Medicine
-
Aortic stiffness (AS) is a major predictor of cardiovascular disease and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) is a novel adipokine that is positively correlated with AS in the general population. Therefore, we investigated the correlation between serum A-FABP levels and AS in nondialysis CKD patients. Fasting blood samples and baseline characteristics were obtained in 270 patients with nondialysis CKD. ⋯ Compared to those in the comparison group, patients in the AS group were older (P < .001), had a higher prevalence of diabetes, along with higher serum A-FABP level (P < .001), larger waist circumference (P = .004), and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = .001) but higher levels of body fat mass (P = .010), systolic blood pressure (P < .001), fasting glucose (P = .014), blood urea nitrogen (P = .009), and serum creatinine (P = .004). The serum log-A-FABP level was positively associated with log-cfPWV (β = 0.178, P = .001) in nondialysis CKD patients and multivariable logistic regression analysis identified serum A-FABP (P = .006), age (P = .001), and systolic blood pressure (P = .015) as independent predictors of AS in nondialysis-dependent CKD patients. Elevated A-FABP levels may be a significant predictor of AS in nondialysis CKD patients.
-
Population screening programmes must make good use of resources for the health system and users. To evaluate impacts of the type of diagnostic test in the new French cervical screening programme, an messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) high-risk human papillomavirus assay was compared to a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) high-risk human papillomavirus assay for a hypothetical cohort of women aged 25 to 65 years. ⋯ The choice of high-risk human papillomavirus assay makes a significant difference to resource use and costs and is important to consider when implementing cervical screening in France. Using an mRNA versus DNA assay can result in cost savings and reductions in unnecessary testing and procedures, which in turn benefits women and the health care system.
-
Case Reports
Steroid-induced delayed diagnosis of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma with ghost brain tumor: A case report.
Primary vitreoretinal lymphoma is a great masquerader and provides a diagnostic challenge.It is most frequently misdiagnosed as a chronic uveitis. Steroid treatment for presumed uveitis can interfere with the correct diagnosis of vitreoretinal lymphoma. Herein, we present a case of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma in which the correct diagnosis was delayed by short-term steroids until 2 years later. ⋯ Vitreoretinal lymphoma is difficult to diagnose owing to its rarity, masquerading presentation, and steroid-induced apoptosis of lymphoma cells. Physicians should consider vitreoretinal lymphoma as an important differential diagnosis in patients presenting with chronic uveitis and use steroids cautiously before making a definitive diagnosis.
-
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation. This was a retrospective case-control study. In the present study, the risk coefficients of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and mean platelet volume (MPV) in obese patients with PCOS were determined. ⋯ The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of those variables (NLR, hs-CRP, MPV) were found significant (P < .05). NLR, hs-CRP, and MPV variables were found statistically significant in the analysis of receiver operating characteristics. Our study demonstrated that NLR, hs-CRP, and MPV levels are increased in patients with obese PCOS.
-
Testicular neoplasms are not commonly found in children and are a formidable threat if treated inappropriately. However, there is no consensus regarding its management. This study aimed to create a holistic picture of the interprofessional team in the management of malignant testicular tumors. ⋯ Thirty-six patients remained alive and disease-free at the last visit. Malignant testicular tumors in children deserve proper diagnostic support from a therapeutic perspective. Any concern or suspicion of a testicular tumor warrants an inguinal approach to avoid scrotal violation.