Articles: ninos.
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Observational Study
Nonadherence to antihypertensive medications amongst patients with uncontrolled hypertension: A retrospective study.
Medication nonadherence represents a modifiable risk factor for patients with hypertension. Identification of nonadherent patients could have significant clinical and economic implications in the management of uncontrolled hypertension. We analysed the results of 174 urinary adherence screens from patients referred to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, for uncontrolled hypertension. ⋯ Bendroflumethiazide and chlortalidone demonstrated the highest and lowest nonadherences respectively (45.5% and 11.8%). Rate of nonadherence in patients with hypertension was significantly impacted by sex and number of antihypertensive medications prescribed. Understanding these factors is crucial in identifying and managing nonadherence.
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Observational Study
Accuracy of the highly sensitive C-reactive protein/albumin ratio to determine disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease.
Persistent disease activity is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aims to explore the accuracy of the highly sensitive C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) in determining IBD activity. The clinical data of 231 IBD patients treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2012 to 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. ⋯ CAR is a useful biomarker for identifying disease activity in patients with CD and UC. Higher CAR levels are indicative of increased IBD activity. CAR may be more valuable in UC than that in CD for assessing the degree of IBD activity.
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Carcinomatous meningitis (CM) is a critical issue for physicians. However, no study has reported a simple and useful diagnostic or predictive marker for CM. This study aimed to elucidate the potential markers for diagnosing CM derived from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). ⋯ Among CM patients, patients with 'TP in CSF (>patients' age)" (n = 19, P = .008) showed significantly shorter 90-day survival probability than the residual patients (n = 20). None of the CSF parameters could predict the risk of mortality on Cox regression analysis. The cutoff value of CEA ≥5 ng/ml in CSF is a simple and useful method with a high diagnostic value for CM diagnosis, but not a suitable predicting factor for mortality. 'TP in CSF >patients' age" might be a novel factor for assessing short-term mortality.
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Observational Study
Protective strategy of parathyroid glands during thyroid lobectomy: A retrospective cohort and case-control study.
Parathyroid protection during thyroid lobectomy was not illustrated previously. Aim of this study was to find out the influence of parathyroid glands in situ preservation and autotransplantation on postoperative parathyroid function in thyroid lobectomy. Consecutive patients who underwent primary thyroid lobectomy with unilateral central neck dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma in our center were included retrospectively. ⋯ Transient hypoparathyroidism was significantly associated with reduced intraoperative carbon nanoparticles utilization (57.1% vs 77.4%, P = .039). Thyroid lobectomy was a safe surgical method for parathyroid protection no matter the practice to ipsilateral parathyroid glands. However, preservation of all parathyroid glands was still recommended considering relatively stable PTH levels.
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The prefrontothalamic tract (PTT) injury is associated with various neuropsychological impairments including cognitive impairment. We report on three women with hemorrhagic stroke who showed changes in the PTT following cranioplasty (C/P) using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) images. ⋯ We demonstrated structural changes in the PTT along with concomitant reductions of cognitive impairments following C/P in 3 women with hemorrhagic stroke using DTT. The DTT changes suggest that C/P can affect the state of the PTT on both the OP and contra-OP sides. However, the limitation that DTT analysis may underestimate or overestimate fiber tract status due to regions of fiber complexity and crossing fiber should be considered.