Medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Application of remifentanil for conscious sedation and analgesia in short-term ERCP and EST surgery.
This study aims to observe and evaluate the use of remifentanil in conscious sedation and analgesia for the safety and comfort of patients undergoing short-term endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). Sixty-eight patients who underwent ERCP and EST were randomly divided into two groups: research group and control group. Patients in the research group were intravenously injected with remifentanil (80-2/3* age) for 1 to 2 minutes, combined with the intravenous injection of propofol (20-30 mg) during the course of treatment. ⋯ There were no interruptions during surgery due to body movement, cough, or aspiration. The use of remifentanil for conscious sedation and analgesia can be broadly applied in short-term ERCP, which greatly improves patient comfort during the surgery. This approach may bear promise for a widespread use in future clinical practice.
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There is no standard third-line or further systemic treatment for patients with inoperable locoregionally advanced recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Metronomic oral cyclophosphamide provides an acceptable and cheap option for these heavily pretreated patients who had limited choices. We conducted a prospective phase II single-arm open-label study of metronomic oral cyclophosphamide. ⋯ Around 16 (28.6%) patients developed grade ≥3 adverse events, including malaise (5.4%), hematological (8.9%), gastrointestinal (3.6%), feverish (3.6%), and hemorrhagic (1.8%) events. The median cost of the whole drug treatment was 51.65 US dollars (USD) (range 4.15-142.75 USD) (1 USD = 7.8 HK dollars [HKD]). Metronomic oral cyclophosphamide is an acceptable third-line or beyond systemic therapy for locoregionally advanced recurrent or metastatic NPC with acceptable toxicity and limited financial burden.
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Case Reports
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a postpartum hemorrhagic woman without hypertension: A case report.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), which diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and radiological features, is a neurotoxic disease characterized by a set of clinical manifestations, such as seizure, headache, visual, and/or consciousness disturbance. It is the first case of PRES followed by postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) without underlying disease. ⋯ PRES may be triggered by PPH and is not necessarily secondary to typical predisposing factors such as hypertension or pre/eclampsia. Hormone fluctuation, increased blood pressure variation, and massive blood transfusion may be contributed to the development of PRES in our case. Also, it is necessary to rule out those life-threatening diseases, such as cavernoma hemorrhage, cerebral venous thrombosis, and ischemic stroke before the diagnosis of PRES.
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Malignant melanoma accounts for 75% of all skin cancer deaths and is potentially curable if identified early. Although melanoma is rare in African-Americans (AA), it is associated with a worse prognosis than in Caucasians. This study examines the demographic, pathologic, and clinical factors impacting AA melanoma outcomes. ⋯ AAs present most often with AL melanoma on the lower extremities, and with deeper and more advanced stage lesions. AAs have higher cancer-specific mortality for NM and LM than Caucasians. Melanoma education for AA patients and health care providers is needed to increase disease awareness, facilitate early detection, and promote access to effective treatment.
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Observational Study
Lifetime and recent alcohol use and bone mineral density in adults with HIV infection and substance dependence.
Low bone mineral density (BMD) is common in people living with HIV infection (PLWH), increasing fracture risk. Alcohol use is also common in PLWH and is a modifiable risk factor for both HIV disease progression and low BMD. In PLWH, alcohol's effect on BMD is not well understood. ⋯ In this sample of PLWH, we detected no association between lifetime alcohol use and BMD. However, recent drinking was associated with low BMD diagnosis, as was drinking intensity between first positive HIV test and ART initiation. Longitudinal studies should confirm these associations.