The application of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders in a preliminary, small sample study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of low-intensity, high-frequency shock waves in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with temporomandibular joint disorder admitted to the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from August 2022 to December 2022 were selected as study subjects and randomly divided into two groups, A and B, with 13 patients each. In Group A, there were 5 males and 8 females with an average age of 38.85 ± 11.03 years. In Group B, there were 4 males and 9 females with an average age of 39.15 ± 11.16 years. Group A was the control group, which received routine treatment (manual massage + transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation + ultrashort wave therapy) plus sham shock wave therapy; Group B was the experimental group, which received routine treatment (manual massage + transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation + ultrashort wave therapy) plus shock wave therapy. The routine treatment was administered once/day, five times per week for a total of 2 weeks of treatment. In addition, shock wave therapy was administered once every 5 days, and the treatment was administered three times. The treatment period was 2 weeks, and the two groups were compared before treatment, at the end of the treatment period, and 4 weeks after treatment. The pain level of the two groups was assessed by the visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after treatment, and the temporomandibular opening index (TOI) before and after treatment was compared between the two groups. VAS and TOI scores were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U-test, the Kruskal-Wallis H-test and two-way ANOVA. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the VAS score and temporomandibular opening index between the two groups before treatment (p = .829 and .75, respectively). After 2 weeks of treatment, the VAS score and temporomandibular joint opening index of both groups were significantly improved compared to those before therapy. In addition, the VAS score and temporomandibular joint opening index in the experimental group were significantly better than those in the control group (p < .001 and <.001, respectively). There was a small increase in scores 4 weeks after the treatment compared to just after the treatment period, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: This is a preliminary small sample study that demonstrates the positive effect of using low-intensity, high-frequency shock waves on the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders and is worthy of clinical promotion.

Application of Anchored Instructional Method in Cardiac Surgery ICU Nursing Education.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the impact of applying the anchored teaching mode with nursing interns on the cardiac surgery intensive care unit (CSICU). METHOD: A total of 110 interns were divided into a control group (taught through traditional methods) and an experimental group (taught using the anchored teaching mode). The anchored mode, emphasizing student-centered learning, included creating scenarios, identifying problems, using self-directed and collaborative learning, and evaluating outcomes. RESULTS: Our study found that the experimental group showed significantly higher scores in emergency response ability, nursing skills, and teaching effectiveness compared with the control group at graduation. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that implementing the anchored teaching mode can effectively enhance the education of nursing interns on the CSICU, emphasizing the need for further research across different departments and types of hospitals. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(7):359-364.].

Construction of a nomogram risk prediction model for prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients following surgery for acute type A aortic dissection.

Background: This study aims to analyze the risk factors associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) in patients following surgical treatment for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). The objectives include constructing a predictive model for risk assessment and validating its predictive efficacy. Methods: A total of 452 patients diagnosed with ATAAD and undergoing surgical procedures at a tertiary hospital in Nanjing between January 2021 and April 2023 were selected using a convenience sampling method. Patients were categorized into two groups: PMV group (n = 132) and non-PMV group (n = 320) based on the occurrence of prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV), and their clinical data were compared. The data were randomly divided into a modeling set and a validation set in a 7:3 ratio. Risk factors for PMV were identified in the modeling group using logistic regression analysis. A risk prediction model was constructed using R 4.1.3 software, visualized via a column chart. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were generated using the validation set to assess model differentiation. Calibration curves were plotted to evaluate accuracy and consistency, and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA) was applied to evaluate clinical utility. Results: The logistic regression analysis identified age, body mass index, preoperative white blood cell count, preoperative creatinine, preoperative cerebral hypoperfusion, and cardiopulmonary bypass time as significant risk factors for postoperative PMV in patients with ATAAD. The area under the curve (AUC) for the validation set ROC curve was 0.856, 95% confidence interval (0.805-0.907), indicating good discrimination. Calibration curves revealed strong alignment with the ideal curve, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test indicated a well-fitted model (P = 0.892). The DCA curve demonstrated a high net benefit value, highlighting the model's strong clinical utility. Conclusions: The risk prediction model developed in this study for PMV in patients undergoing surgery for ATAAD exhibits robust predictive performance. It provides valuable insights for healthcare practitioners in predicting the likelihood of PMV and devising timely and personalized intervention strategies.

A randomized trial of treatment for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) in patients with anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) reconstruction(ACLR). METHODS: We conducted a randomized, controlled trial involving 72 eligible patients with ACL reconstruction in which we compared two strategies: the experimental group was standard rehabilitation plus rESWT and the control group was standard rehabilitation plus sham rESWT. The outcome was the change from baseline to 24 weeks in the average score on Lysholm knee joint score (LKS), range of motion (ROM), visual analogue scale (VAS) and International Knee Literature Committee (IKDC). RESULTS: Of 36 subjects assigned to rehabilitation plus rESWT, 4 lost to follow up. Of 36 assigned to rehabilitation plus sham rESWT, 5 lost to follow up. The LKS, ROM and IKDC scores of the experimental group were markedly increased at 3 and 6 weeks after treatment (P < 0.001), and the VAS was notably decreased (P < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the LKS, ROM, IKDC and VAS between the groups at 24 weeks after treatment (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The strategy of rehabilitation plus rESWT had better functional outcomes after ACL reconstruction. As such, our study demonstrates that rESWT is essential for patients with ACL reconstruction. Early use of rESWT can improve joint function, pain relief and ability of daily living. rESWT has a positive effect on the overall rehabilitation of patients.

Planned Reoperation after Cardiac Surgery in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

Background: Cardiac surgical re-exploration for bleeding is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Whether to perform these procedures in the operating room (OR) or the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) in uncertain. We sought to determine if the location of the reoperation would affect postoperative outcomes when a reoperation for bleeding is required following cardiac surgery. Methods: Patients who underwent planned cardiac re-explorations for bleeding at our center from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Patient outcomes were compared and analyzed. Results: Due to hemorrhagic shock, 72 patients underwent planned cardiac re-explorations, including 21 operated in the CICU and 51 in the OR. Within 12 h of the primary operation, 65 re-explorations (90.3%) were performed. The peak Vasoactive-Inotropic Score was 47.0 ± 27.4, systolic blood pressure was 89.4 ± 9.6 mmHg, central venous pressure was 12.1 ± 4.4 cmH 2 O, and the serum lactate was 5.5 ± 4.1 mmol/L prior to the reoperation. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that a reoperation performed in the CICU was not an independent risk factor for the occurrence of major complications. There was no significant difference in mortality between the two groups. Conclusions: Planned re-exploration for bleeding following open cardiac surgery in the CICU is feasible and safe.