Brit J Hosp Med
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Aims/Background To investigate the predictive value of the pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for estimating the near-term efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods In this retrospective study, data were collected from patients with locally advanced HCC treated with HAIC between January 2018 and June 2022. Patients were categorized based on their pretreatment NLRs and analyzed using propensity score matching (PSM). ⋯ Both univariate and multivariate regression analyses demonstrated that a high pretreatment NLR was an independent negative prognostic factor for ORR (hazard ratio [HR], 3.464; 95% CI, 1.383-8.678; p = 0.008) and PFS (HR, 1.634; 95% CI, 1.026-2.600; p = 0.038). No significant differences in the incidence of adverse events were observed between the groups. Conclusion Pretreatment NLR is a readily obtainable and effective biomarker for predicting the near-term efficacy of HAIC in patients with locally advanced HCC.
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Aims/Background Chlamydia psittaci is an obligate intracellular bacterium that primarily infects birds, but can cause respiratory infections in humans. Clinical evidence supporting the use of omadacycline for the treatment of Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia remains limited; therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of omadacycline in treating Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia by analyzing the patients' clinical outcomes and the drug safety profile. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 15 patients with Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia treated at the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine between January and December 2023. ⋯ A 100% cure rate was reported within 28 days of treatment initiation, with gastrointestinal disturbances being the most common side effect. Conclusion Omadacycline shows promise in treating Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia and is well tolerated by the users. However, further controlled trials involving larger samples are required to confirm the efficacy and safety of the drug.
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Aims/Background Pregnancy can affect various bodily functions, including metabolism, cardiovascular function, and eyesight. Pathological ocular changes observed during pregnancy are linked to the development of pregnancy-specific conditions, such as preeclampsia/eclampsia and gestational diabetes. This study aims to analyze clinical data disease history and maternal characteristics collected during pregnancy, to determine ocular parameters and develop a risk prediction model for adverse ocular outcomes. ⋯ Additionally, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome were predictors of retinal hemorrhage and exudate during pregnancy (p < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve for adverse ocular outcomes were 0.75 and 0.74, respectively. Conclusion Our predictive model effectively forecasts adverse ocular outcomes during pregnancy, incorporating risk factors such as maternal age, eclampsia and pre-eclampsia, GDM, obesity, a history of chronic hypertension, hypoproteinemia, IUGR, pregnancy with immunoglobulin A nephropathy, and HELLP syndrome.
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Aims/Background Hyperuricemia is a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. If left untreated, hyperuricemia can progress to gout, which manifests as acute arthritic attacks, and may also lead to uric acid nephrolithiasis and other renal conditions. This widespread condition poses significant risks to human health and quality of life. ⋯ No statistically significant difference was found in the incidence of adverse drug reactions between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion The combination of benzbromarone and sodium bicarbonate tablets is highly effective in treating gout associated with hyperuricemia. This treatment not only reduces uric acid levels and the number of tophi but also enhances renal function, alleviates pain, and improves the overall quality of life for patients.
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Aims/Background Primary hypercholesterolemia (PHC) is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Although the fact that statins effectively lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, some patients fail to achieve target LDL-C levels and continue to have a high risk of cardiovascular disease. This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of ezetimibe combined with rosuvastatin in patients with PHC. ⋯ Regarding drug safety, the incidence of adverse events was comparable between the two groups (11.10% vs. 12.10%, p = 0.871). Conclusion The combination of ezetimibe and rosuvastatin demonstrates superior lipid-lowering efficacy and good safety in patients with PHC inadequately controlled by statin therapy, providing an effective alternative treatment option. Further large-scale, multicenter randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm its long-term efficacy and safety.