International journal of clinical practice
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Apr 2021
Real-life assessment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patient performance with different inhalers.
This study aimed to evaluate handling of six common inhalers and to determine correlations between correct inhaler technique and patient demographics/ clinical variables. ⋯ pMDI is not preferable for handling by COPD patients. DPIs vary in ease of use, so that inhaler therapy must be individualised on basis of patient handling assessment with repeated counselling.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Apr 2021
Can the systemic immune inflammation index be a predictor of bcg response in patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer?
We aimed to investigate the predictor role of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) on Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) response in patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). ⋯ The SII might be a successful, non-invasive and low-cost parameter for prediction of BCG failure in patients with high-risk NMIBC. The cut-off value for SII is 672.75 and above this level BCG failure and progression to MIBC might be anticipated. However, these results should be validated in prospective randomised controlled studies with large patient groups.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Apr 2021
Observational StudyIncreasing Access to Erectile Dysfunction Treatment via Pharmacies to Improve Healthcare Provider Visits and Quality of Life: Results from a Prospective Real-World Observational Study in the United Kingdom.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in the United Kingdom (UK) formally reclassified sildenafil citrate 50 mg tablets as a pharmacy medicine (sildenafil-P) in 2017 for adult men with erectile dysfunction (ED). A 1-year prospective real-world observational study was conducted to track men's health behaviour, particularly their healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU) and quality of life (QoL) before and after the availability of sildenafil-P. ⋯ Following the reclassification to a pharmacy medicine in the UK, sildenafil-P was associated with a higher number of physician/nurse practitioner and pharmacist visits for any reason. Sildenafil-P use was also associated with better QoL, although group differences were small in magnitude.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Apr 2021
Development of a novel risk score for the prediction of critical illness amongst COVID-19 patients.
Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is associated with various clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic infection to critical illness. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of hospitalised COVID-19 patients and construct a predictive model for the discrimination of patients at risk of disease progression. ⋯ A10-variable risk score was constructed based on clinical and laboratory characteristics in order to predict critical illness amongst hospitalised COVID-19 patients, achieving better discrimination compared with traditional pneumonia severity scores. The proposed risk model should be externally validated in independent cohorts in order to ensure its prognostic efficacy.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Apr 2021
Serum MicroRNAs as predictors for fibrosis progression and response to direct- acting antivirals treatment in hepatitis C virus genotype-4 Egyptian Patients.
MicroRNA (miRNAs) are small non-coding molecules that play an important role in hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication and liver diseases progression. The current study aimed to evaluate serum miRNAs as potential biomarkers for diagnosis, monitoring of fibrosis progression and prediction of responses to direct-acting antivirals (sofosbuvir + daclatasvir + ribavirin) in HCV genotype-4 patients. ⋯ miR-199 and miR-448 could serve as valuable non-invasive biomarkers for assessment of liver fibrosis progression. Additionally, miR-199 could be also a potential biomarker for assessment of treatment efficacy among HCV patients. Therefore, miR-199 and miR-448 serum levels should be considered during the treatment of HCV genotype-4 patients in Egypt and the world.