Medicine
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The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the comprehensive oral care program on oral health status and symptoms in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing radiotherapy. ⋯ We found improvement in oral health and the quality of life in HNC patients with comprehensive oral care intervention by dental professionals. Communicating and cooperating between the healthcare and dental professionals is needed to raise the quality of health care services for HNC patients receiving radiotherapy.
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Observational Study
The clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with fever of unknown origin caused by parasitic infection.
There are over 200 causes of fever of unknown origin (FUO), and although parasitic infection is an increasingly uncommon cause, a definitive diagnosis remains important to ensure rapid treatment and to prevent adverse sequelae through delay. Here, we studied the clinical features and outcomes of patients admitted with FUO and diagnosed with parasitic infection to improve our understanding of the features of parasitic FUO. Medical records of patients admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2013 and 2019 with FUO and diagnosed with parasitic infection were reviewed. ⋯ Diagnoses were confirmed by bone marrow smears, serum antibody testing, or feces examination. All 6 cases received anthelmintic treatments and recovered well. Parasitic infections must be screened for and actively excluded in FUO patients so that targeted therapy can be rapidly administered to ensure optimal outcomes.
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Comparative Study
Differences in microbiota between acute and chronic perianal eczema.
Microbiota has been suggested to play a role in patients with intestinal and cutaneous diseases. However, the profiling of perianal eczema microbiota has not been described. We have explored the general profile and possible differences between acute and chronic perianal eczema. ⋯ This study compared the microbiota profiles of acute and chronic perianal eczema. Our results suggest that the microbiota of acute perianal eczema patients is enriched in Staphylococcus compared with that in the chronic group. Our findings provide data for further studies.
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Thyroid cancer is a common endocrine malignancy; however, surgery remains its primary treatment option. A novel targeted drug for the development and application of targeted therapy in thyroid cancer treatment remain underexplored. We obtained RNA sequence data of thyroid cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs). ⋯ Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis indicated that genes in protein-protein interaction network of TNIK enriched in mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. For drug repositioning, we identified a targeted drug of genes in PPI network. Our study provides a bioinformatics method for screening drug targets and provides a theoretical basis for thyroid cancer targeted therapy.
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Case Reports
Postoperative extremity gangrene in a patient with type 2 diabetes taking SGLT2 inhibitors: A case report.
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been approved and marketed since March 2013. The proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) taking SGLT2 inhibitors is increasing. The perioperative adverse effects of SGLT2 inhibitors, especially euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (euDKA), should be taken into consideration in perioperative patient evaluation in both elective and emergency surgeries. ⋯ EuDKA is often misdiagnosed due to the absence of hyperglycemia. Serum beta-hydroxybutyrate levels or urinalysis could be used as screening tools for euDKA in patients scheduled for emergency surgery, in order to preoperatively administer rapid fluid resuscitation and insulin infusion with dextrose solution, which should continue postoperatively along with serum beta-hydroxybutyrate monitoring.