Postgraduate medical journal
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Psoas abscess (PA) is an uncommon disease that has been increasingly reported in the recent years. We reviewed patients with PA and analyzed their clinical characteristics to improve our understanding of this rare disorder. ⋯ PA, as a serious infectious condition, usually presents with nonspecific symptoms and laboratory test results, making early diagnosis difficult. These profiles differed from those reported in the present study. The initial clinical status and subsequent imaging studies can lead to favorable outcomes.
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Previous studies have suggested relationship between diverticular disease and cardiovascular disease. Since cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular accident share a lot of pathogenesis, diverticulitis could also be a risk factor for stroke. This study tried to establish epidemiological evidence of the relationship between colon diverticulitis and ischemic stroke. ⋯ Our study found that colon diverticulitis was associated with a higher risk of developing subsequent ischemic stroke, especially for patients aged 30-39 years, among Asian population. This result provides us a chance to undertake preventive measures for ischemic stroke in high-risk patients.
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Many medical graduate students lack a thorough understanding of decision curve analysis (DCA), a valuable tool in clinical research for evaluating diagnostic models. ⋯ By clarifying the concept of DCA and highlighting its benefits in clinical decisionmaking, this article has improved researchers' comprehension of how DCA is applied and interpreted, thereby enhancing the quality of research in the medical field.
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Chronic inflammation has been connected by epidemiological evidence to coronary artery disease (CAD) along with myocardial infarction (MI). Nevertheless, it is still unclear whether reverse causality or confounders account for these connections. Our objectives are to examine the causality between inflammatory cytokines and CAD/MI as well as the potential mediating influence of lipid characteristics. ⋯ We provided novel genetic evidence supporting the causality of inflammatory cytokines on CAD/MI and elucidate the mediating effect of triglycerides in the causal pathways linking inflammatory cytokines and CAD/MI.
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Multiple displaced rib fractures often result in a poor prognosis. Open reduction and internal fixation has been shown to provide benefits for patients with displaced rib fractures and flail chest. Nevertheless, for patients who are unwilling or unsuitable for surgery, the therapeutic options are limited. We developed a novel plastic vacuum device for rib fractures external stabilization. This study aims to compare the therapeutic efficacy of this device against a traditional chest strap in polytrauma patients with multiple rib fractures. ⋯ According to the study findings, vacuum external fixation appears to offer benefits to patients with multiple rib fractures, potentially reducing the risk of complications and improving overall clinical outcomes.