Hippokratia
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Stroke has been associated with compromised patient outcomes, such as a decreased quality of life. We aimed in the present study to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQοL) of hospitalized Greek stroke patients during the sub-acute rehabilitation period and assess the effect of demographic and clinical characteristics mediated by depressive symptom severity on HRQοL. ⋯ By the end of the subacute rehabilitation phase, patients' HRQoL, functionality and depression severity improved. Additionally, baseline functionality, stroke localization, and gender directly or indirectly (mediated by initial depression severity) affected HRQoL, with male patients and patients with stroke non-involving the frontal lobe/basal ganglia showing a better HRQoL by the end of rehabilitation. HIPPOKRATIA 2023, 27 (1):12-17.
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Carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer is a process involving genetic mutations and epigenetic alterations in its multiple phases. The most considerable epigenetic alteration occurring in colorectal cancer (CRC) tumorigenesis is the methylation-mediated silencing of tumor suppressor genes. The present study aimed to detect the methylation status of SOX17 and WNT5a promoters in cell-free DNA circulating in plasma of metastatic CRC patients and to investigate potential prognostic correlation. ⋯ Plasma SOX17 and WNT5a promoter methylation are frequent epigenetic events in advanced CRC. The reported correlations between the methylation status of genes (SOX17 and Wnt5a) promoter and poorer survival in patients with advanced CRC disease agree with the proposed role of SOX17 as a tumor suppressor gene. A more considerable CRC patient cohort is required to research these findings' potential further and investigate whether SOX17 in plasma could serve as a useful prognostic biomarker in metastatic CRC. HIPPOKRATIA 2023, 27 (1):7-11.
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End-stage respiratory failure is non-treatable with mechanical ventilation and can be treated with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenators (VV-ECMO). It can also be used as a bridge to lung transplantation or recovery of lung function. This patient group can suffer from chronic pain, which is further exacerbated by painful procedures required as part of treatment. Pregabalin is licensed for chronic neuropathic pain and generalized anxiety disorder. Thus far, it has not been tried in routine analgesia protocols for pain relief of patients on VV-ECMO. ⋯ Pregabalin is an efficient analgesic with accompanying anxiolytic effects in this group of patients with unique characteristics such as high analgesia requirements and exacerbated psychological and emotional stress. HIPPOKRATIA 2023, 27 (1):22-24.