Clinics
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Neonatal Intrahepatic Cholestasis (NICCD), as the early-age stage of Citrin deficiency involving liver dysfunction, lacks efficient diagnostic markers. Procalcitonin (PCT) has been identified as a biomarker for infection as well as various organ damage. This study aimed to explore the potential of PCT as a biomarker for NICCD. ⋯ PCT might be used as an initial biomarker to discriminate children with NICCD from another hepatitis disease.
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Lipid metabolism factors may play a role in the development of arthritis and hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. The aim of this study was to explore the potential association between arthritis and hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis. ⋯ This study indicates that there is a positive correlation between arthritis and hepatic steatosis, particularly in females. Nonetheless, there is no significant relationship between arthritis and the risk of liver fibrosis.
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Acknowledging the relationship between postural control and muscle strength in lower limbs is important to find persons with high fall risk and to design fall prevention exercise programs. ⋯ This study found that better functional mobility was associated with greater muscle strength in the knee in elderly women. There were weak negative correlations between knee extensor strength and some measures of semi-static postural balance, suggesting that different motor control actions are required to maintain semi-static balance and mobility. In the case of semi-static balance, a lower level of muscle response is required than in functional mobility.
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The authors assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Transient Elastography-Controlled Attenuation Parameter (TE-CAP) in children of Southern China. ⋯ TE-CAP showed excellent diagnostic accuracy in pediatric hepatic steatosis.
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Pleural effusion is a common medical problem. It is important to decide whether the pleural fluid is a transudate or an exudate. This study aims to measure the attenuation values of pleural effusions on thorax computed tomography and to investigate the efficacy of this measurement in the diagnostic separation of transudates and exudates. ⋯ The attenuation measurements of pleural fluids can be considered as an efficacious way of differentiating exudative and transudative pleural effusions.