Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
-
Appendiceal neoplasms (ANs) are rare tumors that are often discovered incidentally during histopathological examinations. The increasing incidence of ANs is a critical issue in the non-operative management of acute appendicitis. This study aimed to document the temporal trends over a 12-year period by analyzing the clinical presentation, imaging findings, and histopathological features of ANs. ⋯ Although the incidence of ANs remains relatively low, a steady increase has been observed over the past decade. The increasing rate of ANs raises concerns regarding non-surgical management options. The results of this study highlight the importance of considering ANs as a potential diagnosis in older patients and in patients with an appendix diameter greater than 9.5 mm. These findings may have implications for treatment and management.
-
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and colorectal neoplasia (CRN) are frequent entities. Epidemiological data suggest an association between H. pylori positivity (H. pylori +) and CRN, whereas pathophysiologic considerations substantiate a possible causal relationship. However, the relationship between CRN and H. pylori + may also be mediated by shared risk factors. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate a possible independent relationship between H. pylori and CRN in a Central European cohort. ⋯ We found a clustered co-occurrence of CRN and H. pylori. This association persisted after correction for shared cardiometabolic risk factors. We suggest that our analysis emphasizes the clinical value of H. pylori eradication. Whether "test and treat" H. pylori is warranted to prevent CRN remains unclear but is at least a possibility given the simplicity of "test and treat."
-
The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of switching from omalizumab to another biologic therapy for patients with severe asthma and evaluate factors that influenced the decision to switch and determined the optimal time for a good biologic response. ⋯ An early transition from omalizumab, specifically within the first 5 years of treatment, in patients with severe asthma and higher sputum eosinophils may enhance the likelihood of a good response if other biological therapies were available.
-
The purpose of this review was to ascertain whether patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) having SCN5A mutations have a more severe clinical phenotype and prognosis than do patients without SCN5A mutations. ⋯ In this review, we show how the SCN5A mutation status predicts phenotypic characteristics and prognosis in patients with BrS. We conclude that SCN5A mutations weakly predict greater malignant arrhythmic event risk in BrS patients. However, SCN5A mutations do not show robust enough associations with severity indicators to be an independent part of current risk stratification strategies. With advancing knowledge of BrS genetics, the integration of data on rare variants of SCN5A and polygenic risk scores could make an impact on clinical decision-making.
-
No abstract applicable.