Special Issue "2023 Feature Papers in Clinics and Practice"

A special issue of Clinics and Practice (ISSN 2039-7283).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2023 | Viewed by 1881

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue launched in 2022 has been successful. Hence, the Editorial Management has thought to launch a similar initiative for 2023. This Special Issue will be a collection of "2023 Feature Papers in Clinics and Practice" that contain either cutting-edge research results or comprehensive reviews. The submitted manuscripts will be peer reviewed. The accepted papers will be published in the open access journal Clinics and Practice.

We welcome the submission of manuscripts from Editorial Board Members and from outstanding scholars invited by the Editorial Board Members and the Editorial Office.

You are welcome to submit manuscripts to be published in this Special Issue directly to our Editorial Office at [email protected] for the evaluation. We are looking forward to submissions.

Prof. Dr. Giustino Varrassi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Clinics and Practice is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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Communication
Possible Role of Carbocysteine Syrup in the Deflation of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Balloons
Clin. Pract. 2023, 13(2), 483-486; https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract13020043 - 23 Mar 2023
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Abstract
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is the method of choice to allow enteral access in patients requiring long-term enteral nutrition. However, although generally safe, percutaneous tube positioning may be plagued by several complications. Among these, the deterioration and/or deflation of balloons serving as internal bolster [...] Read more.
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is the method of choice to allow enteral access in patients requiring long-term enteral nutrition. However, although generally safe, percutaneous tube positioning may be plagued by several complications. Among these, the deterioration and/or deflation of balloons serving as internal bolster is particularly worrisome in that it may lead to gastrostomy cannulas dislocation. Of interest, such balloon deflation may occur in up to 30% of cases for apparently unexplained causes. Here, we provide a hypothesis that could explain some of these causes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2023 Feature Papers in Clinics and Practice)
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Review

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Review
Telemedicine, E-Health, and Multi-Agent Systems for Chronic Pain Management
Clin. Pract. 2023, 13(2), 470-482; https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract13020042 - 21 Mar 2023
Viewed by 389
Abstract
Telemedicine, telehealth, and E-health all offer significant benefits for pain management and healthcare services by fostering the physician–patient relationship in otherwise challenging circumstances. A critical component of these artificial-intelligence-based health systems is the “agent-based system”, which is rapidly evolving as a means of [...] Read more.
Telemedicine, telehealth, and E-health all offer significant benefits for pain management and healthcare services by fostering the physician–patient relationship in otherwise challenging circumstances. A critical component of these artificial-intelligence-based health systems is the “agent-based system”, which is rapidly evolving as a means of resolving complicated or straightforward problems. Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) are well-established modeling and problem-solving modalities that model and solve real-world problems. MAS’s core concept is to foster communication and cooperation among agents, which are broadly considered intelligent autonomous factors, to address diverse challenges. MAS are used in various telecommunications applications, including the internet, robotics, healthcare, and medicine. Furthermore, MAS and information technology are utilized to enhance patient-centered palliative care. While telemedicine, E-health, and MAS all play critical roles in managing chronic pain, the published research on their use in treating chronic pain is currently limited. This paper discusses why telemedicine, E-health, and MAS are the most critical novel technologies for providing healthcare and managing chronic pain. This review also provides context for identifying the advantages and disadvantages of each application’s features, which may serve as a useful tool for researchers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2023 Feature Papers in Clinics and Practice)
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Review
Treatment with Testosterone Therapy in Type 2 Diabetic Hypogonadal Adult Males: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Clin. Pract. 2023, 13(2), 454-469; https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract13020041 - 20 Mar 2023
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Abstract
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has been used to treat hypogonadal males with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for a long time, despite variable results. This meta-analysis examines TRT’s role in hypogonadal males with T2DM. The databases PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched [...] Read more.
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has been used to treat hypogonadal males with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for a long time, despite variable results. This meta-analysis examines TRT’s role in hypogonadal males with T2DM. The databases PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant RCTs and observational studies. Estimated pooled mean differences (MDs) and relative risks with 95% confidence intervals were used to measure the effects of TRT (CIs). When compared to the placebo, TRT improves glycemic management by significantly reducing glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c) levels (WMD = −0.29 [−0.57, −0.02] p = 0.04; I2 = 89.8%). Additionally, it reduces the homeostatic model assessment levels of insulin resistance (WMD = −1.47 [−3.14, 0.19]; p = 0.08; I2 = 56.3%), fasting glucose (WMD = −0.30 [−0.75, 0.15]; p = 0.19; I2 = 84.4%), and fasting insulin (WMD = −2.95 [−8.64, 2.74]; however, these results are non-significant. On the other hand, HBA1c levels are significantly reduced with TRT; in addition, total testosterone levels significantly increase with testosterone replacement therapy (WMD = 4.51 [2.40, 6.61] p = 0.0001; I2 = 96.3%). Based on our results, we hypothesize that TRT can improve glycemic control and hormone levels, as well as lower total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL cholesterol levels while raising HDL cholesterol in hypogonadal type 2 diabetes patients. To this end, we recommend TRT for these patients in addition to standard diabetes care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2023 Feature Papers in Clinics and Practice)
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Review
Potential Role of Global Longitudinal Strain in Cardiac and Oncological Patients Undergoing Cardio-Oncology Rehabilitation (CORE)
Clin. Pract. 2023, 13(2), 384-397; https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract13020035 - 07 Mar 2023
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Abstract
Although shown to be effective in improving survival and quality of life in patients with cancer, some treatments are well-known causes of cardiotoxicity, such as anthracyclines, monoclonal antibodies against human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and radiotherapy. To prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) [...] Read more.
Although shown to be effective in improving survival and quality of life in patients with cancer, some treatments are well-known causes of cardiotoxicity, such as anthracyclines, monoclonal antibodies against human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and radiotherapy. To prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients living with cancer, cardiologists and oncologists promoted the development of cardio-oncology, an interdisciplinary field which aims to further improving life expectancy in these patients. Cardio-oncology rehabilitation (CORE), through correction of risk factors, prescription of drug therapies and structured exercise programs, tries to improve symptoms, quality of life, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and survival in patients with cancer. Different imaging modalities can be used to evaluate the real effectiveness of exercise training on cardiac function. Among these, the global longitudinal strain (GLS) has recently aroused interest, thanks to its high sensitivity and specificity for cardiac dysfunction detection due to advanced ultrasound programs. This review summarizes the evidence on the usefulness of GLS in patients with cancer undergoing cardiac rehabilitation programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2023 Feature Papers in Clinics and Practice)
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