Medicine
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Review Case Reports
Primary intraspinal neuroendocrine tumor: A case report and literature review.
Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) refer to a group of uncommon tumors arising in the neuroendocrine system. Most NETs occur in the digestive tract and bronchi but are rare in the central nervous system, especially in the spinal canal. NET in the central nervous system mainly metastasize from other systems, with non-specific clinical symptoms. In this study, we report the diagnosis and treatment of intraspinal NET to provide clinical guidance as well as to avoid misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. ⋯ Intraspinal NETs are relatively rare and mostly manifest as limb numbness, weakness, and pain. Due to its nonspecific clinical symptoms, intraspinal NETs are easily misdiagnosed as lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy and lumbar spondylolisthesis. Therefore, in patients with long-term symptoms, in addition to common lumbar neuromuscular diseases, lumbar MRI should be performed promptly to exclude the possibility of lumbar NETs.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the benefits of a standardized Nigella sativa oil containing 5% thymoquinone in reducing the symptoms of seasonal allergy.
Allergic rhinitis (AR) or seasonal allergy characterized by sneezing, nasal congestion, nasal itching, and nasal discharge, triggered by immune reactions to environmental allergens. Present day customers also monitor the personal improvements in the area of Evidence-Based natural medicines/supplements. ⋯ The result of the study demonstrates that NSO 250 mg with 2.5 mg piperine is an effective and well-tolerated supplement for the management of AR symptoms.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Efficacy and safety of peroral endoscopic myotomy for pediatric achalasia: A nationwide study.
Achalasia, a rare esophageal motility disorder characterized by the inability of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax and loss of esophageal peristalsis, significantly impacts pediatric patient quality of life through symptoms like dysphagia, chest pain, and weight loss. This nationwide retrospective cohort study evaluates the efficacy and safety of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for pediatric achalasia in Mongolia, contributing to the limited global data on this minimally invasive treatment in children. Conducted between February 2020 and March 2022 at 2 tertiary centers, the study included symptomatic achalasia patients, treatment-naive or those with unsatisfactory outcomes from previous esophageal dilations. ⋯ More precisely, the integrated relaxation pressure showed a significant improvement from a mean of 26.8 mm Hg (standard deviation [SD], 5.4 mm Hg) pre-procedure to 10.8 mm Hg (SD, 1.1 mm Hg) 12 months (P < .001). Similarly, Eckardt scores, which assess symptom severity, improved significantly from a pre-procedure mean of 7.0 (SD, 1.0) to a substantially lower score post-procedure (P < .001), reflecting enhanced patient quality of life and symptom alleviation. This study underscores POEM's role as an effective, minimally invasive option for pediatric achalasia management within the Mongolian population, offering significant symptomatic relief and improved esophageal function.
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Observational Study
Analysis of risk factors affecting postoperative neurological recovery in patients with cervical spine fracture in ankylosing spondylitis.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic progressive inflammatory disease that mainly affects the spine and involves the sacroiliac and peripheral joints. Low-energy trauma can often lead to spinal fractures and spinal cord injuries (SCIs), the treatment of AS is challenging. The prognosis of neurological function in patients with AS cervical fracture and SCI is a major problem that must sought clinician attention on urgent basis. ⋯ Binary multivariate logistic regression analysis identified spinal hypersignal (OR = 37.185, P = .028), preoperative ASIA score (OR = 0.16, P = .012) and previous AS drug treatment (OR = 0.296, P = .049) as factors associated with postoperative neurological function improvement. The preoperative ASIA score and previous drug treatment of AS were identified as protective factors affecting the improvement of neurological functions in patients with AS cervical fracture after surgery. Preoperative T2-weighted spinal hypersignal was identified as an independent risk factor affecting the improvement of neurological function recovery in patients with AS cervical fracture after the surgery.
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Observational Study
Assessing medication use patterns among patients with polycystic ovary syndrome at a tertiary care teaching hospital in South Korea: A retrospective study.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disease caused by excessive ovarian androgen secretion due to hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian hormone abnormalities. We retrospectively investigated the treatment status of patients diagnosed with PCOS who visited a domestic tertiary hospital in order to analyze the use patterns and safety of drugs. Patients diagnosed with PCOS between July 2014 and September 2022 were examined, excluding patients younger than 13 years and those not receiving medication. ⋯ Adverse drug reactions occurred in 15 patients (7.1%), with 5 being adolescents (4.8%) and 10 being adults (9.3%). MPA alone and ethinyl estradiol with drospirenone were the most prescribed medications for PCOS. Over the study, 45 patients changed prescriptions, 50 were lost to follow-up, and 5 adults discontinued medications.