The British journal of surgery
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Screening elderly men for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) to reduce mortality from rupture is evidence-based. For women epidemiological data on AAA are scarce, and the evidence for screening is insufficient. The aim of this population-based study was to determine the current prevalence of AAA and risk factors among 70-year-old women. ⋯ Screening 70-year-old women who do not smoke is likely to be futile, thus ruling out population screening of women for AAA.
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Review Meta Analysis
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and white blood cell count for suspected acute appendicitis.
The aim was to evaluate the diagnostic value of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC) in uncomplicated or complicated appendicitis by means of a systematic review and meta-analysis. ⋯ Procalcitonin has little value in diagnosing acute appendicitis, with lower diagnostic accuracy than CRP and WBC. However, procalcitonin has greater diagnostic value in identifying complicated appendicitis. Given the imperfect accuracy of these three variables, new markers for improving medical decision-making in patients with suspected appendicitis are highly desirable.
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The relationship between obesity and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is unclear. An observational cohort study was undertaken to examine the associations between waist circumference as a measure of abdominal adiposity, and between body mass index (BMI) as a measure of total adiposity, and risk of AAA. ⋯ Abdominal, but not total, adiposity was associated with an increased risk of incident AAA. A threshold was observed at a waist circumference of 100 cm for men and 88 cm for women.