Medicine
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Diagnosing and treating refractory cancer pain have become standardized and effective procedures with guidance from the Expert Consensus on Refractory Cancer Pain released in 2017 by the Committee of Rehabilitation and Palliative Care of China. Doxorubicin has been used for perineural injection in the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain owing to its retrograde sensory ganglion resection effect. Our study reports a new fourth-ladder treatment for cancer pain: CT-guided paravertebral doxorubicin injection for patients with refractory cancer pain caused by paraspinal metastasis. ⋯ The CT-guided paravertebral doxorubicin injection was an effective fourth-step analgesic interventional technology that allowed our 2 patients with refractory cancer pain to maintain satisfactory analgesia. This analgesia method taken at an appropriate stage, according to the latest analgesic concept, results in good analgesia and opioid use reduction. Also, with the imaging guidance, only a small amount of neurolytic agent is needed to achieve analgesia in a precise and safe way.
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To analyze whether a correlation exists between the caries status (Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth, DMFT Index) of the first permanent molars (FPMs) and that of the full permanent dentition of Mexican adolescents, and to propose its use in large epidemiological studies of dental caries. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1538 adolescents from 12 to 15 years old. Based on a clinical oral examination, we determined the DMFT Indices of their FPMs (FPM-DMFT) and of their full permanent dentition (comprehensive DMFT Index). ⋯ The underestimation of caries prevalence (DMFT > 0) was 5.4% (48.6% vs 43.2%), while the DMFT Index was underestimated at 0.34 (1.15 vs 0.81). The strong correlation between the FPM-DMFT and comprehensive DMFT Indices suggests that overall caries status can be inferred on the basis of FPM caries status. This evidence is useful when conducting large epidemiological studies such as national surveys.
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Retinal arterial macroaneurysms (RAMs) develop as outpouchings of the arterial wall that is weakened by arteriosclerosis. The traditional treatment of RAMs comprises observation, focal laser photocoagulation, or surgery. Recently, intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs has been announced as an effective therapy for fovea-threatening RAMs and quickly improve visual acuity and central retinal thickness (CRT). ⋯ A systematic work-up for hypertension and arteriosclerotic disease could be considered the recommended procedure once RAM has been diagnosed. With better final visual acuity, significant visual improvements, and fast reduction of CRT observed in patients with fovea-threatening RAMs receiving anti-VEGF intravitreal injections, intravitreal anti-VEGF was considered an effective therapy for complicated RAM. During the follow-up period, the majority of RAM eyes had good maintenance of visual function even with foveal complications.
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Observational Study
Chromosomal microarray analysis for the detection of chromosome abnormalities in fetuses with echogenic intracardiac focus in women without high-risk factors.
To investigate the association between pathogenic copy number variants (p-CNVs) and abnormal karyotypes detected by chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF). This was a retrospective study of fetuses with EIF with CMA data at the Prenatal Diagnosis Center of the West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University between September 2014 and May 2017. Fetuses were assigned to the isolated EIF and non-isolated EIF groups according to the presence of other ultrasound abnormalities. ⋯ In pregnant women without high-risk factors for chromosomal abnormalities, ultrasound abnormalities, including EIF, could be an indication for CMA. Ultrasound abnormalities (including EIF) and chromosome abnormality could indicate a high risk of CHD. The presence of EIF and at least another ultrasound abnormality could indicate a high risk of trisomy 21.
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Many researchers use the National Health Insurance Research Database (HIRD) to publish medical papers and gain exceptional outputs in academics. Whether they also obtain excellent citation metrics remains unclear. ⋯ The AWS-based bibliometric metrics make individual weighted research evaluations possible and available for comparison. The study results of productive authors using HIRD did not support the view that higher citation metrics exist in specific disciplines.