Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of leg length discrepancy in geriatric patients with early failure of bipolar hemiarthroplasty and to identify related failure patterns and risk factors. ⋯ Increased leg length was significantly associated with early acetabular failure after bipolar hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture among geriatric patients. It is critical to avoid increase in leg length after bipolar hemiarthroplasty.
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Patients undergoing anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment are more susceptible to latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The aim of the current study was to determine the rate of active tuberculosis (TB) in patients with Behçet's disease (BD) pre- and post-anti-TNF treatment and to evaluate the long-term efficacy of LTBI screening as primary prophylaxis in China. ⋯ Regardless of anti-TNF treatment, long-term screening via T-SPOT.TB assay might represent a more sensitive approach to identify BD patients with LTBI. As a secondary prophylaxis, the LTBI treatment is effective in a country with high risk of TB.
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Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most frequent complication in patients who have spinal cord injury (SCI). The occurrence rate of UTI in this type of hospitalized patients was correlated to seasonality, age, and gender. ⋯ The mean occurrence rate of UTI in hospitalized SCI patients was 11.3%; it was higher in males, in patients aged ≥65 years, and in the summer. Therefore, physicians should pay attention to the occurrence of UTI in aged male patients with SCI, especially in the summer.
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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major causative agent of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The rapid progress in the development of direct-acting antivirals has greatly elevated the cure rate to ≥95% in recent years. However, the high cost of treatment is not affordable to patients in some countries, necessitating the development of less expensive treatment. ⋯ Our results may aid the development of a new combination therapy useful for patients with HCV who are intolerant or refractory to the currently available medications, including pegylated interferon and direct-acting antiviral agents.
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Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In addition to arteriosclerosis (arterial stiffness) and atherosclerosis, left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and LV systolic dysfunction are the major cardiac determinants of cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients. Although LV diastolic dysfunction is common in patients with ESRD, its prognostic value is yet to be established. ⋯ The findings of the current study suggest that diastolic function, as indexed by TDI, is an independent predictor of hospitalization and mortality in ESRD patients receiving regular hemodialysis and with preserved LV systolic function. The TDI parameters may reflect the impairment of arterial function and LV pressure overload.