Medicine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
A randomized, active-controlled, parallel, open-label, multicenter, phase 4 study to compare the efficacy and safety of pregabalin sustained release tablet and pregabalin immediate release capsule in type II diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathic pain.
Diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy is the most common chronic complication of type 2 diabetes. Neuropathic pain is challenging to manage, and various drugs are required to control it, decreasing treatment adherence. Pregabalin, a ligand that binds to alpha-2-delta subunits of the presynaptic calcium channel, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain. In this study, we will compare the efficacy, safety, treatment satisfaction, and compliance between pregabalin sustained-release (SR) tablets and pregabalin immediate-release (IR) capsules in type 2 diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathic pain. ⋯ In thus study, we aim to demonstrate that pregabalin SR tablets are associated with better compliance and satisfaction compared with pregabalin IR capsules, despite similar efficacy.
-
Multicenter Study Observational Study
Planning adaptive treatment by longitudinal response assessment implementing MR imaging, liquid biopsy and analysis of microenvironment during neoadjuvant treatment of rectal cancer (PRIMO).
Conducting neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and additional preoperative consolidating chemotherapy (CTx), that is, total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), improves local control and complete response (CR) rates in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), putting the focus on organ preservation concepts. Therefore, assessing response before surgery is crucial. Some LARC patients would either not benefit from intensification by TNT or may reach CR, making resection not mandatory. Treatment of LARC should therefore be based on patient individual risk and response to avoid overtreatment.The "PRIMO" pilot study aims to determine early response assessment to form a basis for development and validation of a noninvasive response prediction model by a subsequent prospective multicenter trial, which is highly needed for individual, response-driven therapy adaptions. ⋯ Early response assessment is the key in differentiating "good" and "bad" responders during neoadjuvant CRT, allowing adaption of subsequent therapies (additional consolidating CTx, organ preservation). This study will contribute in this regard, by advancing MR imaging and substantiating new surrogate markers. Adaptive treatment strategies might build on these results in further studies.
-
Review Case Reports
Treatment of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the endometrium and review of previous literature: A case report.
Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the endometrium (PSCCE) has been occasionally reported. Treatment of this disease poses a challenge to clinicians because of its rarity. Herein, we report the case of a 56-year-old woman with typical clinical manifestations and a pathological diagnosis classified by molecular typing as having high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) PSCCE. Based on a review of the previous literature, we summarized the treatment options for this rare disease and proposed new opinions. ⋯ Curettage specimens may show only well-differentiated squamous epithelium, which is indistinguishable from normal squamous epithelium. It is difficult to infer from the histological morphology that the curettage specimens originate from the uterine cavity, which makes it difficult to diagnose PSCCE before the operation. We suggest that when an imaging examination indicates a tumor in the uterine cavity, even if multiple curettage specimens indicate normal or well-differentiated squamous epithelium, it indicates the possibility of PSCCE.
-
Myositis ossificans circumscripta (MOC) is a rare disorder that causes heterotopic bone formation in soft tissues. It usually occurs after trauma and affects large muscles of the extremities. MOC of the pectineus muscle is extremely rare and has not been reported to be treated surgically. ⋯ MOC of the pectineus muscle is a rare condition that can cause severe hip dysfunction. Surgical resection combined with radiation and anti-inflammatory drugs can be an effective treatment option for patients who do not respond to conservative management.
-
Adequate health literacy is necessary for individuals as it enables them to readily acquire information, process it, and apply it to health-related decisions. Various factors including geographical area will determine the disparity in health literacy status. Communities living in protected areas have limited health literacy and health status owing to a lack of access to infrastructure and medical facilities. Existing studies have discussed health literacy among various populations disproportionately affected by certain diseases. However, research remains underdeveloped, and the causal factors are largely untested. This research aims to better understand how population living conditions especially those who are living in protected areas are affected and exposed to limited health literacy. ⋯ Meta-analysis of low-to-high health literacy status will benefit the development of policy recommendations for protected areas.