73; 95% CL, 1.14, 2.62). In the case-control study, high likelihood of OSA was associated with higher odds of chronic TMD (adjusted OR = 3.63; 95% CL, 2.03, 6.52). Both studies signaling pathway supported a significant association of OSA symptoms and TMD,

with prospective cohort evidence finding that OSA symptoms preceded first-onset TMD.”
“The aim of this study is to quantitatively investigate the short-term effects of RF tissue-tightening treatment in in vivo rabbit dermal collagen fibrils. These effects were measured at different energy levels and at varying pass procedures on the nanostructural response level using histology and AFM analysis. Each rabbit was divided into one of seven experimental groups, which included the following: control group, and six RF group according to RF energy (20 W and 40 W) and three RF pass procedures. The progressive changes in the diameter and D-periodicity of rabbit dermal collagen fibrils were investigated selleck in detail over a 7-day post-treatment period. The dermal tissues treated with the RF tissue-tightening device showed more prominent inflammatory responses with inflammatory cell ingrowth compared to the control. This effect showed more prominent with the passage of day after treatment. Although an increase in the diameter and D-periodicity of dermal collagen fibrils was identified immediately after the RF treatment, a decrease in the morphology of dermal collagen fibrils continued

until post-operative see more day 7. Furthermore, RF treatment led to the loss of distinct borders. Increases in RF energy with the same pass procedure, as well as an increase in the number of RF passes,

increased the occurrence of irreversible collagen fibril injury. A multiple-pass treatment at low energy rather than a single-pass treatment at high energy showed a large amount of collagen fibrils contraction at the nanostructural level.”
“Background and objective: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) incur heavy utilization of health-care resources for patients who require hospitalization. We evaluated whether an early outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programme (PRP) after hospitalization for AECOPD could reduce acute health-care utilization over the succeeding year.

Methods: Sixty patients admitted with AECOPD were randomized to either PRP or usual care (UC). The PRP group received 8 weeks of outpatient rehabilitation programme 2-3 weeks after discharge from hospital. Lung function, 6 min walk test and dyspnoea score were assessed at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, while St George’s respiratory questionnaire and cardiopulmonary exercise test were assessed at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months.

Results: The PRP and UC groups demonstrated a 53.3% and 43.3% risk of readmissions at 12 months (incident risk ratio 0.97 (95% CI: 0.57-1.60), P = 0.90). The mean readmission rates were 1.00 +/- 1.20 and 1.03 +/- 1.87 (P = 0.