Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
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Thyroid ultrasound plays a major role in the clinical management of patients with thyroid nodules. Comprehensive reporting enables malignant risk stratification and biopsy decisions. In this study, we aimed at a systematic evaluation of the content and completeness of thyroid radiology reports. ⋯ Despite easily accessible templates, reporting of thyroid nodule sonogram continues to be incomplete and inconsistent. This in turn constitutes a waste of a significant tool that could otherwise help in making timely informed medical decisions and in providing a significant platform for patients' future follow-up.
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Thyroid Nodules Are More Prevalent in Subjects with Colon Polyps, Independent of Insulin Resistance.
Colorectal polyps and thyroid nodules are common disorders linked to hyperinsulinemia and metabolic syndrome (Mets). The direct association between these two diseases is not clear. We aimed to analyze the prevalence of thyroid nodules in subjects with and without colorectal polyps. The secondary aim was to establish the prevalence of Mets and its parameters in both disorders and to determine if insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are common underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. ⋯ These results may support the presence of other common mechanisms in the development of these two pathologies other than insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia.
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Although the prognostic significance of systematic inflammation-based scores, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), has been explored in pancreatic cancers, few reports have investigated the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR). We aimed to retrospectively investigate the prognostic value of the preoperative LMR in patients with resectable pancreatic head cancer (PHC). ⋯ LMR may carry important prognostic information for patients with resectable PHC. Preoperative LMR may be considered for use in risk stratification for individual patients with PHC.
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TheAllplexTM Respiratory Panel 1 (ARP) is a new assay based on a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the detection of influenza A (Flu A), influenza B virus (Flu B), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), including subtyping by multiple detection temperature (MuDT) technology. We evaluated the performance of the Allplex Respiratory Panel compared to the SimplexaTM Flu A/B & RSV assay (SP) and other diagnostic tools. ⋯ The Allplex panelshowed high sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive values for the detection of Flu A, Flu B, and RSV. This assay is fast and easy to perform because it takes only about 150 min and there is no need for post-PCR electrophoresis. The ARP can be used as a reliable and convenient assay in clinical laboratories.
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Aortic arch calcification (AAC) is a surrogate marker for arterial stiffness and hypertension-related vascular damage. Renal resistive index (RRI), a renal Doppler ultrasonography parameter, is used to assess renal hemodynamics. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between RRI and AAC in patients with hypertension. ⋯ A strong and independent relationship was found between AAC on chest X-ray and RRI in patients with hypertension.