Medicine
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Comparative Study
Comparison of the efficacy and safety of tenofovir and telbivudine in interrupting mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus.
The present study is aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of tenofovir (TDF) and telbivudine (TBV) in interrupting hepatitis B virus (HBV) mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), and to provide evidence-based treatment options to clinicians and patients. Hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)-positive pregnant women (644 in total) with high HBV DNA load (≥2 × 105 IU/mL) and who received TDF (n = 214) or TBV (n = 380) in the second or third trimester, or received no treatment (n = 50) were included in this retrospective analysis. HBV DNA levels in mothers at delivery were significantly lower than baseline in the 2 treatment groups. ⋯ However, no serious adverse events were observed in infants and mothers of all groups. TBV and TDF can effectively reduce the HBV DNA level and MTCT rate in pregnant women with high HBV DNA load (≥2 × 105 IU/mL); both antiviral drugs are safe for infants and mothers. Since TDF was more effective in reducing HBV DNA levels during the second trimester, its use during the period is recommended to prevent HBV MTCT.
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Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is an uncommon myeloproliferative neoplasm. It is more common in females; 20% of them are below 40 years old. The optimal management of ET during pregnancy and postpartum periods is still not well established. ⋯ The guideline is still not well-established regarding the optimal approach for postpartum rebound of platelet count in patients with ET. It is still unclear if the platelet count will fall spontaneously without intervention after the rebound phase. Further research is required to establish the optimal management of ET during the postpartum phase. This case emphasizes the importance of platelet count follow-up during the postpartum period and outlines our management approach in such cases.
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This retrospective study aimed to explore the effect of enteral nutrition (EN) on immune and inflammatory factors after liver cancer surgery (LCS). It was retrospectively conducted on enrolled LCS patients between January 2017 and May 2020. The medical records of 528 patient case records were collected and reviewed. ⋯ As for complications, there were not significant differences between 2 groups (P > .05). The results of this study found that EN may benefit for patients after LCS during the recovery period. Future high quality prospective studies are needed to warrant the present conclusion.
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Observational Study
Characteristics and outcome differences in male and female oral cavity cancer patients in Taiwan.
Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a leading cause of death in Taiwan. Most of the patients in the literature are male. The risk factors, cancer characteristics, and treatment outcomes were investigated in female patients and compared with male patients in this study. ⋯ The OSCC male to female ratio in Taiwan was 14:1. Female OSCC occurred more frequently on the tongue, and was diagnosed at an older age and at an earlier tumor stage than in male patients. No survival difference was found between female and male OSCC patients.
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According to the International Diabetes Federation, Turkey will be among the top 10 countries in the world with the highest prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) by 2045, with a speculated number of cases of 10.4 million. This study aimed to predict the 10-year risk of type 2 DM in a Turkish population, assess potential factors of the 10-year risk of DM, and assess the outcomes of Turkey's 2015 to 2020 program for DM. Individuals aged 20-64 years were categorized and stratified according to age (in ranges of 5 years), sex, and populations of family medicine centers to reflect the whole population. ⋯ Low levels of education (odds ratio [OR]: 2.054; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.011-4.174), smoking cessation (OR: 2.636; 95% CI: 1.260-5.513), a waist-to-height ratio >0.5 (OR: 6.885; 95% CI: 2.301-20.602), body fat percentage (OR: 1.187; 95% CI: 1.130-1.247), high systolic blood pressure (OR: 1.025; 95% CI: 1.009-1.041), and alcohol consumption (beta-estimation: -0.690; OR: 0.501; 95% CI: 0.275-0.914) affect the 10-year risk of type 2 DM. Individuals at risk for DM can be easily identified using risk assessment tools in primary care; however, there is no active screening program in the healthcare system, and only proposals exist. In addition to screening, preventive measures should focus on raising awareness of DM, reducing body fat percentage and systolic blood pressure, and decreasing the waist-to-height ratio to <0.5.