Medicine
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Case Reports
Long-term follow-up after acute mercury poisoning-induced pneumonitis following cinnabar heating: A rare case report.
Among 3 forms of mercury, elemental mercury vapor presents the highest threat due to its potential to cause acute pneumonitis. The management of acute mercury vapor poisoning remains unclear, particularly in acute lung injury. We present a case of mercury vapor poisoning resulting from the heating of cinnabar, successfully treated with high-dose corticosteroids and chelation therapy, and follow-up over 6 months. ⋯ Heating elemental mercury can cause pneumonitis, leading to acute respiratory failure. A detailed history is crucial for diagnosis. High-dose methylprednisolone should be considered in patients who do not respond to lower doses. Patients should be monitored afterward to detect residual pulmonary fibrotic changes.
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Kidney stones formation is a multifactorial condition and influenced, in some degree, by dietary habits. Authoritative clinical guidelines published nutritional recommendations for individuals prone to kidney stone formation. The association between dietary intake calcium to phosphorus (Ca/P) ratios and the prevalence of kidney stones is not well-established in extensive epidemiological studies. ⋯ The quartile analysis suggested an appropriate Ca/P ratio of 0.5513 to 0.6810 to meet a lower risk of kidney stones. There was a significant association between dietary Ca/P ratio intake and the risk of kidney stones. A moderate intake of dietary Ca/P ratio was recommended.
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Observational Study
Surgery for colorectal cancer in people aged 80 years or older - complications, risks, and outcomes.
The number of older adult patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is steadily increasing with the increasing aging population. However, healthcare professionals continue to approach treatment in older adult patients while considering the potential coexistence of complications relative to their age. There is a tendency to define and limit treatment options for managing "older adult patients" at relatively younger ages. ⋯ Among patients requiring emergency surgery, the older adult group demonstrated a significantly higher proportion of emergency surgeries and complications associated with regular surgeries compared with the younger group. In older adult patients, the risk of postoperative complications should not be determined solely based on age; a comprehensive assessment is necessary. However, in the case of emergency surgery, older adult patients may be relatively vulnerable compared with younger patients.
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Comparative Study
A single center retrospective study of vNOTES hysterectomy, laparoscopic hysterectomy and vaginal hysterectomy operations.
In our study, we aimed to retrospectively compare vNOTES hysterectomy, a new method, with a vaginal hysterectomy (VH) and total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH). Our study included 186 hysterectomy cases (62 vNOTES hysterectomy, 62 VH, and 62 TLH) with benign indications diagnosed between 2021 and 2022. Our study is a retrospective and single-center study. ⋯ The VH group was the least costly operation compared to vNOTES hysterectomy and TLH (P: .003 < .05, P: .01 < .05). Aesthetic results can be achieved for patients by using the vaginal route. With all these results, we believe that vNOTES hysterectomy is a safe alternative to TLH and VH.
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Observational Study
Serum pentraxin-3 as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis in primary liver cancer: An observational study.
This study aimed to examine serum pentraxin 3 levels in patients with primary liver cancer and to assess its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. Serum samples were obtained from 180 patients with primary liver cancer and 180 healthy control subjects. The concentration of PTX3 in these samples was measured using an ELISA kit. ⋯ Serum PTX3 levels are elevated in patients with primary liver cancer and high serum PTX3 levels are associated with poor prognosis. This suggests that serum PTX3 has the potential to be a novel biomarker for both the diagnosis and prognosis of primary liver cancer. These findings may improve patient outcomes by enabling early detection and continuous monitoring.