Annals of medicine
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Women with atrial fibrillation (AF) may be treated less actively with oral anticoagulation (OAC) than men. ⋯ OAC was underused in high-risk AF patients, particularly women, but prescribed often in men with low or moderate stroke risk. Reasons for omitting OAC treatment were poorly reported, particularly for women. KEY MESSAGE Women were at higher stroke risk, but were less often treated with oral anticoagulation (OAC). Men were more often on OAC at low or moderate stroke risk. Reasons for omitting guideline based OAC were poorly reported, particularly for women.
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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is refractory cancer with high morbidity and high mortality. DEAH-box polypeptide 32 (DHX32) was upregulated in several types of malignancies and predicted poor prognosis. Herein, we investigated the role of DHX32 in HCC progression. ⋯ DHX32 was an attractive regulator of HCC progression and indicated DHX32 canserve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC patients.
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Observational Study
Support among healthcare workers for the new mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination policy and its effects on vaccination coverage.
Finland was the first European country to introduce a nation-wide mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination policy for healthcare workers (HCWs) by mandating that administrators of health care institutions only employ vaccinated HCWs. In this study, we examine the effects of the new policy and the view of HCWs on the new policy. ⋯ Our study confirms the positive effects of mandating the administrators of health care institutions to only employ vaccinated HCWs. The majority (57.9%) of all HCWs supported the new policy, with doctors being more compliant than nurses. Key messages Finland became the first European country to mandate influenza vaccination for HCWs by mandating that administrators of health care institutions only employ vaccinated HCWs. After the new act, the vaccination coverage of HCWs increased close to 100%. Most of the HCWs supported the new act and did not find it coercive.
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Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is often characterized by broad clinical and biological heterogeneity, as well as recurrent genetic aberrations. Despite remarkable improvements in the treatment outcome in paediatric ALL over the past several decades, it remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children. Cytokines have been extensively studied in haematologic diseases; however, the mechanisms by which cytokines contribute to ALL pathogenesis remain poorly understood. ⋯ Our study reveals an important role for IL-33/IL1RL1 axis in supporting ALL which may represent a novel treatment for paediatric patients.KEY MESSAGESBoth IL-33 and IL1RL1 levels are upregulated in primary ALL samples.IL-33 increased both p38 MAPK and AKT activation in ALL.IL-33 promotes survival and cell cycle progression of ALL cells via activating p38 MAPK.
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Non-ischaemic heart disease (NIHD) is the underlying pathology in∼20% of all sudden cardiac deaths (SCDs). Heavy drinking is known to be associated with SCD due to ischaemic heart disease, but studies on association of recent alcohol consumption and SCD in patients with NIHD are scarce. We evaluated the blood alcohol levels of autopsy verified non-ischaemic SCD victims. ⋯ Elevated blood alcohol level is common in SCD victims due to NIHD, especially in males. Recent alcohol consumption might contribute to the subsequent SCD in many non-ischaemic SCD victims.KEY MESSAGESElevated blood alcohol level is common in victims of sudden cardiac death due to non-ischaemic heart disease, especially in males.Recent alcohol consumption may contribute to the subsequent death in many nonischemic sudden cardiac death victims.