Medicine
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Direct antiviral agent (DAA) has been the standard of care for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Twelve weeks of paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir plus dasabuvir (PROD) with or without ribavirin has shown to have a sustained virological response at post-treatment 12 weeks (SVR12) rate of >90% in HCV genotype 1 (HCV-1) patients. ⋯ The finding may shed light for possible response-guided-therapy for so-called ultra-super-responders in the DAA era. Whether the dengue virus, the Flaviviridae family as with HCV, enhanced the HCV clearance remains unclear and needs further exploration.
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Comparative Study
The associations between leukocyte, erythrocyte or platelet, and metabolic syndrome in different genders of Chinese.
Leukocyte, erythrocyte or platelet and metabolic syndrome (MS) are closely correlated, and there exist gender differences. We aimed to explore the associations between the hematological parameters and MS in different genders of Chinese. This cross-sectional study included 32,900 participants (20,733 males, 12,167 females) who were enrolled in a health examination. ⋯ Gender has influences on the associations between leukocyte, erythrocyte or platelet, and MS. In both genders, higher levels of leukocyte and erythrocyte increased risks of MS. For men, platelet was a protective factor, but for women, platelet seemed as a risk factor.
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The aim of this article was to assess the associations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and daily sun exposure time with myopia in Korean adults. This study is based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) of Korean adults in 2010-2012; multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the associations of serum 25(OH)D levels and daily sun exposure time with myopia, defined as spherical equivalent ≤-0.5D, after adjustment for age, sex, household income, body mass index (BMI), exercise, intraocular pressure (IOP), and education level. Also, multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels with spherical equivalent after adjustment for daily sun exposure time in addition to the confounding factors above. ⋯ In multiple linear regression analyses, spherical equivalent was significantly associated with serum 25(OH)D concentration after adjustment for confounding factors (P = 0.002). Low serum 25(OH)D levels and shorter daily sun exposure time may be independently associated with a high prevalence of myopia in Korean adults. These data suggest a direct role for vitamin D in the development of myopia.
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Observational Study
Long-term outcomes of percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation for glossopharyngeal neuralgia: A retrospective observational study.
The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term results of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation (PRT) for glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN). A retrospective review of medical records for patients with GPN who were treated with CT-guided PRT between 2003 and 2014 was performed to investigate baseline characteristics and immediate outcomes during the hospitalization. Long-term pain relief outcomes and complications were obtained via telephone survey. ⋯ Postprocedure complication included dysesthesias, dysphagia, and diminished gag reflex. No mortality was observed during or after PRT procedures. This study indicates that CT-guided PRT is a safe and effective method for patients with GPN and should be considered as an alternative treatment for these patients.
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Comparative Study
Combination of 125I brachytherapy and chemotherapy for unresectable recurrent breast cancer: A retrospective control study.
Recurrent breast cancer remains an incurable malignancy and cannot be removed by surgery in the majority of cases. This study aimed to explore the feasibility and efficacy of the combination of I brachytherapy and chemotherapy for the treatment of unresectable recurrent breast cancer. Patients with unresectable recurrent breast cancer treated between January 2011 and December 2014 with a combination of I brachytherapy and capecitabine or gemcitabine were evaluated and outcomes were compared with those of women treated with capecitabine or gemcitabine in conventional dose as a monotherapy. ⋯ There were no serious complications detected during the follow-up period, any grade toxicities were comparable between treatment arms. In conclusion, the combination of I brachytherapy and second-line chemotherapy is superior to chemotherapy alone and is an effective and safe therapy for unresectable recurrent breast cancer. However, further investigation and much larger scale randomized controlled trials with long-term follow-up are needed.