Exploring variables associated with medication non-adherence in patients with COPD

International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy - Background: Research has indicated that medication adherence is low and represents a barrier to achieve the desired health outcome in patients with...     

Strokectomy for malignant middle cerebral artery infarction: experience and meta-analysis of current evidence

Journal of Neurology - Strokectomy means surgical excision of infarcted brain tissue post-stroke with preservation of skull integrity, distinguishing it from decompressive hemicraniectomy. Both can...     

CTumorGAN: a unified framework for automatic computed tomography tumor segmentation

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging - Unlike the normal organ segmentation task, automatic tumor segmentation is a more challenging task because of the existence of similar...     

Male-specific Association between Iron and Lipid Metabolism Changes and Erythroferrone after Hepatitis C Virus Eradication

Objective Hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication is associated with decreased serum ferritin and increased serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, although the mechanisms underlying these changes remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the mechanisms underlying the changes in iron and lipid metabolism after HCV eradication. Methods We retrospectively investigated iron and lipid metabolism changes in 22 patients with chronic hepatitis or compensated liver cirrhosis with HCV genotype 1b infection after HCV eradication. We measured the serum erythroferrone (ERFE) levels to assess the association with these metabolic changes. Patients were administered ledipasvir 90 mg and sofosbuvir 400 mg once daily for 12 weeks and were observed for 12 more weeks to evaluate the sustained virological response. Results Half of the patients were men. At baseline, the serum ferritin and ERFE levels were elevated, while the serum LDL-C levels were within the normal range. All patients achieved a sustained virological response at 24 weeks; furthermore, the serum ferritin and ERFE levels were significantly decreased, and the serum LDL-C levels were significantly increased at 24 weeks from baseline (p＜0.001, all). In men, a decrease in serum ERFE levels was correlated with changes in the serum ferritin and LDL-C levels (r=0.78, p＜0.01; r=-0.76, p＜0.01, respectively). In addition, a decrease in the serum ferritin levels was correlated with an increase in the serum LDL-C levels (r=-0.89, p＜0.001). These correlations were not observed in women. Conclusion Our results suggest a possible association between iron and lipid metabolism changes and the involvement of ERFE after HCV eradication in men as well as potential sex-related differences.     

Double mapping with subareolar blue dye and peritumoral green dye injections decreases the false-negative rate of dye-only sentinel node biopsy for early breast cancer: 2-site injection is more accurate than 1-site injection

BACKGROUND: The optimum sentinel node biopsy (SNB) mapping method for breast cancer remains to be determined. No matter which mapping agents are used, 2-site injection may be superior to 1-site injection in limiting the false-negative rate. METHODS: We examined whether a double-mapping method with subareolar injection of blue dye and peritumoral injection of green dye would decrease the false-negative rate of dye-only SNB in 145 patients with early breast cancer. RESULTS: The identification rate for blue-dyed and/or green-dyed (including mixed color-dyed) lymph nodes was 96.6% (140/145). Sensitivity and specificity were 95.1% (39/41) and 100% (99 of 99), respectively. Accuracy was 98.6% (138/140) with a false-negative rate of 4.9% (2/41). There were 4 patients in whom nodes of each color were found, but nodes of only 1 color were shown to be positive. The primary tumors of these 4 patients and of the 2 patients with false-negative results were located in the upper-outer quadrant of the breast. When only blue-dyed or green-dyed nodes (including mixed color-dyed nodes) were counted, the false-negative rates were 10.3% (4/39) for the subareolar mapping technique and 10.0% (4/40) for the peritumoral mapping technique. CONCLUSIONS: The double-mapping method based on subareolar and peritumoral injections decreases the false-negative rate of dye-only SNB for early breast cancer. Variations in lymphatic channels may exist in the lateral half of the breast and thus may influence identification of positive sentinel nodes. This finding should be taken into account in cases of multicentric breast cancer.     

胆囊颈部结石嵌顿无或伴急性胆囊炎的免钛夹腹腔镜胆囊切除术

目的探讨用可吸收缝线结扎胆囊管和胆囊血管行免钛夹腹腔镜胆囊切除术（laparoscopic cholecystectomy,LC）治疗胆囊颈部结石嵌顿无或伴急性胆囊炎的安全性及可行性。方法 2008年12月～2010年7月53例胆囊颈部结石嵌顿无或伴急性胆囊炎全麻下行三孔法LC,采用分离钳、电凝钩、吸引器显露胆囊,对胆囊肿大、张力高的病人采用胆囊底、体部穿刺、打孔减压,保持胆囊颈部完整,根据胆囊三角情况采用顺行或逆行方式切除胆囊。解剖出胆囊管和胆囊动脉,用分离钳将长约10 cm的可吸收线（强生公司Vicryl 31 mm 1/2c）送入腹腔,腹腔内打结结扎胆囊管及胆囊血管的近端,远端不结扎用电凝钩电凝直接离断。根据术中情况术后放置或不放腹腔引流管。结果 53例手术全部成功,无中转开腹,未使用超声刀、钛夹及其他种类夹子。49例顺行胆囊切除,4例逆行胆囊切除,所有病例均未行胆囊颈部切开取石。手术时间30～70min,平均42 min;术中出血量15～200 ml,平均24 ml。18例放置腹腔引流1,～6 d拔出腹腔引流管,平均1.8 d。术后住院3～7 d,平均3.5 d。53例随访1～18个月,平均7.6月,无胆管损伤、出血、胆漏和腹腔感染等并发症。结论 LC中用可吸收缝线代替钛夹或其他夹子及超声刀处理胆囊管及胆囊血管治疗胆囊颈部结石嵌顿安全、可行。     

The Effects of a Partially Hydrolyzed Formula with Low Lactose and Probiotics on Mild Gastrointestinal Disorders of Infants: A Single-Armed Clinical Trial

Partially hydrolyzed formula (pHF) containing low lactose and probiotics may benefit the gastrointestinal health of infants. We aimed to assess the effects of pHF on mild gastrointestinal disorders (MGDs) of infants. In this single-armed trial, 80 full-term infants with MGDs were enrolled and fed a pHF for 14 consecutive days. The primary outcome resulted from the scores of gastrointestinal symptoms reported by parents using a validated Infant Gastrointestinal Symptom Questionnaire (IGSQ) at Day 0 (baseline), Day 7, and Day 14. The total IGSQ scores ranged from 13 to 65. Higher scores indicated worse gastrointestinal symptoms. The IGSQ scores (mean ± SD) decreased from Day 0 (36.0 ± 5.7) to Day 7 (28.7 ± 7.4) and Day 14 (26.5 ± 8.1 (p < 0.001), with corresponding digestive distress prevalence (IGSQ score > 30) decreasing from 87.5% to 35.0% and 28.8% (p < 0.001). In the first three days, vomiting and flatulence scores decreased at Day 1 versus Day 0, and the crying score decreased at Day 2, but no significant changes were observed for fussy and stool characteristics. All growth parameters increased and no parents reported adverse events. In conclusion, feeding with a pHF containing low lactose and probiotics may comfort infants with MGDs, and the comforting effect likely manifests early in the first three days of the feeding interventions. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT04112056","term_id":"NCT04112056"}}NCT04112056     

Public knowledge and awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors: a cross‐sectional study of 1000 Jordanians

Objective To assess the level of the current knowledge and understanding of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Jordan's general public, their behaviour towards CVD and the factors associated with different CVD knowledge levels. Methods The data in the present study were collected using an interview‐administered questionnaire. One thousand members of the general public were interviewed face to face. CVD knowledge was computed as a continuous variable. Key findings The present study reports limited public knowledge and awareness of CVD. Participants were more likely to have better CVD knowledge scores if they were non‐smokers, always or often paid attention to their diet, reported having an ‘about right’ weight, occupied a very high socioeconomic level, held a university degree and had positive family history of CVD. Participants indicated that the community pharmacists had to play a role in helping patients manage their prescribed medicines; however, they did not recognise the community pharmacists' role in other areas of CVD prevention and management. Conclusion The present study reports that the general public in Jordan has limited knowledge and awareness of CVD. In planning to positively impact CVD prevention and management, community pharmacists must develop and promote effective and accessible services.