Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research
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BACKGROUND Functional dyspepsia (FD) refers to a group of upper gastrointestinal syndromes, subdivided into two types: postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) and epigastric pain syndrome (EPS). The etiology of FD remains unclear; however, unhealthy dietary habit is one potential underlying cause. We aim to explore the association of poor dietary habits with FD and its subtypes. ⋯ The impact of each dietary factor varied with FD subtypes. CONCLUSIONS Certain types of dietary habits were positively correlated with the prevalence of FD. FD subtypes showed relatively different associations with dietary factors.
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The lung is one of several moderately radiosensitive organs. Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI), including acute radiation pneumonitis and chronic radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis, occurs most often in radiotherapy of lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and other thoracic cancers. ⋯ The occurrence of RILI is a complex process that includes a variety of cellular and molecular interactions which ultimately leads to large fibroblast accumulation, proliferation, and differentiation, resulting in excessive extracellular matrix deposits, causing pulmonary fibrosis. The progress that has been made in recent years in the understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms of RILI is summarized in this review.
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BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to explore the accuracy of in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the quantitative evaluation of lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) in carotid atherosclerotic plaques compared with histopathology, and to assess the association of LRNC size with cerebral ischemia symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty patients were enrolled and 19 patients (16 men and 3 women) were analyzed. All the patients were submitted to MRI on a Siemens Avanto (1.5-Tesla) device before carotid endarterectomy (CEA). ⋯ LRNC area percentages in the S- and NS-groups were 22.2±5.8% and 12.6±10.7%, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS MRI can quantitatively measure LRNC in carotid atherosclerotic plaques, and may be useful in predicting the rupture risk of plaques. These findings provide a basis for imaging use in individualized treatment plan.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Adjacent Segment Degeneration Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Versus the Bryan Cervical Disc Arthroplasty.
BACKGROUND Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is an established treatment for degenerative disease of the cervical disc, but adjacent segment degeneration or instability may develop long term. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for adjacent segment degeneration following ACDF compared with the use of the Bryan artificial disc for cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA). MATERIAL AND METHODS A prospective comparative study included 93 patients who underwent ACDF or CDA with the Bryan artificial cervical disc between 2002 and 2004, and who had more than eight years of follow-up. ⋯ Univariate analysis showed that advanced age (OR 1.271, 95% CI 1.005-1.607), low preoperative overall lordosis (OR 0.858, 95% CI 0.786-0.936) and low preoperative segmental lordosis (OR 1.185, 95% CI 1.086-1.193) were significantly correlated with adjacent segment degeneration. CONCLUSIONS Equally good clinical outcomes were achieved with both the ACDF and the Bryan CDA. Increasing patient age was associated with adjacent segment degeneration in both patient groups.
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BACKGROUND Previous research has demonstrated that the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway is commonly activated in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. However, the prognostic value of activation of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway in newly diagnosed patients with MM has not been reported. MATERIAL AND METHODS Expression levels of p-ERK1/2 protein in bone marrow biopsy specimens obtained from 60 newly diagnosed patients with MM were analyzed using immunohistochemistry, and classified into 3 groups: high p-ERK1/2 expression, low p-ERK1/2 expression, and negative group. ⋯ Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that in newly diagnosed patients with MM, high p-ERK1/2 expression was significantly associated with shorter OS and PFS. Additionally, in newly diagnosed patients with MM, serum Ca ≥2.75 mmol/l was significantly associated with shorter PFS, and serum β2-MG ≥5.5 μmol/l was significantly associated with shorter OS. CONCLUSIONS High p-ERK1/2 expression is an independent factor for poor prognosis in newly diagnosed patients with MM.