided in HIV specialist outpatient clinics, recent years have seen a greater involvement of non-HIV specialists and general practitioners (GPs). The aim of this study is to determine whether patients would prefer to see their GP or HIV physician given general s...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine the cost/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) of the operative treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis and identify factors associated with cost-effectiveness at 2 years. METHODS We evaluated patients who underwent surgery for spondylolisthesis. The QALY was determined from the EQ5D. Outcomes were also assessed using the Oswestry Disability Ind...

OBJECTIVES The present study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a behavioral graded exercise therapy (GET) program compared with usual care (UC) in terms of the performance of daily activities by patients with chronic shoulder complaints in primary care. METHODS A total of 176 patients were randomly assigned either to GET (n=87) or to UC (n=89). Clinical outcomes (main complaints, shoulder d...

Introduction: Carers of individuals with social care needs (including frail elderly people, those at risk of falls and those requiring night sitting), are subject to high levels of carer burden, social isolation and poor psychological outcomes. Carers’ worries and concerns include leaving the individual alone; risks of harm to the care-recipient; or household emergencies in their absence. At pr...

PURPOSE Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with substantial morbidity, including impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Despite the prominent role of occupational factors in the aetiology of COPD, the relationship between these exposures and HRQoL has not been well elucidated. METHODS A subpopulation from an epidemiological study, designed to assess the workp...

BACKGROUND The risk of falls increases with age. Balance alteration and polypharmacy are independent contributors to an increased risk of falls. OBJECTIVE The primary aim was to assess whether a proprioceptive exercise programme reduces the incidence of falls. A secondary aim was to assess the association between drugs and falls. DESIGN This was a before-after non-randomised intervention st...

BACKGROUND Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is used to support the cardiorespiratory function in case of severe cardiac and/or respiratory failure in critically ill patients. According to the ELSO guidelines ECLS should be considered when estimated mortality risk approximates 80%. ECLS seems an efficient therapy in terms of survival benefit, but no undisputed evidence is delivered yet. The ai...