Articles: disease.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effectiveness of far-infrared irradiation on foot skin surface temperature and heart rate variability in healthy adults over 50 years of age: A randomized study.
Far-infrared irradiation (FIR) is used in the medical field to improve wound healing, hemodialysis with peripheral artery occlusive disease, and osteoarthritis but seldom used in ameliorating poor lower extremity circulation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of FIR on changes in foot skin surface temperature (FSST) and autonomic nerve system (ANS) activity to evaluate its effectiveness in improving lower limb circulation. ⋯ FIR significantly increased the FSST from between 4°C and 7°C after 40 minutes irradiation, which might improve lower extremity circulation and regulation of ANS activity.
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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a major health problem worldwide; according to statistics, 10% to 25% of patients with NAFLD can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A link between the composition and metabolites of intestinal microbiota and the development of NAFLD is becoming clearer. It is believed that microbiota factors are driving forces of hepatic steatosis and inflammation. The formulated food that contains prebiotics and dietary fiber may improve NAFLD by altering the intestinal flora and its metabolites. ⋯ This clinical trial will provide evidence of efficacy and safety of formulated food as a potential new therapeutic agent for NAFLD patients.
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Systemic mastocytosis is a rare disease due to mast cell accumulation in various extracutaneous sites. Systemic mastocytosis with an associated clonal hematologic non-MC lineage disease is the second most common subtype of systemic mastocytosis. The most common mutation associated with both systemic mastocytosis and myeloid sarcoma is mutation in Kit. Here, we identified the novel KIT D816V and ARID1A G1254S mutations co-occurring in systemic mastocytosis with myeloid sarcoma. ⋯ This is the first case of patient with systemic mastocytosis and myeloid sarcoma simultaneously presenting extensive skin involvements. Mutations of Kit and Arid1a emphasis the importance to notice possibility of various tumors occurring in patients with multiple mutations. In addition, cysteine-leukotrienes-receptor antagonists should always be used to prevent anaphylactic shock due to mast cell activation.
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Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is an uncommon neurological disorder with autoimmune features. Here, we report a 60-year-old man with SPS associated with critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP). CIP was diagnosed during an episode of acute respiratory failure secondary to muscular rigidity and spasms, which has rarely been reported in this condition. The overlapping of CIP and SPS complicated the case. ⋯ We report this special case to address the varied clinical features of SPS. Electrophysiological testing is an important diagnostic approach. Accurate recognition of the disease ensures that the patients can be given appropriate treatment without delay.
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Triple negative breast cancer affects 10% to 20% of all women diagnosed with breast cancer. Due to its characteristics, treatment strategies are limited and metastatic recurrences are common in the first 5 years after treatment. However, not all patients affected by this disease develop metastases. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes have shown to be reliable predictive biomarkers of treatment response and metastatic recurrences. However, we need to develop simpler and faster ways to predict response to cytotoxic treatment and the possibility of eventual cancer relapse by identifying new biomarkers. Recently, new studies are emerging, suggesting a predictive role of circulating blood cells in different types of cancer. In this study, we will assess the correlation between tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and different elements of the blood count in patients diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. ⋯ The discovery of new prognostic and predictive biomarkers is crucial for triple negative breast cancer. We set up the PERCEPTION clinical trial in order to evaluate certain blood counts as early biomarkers and to assess their correlation with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Demonstration of comparative predictive and/or prognostic capacities of peripheral blood counts and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes would allow introduction of the former as simple and cheap biomarkers in triple negative breast cancer patient management.