Medicine
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The Ladybird Homeobox 1 (LBX1) gene has been implicated in the etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The association between LBX1 gene polymorphisms and AIS has been investigated in several studies. However, these findings have yield contradictory results rather than conclusive evidence. ⋯ For stratified analyses by ethnicity and sex, robust significant associations were detected in Asian and Caucasian populations, and in women and men under all genetic models. T allele of rs11190870 and G alleles of rs625039 and rs11598564 represent risk factors for AIS, but G allele of rs678741 may play a protective role in the occurrence of AIS. Further research is needed to confirm this finding and to understand its implications.
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Preclinical in vitro experiments demonstrated that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) might have synergistic effect in combination with radiotherapy on Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the clinical trials showed inconsistence results in NSCLC patients with EGFR status unknow or mutations. This study aimed to determine if added TKIs to Thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) improve primary disease response rate (RR) and survival outcomes in advanced or metastatic NSCLC. ⋯ There is evidence, albeit of low quality, that added the TKIs to TRT or CRT may improve RR and survival outcomes in patients with EGFR mutant status unknown advanced or metastatic NSCLC relative to other studies of TKIs alone, TRT alone or CRT.
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Ramucirumab is a human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that binds to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and is used for the treatment of metastatic or inoperable gastric, colorectal, and non-small cell lung cancers. However, ramucirumab can result in renal adverse events, including nephrotic syndrome, and the clinical course of this event is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the clinical course and pathological findings of patients with nephrotic syndrome after ramucirumab treatment. ⋯ Early drug discontinuation and antihypertensive therapy improved proteinuria, renal dysfunction, and hypertension in all patients. Nephrotic syndrome is a renal adverse event observed in cancer patients after ramucirumab treatment. We suggest that urinalysis, renal function, and blood pressure should be closely monitored in patients undergoing ramucirumab treatment, and treatment should be discontinued if renal adverse events are detected.
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Meta Analysis
The efficacy of fascia iliaca compartment block for pain control after hip fracture: A meta-analysis.
To assess the effect of fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) on pain control and morphine consumption in patients with hip fracture. ⋯ FICB has a beneficial role in reducing pain intensity and morphine consumption after hip fracture. Moreover, FICB has morphine-sparing effects when compared with a control group. More high-quality RCTs are needed to identify the optimal technique and volume of injectate for FICB.
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Meta Analysis
Is blood transfusion associated with an increased risk of infection among spine surgery patients?: A meta-analysis.
Blood transfusions are associated with many adverse outcomes among spine surgery patients, but it remains unclear whether perioperative blood transfusion during spine surgery and postoperative infection are related. Recently, many related cohort studies have been published on this topic. ⋯ Our results suggest that perioperative blood transfusion is a risk factor for postoperative infection among spine surgery patients. Further study is necessary to identify other influencing factors and to establish the mechanism underlying this relationship. Additional measures may be needed to reduce unnecessary blood transfusions during spine surgery.