Medicine
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Review Meta Analysis
The catalase C-262T gene polymorphism and cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Many studies suggest that catalase C-262T gene polymorphism is associated with cancer risk, but with inconsistent results. This study aimed to summarize the overall association between catalase C-262T polymorphism and cancer risk. Literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and other databases, studies regarding the association between catalase C-262T polymorphism and cancer risk were identified, and data were retrieved and analyzed by using Review Manager 5.0.24 and STATA 12.0. ⋯ Subgroup analyses stratified by cancer types suggested the catalase C-262T polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased prostate cancer risk (TT vs CT + CC: OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.17-2.22, P = 0.004); for subgroup analyses stratified by ethnicity, no associations between this polymorphism and Asians or whites were identified (CT + TT vs CC: OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 0.98-1.26, P = 0.09 for whites; OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 0.78-1.80, P = 0.42 for Asians). In summary, the catalase C-262T polymorphism may be a risk factor for cancer with cancer type-specific effects. Further studies should be performed to confirm these findings.
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Akinetic crisis (AC) is akin to neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) and is the most severe and possibly lethal complication of parkinsonism. Diagnosis is today based only on clinical assessments yet is often marred by concomitant precipitating factors. Our purpose is to evidence that AC and NMS can be reliably evidenced by FP/CIT single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) performed during the crisis. ⋯ The follow-up re-evaluation in surviving patients showed a recovery of values to the range expected for Parkinsonisms of same disease duration. No binding effects of apomorphine were observed. By showing the outstanding binding reduction, presynaptic dopamine transporter ligand can provide instrumental evidence of AC in Parkinsonism and NMS.
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Providing patient-centered care from preventive medicine to end-of-life care in order to improve care quality and reduce medical cost is important for accountable care. Physicians in the accountable care organizations (ACOs) are suitable for participating in supportive end-of-life care especially when facing issues in truth telling and treatment strategy. This study aimed to investigate patients' attitudes toward truth telling and treatment preferences in end-of-life care and compare patients' attitudes with their ACOs physicians' perceptions. ⋯ Significant discrepancies exist between patients' preferences and physicians' perceptions toward truth telling and treatment strategies in end-of-life care. It is important to enhance physician-patient communication about end-of-life care preferences in order to achieve the goal of ACOs. Continuing education on communication about end-of-life care during physicians' professional development would be helpful in the reform strategies of establishing accountable care around the world.
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Multicenter Study
HER2 status determination: analyzing the problems to find the solutions.
Misdiagnosis in the evaluation of HER2 status in breast cancer may have consequent negative impact on clinical decision-making. Therefore, it has become ever more important to share procedures and interpretation criteria for HER2 testing among laboratories. Herein, we report an interlaboratory survey among 9 hospitals located in the central-south regions of Italy. ⋯ We found a good concordance in HER2 scoring for 0 and 3+ score, but a very low concordance for 1+ and 2+ scores. To focus on factors that may lead to discordant results, we report 4 cases which summarized the most common source of discrepancy in HER2 testing. This methodological approach will help the individual laboratory to minimize technical variables and to reduce the percentage of erroneous interpretations of HER2 status.
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Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) cause large disease burden each year. The codetection of viral and bacterial pathogens is quite common; however, the significance for clinical severity remains controversial. We aimed to identify viruses and bacteria in hospitalized children with ARI and the impact of mixed detections. ⋯ No significant difference in the risk of pneumonia, severe pneumonia, and intensive care unit admission were found for any codetection than monodetection. There was a high codetection rate of common respiratory pathogens among hospitalized pediatric ARI cases, with fever as a significant predictor. Cases with codetection showed no significant difference in severity than those with single pathogens.