Bone metastases and skeletal-related events: incidence and prognosis according to histological subtype of lung cancer.

Aim: Estimate the incidence of bone metastases (BM) and skeletal-related events according to the histological subtype of lung cancer and its impact on patient survival.

Patients & Methods: Retrospective cohort study was carried out with patients diagnosed with lung cancer. Cumulative incidence, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the risk of death were estimated.

Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography with APRI and FIB-4 to Identify Significant Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.

Introduction And Aim: In chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with equivocal indication for antiviral therapy, therapeutic decision currently depends on histopathology of the liver. We aimed to evaluate if acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) in conjunction with aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score could replace liver biopsy to indicate treatment for CHB.

Material And Methods: We prospectively enrolled 101 clinically non-cirrhotic patients whose serum alanine aminotransferase was mildly elevated (1-2 folds above the upper normal limit) despite a high viral load (HBV DNA > 2,000 IU/mL).

Morphine Induces Fibroblast Activation through Up-regulation of Connexin 43 Expression: Implication of Fibrosis in Wound Healing.

Morphine is the most effective drugs for attenuating various types of severe pain, but morphine abuse carries a high risk of systemic fibrosis. Our previous have indicated that systemic administration of morphine hinders angiogenesis and delays wound healing. Here we have explained the pathological mechanism underlying the effect of morphine on wound healing.

Low accuracy of chromogranin A for diagnosing early-stage pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical utility of plasma chromogranin A (CgA) in patients diagnosed with early-stage pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) in terms of diagnostic value and treatment response. A total of 35 patients with PNETs were prospectively enrolled from August 2010 to April 2014. Demographic and clinicopathological data were collected, and serial plasma CgA levels were measured.

Incidence and risk factors for postoperative lingual neuropraxia following airway instrumentation: A retrospective matched case-control study.

Background: Lingual nerve injury or neuropraxia is a rare but potentially serious perioperative complication following airway instrumentation during general anesthesia. This study explored the the incidence and perioperative risk factors for lingual nerve injury in patients receiving laryngeal mask (LMA) or endotracheal (ETGA) general anesthesia in a single center experience.

Methods And Results: All surgical patients in our hospital who received LMA or ETGA from 2009 to 2013 were included, and potential perioperative risk factors were compared.

Quantification of serum hepatitis B core antibody to predict off-entecavir relapse in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background/purpose: The predictors of off-therapy response in patients treated with neucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) have not been elucidated. It remained unexplored whether serum level of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) at the end of NA therapy was associated with relapse risks.

Methods: This prospective study monitored 82 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients after discontinuing entecavir.

Exendin-4, a glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue accelerates healing of chronic gastric ulcer in diabetic rats.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for impaired healing of peptic ulcers, and there are currently no supplementary therapeutics other than the standard antipeptic medicine to improve the ulcer healing in diabetes. This study examined the potential pleiotropic effect of a glucagon-like peptide (Glp)-1 analogue exendin (Ex)-4 on the regeneration of gastric ulcer in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Methods And Results: Chronic ulcer was created in rat stomach by submucosal injection of acetic acid and peri-ulcer tissues were analyzed 7 days after operation.

Inhalation of volatile anesthetics via a laryngeal mask is associated with lower incidence of intraoperative awareness in non-critically ill patients.

Background: Increased incidence of intraoperative awareness was reported in critically ill patients during major operations, particularly under total intravenous (TIVA) or endotracheal general anesthesia (ETGA). However, the incidence and effect of anesthesia techniques on awareness in generally healthy, non-critically ill patients during operations have yet to receive significant attention.

Methods And Results: This retrospective matched case-control study was conducted between January 2009 to December 2014.

The Impact of Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference on Health-related Quality of Life Among Colorectal Cancer Survivors: Results from the PROFILES Registry.

Background: We aimed to assess the association of waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) with health-related quality of life (HRQL) among colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors.

Methods: CRC survivors diagnosed between 2000 and 2009 completed questionnaires in August 2013 (with self-reported weight, height, and self-assessed WC) and January 2014 (with HRQL using the EORTC-QLQ-C30). Clinical characteristics were retrieved from the Netherlands Cancer Registry.

Pharyngocutaneous fistula as an alternative access route for inserting a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube in head and neck cancer patients.

Background And Study Aims:  Performing a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients can be challenging because of the presence of trismus, pharyngeal obstruction by tumor, and pharyngoesophageal strictures or fistula. Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) is a major postoperative concern in patients submitted to total laryngectomy (TL). In the medical literature to date, the cervical fistula has been used as an access to PEG in only four reports.

Early detection of myocardial infarction following blunt chest trauma by computed tomography: a case report.

Background: Blunt cardiac trauma encompasses a wide range of clinical entities, including myocardial contusion, cardiac rupture, valve avulsion, pericardial injuries, arrhythmia, and even myocardial infarction. Acute myocardial infarction due to coronary artery dissection after blunt chest trauma is rare and may be life threatening. Differential diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction from cardiac contusion at this setting is not easy.

Surgical standardization to prevent gastric stenosis after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a case series.

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is accepted as a stand-alone bariatric procedure. A specific and potentially severe complication of LSG is gastric stenosis (GS).

Objective: Reviewing the treatment and prevention of GS after LSG.

Incretin-based pharmacotherapy and risk of adverse pancreatic events in the ethnic Chinese with diabetes mellitus: A population-based study in Taiwan.

Background: Pancreatic safety remains a concern for diabetic patients using incretin-based medications. We aimed to determine if there was an association between incretin-based therapy and an increased risk for acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: This retrospective population-based cohort study analyzed data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

Assessment of quality of life in patients with advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma treated with a combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel.

Objective: Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, palliative chemotherapy therefore being the only treatment option. This study was aimed at evaluating the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of advanced-stage NSCLC patients receiving palliative chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel.

Influence of the nutritional status in the clinical and therapeutical evolution in adults and elderly with American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis.

The objective of this study is to describe the nutritional status of adult and elderly patients with American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL). It was conducted a longitudinal study in 68 adult and elderly patients with ATL treating at the Surveillance Leishmaniasis Laboratory at the Evandro Chagas Clinical Research Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), from 2009 to 2012. The nutritional assessment included the body mass index (BMI) and serum albumin levels.

Outpatient percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in selected head and neck cancer patients.

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a relatively simple and safe method of providing access for enteral feeding. The procedure is usually performed in hospitalized patients. The feasibility of PEG as an outpatient procedure has not been well estabilished in the medical literature.

Cancer, poverty and human development: challenges for nursing care in oncology.

Unlabelled: This is a reflection on poverty, human development and their interfaces with Oncology Nursing Care.

Objectives: identify the prevailing types of cancer per region; point the challenges posed to nursing care; discuss the possibilities for Oncology Nursing actions in this context. In light of the demographic, epidemiologic and socio-cultural distribution of cancer in Brazil, a systematic articulation of the Oncology care, in situations of poverty and of low human development, represents a challenge for Nursing, as the necessary actions for prevention, early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation, range from low to high complexity.