Therapeutic effect of lutein supplement on non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy: A retrospective study This study retrospectively evaluated the effect of lutein supplement (LS) on patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). A total of 72 patients with NPDR were included in this study. All patients received Zeaxanthin during the study period. In addition, 36 patients also received LS and were assigned to the treatment group, while the other 36 patients did not receive LS and were assigned to the control group. All patients were treated for a total of 4 months. The endpoints included visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity (CS), and glare sensitivity (GS). In addition, any adverse events were also assessed. All endpoints were measured before and after 4-month treatment. Before treatment, there were no significant differences in VA (P = .75), CS (P = .71), and GS (P = .73) between two groups. After 4-month treatment, there were still no significant differences in all endpoints of VA (P = .66), CS (P = .58), and GS (P = .61) between two groups. No adverse events were recorded in either group. The results of this retrospective study showed that LS may not benefit for patients with NPDR after 4-month treatment. More high quality randomized controlled trials should still be needed to warrant the results of this study. |
Diagnostic value of polymerase chain reaction/acid-fast bacilli in conjunction with computed tomography–guided pleural biopsy in tuberculous pleurisy: A diagnostic accuracy study Patients with tuberculous pleurisy often remain undiagnosed even after blind thoracentesis and closed pleural biopsy (PB). In this study, we assessed the value of computed tomography (CT)-guided core needle biopsy of pleural lesion and evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/staining for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in suspicious tuberculous pleurisy undiagnosed in blind thoracentesis. Patients with exudative pleural effusion (PE) without specific etiology after blind thoracentesis and closed PB were enrolled in this study. PB specimens were obtained through CT-guided core needle biopsy of pleural lesion, then underwent PCR, AFB, histopathological examination, and some routine tests. Diagnostic values were evaluated through sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and accuracy. A total of 261 participants (TB group: 241, non-TB group: 20) were recruited. In this cohort, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 56.0%, 95.0%, and 59.0%, respectively for PCR, whereas 57.3%, 95.0%, and 60.2%, respectively for AFB. Their parallel test achieved an improved sensitivity (76.8%) and accuracy (77.8%), with a slight decrease in specificity (90.0%). In histopathological examination, granuloma was the most common finding in TB group (88.4%, 213/241), but also observed in non-TB group (10.0%, 2/20). In addition, pleural lymphocyte percentage in TB group was significantly higher than that of non-TB group (92% vs 61%, respectively; P = .003). However, no significant differences were found for other biomarkers. CT-guided core needle PB is essential for patients with exudative PE but undiagnosed after blind thoracentesis. Combining with PCR and AFB, it strongly improves the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. |
Prognostic role of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio in colorectal cancer: A meta analysis Objective: This meta-analysis evaluates the prognosis value of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) in colorectal cancer. Methods: Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used as effective values. Results: A total of 6 studies with 1942 patients were included in this study. Pooled results revealed that elevated pretreatment CAR was related with poorer overall survival (OS) (HR: 2.09, 95%CI: 1.78–2.45, P < .001) in colorectal cancer. Conclusion: Elevated CAR was associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer. Thus CAR might be used as a prognostic system and classification of colorectal patients in clinical potential. |
Efficacy of prison-based cognitive behavioral rehabilitation intervention on violent sexual behaviors among sex offenders in Nigerian prisons Background/Objective: Evidence showed that reoffending habits are increasing among offenders with violent sexual behaviors. Given the recidivism rates, a psychotherapeutic intervention becomes imperative. This study examined the efficacy of prison-based cognitive behavioral rehabilitation intervention (PCBRI) on violent sexual behaviors among sex offenders in Nigerian prisons. Method: A total of45 participants were the sample size. Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory and Hypersexual Behavior Inventory were employed in assessing the participants at 3 points. Using a simple random allocation sequence, 23 participants were exposed to PCBRI programme and 22 participants allocated to control condition. The data obtained were analyzed using repeated measures 2-way analysis of variance. Results: Results indicated a significant effect of the treatment on violent sexual behaviors among sex offenders in Nigerian prisons exposed to the PCBRI programme when compared to the no-intervention group. Result also showed a significant interaction effect of time and group on sex offenders with violent sexual behaviors. Follow-up tests showed significant decrease in violent sexual behaviors after 6 months for the PCBRI group in comparison to the control group. Conclusion: This study concluded that PCBRI approach is a type of psychotherapy that reduces violent sexual behaviors among sex offenders in Southeast Nigeria. |
Correction of labial tubercle defect in repaired bilateral cleft lips using bilateral vermilion musculomucosal sliding flaps: Case series Rationale: Insignifificant, asymmetrical or lack of labial tubercle often occurs after cleft lip surgery due to improper treatment of vermilion tissue. Especially in the cases of bilateral cleft lip, because of short front lip and insuffificient vermilion tissue, the median vermilion depression often occurs after surgery, forming a "whistling" deformity. The object of this study is to verify the outcomes of patients with median labial tubercle detects after treatment with bilateral vermilion musculomucosal sliding flflaps (VMSF). Patient concerns: Six patients with median labial tubercle defect after bilateral cleft lip repair from March 2015 to May 2017 were enrolled in our department and subjected to bilateral lip deformity correction under general anesthesia. Diagnoses: Secondary deformity of bilateral cleft lip forming a "whistling" deformity were diagnosed in all the patients. Interventions: Bilateral VMSF were designed and used to reconstruct the median labial tubercles by sliding downward so as to eliminate the whistling deformity. Outcomes: During the 10 to 37 months of follow-up, the reconstructed vermilion tubercles had stable morphology showing no whistling deformity and the overall lip shapes were satisfactory. Lessons: Reconstructing MVTD and eliminating whistling deformity using the scar tissues that need to be removed previously on the vermilion musculomucosa has achieved stable and satisfactory results and is worthy of clinical application. |
Upregulation of microRNA-191 can serve as an independent prognostic marker for poor survival in prostate cancer MicroRNA-191 (miR-191) has been identified as being upregulated in several types of cancers, and plays the role of oncogene. The expression of miR-191 has been found to be upregulated in prostate cancer tissues as well as cell lines. In this study, we analyzed the correlation of miR-191 expression with clinicopathologic factors and prognosis in prostate cancer. Prostate cancer tissue samples and adjacent normal prostate tissue samples were collected from 146 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy between April 2013 and March 2018. Student two-tailed t-test was used for comparisons of 2 independent groups. The relationships between miR-191 expression and different clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated using the Chi-squared test. Kaplan–Meier survival plots and log-rank tests were used to assess the differences in overall survival of the different subgroups of prostate cancer patients. miR-191 expression was significantly higher in prostate cancer tissues compared with normal adjacent prostate tissues (P < .001). miR-191 expression was observed to be significantly correlated with Gleason score (P < .001), pelvic lymph node metastasis (P = .006), bone metastases (P < .001), and T stage (P = .005). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that patients with higher levels of miR-191 had significantly poorer survival than those with lower expression of this miRNA in prostate cancer patients (log rank test, P = .011). Multivariate analysis revealed that miR-191 expression (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.311, 95% confidence interval, [CI]: 1.666–9.006; P = .027) was independently associated with the overall survival of prostate cancer patients. Our results demonstrated that miR-191 might serve as an independent prognostic indicator for prostate cancer patients. |
Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for human immunodeficiency virus associated gastric Burkitt lymphoma: A case report Rationale: HIV-related lymphoma, especially non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is one of the most common malignant tumors in HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) for the patients with Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is needed to be further explored. Patient concerns: A 57-year-old man was hospitalized with intermittent pain on upper abdomen and melena for >1 month. Diagnosis: HIV antibody testing was positive. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed and histopathology and immunohistochemistry revealed BL. Interventions: Highly effective antiretroviral therapy and sixth cycles of chemotherapy were administered, followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Outcomes: The patient has had tumor-free survival for >6 years with normal CD4+ T cell counts and HIV viral load below the lowest detection Lessons: The patient was treated with AHSCT followed complete remission after chemotherapy and achieved long-term disease-free survival. AHSCT may be a promising way for clinical cure of HIV-related BL. |
Diagnostic accuracy of different computer-aided diagnostic systems for malignant and benign thyroid nodules classification in ultrasound images: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of different computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) systems for thyroid nodules classification. Methods: A systematic search of the literature was conducted from inception until March, 2019 using the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, and Cochrane library. Literature selection and data extraction were conducted by 2 independent reviewers. Numerical values for sensitivity and specificity were obtained from false negative (FN), false positive (FP), true negative (TN), and true positive (TP) rates, presented alongside graphical representations with boxes marking the values and horizontal lines showing the confidence intervals (CIs). Summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves were applied to assess the performance of diagnostic tests. Data were processed using Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 15. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool. Trial registration number: PROSPERO CRD42019132540 |
The erector spinae plane block for effective analgesia after lung lobectomy: Three cases report Rationale: The thoracic epidural block and thoracic paravertebral block are widely used techniques for multimodal analgesia after thoracic surgery. However, they have several adverse effects, and are not technically easy. Recently, the erector spinae plane block (ESPB), an injected local anesthetic deep to the erector spinae muscle, is a relatively simple and safe technique. Patient concerns: Three patients were scheduled for video assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection. All the patients denied any past medical history to be noted. Diagnoses: They were diagnosed with primary adenocarcinoma requiring lobectomy of lung. Interventions: The continuous ESPB was performed at the level of the T5 transverse process. The patient was received the multimodal analgesia consisted of oral celecoxib 200 mg twice daily, intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (Fentanyl 700 mcg, ketorolac 180 mg, total volume 100 ml), and local anesthetic (0.375% ropivacaine 30 ml with epinephrine 1:200000) injection via indwelling catheter every 12 hours for 5 days. Additionally, we injected a mixture of ropivacaine and contrast through the indwelling catheter for verifying effect of ESPB and performed Computed tomography 30 minutes later. Outcomes: The pain score was maintained below 3 points for postoperative 5 days, and no additional rescue analgesics were administered during this period. In the computed tomography, the contrast spread laterally from T2-T12 deep to the erector spinae muscle. On coronal view, the contrast spread to the costotransverse ligament connecting the rib and the transverse process. In the 3D reconstruction, the contrast spread from T6-T10 to the costotransverse foramen. Lessons: Our contrast imaging data provides valuable information about mechanism of ESPB from a living patient, and our report shows that ESPB can be a good option as a multimodal analgesia after lung lobectomy. |
Association of CTLA-4 tagging polymorphisms and haplotypes with hepatocellular carcinoma risk: A case-control study It has been proposed that cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) may attenuate the T-cell activation threshold, thereby decreasing the antitumor response and conferring susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we selected CTLA-4 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and explored the relationship between these polymorphisms and susceptibility to HCC. A hospital-based case-control study, comprising 584 cases with HCC and 923 controls, was performed in an eastern Chinese Han population. CTLA-4 SNPs were genotyped using a custom-by-design 48-Plex SNPscan Kit. We found that the CTLA-4 rs3087243 G>A polymorphism might be associated with increased risk of HCC (GA vs GG: adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.85; P = .028 and AA/GA vs GG: adjusted OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.08–1.89; P = .012). After using Bonferroni correction, this association remained (P = .012 for the AA/GA vs GG genetic model). In addition, the power value was 0.904 in the AA/GA versus GG genetic model. Haplotype analysis showed that CTLA4 Crs16840252Ars231775Ars3087243Trs733618, Crs16840252Grs231775Ars3087243Trs733618, and other haplotypes might increase the risk of HCC risk (P = .018, <.001, and .017, respectively). However, we found that CTLA4 Trs16840252A rs231775Grs3087243Trs733618 decreased the risk of HCC (P = .020). Our results suggest that the CTLA-4 rs3087243 G>A polymorphism increases susceptibility to HCC in an eastern Chinese Han population. CTLA-4 haplotypes may influence the development of HCC. In the future, a population-based fine-mapping study with functional assessment should be performed to further determine these potential correlations. |
Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182
6948891480
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