Medicine
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DNA methylation markers have been assessed as potential biomarkers for early cervical cancer detection. Herein, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of zinc finger protein 582 (ZNF582) methylation for cervical cancer detection. ⋯ ZNF582 methylation has a prospect to be an auxiliary biomarker for cervical cancer screening. A new strategy of co-testing HPV DNA and ZNF582 methylation test in cervical scrapings confers an improved diagnostic accuracy than single HPV DNA testing.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of complex regional pain syndrome and fibromyalgia: Differences in beta and gamma bands on quantitative electroencephalography.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia (FM) share many features. Both can cause severe pain and are considered to have a mechanism of action, including dysfunction of the sympathetic nervous system. However, they have clinical differences in pain range and degree. ⋯ There were no significant differences between 2 groups in the delta, theta, and alpha bands. The present findings show that the CRPS and FM groups differ mainly in the high frequency, which may reflect their distinct pathophysiology and symptomatology. Our study suggests that the QEEG differences can be clinically useful in assessing brain function in patients with CRPS and FM.
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Observational Study
Risk factors associated with outcomes of peritoneal dialysis in Taiwan: An analysis using a competing risk model.
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is one option for renal replacement therapy in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Maintenance of the PD catheter is an important issue for patient outcomes and quality of life. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to clarify the risk factors of technique failure and outcomes at a single institute in Taiwan. ⋯ Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor contributing to PD-related peritonitis. Male patients and lower serum albumin levels were associated with higher rates of technique failure. Female gender, lower Kt/V, and WCCr are risk factors for overall mortality in PD patients.
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Case Reports
Aggravation of atrial arrhythmia by amiodarone during the perinatal period: A case report.
Amiodarone, a broad-spectrum antiarrhythmic drug, is widely used for the clinical treatment of tachyarrhythmias because of its safety and efficacy. ⋯ When amiodarone is used to treat atrial arrhythmia, the ventricular rate may accelerate, which can cause patients with borderline heart failure to develop acute heart failure or further deterioration of acute heart failure. For heart failure induced or mediated by atrial arrhythmias, short-term β-blockers may be used to control the ventricular rate more quickly and effectively and to prevent the progression of heart failure.
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Observational Study
Allogeneic blood transfusion in 163 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (a STROBE-compliant article).
Little research has been done about the effects of allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) on the recurrence and prognosis in the cases with childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (cALL). In order to provide a basis for clinical safe blood transfusion, the data of 163 cases with cALL were retrospectively analyzed to explore the issue. The data of 163 cases with cALL between 2006 and 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. ⋯ Cox regression analysis showed that >25-time transfusion was an independent prognosis index of recurrence (odds ratio [OR] = 3.015, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.368-6.646) and death (OR = 3.979, 95% CI: 1.930-8.207) in cALL. Frequency of ABT appears to affect the recurrence and death in cALL. We should be careful with blood transfusion and avoid unnecessary blood transfusion as far as possible in the cases with cALL.