Medicine
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Gremlin-1 is associated with lung disease and plays a role in the initiation and progression of pulmonary fibrosis. This suggests that Gremlin-1 may be associated with lung involvement in COVID-19 and poor clinical outcomes and warrants further investigation. This prospective, cross-sectional, single-blind study was the first to investigate Gremlin-1 levels in COVID-19 patients and whether Gremlin-1 levels could be used to predict and guide clinical follow-up in outpatients and inpatients. ⋯ The median Gremlin-1 values were statistically significantly different between outpatients and intensive care unit patients (0.367 ng/mL [IQR = 0.377], 1.858 ng/mL [IQR = 2.245], respectively) (P < .0001). The area under the ROC curve value to determine the discriminative power of Gremlin-1 was found to be 0.772 (95% CI: 0.672-0.871; P < .0001), and the cutoff value of Gremlin-1 to discriminate between outpatients and hospitalized patients was found to be 1.242 ng/mL with 66.7% sensitivity and 67.2% specificity. Serum Gremlin-1 level is an important biomarker that can be used as a clinical decision-making tool for COVID-19 positive patients.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
C-arm-guided versus ultrasound volumetric navigation-guided percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation: A retrospective study.
To compare the clinical efficacy of lumbar percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) guided by C-arm fluoroscopy and ultrasound volumetric navigation (UVN). Fifty patients with LDH treated with PTED were retrospectively evaluated in this study. Groups A (n = 25) and B (n = 25) had intervertebral foramina punctures guided by C-arm fluoroscopy and UVN, respectively. ⋯ Both C-arm-guided and the UVN-guided PTED are safe and effective methods for the treatment of LDH. UVN-guided technique has the advantage of reducing puncture time and the number of punctures. However, UVN also has the disadvantage of high hospitalization costs.
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Anterior dislocation of the sacroiliac joint combined with pelvic fractures is relatively rare in clinical practice. It is often associated with hemodynamic instability and severe injuries to other regions, resulting in a complex condition, prolonged treatment duration, and high rates of mortality and disability. However, there are few reports in the literature describing the diagnosis and treatment of anterior dislocation of the sacroiliac joint. In this case, the patient sustained a pelvic fracture with anterior sacroiliac joint dislocation and rupture of both the internal and external iliac arteries following a motor vehicle accident, making it an even rarer and more challenging case to treat. Reporting such cases can enhance the understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of anterior sacroiliac joint dislocation with rupture of the iliac arteries and provide valuable references for similar cases. ⋯ Pelvic fracture with anterior sacroiliac dislocation is clinically rare and critical, and is associated with large vessel rupture, severe organ damage, and high mortality and disability rates. Rapid restoration of pelvic stability and hemodynamic stability is the key to treatment. Rapid transfer to a tertiary trauma center, rapid examination through the green channel to clarify the diagnosis, close intensive care, and reasonable multidisciplinary teamwork for surgical intervention are all valuable experiences that we have concluded.
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Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare immune-mediated disease that leads to progressive cartilage destruction, notably affecting the ears, nose, and airways. Timely diagnosis is essential to prevent irreversible airway damage and life-threatening complications. This study presents a case of a 12-year-old child diagnosed with RP, emphasizing the critical need for timely identification of RP in children. ⋯ Due to RP low prevalence, diagnosis in children is frequently delayed or overlooked. Notably, involvement of the major airways is more common and severe in pediatric patients compared to adults. It is crucial for Otolaryngologists to have a comprehensive understanding of this condition to effectively diagnose and manage complications associated with RP.
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Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a significant cause of respiratory infections in children, often leading to severe pneumonia. This study aimed to assess the clinical relevance of interferon-gamma (interferon-γ), D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and C-reactive protein (CRP) as biomarkers in the severity of mycoplasma pneumonia in pediatric patients. ⋯ This study showed that interferon-γ >8.11, D-dimer >0.64, and LDH >379 have an important role in the assessment of severe mycoplasma pneumonia.