Irish journal of medical science
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The biological function of YKL-40 is not well determined in different inflammatory and autoimmune diseases; however, some data highlighted its possible connection with disease activity. ⋯ YKL-40 in serum could be a promising biomarker in patients with SLE, especially in adolescent-onset cases. It is independently influenced by disease duration, anemia, thrombocytopenia, positive anti-dsDNA, and APL ab features.
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Review Case Reports
Tracheoesophageal fistula development following radiotherapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitors in a patient with advanced follicular thyroid carcinoma: a case-based review.
Tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEF) are a rare complication that can occur in patients with radioactive iodine refractory metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) following treatment with radiotherapy (RT) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). ⋯ This case report highlights a rare cause of TEF development in a patient having TKI therapy post-RT for advanced FTC. It highlights the importance of monitoring TEF development in this cohort of patients. It demonstrates the importance of patient counselling and education regarding treatment options and the rare side effects of treatments.
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Neurogenic inflammation has been recognized as an important contributing factor in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical values of substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and neuropeptide Y as biomarkers of disease severity and treatment outcomes of chronic urticaria complicated with allergic rhinitis. ⋯ Our data indicates that substance P, VIP, and neuropeptide Y levels before treatment correlate strongly with the treatment outcomes of the patients, which could potentially serve as a decision support tool in clinical management of chronic urticaria complicated with allergic rhinitis.
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Braces have been a popular treatment option for scoliosis among healthcare professionals for many years. However, the effect of braces on scoliosis treatment remains a subject of ongoing debate and research. ⋯ Our study suggests that wearing a scoliosis brace may negatively affect an individual's vertical and standing long jumps, and forward reach distances. However, wearing or not wearing the brace had no significant effect on postural control and timed stand-up test. Long-term follow-up studies are needed to evaluate the overall effectiveness of scoliosis braces in treating AIS.
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Several reports showed that sexual function was affected during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ An association of new-onset ED in men who suffered COVID-19 infection was established. This may be due to virus-induced endothelial cell dysfunction; however, an underlying mechanism and causation have not yet been clearly elucidated. While it appears that COVID-19 infection may be a risk factor for ED, additional research is needed to establish causality.