Medicine
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Effectiveness and safety of simeprevir-based regimens for hepatitis C in Italy: The STIly observational study.
The combination of the direct-acting antivirals, simeprevir (SMV) and sofosbuvir (SOF), was the first highly efficacious interferon-free combination for treating patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and was widely used in Italy as a result. The aim of this study was to evaluate effectiveness and safety of SMV in Italian patients with HCV genotype (GT) 1 and 4 overall, by treatment regimen [SMV/SOF and SMV/SOF+ribavirin (RBV)], cirrhosis status, and GT (GT1a, GT1b, and GT4). An observational multicenter cohort study was conducted in 46 centers across Italy. ⋯ Adverse events leading to treatment discontinuations were not observed. A high proportion of patients treated with SMV/SOF-based regimens achieved SVR12 in this study. A high SVR12 rate was also achieved in patients with cirrhosis, treatment experience, and HUV coinfected patients.
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Natalizumab (NAT), a humanized monoclonal antibody, which binds in both α4β1 integrins and α4β7 integrins, is approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and Crohn's disease (CD). An uncommon but serious adverse event from NAT treatment is known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). However, clinical comprehensive safety evidence of NAT is limited. ⋯ Our study will provide a comprehensive picture of AEs of NAT.
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Observational Study
Severity of chronic periodontitis and risk of gastrointestinal cancers: A population-based follow-up study from Taiwan.
The present study aimed to assess the association between the severity of chronic periodontitis and the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers by investigating whether severe chronic periodontitis (CP), rather than mild CP, correlates with an increased risk of total or individual GI cancers. Adults (≥18 years) with mild and severe CP were identified from a random sample of 2 million insured patients in the National Health Insurance Research Database (2001-2010). After propensity score matching, 25,485 individuals, each with mild or severe CP, were included for comparison. ⋯ GI cancers occurred in 275 individuals with mild CP and 324 individuals with severe CP. After adjusting for known risk factors, severe CP was not associated with an increased risk of total GI cancer relative to mild CP (HR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.84-1.16) or individual GI cancers, including esophageal (HR: 1.15, 95% CI: 0.62-2.15), gastric (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.68-1.49), small intestinal (HR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.22-2.22), colorectal (HR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.78-1.16), and pancreatic cancers (HR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.47-1.75). Severe CP was not associated with an increased risk of total or individual GI cancers when compared with mild CP.
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Observational Study
Prevalence of previously unrecognized peripheral arterial disease in patients undergoing coronary angiography.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are serious manifestations of systemic atherosclerosis. A considerable proportion of patients with CAD have associated PAD; however, many are asymptomatic and this condition remains underdiagnosed. Little is known about the prevalence and clinical implication of PAD in patients undergoing coronary angiography in the Middle East with no history of the disease. ⋯ The prevalence of undiagnosed PAD in patients undergoing coronary angiography was 12.8% (14.7% in patients with CAD) and associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular risk factors, multivessel disease, and left main disease. The high prevalence of PAD in patients with CAD confirms the importance of active screening for PAD by using ABI. Routine determination of ABI in the clinical evaluation of all patients with CAD may help identify high-risk patients.
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Clinical Trial
The appropriate management algorithm for diabetic foot: A single-center retrospective study over 12 years.
Diabetic foot management is a challenge for reconstructive surgeons because it combines dramatically decreased circulation and chronic infection. The goal of managing this condition is to maximize viable tissue; however, unsatisfactory results, such as extremity amputation, are unavoidable in some cases. For appropriate management, thorough understanding of diabetic foot and the phased approach to its management is needed. The purpose of this study is to introduce an optimal algorithm for diabetic foot management by analyzing cases >12 years. ⋯ Diabetic foot is a debilitating disease arising from multifactorial process. As its management is complex, a comprehensive but accessible treatment algorithm is needed for successful results. For this reason, the appropriate algorithm for diabetic foot management introduced in this study is significant.