Medicina
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Introduction: Antrodia cinnamomea (AC) is an extremely rare medicinal fungus native to forested regions of Taiwan. It possesses numerous biological activities, especially anti-tumor effects shown in various in vitro cancer cells and in vivo animal models. However, there are few clinical reports about AC as a treatment for cancer patients. ⋯ Conclusion: DAC may exert an anti-cancer effect, which can lead to tumor regression. This is supposed to be achieved by the combined DAC's immunomodulatory, anti-angiogenic, anti-metastatic, anti-proliferative, and pro-apoptotic effects mediated through multiple signaling pathways. We propose that DAC can be used as a complementary medicine to prolong the life expectancy and improve the life quality of SCLC patients.
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Heparin is a vital pharmaceutical anticoagulant drug and remains one of the few naturally sourced pharmaceutical agents used clinically. Heparin possesses a structural order with up to four levels of complexity. ⋯ In consideration of this, an arsenal of methods to screen for heparin contamination have been applied, based primarily on the detection of over-sulphated chondroitin sulphate. The targeted nature of these screening methods, for this specific contaminant, may leave contamination by other entities poorly protected against, but novel approaches, including library-based chemometric analysis in concert with a variety of spectroscopic methods, could be of great importance in combating future, potential threats.
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Background and objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate associations between cumulative and peak formaldehyde exposure and occurrence of acute myeloid leukemia. Material and Methods: A comprehensive search was performed using the PubMed and Embase databases. We included studies presenting information about the role of formaldehyde in leukemic occurrence and mortality risk. ⋯ Result: The information was then summarized and organized in the present review. A total of 81 articles were obtained from the search. Conclusion: Findings from the review of the literature do not support the hypothesis that formaldehyde is a cause of acute myeloid leukemia.
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Background and objectives: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use has been associated with preventive health behaviors. However, the role of CAM use in patients' health behaviors remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the extent to which patients report that CAM use motivates them to make changes to their health behaviors. ⋯ People were more likely to report being motivated to change health behaviors if they were: aged 18-64 compared to those aged over 65 years; of female gender; not in a relationship; of Hispanic or Black ethnicity, compared to White; reporting at least college education, compared to people with less than high school education; without health insurance. Conclusions: A sizeable proportion of respondents were motivated by their CAM use to undertake health behavior changes. CAM practices and practitioners could help improve patients' health behavior and have potentially significant implications for public health and preventive medicine initiatives; this warrants further research attention.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of X-Ray Imaging and Computed Tomography Scan in the Evaluation of Knee Trauma.
Background and objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the accuracy of X-ray (XR) imaging according to computed tomography (CT) scanning in the diagnosis of knee bone fractures, and in the determination of fracture characteristics, and to identify CT scan indications in patients with knee trauma. Materials and methods: The patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) due to knee trauma between January 2017 and December 2018 and who underwent XR imaging and CT scans were included in the study. XR images were reinterpreted by an emergency physician. ⋯ Conclusions: XR imaging has a low sensitivity in identifying knee fractures. There is a moderate concordance between XR imaging and CT scanning in identifying growth plate fractures. Therefore, CT scanning should be performed in patients whose fracture type and fracture characteristics are not able to be determined exactly with XR imaging in knee injury.