Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
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to analyse cataract surgery outcomes and related factors in eyes presenting with good visual acuity. ⋯ Visual acuity improved significantly, although at least 8.1% of them did not reach their pinhole preoperative visual acuity. Worse visual acuity outcomes were associated with increasing age, vitreous loss, and iris trauma. The 6/9 vision threshold may not be able to accurately differentiate those who may benefit from cataract surgery and those who may not.
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There are no previous studies analyzing the prognostic predictive value of adding the tumor factor (i.e., Tumor Burden (TB) score) to the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to investigate the value of the CONUT plus TB (CONUT-TB) score as a prognostic predictor in patients with HCC undergoing liver resection. ⋯ The CONUT-TB score is a valuable predictor of survival in patients with HCC after liver resection.
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In December 2019, a new coronavirus, named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged from China, causing pneumonia outbreaks first in the Wuhan region and has now spread worldwide. There are no specific drugs for the disease caused by this virus, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Considering that new synthesized drugs cannot be applied immediately to patients, conventional drug in new use is a feasible solution. ⋯ Immunological studies have shown that most patients with severe COVID-19 exhibit substantially elevated serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pentoxifylline is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor that increases the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, which in turn activates protein kinase, leading to a reduction in the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune cell migration. Here, we propose pentoxifylline, a drug with low cost and toxicity, as a possible treatment for COVID-19 based on its interesting properties.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution pattern of genes responsible for erythromycin and tetracycline resistance and their association with resistance phenotypes in enterococcus isolates. ⋯ A high prevalence of high-level resistance to both erythromycin and tetracycline was documented. Alterations at the ribosomal level was more frequently detected in erythromycin and tetracycline resistance than efflux systems. Concurrent resistance mechanisms were more involved in resistance to erythromycin than tetracycline.
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The objective of the present study was to determine a target gene and explore the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of HER-2-positive breast cancer. ⋯ RRM2 was identified as a target gene associated with the initiation, progression, and prognosis of HER-2-positive breast cancer, which may be considered as a new biomarker and therapeutic target.