Annals of medicine
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To analyse the clinical symptoms, laboratory examinations and chest CT findings of children infected by the B.1.617.2 variant of COVID-19 and to compare the differences between clinical subtypes. ⋯ The pathogenetic condition of children with B.1.617.2 variant infection is mild. Although there were intergroup differences in some blood cell analyses, T-lymphocyte counts, and comprehensive biochemical indicators, no factors had a significant effect on clinical typing and the presence or absence of symptoms. CT findings and CT scores reflect disease stage and pathological changes and correlate moderately with laboratory tests, making them of good value for disease diagnosis and monitoring.Key MessagesPaediatric patients infected with B.1.617.2 variant have a milder clinical and imaging presentation than adults and are similar to the prototype infection.CT findings and scores which reflect disease stages and pathological changes.There is a correlation between chest CT and laboratory tests, which can be useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of the disease.
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The large-cell Niti-S stent is useful for multiple stenting in patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction (MHBO). Recently, a novel uncovered self-expandable metallic stent (USEMS) (a Niti-S large-cell SR slim delivery system) was developed. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of this USEMS slim delivery system in MHBO patients. ⋯ Placing multiple USEMSs in patients with a past history of abdominal surgery or in reintervention is difficult. Although difficult cases were included in this study, stent-in-stent placement with the novel Niti-S large-cell SR slim delivery system was useful in treating MHBO patients. In addition, this novel stent might be the first choice for MHBO patients.KEY MESSAGESEndoscopic multistenting for MHBO is challenging. In addition, reintervention or multistenting for MHBO patients with a past history of abdominal surgery becomes more difficult.The novel Niti-S large-cell SR slim delivery USEMS is useful as an additional stent because the delivery system is thin and suitable for a 0.025 guidewire. In addition, the novel stent is of the braided type and has a large mesh. Therefore, the novel stent is expected to have strong radial force and can be used as the first SEMS.The Niti-S large-cell SR slim delivery stent is long enough to be used in patients with upper gastrointestinal reconstruction. Although this study included patients with reintervention or a past history of upper gastrointestinal reconstruction, the technical success rate of multiple stenting for MHBO patients was 100%. The slim-delivery stent might overcome several difficulties of endoscopic multistenting.
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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and inflammation are closely related. This study aimed to evaluate the associations and causal effect between C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels andOSA. ⋯ Increased CRP and TNF-α were associated with OSA severity and sensible to CPAP treatment. Also, OSA had a suggestive causal effect on elevated CRP.
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In clinical practice, treatment goals are often set up without exploring what patients really want. We, therefore, collected individualised treatment goals of patients with osteoarthritis (OA), categorised and mapped them to the World Health Organisation International Classification for Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). ⋯ As the human lifespan as well as the number of people affected by OA worldwide increase, there is a growing need to identify and evaluate rehabilitation outcomes that are relevant to people with OA.Key MessagesTreat-to-target agreements between patients and health care providers present a step towards more personalised precision medicine, which will eventually lead to better reported functional and health outcomes.In patients with osteoarthritis, the Goal Attainment Scale instrument can be used to measure health outcomes at different time points and its content may be linked to ICF providing a unified language and conceptual scientific basis.
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Cardiorenal syndrome type I (CRS I) is defined as the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) following acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). The clinical significance of endothelial markers in ADHF-associated AKI has yet to be clarified. This study therefore investigated the biological processes linking ADHF and AKI with the aim of determining whether the plasma markers of endothelial injury and activation are associated with AKI in patients with ADHF. ⋯ This study revealed that markers of endothelial injury (i.e. plasma soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) levels) were higher in ADHF patients with AKI than in those without AKI. Multivariate analysis identified sTM level > cutoff value of 4,855.2 pg/mL as an independent factor associated with the development of AKI. sTM could potentially be used as a biomarker to predict the development of AKI in patients with heart failure. These findings suggest a novel approach to dealing with kidney injury in the context of ADHF, involving the use of baseline biomarker profiles to identify individuals at risk of developing AKI.