Bratisl Med J
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To distinguish whether idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition predisposing to multiple sclerosis (MS) or an isolated disease, the current gene transcription factor Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) was evaluated with its potential to differentiate both diseases. ⋯ According to our results, the fact that CSF TNF-α and IL-6 values did not differ in IIH compared to MS revealed that IIH could not methodologically control MS, and AP-1 was a supportive parameter in differentiating both diseases (Tab. 2, Fig. 1, Ref. 31).
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The goal of our work was to develop a composition for antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) of anaerobic periodontopathogenic pathogens. ⋯ aPDT is a promising therapeutic alternative for the local treatment of purulent-inflammatory diseases of various localisation caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including in the oral cavity (Fig. 3, Ref. 57). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: peri-implant diseases, photodynamic therapy, photosensitiser, anaerobic bacteria.
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Observational Study
Estimation of prognosis in patients after decompressive craniectomy after malignant hemispheric infarction: multifactorial scoring scale.
Patient's age is considered to be one of the most relevant factors in selecting surgical candidates for decompressive hemicraniectomy after malignant hemispheric infarction. However, questions about surgical indication in older patients, patients with consciousness disorder or patients with large infarctions remain unanswered. ⋯ Age of the patient, preoperative level of consciousness, midline shift, and volume of infarction showed a significant association with postoperative Barthel index. According to the identified factors, a multifactorial prognostic scoring system was introduced, aimed to distinguish between favorable and unfavorable outcomes. Using ROC analysis, it has achieved an AUC of 0.74 (95%CI 0.58‒0.89, p=0.01)CONCLUSIONS: Prediction of postoperative outcome should be based on multiple variables. Our scale, based on the clinical and imaging data, can be used during decision-making to estimate potential benefit of decompressive craniectomy in patients after malignant brain infarction (Tab. 5, Fig. 1, Ref. 32). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: decompressive hemicraniectomy, malignant hemispheric infarction, indication, outcome, prediction.
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Interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) is an in vitro blood test to measure interferon gamma (IFN-γ) released from antigen-specific T cells after stimulation with pathogen-specific peptides. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the T-cell response using IGRA and to compare various laboratory values in Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) patients hospitalized either in hospital inpatient departments or in intensive care units. ⋯ The relatively higher IGRA negative results in the elderly, negative and intermediate results in intensive-care patients, and low lymphocyte levels in intensive-care patients indicate that the cellular immune response is diminished and/or absent. The death rates, D-dimer, CRP, procalcitonin, AST and ALT values of the patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit were higher compared to those from the in-patient department, indicating the severity of inflammation and signaling the development of organ failure. In the light of these findings, we suggest that IGRA tests may serve as a guide in immunomodulatory therapy (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 27). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: COVID-19, interferon gamma release assay test, T cell response.
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The aim of this study is to determine the role of Respiratory Rate Oxygenation (ROX), shock, and diastolic shock indexes in predicting mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients admitted to the emergency department. ⋯ In conclusion, we found that the ROX index had higher sensitivity and specificity than other indexes in predicting mortality in the evaluation of COVID-19 patients (Tab. 3, Fig. 2, Ref. 18).