Irish journal of medical science
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Cognitive-behavioral stress management program reduces postoperative psychological pressure and improves life quality in prostate cancer patients.
Cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) improves mental status and quality of life (QoL) in cancer patients, while its impact on prostate cancer (PC) patients remains unknown. Thus, the study aimed at investigating the potency of CBSM program in ameliorating postoperative anxiety, depression, and QoL in PC patients. ⋯ CBSM serves as an effective caring program in relieving anxiety and depression as well as improving the QoL in postoperative PC patients.
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Pulmonary emboli (PE) is a life threatening condition that discovered in many patients only "post mortem". Sub massive and massive PE that led to hemodynamic collapse characterized by right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, leading to a higher risk of death. ⋯ Clinical parameters and hematological parameters could predict death of patients admitted with acute PE. RV diameter, measured by the non-ECG gated CTPA, had an additive predictive value for patients who admitted to the ICU.
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Lung cancer is a major cause of death in Western countries, but survival had never been studied in Northern Ireland (NI) on a population basis prior to this study. ⋯ Overall, survival remains poor. The better survival of surgical patients is due, in part, to their superior case-mix profiles. Survival with other therapies is less good suggesting that the criteria for treatment might be relaxed with advantage using a treatment model to aid decision-making.
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Neoadjuvant therapy is an essential component of multimodality therapy for locally advanced breast adenocarcinoma (BC). Complete pathologic response (pCR) is a useful surrogate for long-term oncologic outcome. ⋯ pCR was more likely in patients with less advanced disease in BC. The presence of HER2 + or TNBC in BC also increases the likelihood of pCR. Neoadjuvant therapy stimulates the systemic inflammatory response; however, a reduced baseline NLR may be associated with increased pCR. Confirmation with larger datasets is required.
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Surrogacy is a form of assisted human reproduction whereby a surrogate woman carries a pregnancy for a commissioning couple or individual. There are two types of surrogacy, traditional and gestational. Worldwide we have seen a rapid increase in the use of surrogacy. Despite this, there is a lack of consensus internationally on the laws governing surrogacy. In Ireland, surrogacy remains largely unregulated. Currently, there is no specific legislation for surrogacy. This review aims to discuss its current regulatory status and associated ethical issues. ⋯ Surrogacy has raised several ethical issues. There are issues surrounding autonomy of the surrogate and commissioning couple, child welfare, exploitation and commodification, non-maleficence and justice. There are also significant legal concerns with surrogacy. It is neither legal nor illegal in Ireland. This creates challenges for the commissioning couple particularly in terms of custody of the child.