Arch Med Sci
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There is no consensus about the standardized uptake value maximum (SUVmax) cut-off value to characterize pleural thickening worldwide. Sometimes, this causes unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures. Our first aim is to determine a cut-off value for SUVmax. Secondly, we try to answer the following question: If we use this cut-off value together with morphological parameters, can we differentiate benign thickening from malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) more accurately? ⋯ If a patient has SUVmax > 4.0 and/or size > 14 mm, the risk of MPM is high. These patients should undergo biopsy. If a patient's SUVmax < 4.0, size < 14 mm and does not have pleural effusion, he/she has low risk for MPM. These patients can undergo the follow-up. If a patient's SUVmax < 4, size < 14, and has pleural effusion the MPM risk is approximately 4%. These patients can undergo biopsy/cytology/follow-up. Novel studies are needed for these patients.
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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are metabolic disorders that belong to a highly prevalent disease cluster with a significant impact on public health worldwide. MetS is a complex condition characterized by metabolism perturbations that include glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, associated pro-inflammatory state, and arterial hypertension. Because the components of MetS commonly co-occur, the management of these disorders cannot be considered separate issues. ⋯ This review analyses the underlying connections between these diseases and the risks associated with their co-occurrence. The effective management of NAFLD associated with MetS and T2DM involves an early diagnosis and optimal treatment of each condition leading to improvement in glycaemic and lipid regulation, liver steatosis, and arterial hypertension. The net effect of such treatment is the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and liver fibrosis.
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The predictive accuracy of clinical and paraclinical findings for headache occurrence in patients having nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) was tested. ⋯ The present results might be clinically useful for considering further diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as early as possible in patients with symptoms clinically suggestive of ICH, with and without headache in ICH clinical presentation. These data require confirmation in a prospective large-scale study.
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Since mammographic screening programmes were initiated, the spectrum of breast cancer has changed in terms of impalpable tumours, thus causing the development of new localisation methods, including magnetic markers. We offer herein an up-to-date review focused on two magnetic markers (Magseed, MaMaLoc) currently used in breast cancer surgery for the localisation of breast tumours or pathological axillary nodes. ⋯ The main benefits of magnetic markers are that they require no radiation safety measures, and they offer the possibility of longer deployment times, thus simplifying surgery scheduling. The most important drawbacks are cost of the system, depth limitation and need for frequent probe recalibration.
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We describe the case of a female child with multiple sulfatase deficiency (MSD) who received intravenous (IV) trehalose (15 g/week) for 3 months. ⋯ Future research with a larger MSD population and a longer-term follow-up is warranted to determine whether trehalose can improve MSD patient health and clinical outcomes.