Annals of medicine
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Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) helps achieve good radiation dose conformity and precise dose evaluation. We conducted a single-centre prospective study to assess the safety and feasibility of total body irradiation with IMRT (IMRT-TBI) using helical tomotherapy in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). ⋯ IMRT-TBI is safe and feasible for haematological malignancies with acceptable clinical outcomes.KEY MESSAGESIMRT-TBI-helical tomotherapy aids in accurate dose calculation and conformity.It could be used without any considerable increase in the rate of TBI-related AEs.Allo-HSCT with IMRT-TBI may be an alternative to conventional TBI for clinical use.
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The Wisconsin upper respiratory symptom survey (WURSS) is a validated English questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life and severity of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). We aimed to develop a Mandarin Chinese version of WURSS-24 (WURSS-24-C) and evaluate its reliability, validity and minimal important difference (MID). ⋯ The WURSS-24-C is a reliable and valid questionnaire for assessing illness-specific quality-of-life health status in Chinese-speaking patients with URTIs.Key messagesThe Wisconsin upper respiratory symptom survey (WURSS) series are patient-oriented questionnaire instruments assessing the quality of life and severity of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs).The WURSS-24 was translated into Mandarin Chinese using the forward-backward translation procedure, and evaluated its validity, reliability and minimal important difference (MID) in 300 Chinese participants with URTIs.The WURSS-24 Chinese version (WURSS-24-C) seems to be a reliable and valid questionnaire for assessing illness-specific quality-of-life health status in Chinese patients with URTIs.
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Urolithiasis is one of the most common diseases in urology, with a lifetime prevalence of 14% and is more prevalent in males compared to females. We designed to explore sex disparities in the Chinese population to provide evidence for prevention measures and mechanisms of stone formation. ⋯ Patients' factors might influence the development of kidney stones distinctly between the two genders. As age grew, the risk to develop kidney stones in females continuously ascended, while the risk in males presented a trend to ascend and then descend, which was presumably related to the weakening of the androgen signals.Key messagesWe found that patients' factors might cast an influence on the development of kidney stone disease distinctly between the two sexes.The association between age and urolithiasis presents distinct trends in the two sexesThe results will provide evidence to explore the mechanisms underlying such differences can cast light on potential therapeutic targets and promote the development of tailored therapy strategies in prospect.
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Around 5% of the world's population is expected to have some degree and type of thalassaemia. Beta thalassaemia (BT) occurs due to a deficient production of the beta-globin chain of haemoglobin. Extramedullary haematopoiesis (EMH) is one of the complications of BT, mainly observed in minor/intermedia subtypes. EMH is the production of blood cells outside the marrow as a compensatory response to longstanding hypoxia. Due to chronic transfusions, it is not expected in patients with beta-thalassaemia major (BTM). However, there are increasingly reported cases of EMH in BTM. The incidence of EMH in BTM is thought to be <1%. We aim to pool the available data and provide cumulative evidence on the occurrence of EMH in BTM patients. ⋯ EMH is rare in BTM and can occur in any organ system with varied clinical features. MRI can effectively diagnose EMH, and conservative management has similar results compared to invasive treatments. Larger studies, focussing on outcomes may enhance guidelines on preventive and therapeutic strategies for managing EMH in BTM.KEY MESSAGESExtramedullary haematopoiesis is a rare complication in beta thalassaemia. Although it is more common in non-transfusion dependent thalassaemia, increasingly reported cases suggest a higher prevalence of EMH in TDT than what is known before.There are no clear guidelines on the management of EMH in TDT, with reported patients showing similar outcomes with conservative invasive treatment modalities.More extensive and preferably prospectively designed studies are required focussing on the management of EMH and its outcomes in patients with TDT to formulate evidence-based guidelines.
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Primary lymphoma of the female genital tract (PLFGT) is a sporadic extranodal lymphoma. Its epidemiology and prognosis are not fully recognized. Our study aimed to construct and validate prognostic nomograms for predicting survival for patients with PLFGT. ⋯ The incidence of PLFGT has increased in the past 40 years, and the nomograms were developed and validated as an individualized tool to predict OS and DSS for all PLFGT patients and DLBCL patients. All patients are divided into three risk groups to assist clinicians to identify patients at high-risk and choose the optimal individualized treatments for patients.HighlightsThe incident of PLFGT and its subtypes were calculated and compared.Nomograms were constructed to predict the 1-, 5-, and 10-year OS and DSS.Patients are divided into the low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk according total score of the nomogram.