Annals of medicine
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To assess the value of pleural effusion volume (PEV) quantified on chest computed tomography (CT) in patients with early stage acute pancreatitis (AP). ⋯ PEV quantified on chest CT positively associated with the duration of hospitalization, CRP levels, Ranson, BISAP, Marshall, APACHE II, CTSI, and EPIC scores. It can be a reliable radiologic biomarker in predicting severity and clinical outcomes of AP.KEY MESSAGESPleural effusion is a common chest finding in patients with acute pancreatitis.Pleural effusion volume quantified on chest CT examination positively associated with the duration of hospitalization, CRP level, as well as Ranson, BISAP, Marshall, APACHE II, CTSI, and EPIC scoring systems.Pleural effusion volume can be a reliable radiologic biomarker in the prediction of severity and clinical outcomes of acute pancreatitis.
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The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of an autoantibody battery in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors who experienced immune-related adverse events (irAEs). ⋯ Positivity in a readily available autoantibody battery may be associated with the occurrence of irAEs.KEY MESSAGESPositivity in an accessible and inexpensive autoantibody battery including antinuclear, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic, anti-thyroid antibodies and rheumatoid factor may be associated with the occurrence of immune-related adverse events.Patients with cancer on immune checkpoint inhibitors experiencing immune-related adverse events showed a lower risk of progression and better overall survival than patients not experiencing this type of adverse effect.
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The liver fat score (LFS) has been proposed to be a simple non-invasive marker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is highly prevalent in the general population. We tested its association with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and prognosis. ⋯ NAFLD is usually asymptomatic, but this large study of a large general population shows that LFS is associated with CHD, CHF, angina pectoris, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Determining the LFS is worthwhile, as it identifies people with NAFLD, who may also be at increased cardiovascular risk.Key MessagesLiver fat score (LFS), a non-invasive marker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), congestive heart failure (CHF) and angina.LFS is also associated with increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.Determining the LFS is worthwhile as it identifies people with NAFLD as well as increased cardiovascular risk.
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Disturbances in maternal lipid metabolism may increase the risk of developing pregnancy complications and adverse perinatal outcomes. However, there is no consensus as to what constitutes normal serum lipid ranges during pregnancy. Our study was aimed to establish trimester-specific serum lipid reference intervals (RIs) and investigate the associations between maternal dyslipidaemia and adverse outcomes in a population-based study. ⋯ In pregnancy, increased serum levels of TC, TG and LDL-C, and a decreased level of HDL-C posed higher risks of developing pregnancy complications and adverse perinatal outcomes.Key messagesIt is necessary to establish trimester-specific reference intervals for serum lipids including TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C that were found significantly increased as the gestational age went up. More importantly, around the upper reference limits of TC, TG and LDL-C (or the lower reference limit of HDL-C), the higher the serum lipid levels were (or the lower the HDL-C level was), the higher risks of developing pregnancy complications and adverse perinatal outcomes were observed.
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Previous studies have reported a negative relationship between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and renal function in euthyroid individuals, but others have found that higher free thyroxine (FT4) was associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease. This study was designed to analyze the relationship between thyroid and renal function from a new perspective of sensitivity to thyroid hormone. ⋯ In euthyroid individuals, decreased sensitivity to thyroid hormone is associated with reduced renal function. The composite PTFQIFT4 index correlates more strongly to renal function than TSH or T4 alone.KEY MESSAGESDecreased sensitivity to thyroid hormone is associated with reduced renal function in the euthyroid population.The recently developed composite index PTFQIFT4 seems to correlate more strongly to renal function than individual TSH or FT4 parameters.Innovative indices TT3RI and PTFQIFT3 based on the interaction between T3 and TSH may also reflect sensitivity to thyroid hormone.