International journal of clinical practice
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Apr 2021
Comparison of the diagnostic value of virtual touch tissue quantification and virtual touch tissue imaging quantification in infants with biliary atresia.
This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of vital touch tissue quantification (VTQ) and virtual touch tissue imaging quantification (VTIQ) in diagnosing infants with biliary atresia (BA) from jaundiced infants. ⋯ Vital touch tissue quantification and VTIQ could help distinguish infants with BA from jaundiced infants by measuring the liver SWV values. VTIQ has higher sensitivity and specificity than VTQ.
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Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers among men in the world. Prostate-specific antigen is the most used biomarker for PCa diagnosis. In this study, we aimed to measure the procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with PCa. ⋯ We found that the elevated procalcitonin level was associated with prostate cancer. Further studies are needed to define the relationship between procalcitonin and prostate cancer.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Apr 2021
Management of Newly-diagnosed Metastatic Hormone-sensitive Prostate Cancer: a Survey of UK Uro-oncologists.
To explore the practice and views of uro-oncologists in the United Kingdom regarding their use of chemotherapy and androgen receptor-targeted agents (ARTAs) in patients with newly diagnosed metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). ⋯ All the UK uro-oncologists surveyed stated that they would offer docetaxel in combination with ADT to all newly diagnosed patients with mHSPC if fit enough for chemotherapy. ARTAs would be offered to many patients if available, especially those with high-risk disease or those unfit to receive chemotherapy. Scanning was typically conducted following treatment only at the suspicion of disease progression.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Apr 2021
Combination of prealbumin and tuberculosis-specific antigen/phytohemagglutinin ratio for discriminating active tuberculosis from latent tuberculosis infection.
Given that there is no rapid and effective method for distinguishing active tuberculosis (ATB) from latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), the discrimination between these two statuses remains challenging. This study sought to investigate the value of nutritional indexes and tuberculosis-specific antigen/phytohemagglutinin ratio (TBAg/PHA ratio) for distinguishing ATB from LTBI. ⋯ The diagnostic model based on combination of prealbumin and TBAg/PHA ratio is a rapid and accurate tool for discriminating ATB from LTBI.
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In late July, Cyprus experienced the second epidemic wave of COVID-19. We present the steps taken by the government and evaluate their effect on epidemic trends. ⋯ The significant difference between recorded cases and those projected by Models 1 and 2 suggests that changes in epidemic trends may have been associated with policy changes after their respective dates. Discontinuation of major restrictions such as airport reopening, can destabilise the control of the epidemic, and may concomitantly necessitate a reevaluation of the current epidemic status. In the face of an evolving situation such as the COVID-19 pandemic, states are forced to balance the imposing of restrictions against their impact on the economy.