Medicine
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This study aimed to assess the associations of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR and interleukin (IL)-18 gene polymorphisms with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Clinical data were retrospectively reviewed between December 2006 and December 2015 at Xiangyang Central Hospital. HBV patients were assigned to the high and low viral load groups, respectively, according to HBV copies. ⋯ The chronic HBV group showed a relatively high frequency of -137G in the IL-18 gene, while IL-18 expression was low in homozygous GG genotype individuals. Polymorphisms in the HLA-DRB1*03 and IL-18 genes are associated with viral load in HBV. HLA-DRB1 and IL-18 gene polymorphisms are involved in the regulation of the Th1/Th2 balance and expression of relevant cytokines that influence immune responses in HBV.
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Case Reports
Unilateral brachial plexus injury following carbon monoxide intoxication: A case report.
We report a 45-year-old male patient with unilateral brachial plexopathy following acute carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication. ⋯ Localized swelling in the left shoulder caused by rhabdomyolysis may be a key mechanism in developing unilateral brachial plexopathy after acute CO intoxication. The early diagnosis and treatment of rhadomyolysis might be important preventing peripheral neuropathy. An electrodiagnostic study may be helpful for diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy after CO intoxication and prediction of patient's prognosis.
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Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) defining diseases and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is thought to relate with increased acute toxicity of chemoradiotherapy (CRT). We investigated the effect of HIV status in the incidence of neutropenia associated with cisplatin-based CRT for CC and its impact in treatment completion. This is a single-center retrospective cohort study. ⋯ In HIV+ women, there were more CT cycle delays (P = .013), patients were more prone to use granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; HIV+ 40.0% vs HIV- 4.0%; P = .04) and less likely to complete at least 5 cycles of cisplatin (P = .02). All patients received adequate dose of pelvic RT, regardless of HIV status. HIV+ patients have a significantly increased risk of neutropenia during CRT treatment for CC and are less likely to complete chemotherapy with cisplatin.
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Observational Study
Gastrectomy correlates with increased risk of pulmonary tuberculosis: A population-based cohort study in Taiwan.
The objective to assess the association between gastrectomy and the risk of pulmonary tuberculosis among patients without gastric cancer in Taiwan. There were 762 subjects with newly performing gastrectomy as the gastrectomy group since 2000 to 2012, and 2963 randomly selected subjects without gastrectomy as the non-gastrectomy group. Subjects with history of pulmonary tuberculosis or gastric cancer before the index date were excluded. ⋯ The multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis demonstrated that the adjusted HR of pulmonary tuberculosis was 1.97 for the gastrectomy group, compared with the non-gastrectomy group. Male sex, age (increase per 1 year), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and splenectomy were other factors that could be related to pulmonary tuberculosis. Gastrectomy is associated with 1.97-fold increased risk of pulmonary tuberculosis among patients without gastric cancer.
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Observational Study
Low serum prealbumin levels on admission can independently predict in-hospital adverse cardiac events in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
The aim of this study is to evaluate if low prealbumin levels on admission predict subsequent adverse cardiac events in patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We designed a cohort study and enrolled 610 consecutive patients with ACS from whom venous blood for serum prealbumin measurement was drawn immediately upon hospital admission. Patients were classified in two groups according to prealbumin level: "normal" prealbumin levels (≥17 mg/dL, n=413) and "low" prealbumin (<17 mg/dL, n = 197). ⋯ Multivariable analysis shows that low prealbumin level was an independent predictor for in hospital adverse cardiac events (adjusted OR: 0.918, 95% CI: 0.848-0.993, P = .033). Other independent predictors were lower in average hemoglobin level and Killip class II-IV on admission. Therefore, lower serum prealbumin levels on admission can independently predicts subsequent in hospital major adverse cardiac events in patients with ACS.