Irish journal of medical science
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Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an increasingly prevalent and potentially fatal disease with considerable implications if not recognized early and treated promptly. Several disease features contribute to a higher risk profile and adverse outcomes in affected patients. ⋯ Elderly males are inordinately affected by scalp SCC compared to females. Those living further from care exhibited larger tumours at presentation. Data from this study characterize features of SCC of the scalp and provide evidence to suggest that rural isolation may act as a mediator of high-risk presentation and larger tumour size.
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It is necessary to identify critical patients requiring hospitalization early due to the rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. ⋯ MEWS and TREWS calculated at emergency services are effective in predicting 28-day mortality in patients requiring hospitalization due to COVID-19.
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Social restrictions set due to COVID-19 decreased pediatric emergency department (ED). The aim is to report epidemiology of intoxicated patients in pediatric ED during the first and second waves of COVID-19. ⋯ Based on these results, the lockdown and social restrictions did not decrease heavy alcohol or drug consumption among adolescents in Finland.
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Serological SARS-CoV-2 assays have an important role in guiding the pandemic response. This research aimed to compare the performance of 2 antinucleocapsid assays. ⋯ In this small study, the Roche Diagnostics Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 total antibody assay appears superior in performance to the Abbott diagnostics SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay in accurately detecting participants with a history of confirmed COVID-19 disease at 6 months follow-up. This finding should be born in mind in the planning of future seroprevalence studies, especially when considering the use of anti-nucleocapsid assays.
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To evaluate the nephro-ureteric stent (NUS) insertion and exchange practice in a tertiary referral cancer centre, and determine the safety and compliance with current guidelines. We also reviewed if increasing exchange time interval from 6 to 12 weeks was safe, and if this could be adopted into our local guidelines. ⋯ In this retrospective review, we have demonstrated that the recommended 6-week period between stent exchanges is unnecessary in the vast majority of cases, and that a longer interval between NUS exchanges, e.g. 8-12 weeks, is safe for the patient, and reduces screening time. This reduction in procedures also provides a significant potential saving to the radiology department in both monetary expense and limited angiography suite time.