Irish journal of medical science
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of a dysphagia screening test (DST) in patients who have undergone resection for head and neck cancer (HNC). In addition, we examined whether or not combined effects of DSTs improve the detection accuracy of penetration/aspiration. ⋯ Based on our results, it is recommended that MWST or FT be used when only one type of DST is performed. In addition, the combination of two DSTs may detect aspiration patients more accurately than one alone.
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Hypertension (HT) is a disease associated with endothelial dysfunction which is related to some adipokines and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. ⋯ Vaspin, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, selenium, and zinc levels were significantly lower in the HT group compared to healthy controls while omentin-1, TNF-α, copper, iron, MDA, SOD, and IMA-C levels were significantly higher in HT patients compared to controls. Multiple ordinal regression revealed that TNF-α, IL-10, and body mass index of patients were statistically significant independent predictors (P = 0.024, P = 0.019, and P = 0.032, respectively) for grading of HT. IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly higher in patients with asymptomatic target organ damage, compared to patients without asymptomatic target organ damage (P = 0.032 and P = 0.015, respectively). Our findings suggest that adipokines apelin, omentin, and vaspin may be involved in hypertension by a complex interaction with the anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines, trace elements, and oxidative stress pathways.
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There is a worldwide recruitment and retention crisis in general practice. Workforce planning has identified the need to train more general practitioners as an urgent priority. Exposure of medical students to general practice as part of the formal and hidden curriculum, the use of longitudinal integrated clerkships, and positive experiences and role models in general practice are all thought to be contributing factors to doctors choosing careers in general practice. ⋯ The reform of the delivery of general practice within medical school curricula should be considered by medical schools, curriculum designers and policy-makers as part of an overall strategy to address the recruitment and retention of general practitioners as part of the global healthcare workforce.
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The incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) is increasing rapidly worldwide. The target therapy for papillary TC (PTC) is limited, and the studies of PTC prognostic biomarkers are not common. As a new member of annexin A (ANXA) family, the function and clinical significance of ANXA10 in PTC have not been well investigated. ⋯ ANXA10 expression was upregulated in PTC, and it was an independent prognostic biomarker of PTC, suggesting that ANXA10 may be a promising target for individual treatment of ANXA10.
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Electroanatomical mapping systems (EMS) reduce fluoroscopy dose for the ablation. Higher costs and longer procedure times are the drawbacks associated with EMS. Our objective was to validate the efficiency of the EMS. ⋯ Ablation without fluoroscopy is a technique as safe and effective as the conventional technique. Our study suggests that the radiation dose delivered to the patient and staff might be reduced, without increasing the total procedure time, being even more efficient.