Bratisl Med J
-
Recent breakthrough recognition of metastasis-free survival as a clinically relevant endpoint has opened a new era in the management of advanced prostate cancer. The need for new, intermediate endpoints is the logical consequence of scientific advances in prostate carcinoma. The treatment algorithms for non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (M0 CRPC) have recently been updated by adding novel anti-androgen apalutamide, and also enzalutamide for high-risk patients. ⋯ The metastasis-free survival can be considered a clinically significant and reliable efficacy endpoint in both localized prostate cancer patients and M0 CRPC patients being at high-risk of disease progression (Ref. 15).
-
In this narrative review, our aim was to clarify the roles of diagnostic methods used in COVID-19 disease. ⋯ There is a need for an algorithm, which involves a combination of PCR and CT in diagnosis of COVID-19 (Ref. 85).
-
To evaluate vitamin D levels in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), depression and both of them, thus to find out whether vitamin D may be a common causative factor of CSU and depression. ⋯ Lower 25(OH)D levels in CSU and/or depression may appear as a secondary phenomenon, which means being result of these diseases rather than the cause (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 41). Text in PDFwww.elis.sk Keywords: vitamin D, vitamin D deficiency, chronic urticaria, depression.
-
Observational Study
Endoscopic discectomy as an effective treatment of a herniated intervertebral disc.
Prospective observational multicentre two-arm parallel study describing clinical outcome after endoscopic discectomy provided via transforaminal and interlaminar approach. ⋯ Because both procedures are strictly percutaneous; they are now more commonly performed by interventional pain physicians as a safe and effective alternative to open surgical spine procedures (Tab. 3, Fig. 7, Ref. 19).
-
Dear editors: We propose novel strategies to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, that are aimed at high-risk groups and might reduce the progression to severe forms of COVID and thus decrease the very high case fatality rate. Following the first reports of the outbreak of several cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of December 2019, a novel beta coronavirus, named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV) as the main causative agent was identified while the disease associated with was named by WHO as COVID-19 (1, 2). The outbreak has rapidly spread globally with more than 150.000 cases detected in over 100 countries as of March 13, 2020. ⋯ Given the alarming global situation and rapidly evolving large scale pandemics, there is an urgent need for effective strategies to prevent the spread of the disease and decrease its high CFR. The gravity of the situation requires to consider even novel unorthodox strategies to control the outbreak and high lethality of COVID-19. (Tab. 2, Ref. 21). Keywords: COVID-19, coronavirus, distress syndrome, lopinavir/ritonavir, ribavirin, chloroquine, interferons.