The significance of gut microbiota(GM)in human health is being increasingly researched.An imbalance in GM composition,known as dysbiosis,is linked to various and other health issues.In addition,antibiotics are the pri...The significance of gut microbiota(GM)in human health is being increasingly researched.An imbalance in GM composition,known as dysbiosis,is linked to various and other health issues.In addition,antibiotics are the primary and most significant factors leading to major changes in the composition and function of the GM,which may result in colonization by antimicrobial-resistant(AMR)pathogens.Therefore,alternative antibiotic strategies for combating AMR pathogens are urgently needed.This narrative review highlights current knowledge regarding various pertinent strategies for decolonizing bacterial pathogens from GM and emphasizes decolonization therapies’critical role in pediatric surgical disorders.Strategies such as decontamination of the digestive tract utilizing antibiotics,the use of probiotics,and particularly fecal microbiota transplantation have introduced new options for clinical treatment.These treatments show the potential to restore GM balance and have demonstrated advantages for intestinal disorders related to pediatric surgery,including inflammatory bowel disease,neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis,Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis,and short bowel syndrome.Despite GM therapeutics,recent strategies are still in their developmental phase and exhibit challenges that need further research.Thus,potential future directions for GMtargeted decolonization therapies are under consideration.Innovative alternative strategies to combat AMR though GM modulation in disorders related to pediatric surgery appear to be promising and should continue to be prioritized for further research and development.展开更多
BACKGROUND A diagnosis of a chronic disease has been shown to predispose patients to the development of feeding and eating disorders(FEDs).AIM To screen children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM)for ...BACKGROUND A diagnosis of a chronic disease has been shown to predispose patients to the development of feeding and eating disorders(FEDs).AIM To screen children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM)for FEDs and compare them to their counterparts with short stature.METHODS A total of 110 children and adolescents(55 with T1DM and 55 with short stature)were enrolled in the study.The SCOFF questionnaire was used to screen for possible FEDs,while anthropometric and dietary data were also collected.RESULTS Approximately 60%of the children with T1DM screened positive for FEDs compared to 30.9%of the children with short stature.Having a T1DM tripled the chances of screening positive for FEDs and halved the annual growth rate of children with T1DM.No differences were noted in the dietary intake between groups.CONCLUSION The results necessitate the education of pediatric endocrinologists and diabetologists on proper screening and identification of children at risk for developing FEDs.A prompt diagnosis might help children catch up growth and attain their genetically predisposed height.展开更多
Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing and remitting autoinflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that has many intestinal and extraintestinal complications. The purpose of treatment is long-term re...Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing and remitting autoinflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that has many intestinal and extraintestinal complications. The purpose of treatment is long-term remission, reduction of complications, and improvement of patients' quality of life. In many cases, this can be quite challenging and it is necessary to have a well thought out management strategy. We present the case of a 38-year-old woman with fistulizing CD that manifested as diffuse abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea accompanied by arthralgia. In addition, there were ulcerative lesions surrounded by cutaneous inflammation and erythema on her extremities, indicative of pyoderma gangrenosum. The patient was treated with high doses of parenteral methylprednisolone without any improvement and was started on adalimumab. A positive response to adalimumab therapy was observed: after 2 mo of therapy, the ulcerative skin lesion healed completely and the enterogastric fistula was closed affcer 5 mo adalimumab treatment. Adalimumab might be a suitable initial as well as maintenance therapy in patients with complicated CD.展开更多
A 78-year-old man with a history of mitral valve prolapse underwent echocardiography during his cardiological check-up examination in 2011 in a symptom-free stage. Echocardiography revealed akinesis of the inferior se...A 78-year-old man with a history of mitral valve prolapse underwent echocardiography during his cardiological check-up examination in 2011 in a symptom-free stage. Echocardiography revealed akinesis of the inferior septum and inferobasal free wall as a novel finding suggesting a distal right coronary artery (RCA) lesion (Figure 1). The systolic left ventricular function was normal. Earlier echocardiographies did not show wall motion abnormalities.展开更多
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is associated with a favorable outcome only in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) pattern and in patients with a QRS duration 〉 150 ms, in patients with non-LBBB...Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is associated with a favorable outcome only in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) pattern and in patients with a QRS duration 〉 150 ms, in patients with non-LBBB pattern with a QRS duration of 120-150 ms usually is not beneficial. After adjusting for QRS duration, QRS morphology was no longer a determinant of the clinical response to CRT. In contrast to the mainstream view, we hypothesized that the unfavorable CRT outcome in patients with non-LBBB and a QRS duration of 120-150 ms is not due to the QRS morphology itself, but to less dyssynchrony and unfavorable patient characteristics in this subgroup, such as more ischemic etiology and greater prevalence of male patients compared with patients with LBBB pattern. Further, the current CRT technique is devised to eliminate the dyssynchrony present in patients with LBBB pattern and inappropriate to eliminate the dyssynchrony in patients with non-LBBB pattern. We also hypothesized that electrocardiography may also provide information about the presence of interventricular and left intraventricular dyssynchrony and the approximate location of the latest activated left ventricular (LV) region. To this end, we devised new ECG criteria to estimate interventricular and LV intraventricular dyssynchrony and the approximate location of the latest activated LV region. Our preliminary data demonstrated that the latest activated LV region in patients with nonspecific intraventricular conduction disturbance (NICD) pattern might be at a remote site from that present in patients with LBBB pattern, which might necessitate the invention of a novel CRT technique for patients with NICD pattern. The application of the new interventricular and LV intraventricular dyssynchrony ECG criteria and a potential novel CRT technique might decrease the currently high nonresponder rate in patients with NICD pattern.展开更多
The aim of the present review was to examine objective and subjective burdens in primary caregivers(usually family members) of patients with bipolar disorder(BD) and to list which symptoms of the patients are consider...The aim of the present review was to examine objective and subjective burdens in primary caregivers(usually family members) of patients with bipolar disorder(BD) and to list which symptoms of the patients are considered more burdensome by the caregivers. In order to provide a critical review about caregiver's burden in patients with bipolar disorder, we performed a detailed Pub Med, Bio Med Central, ISI Web of Science, Psyc INFO, Elsevier Science Direct and Cochrane Library search to identify all papers and book chapters in English published during the period between 1963 and November 2011. The highest levels of distress were caused by the patient's behavior and the patient's role dysfunction(work, education and social relationships). Furthermore, the caregiving role compromises other social roles occupied by the caregiver, becoming part of the heavy social cost of bipolar affective disorder. There is a need to better understand caregivers' views and personal perceptions of the stresses and demands arising from caring for someone with BD in order to develop practical appropriate interventions and to improve the training of caregivers.展开更多
Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is a global pandemic where several comorbidities have been shown to have a significant effect on mortality.Patients with diabetes mellitus(DM)have a higher mortality rate than non-DM ...Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is a global pandemic where several comorbidities have been shown to have a significant effect on mortality.Patients with diabetes mellitus(DM)have a higher mortality rate than non-DM patients if they get COVID-19.Recent studies have indicated that patients with a history of diabetes can increase the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.Additionally,patients without any history of diabetes can acquire newonset DM when infected with COVID-19.Thus,there is a need to explore the bidirectional link between these two conditions,confirming the vicious loop between“DM/COVID-19”.This narrative review presents(1)the bidirectional association between the DM and COVID-19,(2)the manifestations of the DM/COVID-19 loop leading to cardiovascular disease,(3)an understanding of primary and secondary factors that influence mortality due to the DM/COVID-19 loop,(4)the role of vitamin-D in DM patients during COVID-19,and finally,(5)the monitoring tools for tracking atherosclerosis burden in DM patients during COVID-19 and“COVID-triggered DM”patients.We conclude that the bidirectional nature of DM/COVID-19 causes acceleration towards cardiovascular events.Due to this alarming condition,early monitoring of atherosclerotic burden is required in“Diabetes patients during COVID-19”or“new-onset Diabetes triggered by COVID-19 in Non-Diabetes patients”.展开更多
The article by Wu et al.1 is an interesting and meticulous work investigating the role of human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells(hWJ-MSCs)in the treatment of erectile dysfunction(ED)in th...The article by Wu et al.1 is an interesting and meticulous work investigating the role of human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells(hWJ-MSCs)in the treatment of erectile dysfunction(ED)in the diabetic rat model.展开更多
BACKGROUND Pubic ramus fractures are generally considered fragility fractures in the elderly population,commonly deriving from a low-impact fall.Treatment is ordinarily conservative and hemodynamic complications are e...BACKGROUND Pubic ramus fractures are generally considered fragility fractures in the elderly population,commonly deriving from a low-impact fall.Treatment is ordinarily conservative and hemodynamic complications are exceedingly infrequent.Notwithstanding,patients with copious comorbidities should be carefully monitored for potential vascular injury.CASE SUMMARY This case report presents the management of a 75-year-old male patient with a history of diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension who was admitted to the emergency room with a superior pubic ramus fracture.The patient experienced a significant drop in hematocrit and hemoglobin levels post-admission,necessi-tating urgent intervention.A computed tomography angiography revealed active bleeding,leading to the embolization of the medial femoral branch.The patient was stabilized hemodynamically and was discharged after 15 days,with recom-mendations for home-based follow-up care.CONCLUSION This report denotes the various challenges and strategies in managing simple fractures that are treated conservatively,but need prompt monitoring for occult vascular injuries that can be fatal.展开更多
BACKGROUND Recently,it has been suggested that the duodenum may be the pathological locus of functional dyspepsia(FD).Additionally,an image-based artificial intelligence(AI)model was shown to discriminate colonoscopy ...BACKGROUND Recently,it has been suggested that the duodenum may be the pathological locus of functional dyspepsia(FD).Additionally,an image-based artificial intelligence(AI)model was shown to discriminate colonoscopy images of irritable bowel syndrome from healthy subjects with an area under the curve(AUC)0.95.AIM To evaluate an AI model to distinguish duodenal images of FD patients from healthy subjects.METHODS Duodenal images were collected from hospital records and labeled as"functional dyspepsia"or non-FD in electronic medical records.Helicobacter pylori(HP)infection status was obtained from the Japan Endoscopy Database.Google Cloud AutoML Vision was used to classify four groups:FD/HP current infection(n=32),FD/HP uninfected(n=35),non-FD/HP current infection(n=39),and non-FD/HP uninfected(n=33).Patients with organic diseases(e.g.,cancer,ulcer,postoperative abdomen,reflux)and narrow-band or dye-spread images were excluded.Sensitivity,specificity,and AUC were calculated.RESULTS In total,484 images were randomly selected for FD/HP current infection,FD/HP uninfected,non-FD/current infection,and non-FD/HP uninfected.The overall AUC for the four groups was 0.47.The individual AUC values were as follows:FD/HP current infection(0.20),FD/HP uninfected(0.35),non-FD/current infection(0.46),and non-FD/HP uninfected(0.74).Next,using the same images,we constructed models to determine the presence or absence of FD in the HP-infected or uninfected patients.The model exhibited a sensitivity of 58.3%,specificity of 100%,positive predictive value of 100%,negative predictive value of 77.3%,and an AUC of 0.85 in HP uninfected patients.CONCLUSION We developed an image-based AI model to distinguish duodenal images of FD from healthy subjects,showing higher accuracy in HP-uninfected patients.These findings suggest AI-assisted endoscopic diagnosis of FD may be feasible.展开更多
BACKGROUND Silver-Russell syndrome(SRS)is a clinically heterogeneous entity characterized by intrauterine and postnatal growth restriction,relative macrocephaly at birth,distinct facial features,and body asymmetry com...BACKGROUND Silver-Russell syndrome(SRS)is a clinically heterogeneous entity characterized by intrauterine and postnatal growth restriction,relative macrocephaly at birth,distinct facial features,and body asymmetry combined with other malformations.CASE SUMMARY Herein,we describe four individuals with SRS,focusing on their prenatal phenotype,postnatal presentation,diagnosis,and management.All cases had a typical phenotype,including postnatal growth failure,short stature(chronic malnutrition),and protruding forehead.Individually,they presented with feeding difficulties,leg length discrepancy,triangular face,or relative macrocephaly at birth,and each one exhibited distinct SRS features,including motor and/or speech delay,experiencing frequent hypoglycemic episodes.The fact that each patient exhibited a different combination of clinical findings underlines the heterogeneity of the syndrome.CONCLUSION SRS is diagnosed clinically.However,only 60%of cases are genetically confirmed,while most are sporadic.Although SRS is a well-described syndrome,a delayed diagnosis can have grave consequences on a child’s growth.Recombinant human growth hormone treatment is often initiated shortly after the diagnosis.The follow-up requires a multidisciplinary approach.展开更多
Upper gastrointestinal(UGI)endoscopy has become increasingly popular with the recent advancements in technology and the increase of minimally invasive techniques.UGI endoscopy is indicated for diagnostic,staging,and t...Upper gastrointestinal(UGI)endoscopy has become increasingly popular with the recent advancements in technology and the increase of minimally invasive techniques.UGI endoscopy is indicated for diagnostic,staging,and therapeutic purposes and significantly influences the management of patients with a spectrum of foregut diseases,including esophageal and gastric malignancies,achalasia,and gastroesophageal reflux disease.There is growing evidence that intraoperative UGI endoscopy can be a useful adjunct and a powerful tool to enhance tumor localization,offering a direct evaluation of the surgical reconstruction and identifying potential sources of postoperative complications.However,its widespread utilization has been limited by concerns over cost,accessibility,and sufficient training and expertise.The aim of the current study was to review and elaborate on the available literature while presenting our experience in an academic institution specializing in esophagogastric surgery with intraoperative UGI endoscopy.We focused on the indications,added benefits,and related complications.展开更多
BACKGROUND Tofacitinib is an oral,selective Janus kinase inhibitor that is approved for the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC).The 8-week induction protocol involves the administration of 10 mg twice daily(bid)with t...BACKGROUND Tofacitinib is an oral,selective Janus kinase inhibitor that is approved for the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC).The 8-week induction protocol involves the administration of 10 mg twice daily(bid)with the possibility of extending the induction period to 16 weeks.The maintenance dose of tofacitinib is either 5 mg or 10 mg bid.AIM To assess predictors for clinical remission and drug persistence in patients with UC receiving the extended induction tofacitinib protocol.METHODS This was a real-world multicenter retrospective study in patients with moderateto-severe UC.Patients received physician-directed extended induction tofacitinib treatment.We collected clinical and demographic data at baseline and data regarding clinical,laboratory,and endoscopic evaluations,therapeutic modifications,and adverse events at the 52-week follow-up.Possible predictors for clinical remission at week 52 was the primary endpoint.Differences between patients receiving 5 mg bid vs 10 mg bid at week 52 and identification of predictors for treatment persistence were secondary endpoints.RESULTS Thirty-seven consecutive patients from 11 medical centers were included[51.4%males with median age 39(17-64)years].Twenty-eight patients continued treatment until week 52(75.7%)with 67.9%receiving 10 mg tofacitinib;all had prior history of biologic use.We observed that 57.1%of patients achieved clinical remission(66.7%in the 5 mg tofacitinib group and 52.6%in the 10 mg tofacitinib group,P=0.483).De-escalation to 5 mg tofacitinib was attempted in 17 patients with a success rate of 52.9%.Prior biologic use was significantly more frequent in patients treated with 10 mg tofacitinib.Active smoking was significantly associated with treatment discontinuation at week 52.We identified eight adverse events,and only one led to treatment discontinuation.CONCLUSION Our results supported the extended induction strategy with tofacitinib in selected patients with UC.Patients with prior failure of advanced therapies particularly benefitted,highlighting the importance of personalized maintenance regimens.展开更多
Primary splenic cyst is a relatively rare disease, and the majority of cases are classified as epithelial cysts. Three cases with nonparasitic splenic cysts are presented: two epithelial and one pseudocyst. All cases ...Primary splenic cyst is a relatively rare disease, and the majority of cases are classified as epithelial cysts. Three cases with nonparasitic splenic cysts are presented: two epithelial and one pseudocyst. All cases had an atypical symptomatology, consisted mainly of fullness in the left upper abdomen and a palpable mass. Preoperative diagnosis was established with ultrasonography and computerized tomography. Two cases with large cysts located in the splenic hilum were treated with open complete splenectomy. The most recent case, a pseudocyst, was managed laparoscopically with partial cystectomy. All cases did not have any problems or recurrence during follow-up. Laparoscopic partial cystectomy is an acceptable procedure for the treatment of splenic cysts, because it cures the disease preserving the splenic tissue. Complete splenectomy is reserved for cases in which cyst excision cannot be done otherwise.展开更多
"Psychosocial stress" is an increasingly common concept in the challenging and highly-demanding modern society of today. Organic response to stress implicates two major components of the stress system, namel..."Psychosocial stress" is an increasingly common concept in the challenging and highly-demanding modern society of today. Organic response to stress implicates two major components of the stress system, namely the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. Stress is anamnestically reported by patients during the course of disease, usually accompanied by a decline in their overall health status. As the mechanisms involving glucocorticoids and catecholamines have been deciphered, and their actions on immune cell function deeper understood, it has become clear that stress has an impact on hepatic inflam-matory response. An increasing number of articles have approached the link between psychosocial stress and the negative evolution of hepatic diseases. This article reviews a number of studies on both human populations and animal models performed in recent years, all linking stress, mainly of psychosocial nature, and the evolution of three important liver-related pathological entities: viral hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.展开更多
Fine-needle aspiration(FNA) cytology is an important diagnostic tool in patients with thyroid lesions.Several systems have been proposed for the cyropathologic diagnosis of the thyroid nodules.However cases with indet...Fine-needle aspiration(FNA) cytology is an important diagnostic tool in patients with thyroid lesions.Several systems have been proposed for the cyropathologic diagnosis of the thyroid nodules.However cases with indeterminate cytological findings still remain a matter of debate.In this review we analyze all literature regarding Thyroid Cytopathology Reporting systems trying to identify the most suitable methodology to use in clinical practice for the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules.A review of the English literature was conducted,and data were analyzed and summarized and integrated from the authors' perspective.The main purpose of thyroid FNA is to identify patients with higher risk for malignancy,and to prevent unnecessary surgeries for benign conditions.The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology is the most widely used system for the diagnosis of thyroid FNA specimens.This system also contains guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of indeterminate or suspicious for malignancy cases.In conclusion,patients who require repeated FNAs for indeterminate diagnoses will be resolved by repeat FNA in a percentage of 72%-80%.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the feasibility of separation and cultivation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in pancreatic cancer (PaC) using a filtration device.
This paper first researches the system's response-feature due to the sliding regime related to the slope of a switching line, and then makes an investigation on the existence condition and hitting condition. Based...This paper first researches the system's response-feature due to the sliding regime related to the slope of a switching line, and then makes an investigation on the existence condition and hitting condition. Based on these conditions, the paper proposes a switching function that can realize an error adaptive variable structure control (AVSC) successfully. For eliminating the chattering of the sliding regime, this VSS introduces a dead zone, in which the PID control is applied. The composition of the PID control and the AVSC is called composite control of linear / AVSC. When the control signal is a large one, the AVSC is applied in the majority, and when the signal is a low one, the PID control is applied. Finally, an example of overload control of an anti-ship aerodynamic missile is illustrated to show the application of the composite control.展开更多
The purpose of this study was to identify and validate circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in human plasma for use as breast cancer (BC) biomarkers and to analyze their relationship to clinicopathologic features and it...The purpose of this study was to identify and validate circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in human plasma for use as breast cancer (BC) biomarkers and to analyze their relationship to clinicopathologic features and its preliminary biological function. Genome-wide expression profiling of miRNAs in BC was investigated by microarray analysis, miR-155 was up-regulated greater than two-fold in BC compared with Normal Adjacent Tissue (NAT), whereas let-7b, miR-381, miR-10b, miR-125a-Sp, miR-335, miR-205 and miR-145 were down- regulated greater than two-fold. Our hypothesis was that circulating miRNAs are also present and differentially expressed in the serum of BC patients compared to controls. Using real-time PCR (RT-PCR), we analyzed miR-205 and miR-155 in archived serum from 30 participants, 20 with breast cancer and I0 healthy people, miR-205 was down-regulated in BC patient serum while miR-155 was up-regulated. Furthermore, we analyzed the relationship between the expression levels of these two miRNAs and the clinicopathologic parameters of BC patients. High expression of miR155 was associated with clinical stage, molecular type, Ki-67 and p53 in BC patients (P〈0.05). By contrast, we found no significant correlation between miR-205 and BC patient clinicopathologic parameters. Functional analysis showed that ectopic expression of miR-205 significantly inhibits cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis, miR-205 was down- regulated and miR-155 was up-regulated in BC patient serum, miR-155 was positive correlated with clinical stage and 16-67 and negatively correlated with p53 status.展开更多
文摘The significance of gut microbiota(GM)in human health is being increasingly researched.An imbalance in GM composition,known as dysbiosis,is linked to various and other health issues.In addition,antibiotics are the primary and most significant factors leading to major changes in the composition and function of the GM,which may result in colonization by antimicrobial-resistant(AMR)pathogens.Therefore,alternative antibiotic strategies for combating AMR pathogens are urgently needed.This narrative review highlights current knowledge regarding various pertinent strategies for decolonizing bacterial pathogens from GM and emphasizes decolonization therapies’critical role in pediatric surgical disorders.Strategies such as decontamination of the digestive tract utilizing antibiotics,the use of probiotics,and particularly fecal microbiota transplantation have introduced new options for clinical treatment.These treatments show the potential to restore GM balance and have demonstrated advantages for intestinal disorders related to pediatric surgery,including inflammatory bowel disease,neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis,Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis,and short bowel syndrome.Despite GM therapeutics,recent strategies are still in their developmental phase and exhibit challenges that need further research.Thus,potential future directions for GMtargeted decolonization therapies are under consideration.Innovative alternative strategies to combat AMR though GM modulation in disorders related to pediatric surgery appear to be promising and should continue to be prioritized for further research and development.
文摘BACKGROUND A diagnosis of a chronic disease has been shown to predispose patients to the development of feeding and eating disorders(FEDs).AIM To screen children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM)for FEDs and compare them to their counterparts with short stature.METHODS A total of 110 children and adolescents(55 with T1DM and 55 with short stature)were enrolled in the study.The SCOFF questionnaire was used to screen for possible FEDs,while anthropometric and dietary data were also collected.RESULTS Approximately 60%of the children with T1DM screened positive for FEDs compared to 30.9%of the children with short stature.Having a T1DM tripled the chances of screening positive for FEDs and halved the annual growth rate of children with T1DM.No differences were noted in the dietary intake between groups.CONCLUSION The results necessitate the education of pediatric endocrinologists and diabetologists on proper screening and identification of children at risk for developing FEDs.A prompt diagnosis might help children catch up growth and attain their genetically predisposed height.
文摘Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing and remitting autoinflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that has many intestinal and extraintestinal complications. The purpose of treatment is long-term remission, reduction of complications, and improvement of patients' quality of life. In many cases, this can be quite challenging and it is necessary to have a well thought out management strategy. We present the case of a 38-year-old woman with fistulizing CD that manifested as diffuse abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea accompanied by arthralgia. In addition, there were ulcerative lesions surrounded by cutaneous inflammation and erythema on her extremities, indicative of pyoderma gangrenosum. The patient was treated with high doses of parenteral methylprednisolone without any improvement and was started on adalimumab. A positive response to adalimumab therapy was observed: after 2 mo of therapy, the ulcerative skin lesion healed completely and the enterogastric fistula was closed affcer 5 mo adalimumab treatment. Adalimumab might be a suitable initial as well as maintenance therapy in patients with complicated CD.
文摘A 78-year-old man with a history of mitral valve prolapse underwent echocardiography during his cardiological check-up examination in 2011 in a symptom-free stage. Echocardiography revealed akinesis of the inferior septum and inferobasal free wall as a novel finding suggesting a distal right coronary artery (RCA) lesion (Figure 1). The systolic left ventricular function was normal. Earlier echocardiographies did not show wall motion abnormalities.
文摘Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is associated with a favorable outcome only in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) pattern and in patients with a QRS duration 〉 150 ms, in patients with non-LBBB pattern with a QRS duration of 120-150 ms usually is not beneficial. After adjusting for QRS duration, QRS morphology was no longer a determinant of the clinical response to CRT. In contrast to the mainstream view, we hypothesized that the unfavorable CRT outcome in patients with non-LBBB and a QRS duration of 120-150 ms is not due to the QRS morphology itself, but to less dyssynchrony and unfavorable patient characteristics in this subgroup, such as more ischemic etiology and greater prevalence of male patients compared with patients with LBBB pattern. Further, the current CRT technique is devised to eliminate the dyssynchrony present in patients with LBBB pattern and inappropriate to eliminate the dyssynchrony in patients with non-LBBB pattern. We also hypothesized that electrocardiography may also provide information about the presence of interventricular and left intraventricular dyssynchrony and the approximate location of the latest activated left ventricular (LV) region. To this end, we devised new ECG criteria to estimate interventricular and LV intraventricular dyssynchrony and the approximate location of the latest activated LV region. Our preliminary data demonstrated that the latest activated LV region in patients with nonspecific intraventricular conduction disturbance (NICD) pattern might be at a remote site from that present in patients with LBBB pattern, which might necessitate the invention of a novel CRT technique for patients with NICD pattern. The application of the new interventricular and LV intraventricular dyssynchrony ECG criteria and a potential novel CRT technique might decrease the currently high nonresponder rate in patients with NICD pattern.
文摘The aim of the present review was to examine objective and subjective burdens in primary caregivers(usually family members) of patients with bipolar disorder(BD) and to list which symptoms of the patients are considered more burdensome by the caregivers. In order to provide a critical review about caregiver's burden in patients with bipolar disorder, we performed a detailed Pub Med, Bio Med Central, ISI Web of Science, Psyc INFO, Elsevier Science Direct and Cochrane Library search to identify all papers and book chapters in English published during the period between 1963 and November 2011. The highest levels of distress were caused by the patient's behavior and the patient's role dysfunction(work, education and social relationships). Furthermore, the caregiving role compromises other social roles occupied by the caregiver, becoming part of the heavy social cost of bipolar affective disorder. There is a need to better understand caregivers' views and personal perceptions of the stresses and demands arising from caring for someone with BD in order to develop practical appropriate interventions and to improve the training of caregivers.
文摘Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is a global pandemic where several comorbidities have been shown to have a significant effect on mortality.Patients with diabetes mellitus(DM)have a higher mortality rate than non-DM patients if they get COVID-19.Recent studies have indicated that patients with a history of diabetes can increase the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.Additionally,patients without any history of diabetes can acquire newonset DM when infected with COVID-19.Thus,there is a need to explore the bidirectional link between these two conditions,confirming the vicious loop between“DM/COVID-19”.This narrative review presents(1)the bidirectional association between the DM and COVID-19,(2)the manifestations of the DM/COVID-19 loop leading to cardiovascular disease,(3)an understanding of primary and secondary factors that influence mortality due to the DM/COVID-19 loop,(4)the role of vitamin-D in DM patients during COVID-19,and finally,(5)the monitoring tools for tracking atherosclerosis burden in DM patients during COVID-19 and“COVID-triggered DM”patients.We conclude that the bidirectional nature of DM/COVID-19 causes acceleration towards cardiovascular events.Due to this alarming condition,early monitoring of atherosclerotic burden is required in“Diabetes patients during COVID-19”or“new-onset Diabetes triggered by COVID-19 in Non-Diabetes patients”.
文摘The article by Wu et al.1 is an interesting and meticulous work investigating the role of human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells(hWJ-MSCs)in the treatment of erectile dysfunction(ED)in the diabetic rat model.
文摘BACKGROUND Pubic ramus fractures are generally considered fragility fractures in the elderly population,commonly deriving from a low-impact fall.Treatment is ordinarily conservative and hemodynamic complications are exceedingly infrequent.Notwithstanding,patients with copious comorbidities should be carefully monitored for potential vascular injury.CASE SUMMARY This case report presents the management of a 75-year-old male patient with a history of diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension who was admitted to the emergency room with a superior pubic ramus fracture.The patient experienced a significant drop in hematocrit and hemoglobin levels post-admission,necessi-tating urgent intervention.A computed tomography angiography revealed active bleeding,leading to the embolization of the medial femoral branch.The patient was stabilized hemodynamically and was discharged after 15 days,with recom-mendations for home-based follow-up care.CONCLUSION This report denotes the various challenges and strategies in managing simple fractures that are treated conservatively,but need prompt monitoring for occult vascular injuries that can be fatal.
文摘BACKGROUND Recently,it has been suggested that the duodenum may be the pathological locus of functional dyspepsia(FD).Additionally,an image-based artificial intelligence(AI)model was shown to discriminate colonoscopy images of irritable bowel syndrome from healthy subjects with an area under the curve(AUC)0.95.AIM To evaluate an AI model to distinguish duodenal images of FD patients from healthy subjects.METHODS Duodenal images were collected from hospital records and labeled as"functional dyspepsia"or non-FD in electronic medical records.Helicobacter pylori(HP)infection status was obtained from the Japan Endoscopy Database.Google Cloud AutoML Vision was used to classify four groups:FD/HP current infection(n=32),FD/HP uninfected(n=35),non-FD/HP current infection(n=39),and non-FD/HP uninfected(n=33).Patients with organic diseases(e.g.,cancer,ulcer,postoperative abdomen,reflux)and narrow-band or dye-spread images were excluded.Sensitivity,specificity,and AUC were calculated.RESULTS In total,484 images were randomly selected for FD/HP current infection,FD/HP uninfected,non-FD/current infection,and non-FD/HP uninfected.The overall AUC for the four groups was 0.47.The individual AUC values were as follows:FD/HP current infection(0.20),FD/HP uninfected(0.35),non-FD/current infection(0.46),and non-FD/HP uninfected(0.74).Next,using the same images,we constructed models to determine the presence or absence of FD in the HP-infected or uninfected patients.The model exhibited a sensitivity of 58.3%,specificity of 100%,positive predictive value of 100%,negative predictive value of 77.3%,and an AUC of 0.85 in HP uninfected patients.CONCLUSION We developed an image-based AI model to distinguish duodenal images of FD from healthy subjects,showing higher accuracy in HP-uninfected patients.These findings suggest AI-assisted endoscopic diagnosis of FD may be feasible.
文摘BACKGROUND Silver-Russell syndrome(SRS)is a clinically heterogeneous entity characterized by intrauterine and postnatal growth restriction,relative macrocephaly at birth,distinct facial features,and body asymmetry combined with other malformations.CASE SUMMARY Herein,we describe four individuals with SRS,focusing on their prenatal phenotype,postnatal presentation,diagnosis,and management.All cases had a typical phenotype,including postnatal growth failure,short stature(chronic malnutrition),and protruding forehead.Individually,they presented with feeding difficulties,leg length discrepancy,triangular face,or relative macrocephaly at birth,and each one exhibited distinct SRS features,including motor and/or speech delay,experiencing frequent hypoglycemic episodes.The fact that each patient exhibited a different combination of clinical findings underlines the heterogeneity of the syndrome.CONCLUSION SRS is diagnosed clinically.However,only 60%of cases are genetically confirmed,while most are sporadic.Although SRS is a well-described syndrome,a delayed diagnosis can have grave consequences on a child’s growth.Recombinant human growth hormone treatment is often initiated shortly after the diagnosis.The follow-up requires a multidisciplinary approach.
文摘Upper gastrointestinal(UGI)endoscopy has become increasingly popular with the recent advancements in technology and the increase of minimally invasive techniques.UGI endoscopy is indicated for diagnostic,staging,and therapeutic purposes and significantly influences the management of patients with a spectrum of foregut diseases,including esophageal and gastric malignancies,achalasia,and gastroesophageal reflux disease.There is growing evidence that intraoperative UGI endoscopy can be a useful adjunct and a powerful tool to enhance tumor localization,offering a direct evaluation of the surgical reconstruction and identifying potential sources of postoperative complications.However,its widespread utilization has been limited by concerns over cost,accessibility,and sufficient training and expertise.The aim of the current study was to review and elaborate on the available literature while presenting our experience in an academic institution specializing in esophagogastric surgery with intraoperative UGI endoscopy.We focused on the indications,added benefits,and related complications.
文摘BACKGROUND Tofacitinib is an oral,selective Janus kinase inhibitor that is approved for the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC).The 8-week induction protocol involves the administration of 10 mg twice daily(bid)with the possibility of extending the induction period to 16 weeks.The maintenance dose of tofacitinib is either 5 mg or 10 mg bid.AIM To assess predictors for clinical remission and drug persistence in patients with UC receiving the extended induction tofacitinib protocol.METHODS This was a real-world multicenter retrospective study in patients with moderateto-severe UC.Patients received physician-directed extended induction tofacitinib treatment.We collected clinical and demographic data at baseline and data regarding clinical,laboratory,and endoscopic evaluations,therapeutic modifications,and adverse events at the 52-week follow-up.Possible predictors for clinical remission at week 52 was the primary endpoint.Differences between patients receiving 5 mg bid vs 10 mg bid at week 52 and identification of predictors for treatment persistence were secondary endpoints.RESULTS Thirty-seven consecutive patients from 11 medical centers were included[51.4%males with median age 39(17-64)years].Twenty-eight patients continued treatment until week 52(75.7%)with 67.9%receiving 10 mg tofacitinib;all had prior history of biologic use.We observed that 57.1%of patients achieved clinical remission(66.7%in the 5 mg tofacitinib group and 52.6%in the 10 mg tofacitinib group,P=0.483).De-escalation to 5 mg tofacitinib was attempted in 17 patients with a success rate of 52.9%.Prior biologic use was significantly more frequent in patients treated with 10 mg tofacitinib.Active smoking was significantly associated with treatment discontinuation at week 52.We identified eight adverse events,and only one led to treatment discontinuation.CONCLUSION Our results supported the extended induction strategy with tofacitinib in selected patients with UC.Patients with prior failure of advanced therapies particularly benefitted,highlighting the importance of personalized maintenance regimens.
文摘Primary splenic cyst is a relatively rare disease, and the majority of cases are classified as epithelial cysts. Three cases with nonparasitic splenic cysts are presented: two epithelial and one pseudocyst. All cases had an atypical symptomatology, consisted mainly of fullness in the left upper abdomen and a palpable mass. Preoperative diagnosis was established with ultrasonography and computerized tomography. Two cases with large cysts located in the splenic hilum were treated with open complete splenectomy. The most recent case, a pseudocyst, was managed laparoscopically with partial cystectomy. All cases did not have any problems or recurrence during follow-up. Laparoscopic partial cystectomy is an acceptable procedure for the treatment of splenic cysts, because it cures the disease preserving the splenic tissue. Complete splenectomy is reserved for cases in which cyst excision cannot be done otherwise.
文摘"Psychosocial stress" is an increasingly common concept in the challenging and highly-demanding modern society of today. Organic response to stress implicates two major components of the stress system, namely the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. Stress is anamnestically reported by patients during the course of disease, usually accompanied by a decline in their overall health status. As the mechanisms involving glucocorticoids and catecholamines have been deciphered, and their actions on immune cell function deeper understood, it has become clear that stress has an impact on hepatic inflam-matory response. An increasing number of articles have approached the link between psychosocial stress and the negative evolution of hepatic diseases. This article reviews a number of studies on both human populations and animal models performed in recent years, all linking stress, mainly of psychosocial nature, and the evolution of three important liver-related pathological entities: viral hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
文摘Fine-needle aspiration(FNA) cytology is an important diagnostic tool in patients with thyroid lesions.Several systems have been proposed for the cyropathologic diagnosis of the thyroid nodules.However cases with indeterminate cytological findings still remain a matter of debate.In this review we analyze all literature regarding Thyroid Cytopathology Reporting systems trying to identify the most suitable methodology to use in clinical practice for the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules.A review of the English literature was conducted,and data were analyzed and summarized and integrated from the authors' perspective.The main purpose of thyroid FNA is to identify patients with higher risk for malignancy,and to prevent unnecessary surgeries for benign conditions.The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology is the most widely used system for the diagnosis of thyroid FNA specimens.This system also contains guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of indeterminate or suspicious for malignancy cases.In conclusion,patients who require repeated FNAs for indeterminate diagnoses will be resolved by repeat FNA in a percentage of 72%-80%.
基金Supported by Research project"CTC in gastrointestinal cancer"awarded by League Against Cancer Prague,Czech Republic and grant of the Czech Ministry of Health,No.IGA NT14439-3/2013the projects by Ministry of Helath Czech Republic,conceptual development of research organization,University Hospital Motol,Prague Czech Republic,No.000 64203
文摘AIM: To investigate the feasibility of separation and cultivation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in pancreatic cancer (PaC) using a filtration device.
文摘This paper first researches the system's response-feature due to the sliding regime related to the slope of a switching line, and then makes an investigation on the existence condition and hitting condition. Based on these conditions, the paper proposes a switching function that can realize an error adaptive variable structure control (AVSC) successfully. For eliminating the chattering of the sliding regime, this VSS introduces a dead zone, in which the PID control is applied. The composition of the PID control and the AVSC is called composite control of linear / AVSC. When the control signal is a large one, the AVSC is applied in the majority, and when the signal is a low one, the PID control is applied. Finally, an example of overload control of an anti-ship aerodynamic missile is illustrated to show the application of the composite control.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30872955)
文摘The purpose of this study was to identify and validate circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in human plasma for use as breast cancer (BC) biomarkers and to analyze their relationship to clinicopathologic features and its preliminary biological function. Genome-wide expression profiling of miRNAs in BC was investigated by microarray analysis, miR-155 was up-regulated greater than two-fold in BC compared with Normal Adjacent Tissue (NAT), whereas let-7b, miR-381, miR-10b, miR-125a-Sp, miR-335, miR-205 and miR-145 were down- regulated greater than two-fold. Our hypothesis was that circulating miRNAs are also present and differentially expressed in the serum of BC patients compared to controls. Using real-time PCR (RT-PCR), we analyzed miR-205 and miR-155 in archived serum from 30 participants, 20 with breast cancer and I0 healthy people, miR-205 was down-regulated in BC patient serum while miR-155 was up-regulated. Furthermore, we analyzed the relationship between the expression levels of these two miRNAs and the clinicopathologic parameters of BC patients. High expression of miR155 was associated with clinical stage, molecular type, Ki-67 and p53 in BC patients (P〈0.05). By contrast, we found no significant correlation between miR-205 and BC patient clinicopathologic parameters. Functional analysis showed that ectopic expression of miR-205 significantly inhibits cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis, miR-205 was down- regulated and miR-155 was up-regulated in BC patient serum, miR-155 was positive correlated with clinical stage and 16-67 and negatively correlated with p53 status.