Search results for "Pilot Projects"

Supervised exercise training in peripheral arterial disease increases vascular shear stress and profunda femoral artery diameter

2016

Background Arteriogenesis is promoted by flow- and pressure-related forces such as tangential wall stress and laminar shear stress. Exercise training (ET) is known to promote arteriogenesis in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients. It remains unclear whether supervised ET (SET) promotes arteriogenesis more efficiently than non-SET (nSET). Methods and results Forty PAD patients participated in a SET or nSET training programme ( n = 20 each) and were compared to 20 healthy individuals without any history of cardiovascular events. Femoral artery diameter, flow and velocity were measured by ultrasound. Tangential wall stress and laminar shear stress were calculated for femoral arteries. Fo…

EVALUATION OF LOW-ENERGY EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK-WAVE APPLICATION FOR TREATMENT OF CHRONIC PLANTAR FASCIITIS

2002

Background: Although the application of low-energy extracorporeal shock waves to treat musculoskeletal disor- ders is controversial, there has been some limited, short-term evidence of its effectiveness for the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis. Methods: From 1993 to 1995, a prospective, two-tailed, randomized, controlled, observer-blinded pilot trial was performed to assess whether three applications of 1000 impulses of low-energy shock waves (Group I) led to a su- perior clinical outcome when compared with three applications of ten impulses of low-energy shock waves (Group II) in patients with intractable plantar heel pain. The sample size was 112. The main outcome measure was patien…

Polymyalgia rheumatica and vertebral fractures: a 1-year pilot controlled study

2010

No data exist about the possibility that vertebral fracture in PMR patients could be independent of steroid therapy. For this reason, we aimed to investigate this topic by a case cohort study with a 1-year follow-up for each patient. We selected ten consecutive patients who experienced vertebral fractures (VF-group) during the first month of 1-year follow-up period and without any other significant associated condition. As a control group we studied ten control patients, without vertebral fractures and with a follow-up of 1 year, randomly selected among a larger group of patients affected by polymyalgia rheumatica. The following data were analysed: eritrosedimention rate (ESR), visual analo…

Sacubitril/valsartan and short-term changes in the 6-minute walk test: A pilot study

2018

Background: Impaired exercise capacity is the most disabling symptom in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Despite sacubitril/valsartan showing reduced long-term morbidity and mortality over enalapril in HFrEF, its effects on short-term functional capacity remain uncertain. We sought to evaluate the effects of sacubilril/valsartan on a 30-day six-minute walk test in eligible patients with HFrEF. Methods and results: From November 1, 2016 to February 1, 2017, a total of 58 stable symptomatic patients with HFrEF were eligible for sacubitril/valsartan and underwent 6-MWT before and 30 days after initiation of sacubitril/valsartan therapy. A mixed-effects model …

Intraoperative identification and neurophysiologic parameters to verify pelvic autonomic nerve function during total mesorectal excision for rectal c…

2003

Abstract Background Preservation of parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves is required to avoid urogenital function disturbances after total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal carcinoma. This study sought to determine whether intraoperative stimulation of parasympathetic nerves with monitoring of bladder contraction is useful in meeting this demand. Study design In a prospective pilot study, 17 patients, 11 men and 6 women, underwent TME with pelvic autonomic nerve preservation performed by an experienced surgeon. The parasympathetic nerves were stimulated by an electrostimulation device (Screener 3625, Medronic), and the resulting bladder contraction was measured manometrically in all pa…

Comparison of Ivabradine Versus Metoprolol in Early Phases of Reperfused Anterior Myocardial Infarction With Impaired Left Ventricular Function: Prel…

2009

BACKGROUND: beta-blockers in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are indicated for patients without a contraindication, particularly in patients with high heart rates (HR) or blood pressures. Epidemiological studies have shown that elevated HR represents a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity. The study investigates the feasibility, tolerability, and the effects after 30 days of follow-up of ivabradine (IVA) versus metoprolol (METO) in early phases of anterior STEMI reperfused by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with a first anterior STEMI, Killip class I-II, an acceptable echocardiographic window, and admitted within 4hours of the o…

Are first ventilatory threshold and 6-minute walk test heart rate interchangeable? A pilot study in healthy elderlies and cardiac patients

2015

International audience; BACKGROUND: Heart rate (HR) at the ventilatory threshold (VT) is often used to prescribe exercise intensity in cardiac rehabilitation. Some studies have reported no significant difference between HR at VT and HR measured at the end of a 6-min walk test (6-MWT) in cardiac patients. The aim of this work was to assess the potential equivalence between those parameters at the individual level. METHOD: Three groups of subjects performed a stress test and a 6-MWT: 22 healthy elderlies (GES, 77 +/- 3.7 years), 10 stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients (GMI, 50.9 +/- 4.2 years) and 30 patients with chronic heart failure (GHF, 63.3 +/- 10 years). We analyzed the correl…

Early Sacubitril/Valsartan-driven Benefit on Exercise Capacity in Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Pilot Study

2017

Transrectal ultrasound guided implantation of the ProACT adjustable continence therapy system in patients with post-radical prostatectomy stress urin…

2006

Purpose: We evaluate the feasibility and potential advantages of ProACT system implantation using transrectal ultrasound rather than fluoroscopy for guidance. Materials and Methods: The transrectal ultrasound guided procedure was done between June and October 2005 in 7 patients with a mean age of 68.4 years (range 53 to 76) with mild to severe stress urinary incontinence after laparoscopic transperitoneal radical prostatectomy. Results: The ProACT system was successfully implanted in all cases without perioperative complications. Time needed to complete the overall procedure was 15 to 30 minutes. All transrectal ultrasound studies performed during the mean followup of 4.2 months (range 2 to…

Scores on test of gross motor development of children with dysphasia: a pilot study.

2003

The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to assess the gross motor skill and trainability of children with dysphasia using the Test of Gross Motor Development. 27 children from 7 to 12 years ( M = 9.6 yr., SD=1.3) from four different classes in one special school participated. The gross motor skill scores of a sample of children with dysphasia, their trainability of the gross motor skills, and the intrarater reliability of the test were examined. Based on the videotaped performances the intrarater reliability was .93 to .97 for total scores, but lower for individual test items. Mean motor skill scores of these children with dysphasia were interpreted as ‘poor’ relative to those of…