Introduction: Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that develop from the connective and muscular tissues of the uterus. Common among African-American women, patients suffering from them often arrive late to the hospital...Introduction: Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that develop from the connective and muscular tissues of the uterus. Common among African-American women, patients suffering from them often arrive late to the hospital in our African regions. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and perception of uterine fibroids among women who came to the gynecology-obstetrics department of the Regional Hospital Center (CHR) Tsévié. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study, with data collection conducted from May 7th to 20th, 2024, using systematic sampling. The study included all women present in the Gynecology-Obstetrics Department of CHR Tsévié during the study period who willingly and informedly consented to participate in the survey. Results: 362 women participated in the study. Among them, 36.8% had a secondary level, and 72.9% were Christians. About 97.5% had heard of uterine fibroids. In 63.5% of cases, their entourage was the principal source of information. The diagnostic methods mentioned by the women were ultrasound in 94.6% of cases, while prayers and occultism were also cited in 28% and 33.3% of cases, respectively. While 91.9% of the women considered the hospital, the place for treatment, some indicated that treatment would require plant-based approaches (46.8%) and prayers (26%). The cost of treatment was an obstacle for 85.4% of women, and 61.3% expressed fear of dying during surgery. There was a statistically significant relationship between treatment choice and religion. Conclusion: The majority of women had heard of uterine fibroids but had incorrect information about the treatment.展开更多
AIM: To investigate serum interleukin(IL)-38 level and its clinical role in predicting virological response(VR) to telbivudine(Ld T) in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).METHODS: The study participants were divid...AIM: To investigate serum interleukin(IL)-38 level and its clinical role in predicting virological response(VR) to telbivudine(Ld T) in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).METHODS: The study participants were divided into two groups; one group consisted of 43 healthy controls(HCs) and the other group consisted of 46 patients with hepatitis B e antigen-positive CHB. All patients were administered 600 mg of oral Ld T daily for 52 wk, and they visited physicians every 12 wk for physical examination and laboratory tests. Serum IL-38 levels were determined using ELISA. The concentrations of serum Th1- and Th2-type cytokines were measured using the cytometric bead array(CBA) method. RESULTS: Serum levels of IL-38 at baseline in all patients were higher than those in HCs [306.97(123.26-492.79) pg/m L vs 184.50(135.56-292.16) pg/m L, P = 0.019]; the levels returned to normal after the first 12 wk of treatment with Ld T [175.51(103.90-331.91) pg/m L vs 184.50(135.56-292.16) pg/m L, P > 0.05]. Serum IL-38 levels at baseline were positively associated with serum aspartate aminotransferase levels in patients with CHB(r = 0.311, P = 0.036). Higher levels of serum IL-38 at baseline were associated with a greater probability of VR to Ld T treatment at 24 wk(48.15% vs 15.79%, P = 0.023) and 52 wk(66.67% vs 36.84%, P = 0.044). The levels of serum IL-38 in patients with primary nonresponse at week 12 after treatment initiation were lower than those in patients with primary response [64.44(49.85-172.08) pg/m L vs 190.54(121.35-355.28) pg/m L, P = 0.036]. Serum IL-38 levels were correlated with serum IL-6 and IL-12 levels in patients with CHB during treatment with Ld T. CONCLUSION: Elevated serum IL-38 levels in untreated CHB patients reflect ongoing liver injury. Higher serum IL-38 levels before treatment indicate a greater probability of VR to Ld T treatment.展开更多
文摘Introduction: Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that develop from the connective and muscular tissues of the uterus. Common among African-American women, patients suffering from them often arrive late to the hospital in our African regions. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and perception of uterine fibroids among women who came to the gynecology-obstetrics department of the Regional Hospital Center (CHR) Tsévié. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study, with data collection conducted from May 7th to 20th, 2024, using systematic sampling. The study included all women present in the Gynecology-Obstetrics Department of CHR Tsévié during the study period who willingly and informedly consented to participate in the survey. Results: 362 women participated in the study. Among them, 36.8% had a secondary level, and 72.9% were Christians. About 97.5% had heard of uterine fibroids. In 63.5% of cases, their entourage was the principal source of information. The diagnostic methods mentioned by the women were ultrasound in 94.6% of cases, while prayers and occultism were also cited in 28% and 33.3% of cases, respectively. While 91.9% of the women considered the hospital, the place for treatment, some indicated that treatment would require plant-based approaches (46.8%) and prayers (26%). The cost of treatment was an obstacle for 85.4% of women, and 61.3% expressed fear of dying during surgery. There was a statistically significant relationship between treatment choice and religion. Conclusion: The majority of women had heard of uterine fibroids but had incorrect information about the treatment.
文摘AIM: To investigate serum interleukin(IL)-38 level and its clinical role in predicting virological response(VR) to telbivudine(Ld T) in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).METHODS: The study participants were divided into two groups; one group consisted of 43 healthy controls(HCs) and the other group consisted of 46 patients with hepatitis B e antigen-positive CHB. All patients were administered 600 mg of oral Ld T daily for 52 wk, and they visited physicians every 12 wk for physical examination and laboratory tests. Serum IL-38 levels were determined using ELISA. The concentrations of serum Th1- and Th2-type cytokines were measured using the cytometric bead array(CBA) method. RESULTS: Serum levels of IL-38 at baseline in all patients were higher than those in HCs [306.97(123.26-492.79) pg/m L vs 184.50(135.56-292.16) pg/m L, P = 0.019]; the levels returned to normal after the first 12 wk of treatment with Ld T [175.51(103.90-331.91) pg/m L vs 184.50(135.56-292.16) pg/m L, P > 0.05]. Serum IL-38 levels at baseline were positively associated with serum aspartate aminotransferase levels in patients with CHB(r = 0.311, P = 0.036). Higher levels of serum IL-38 at baseline were associated with a greater probability of VR to Ld T treatment at 24 wk(48.15% vs 15.79%, P = 0.023) and 52 wk(66.67% vs 36.84%, P = 0.044). The levels of serum IL-38 in patients with primary nonresponse at week 12 after treatment initiation were lower than those in patients with primary response [64.44(49.85-172.08) pg/m L vs 190.54(121.35-355.28) pg/m L, P = 0.036]. Serum IL-38 levels were correlated with serum IL-6 and IL-12 levels in patients with CHB during treatment with Ld T. CONCLUSION: Elevated serum IL-38 levels in untreated CHB patients reflect ongoing liver injury. Higher serum IL-38 levels before treatment indicate a greater probability of VR to Ld T treatment.
