Articles: function.
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Clinically, for testicular tumor patients with negative tumor markers, how to distinguish the malignant from the benign is a difficult problem. This study aimed to assess the clinical significance of the absolute monocyte count (AMC) in differential diagnosis of testicular germ cell tumor with stage S0 (TGCTS0) and benign testicular tumor. In this retrospective single-center study, a total of 90 patients newly diagnosed with benign testicular tumor or TGCTS0 were reviewed. ⋯ Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) signature gene CCL2 was highly expressed in TGCT compared with normal testicular tissue. Functional enrichment analysis showed that CCL2 is closely involved in the Extracellular Matrix Organization pathway and positively correlated with the expression of various matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Elevated AMC may serve as a predictor of higher risk of TGCTS0, and CCL2 mediated TAMs infiltration and MMPs secretion is essential for the tumorigenesis of TGCT.
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Meta Analysis
Acupuncture is effective in the treatment of postprandial distress syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Traditional Chinese medicine advocates the use of acupuncture for the treatment of postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) in people with Functional dyspepsia, but large clinical trials of acupuncture have produced controversial results. This study aims to confirm the clinical significance of acupuncture in the treatment of PDS . ⋯ This study analyzed the effects of acupuncture on PDS from 5 aspects: overall therapeutic rate, SID, HADS, NDI, and side effects, overall therapeutic rate as primary outcome measure. Statistical analysis results showed that acupuncture has a significant effect on the treatment of PDS. In conclusion, it is an effective clinical treatment method. Also, the potential bias in the included studies, high-quality studies are needed to further confirm the possible side effects of acupuncture in treatment.
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Jun 2023
ReviewOral anticoagulation challenges and therapeutic dilemmas in the very elderly: to treat and how to treat octogenarians and nonagenarians?
The proportion of very elderly patients, namely octogenarians and nonagenarians, is expected to rise substantially over the next decades. This population is more prone to age‑dependent diseases associated with higher thromboembolic and bleeding risks. The very elderly are under‑represented in oral anticoagulation (OAC) clinical trials. ⋯ When prescribing OAC in this population, an individualized, yet holistic, approach accounting for comorbidities, comedications, altered physiological function, pharmacovigilance, frailty, compliance, and risk of falls is useful. However, given the limited randomized‑level evidence on OAC treatment in the very elderly, there are still pending questions. This review will discuss recent evidence, important practical aspects, and future directions for anticoagulation treatment in atrial fibrillation, venous thromboembolism, and peripheral artery disease in octogenarians and nonagenarians.
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Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common in middle-aged and elderly men, affecting more than 100 million males worldwide. Most ED cases can be attributed to organic and/or psychological factors. Here we report an atypical ED case with no clear manifestation fitting the diagnosis for recognized types of ED. ⋯ The no response to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5) treatment may suggest an impediment of PDE5-related pharmacological pathways or the presence of defect/injury in the neural system. This special case raises a question if some patients with persistent ED may have similar manifestations and can be treated with the same procedures.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate whether interactions exist among cognitive and physical functions and activities of daily living (ADL) associated with home discharge of stroke patients in the rehabilitation ward. The subjects were 231 patients with a first stroke. Age, gender, affected side, the stroke impairment assessment set, ADL and discharge destination were collected from the medical record. ⋯ As a result of the logistic regression analysis, this interaction term was significantly associated with home discharge. The findings of the present study suggest that there is an interaction between age and stroke-related dysfunction related to home discharge. Stroke patients aged over 76.5 years with the stroke impairment assessment set score of 27 or less at admission to the rehabilitation ward may need rehabilitation program considering the difficulty of home discharge.