Annals of medicine
-
Early diagnosis of head and neck cancer (HNC) will improve patient outcomes. The low incidence of HNC renders its detection challenging for a general practitioner (GP) in primary health care (PHC). ⋯ Despite the low incidence of HNC and the large number of patients presenting with HNC-related symptoms, GPs working in PHC sort out potential HNC patients from the general patient group in most cases remarkably effectively. KEY MESSAGES For every head and neck cancer (HNC) patient encountered in the primary health care, a general practitioner (GP) will meet approximately 6000 other patients, 100 of whom exhibit a sign or a symptom potentially caused by a HNC. Despite the low incidence of HNC, GPs referred patients to specialist care effectively, limiting the median delay from the initial appointment to referral to only 5 days.
-
There is increasing concern regarding cardiovascular risk in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients with liver fibrosis. This study aims: (1) to assess the association between NAFLD and liver fibrosis status and the development of carotid plaque (CP), and (2) to identify CP risk factors among general population with different baseline NAFLD and liver fibrosis status. ⋯ NAFLD and liver fibrosis status can be an independent predictor for CP development regardless of metabolic abnormalities. Hypertension is a major risk factor for CP development among NAFLD patients with high NFS.KEY MESSAGESNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fibrosis status can be an independent predictor for development of carotid plaque.Progression from NAFLD free and NAFLD with low NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) to NAFLD with high NFS are associated with increased risk of carotid plaque.Risk factors associated with carotid plaque vary based on baseline NAFLD and NFS status, and hypertension plays the most important role among patients with NAFLD and high NFS.
-
The aim of this study is to share our experience in the prenatal diagnosis of omphalocele by karyotyping, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and whole exome sequencing (WES). ⋯ The most common genetic cause of omphalocele is aneuploidy and the prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities is increased with non-isolated and small omphalocele. CMA and WES can be useful for providing further genetic information to assist in prenatal counselling and pregnancy management.
-
Patients appear to maintain sequelae post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affecting daily life and physical health. We investigated the changes in and the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on exercise capacity and immunology six months after COVID-19 hospitalization. ⋯ These findings suggest PR may be a strategy to promote the improvement of exercise capacity after COVID-19.
-
Abdominal wound dehiscence (AWD) is a major complication of abdominal surgery, and neonates are a group with a high risk of AWD, which has serious consequences or can even result in death. The purpose of this study is to explore the risk factors for neonatal AWD and construct a predictive model. ⋯ Neonatal AWD is closely related to hypoproteinemia and incision contamination. Our predictive model showed the potential to provide an individualized risk estimate of AWD for neonatal patients undergoing abdominal surgery.Key messagesNeonatal abdominal wound dehiscence (AWD) has a serious consequence and the incidence of neonatal AWD was about 6.0% and the complete AWD morbidity is 1.1%.Hypoproteinemia and incision type were the independent risk factors for neonatal AWD.Our predictive model showed the potential to provide an individualized risk estimate of AWD for neonatal patients undergoing abdominal surgery.