Medicine
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Observational Study
Investigating the potential association between micronutrient levels and non-dipper hypertension patterns in the elderly population: A retrospective analysis.
The goal is to provide foundational data that could spearhead more extensive, prospective research into understanding the influences of micronutrient levels on the nocturnal patterns of hypertension, possibly aiding in identifying potential therapeutic strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk in this demographic. The research employed a retrospective design to analyze the micronutrient levels, including ferritin, folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, in a limited sample size from a single hospital. However, it is worth noting that the study did not scrutinize other potentially relevant micronutrients and biomarkers and lacked information on potential confounding factors such as lifestyle and dietary habits, physical activity levels, and specific details on antihypertensive medications used. ⋯ The study underscores the increasing prevalence of hypertension and micronutrient deficiencies as age progresses. Despite its limitations, including limited sample size and potential influences from unaccounted variables, the study hints at a potential relationship between micronutrient levels and non-dipper hypertension. It emphasizes the necessity for larger scale, prospective research to delve deeper into the nature of this relationship, potentially fostering new therapeutic approaches in cardiovascular risk management within the elderly population.
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Observational Study
The relationship between the technical performance score (TPS) and outcomes and its discriminative ability in congenital heart surgery.
Various scoring systems have been used to predict mortality and morbidity after congenital heart surgery. While the ideal system is still controversial, the technical performance score (TPS) has recently gained popularity. In this study, was investigated the effect of the TPS in predicting mortality and morbidity in pediatric patients who underwent congenital heart surgery in our clinic. ⋯ The predictive power of TPS for mortality and morbidity was an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.810 (95% CI: 0.79-0.839, P < .001) and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.76-0.80, P < .001), respectively. These values were similar to those of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery score (0.81 vs 0.83 and 0.78 vs 0.80 for mortality and morbidity, respectively). In patients with highly heterogeneous congenital heart disease, the use of intraoperative TPS may be helpful in predicting mortality and morbidity.
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Melanoma is a malignant tumor with the highest growth rate in the incidence and is the leading cause of death due to skin cancers. In Poland, approximately 1500 cases of melanoma are detected annually in advanced or metastatic stages. Intensive preventive measures can contribute to its early-stage diagnosis, consequently reducing the number of fatalities. ⋯ The surveyed residents of the Silesian Voivodeship were burdened with numerous risk factors for melanoma development, with the most common being fair skin complexion, having more than 50 pigmented lesions, and sunburns. The knowledge of the participants regarding the diagnosis and prevention of melanoma development was insufficient, thus highlighting the necessity for conducting systematic educational initiatives in the mentioned field. These initiatives should ultimately lead to the preservation of health and life, as well as the maintenance of its high quality.
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Pain is a widespread and troubling clinical and social problem with important effects on society and individuals. The purpose is to assess the relationship between pain and eating behavior, macro-micronutrient intake, and dietary inflammation index. The study was carried with a total of 80 patients, consisting of 40 patients diagnosed with pain and 40 patients not diagnosed with pain, who applied to a private hospital in Istanbul as outpatients with a questionnaire face-to-face consisting of questions about sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, pain-related information, Eating Attitude Test (EAT-19), and 24-hour food consumption record. ⋯ No difference was detected between the case-control groups with disrupted eating attitudes regarding the median DII score (P > .05). The median DII score was significantly higher in individuals with pain and normal eating attitudes than in those without pain and with disrupted eating attitudes (P < .05). There is a relationship between pain, eating attitudes, and DII, the median DII score of those who had pain and had normal eating attitudes was higher.
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Observational Study
The application of wing-shaped window decompression device in the treatment of large odontogenic keratocyst: An observational study.
To enhance the decompression and drainage effects after marsupialization of large odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) in the jawbone, a novel cyst plug was designed, and its clinical feasibility was investigated. A total of 42 patients with large OKCs requiring decompression were divided into 2 groups: the control group (n = 21), which underwent traditional drainage tube insertion, and the experimental group (n = 21), which received a personalized wing-shaped plug. The clinical efficacy of the wing-shaped plug was assessed, and postoperative recovery times were compared between the 2 groups. ⋯ Compared to the control group, the treatment duration in the experimental group was reduced by about 3 months. The wing-shaped plug demonstrated superior fit, comfort, reduced food residue, minimal irritation to surrounding tissues, a more aesthetically pleasing appearance, and less reported pain. The adaptive wing-shaped plug offers improved prognosis for patients undergoing decompression of OKCs and shows significant potential for clinical application.