Comparing the clinical efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

New Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are available to prevent the ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. We compared the efficacy of new COVID-19 vaccines to prevent symptomatic and severe disease in the adult population and to prevent symptomatic COVID-19 among the elderly. Leading medical databases were searched until August 30, 2021.

Calcium Channel Blocker Use and the Risk for Prostate Cancer: A Population-Based Nested Case-Control Study.

Introduction: Calcium channels play a significant role in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. This study investigates associations between calcium channel blocker (CCB) use and the incidence of prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted using the Clalit Health Services database.

Calcium Channel Blockers and the Risk for Lung Cancer: A Population-Based Nested Case-Control Study.

Background: It has been suggested that calcium channel blockers (CCBs) may increase the risk of lung cancer; however, current evidence is conflicting and limited.

Objective: Investigate the associations between CCB use and lung cancer.

Methods: We conducted a population-based nested case-control study.

The Risk for Lung Cancer Incidence with Calcium Channel Blockers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

Introduction: There are conflicting findings regarding the association between the use of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and the risk of lung cancer. Considering the public health importance of lung cancer prevention, and emerging evidence of a significant biologic role of calcium channel regulation in the development of lung cancer, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the risk of lung cancer in CCB users compared with non-CCB users.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a comprehensive systematic search of leading medical databases for observational studies published up to December 2017 that examined CCB use and the risk of lung cancer.

[Female sexual dysfunction].

Female sexual problems are common, frequently overlooked and have a significant impact on the lives of women. Research in the last decade has brought to the understanding and recognition of a number of standpoints, mainly the broad range of normative function. In 2003, the American Urological Association Foundation convened an international committee of experts in the field of women's sexuality, to reconsider the existing definitions of women's sexual dysfunction.

Examination of distinct fetal and maternal molecular pathways suggests a mechanism for the development of preeclampsia.

In pregnancy, the maternal spiral arteries must widen to nourish the growing fetus. It is this critical step in placental development that is commonly defective in the pathology of preeclampsia. Other features often observed in the placental pathology of preeclampsia include fewer invasive trophoblasts, shallow trophoblast invasion and placental thrombosis and atherotic-like changes.

The use of 3D rendering, VCI-C, 3D power Doppler and B-flow in the evaluation of interstitial pregnancy with arteriovenous malformation treated by selective uterine artery embolization.

Cornual pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy. We describe a case of cornual pregnancy suspected by two-dimensional ultrasonography (2DUS) and confirmed by three-dimensional volume contrast imaging in the C-plane. Three-dimensional power Doppler showed a particularly rich blood supply and two-dimensional color Doppler mapping demonstrated arteriovenous malformation (AVM).

Postpartum evaluation of the anal sphincter by transperineal three-dimensional ultrasound in primiparous women after vaginal delivery and following surgical repair of third-degree tears by the overlapping technique.

Objective: Intrapartum damage to the anal sphincter is an important factor in fecal incontinence. Recognized lacerations occur in 0.36-8.

Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of congenital perineal skin tag: case report and review of the literature.

Background: Skin tags, or acrochordons, are benign, soft, fleshy tumors that are composed of hyperplastic epidermis covering a dermal connective tissue stalk.

Methods: Case report of a congenital perineal skin tag that presented as a perineal tumor during second-trimester sonographic scan at 23 weeks' gestation. Literature review of the medical literature using Pubmed(R) and the search terms acrochordon, fibroepithelial polyp (FEP), and skin tag.

Rendering in fetal cardiac scanning: the intracardiac septa and the coronal atrioventricular valve planes.

Objective: In this study we aimed to apply spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) rendering to visualize the virtual planes of the interventricular and interatrial septa (IVS, IAS) as well as the atrioventricular (AV) annuli plane just distal to the semilunar valves (coronal atrioventricular (CAV) plane) in normal and pathological fetal hearts, to ascertain whether these planes add to fetal cardiac examination.

Methods: Unselected gravidae presenting for anatomy scan or patients referred for fetal echocardiography in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy with suspected or diagnosed cardiac malformation were scanned using the five planes technique with the STIC modality to obtain cardiac volume sets for each patient. Rendering capabilities were employed to obtain the 'virtual planes' to evaluate the IVS, IAS, AV annuli, and size and alignment of the great vessels.

Three-dimensional power Doppler (3DPD) ultrasound in the diagnosis and follow-up of fetal vascular anomalies.

Objective: This study was undertaken to examine the value of 3-dimensional power Doppler (3DPD) ultrasound imaging in diagnosis and follow-up of fetal vascular anomalies.

Study Design: In 174 women undergoing early second-trimester targeted organ scanning, followed by a midtrimester second scan in a university hospital setting, 3DPD was applied to the fetal intra-abdominal and intrathoracic vessels.

Results: In 137 of 174 fetuses (75%) in the earlier scan, and in 164 of 174 fetuses (95%) in the later scan, 3DPD ultrasound successfully visualized the fetal vessels.

Diagnosis, surveillance, and treatment of the anemic fetus using middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity measurement.

The in utero course of the anemic fetus has improved dramatically, owing to early diagnosis and cordocentesis transfusion. In utero invasive procedures such as amnio- and cordocentesis have become important modalities in the evaluation and treatment of anemic fetuses. However, they carry risks for both the mother and fetus.

The impact of visual impairment on health, function and mortality.

Background And Aims: Our aim was to determine the impact of visual impairment on self-rated health, function and mortality amongst a community-dwelling elderly cohort.

Methods: The study design was prospective and longitudinal, subjects being taken from an age-homogeneous, community-dwelling cohort comprising 452 subjects aged 70 in 1990 and 839 subjects aged 77 in 1998. Comprehensive data were collected by structured interviews and medical examinations carried out during home visits.

The significance of intrauterine lesions detected by ultrasound in asymptomatic postmenopausal patients.

A retrospective study on 82 women with an incidental sonographic finding suspected to be intrauterine polyps was undertaken to assess the histopathologic characteristics of such polyps utilising operative hysteroscopy. Endometrial polyps were found in 68 patients, submucousal myomas in 7, atrophic endometrium in 6 and thickened proliferative endometrium was found in 1 patient. Simple hyperplasia was found in one polyp but neither endometrial carcinoma nor complex hyperplasia was found.

Adverse outcome of isolated fetal intra-abdominal umbilical vein varix despite close monitoring.

Background And Objectives: Fetal intra-abdominal umbilical vein (FIUV) varix-a focal dilatation of the umbilical vein-is an uncommon entity. Outcome varies from spontaneous resolution to fetal death. We describe here the experience of our center with this perplexing entity.

Eph and ephrin expression in normal placental development and preeclampsia.

Eph receptors and their ephrin ligands play a fundamental role in embryogenesis. Their functions include cell targeting and angiogenesis. In placental development, trophoblasts migrate and invade maternal tissue and spiral arteries, where they play a role in both anchoring the placenta to the uterus and increasing blood flow to the developing fetus (interstitial and endovascular invasions).

[The quality of medication orders--can it be improved?].

Medication errors are a common cause of morbidity and mortality among patients. Medication administration in hospitals is a complicated procedure with the possibility of error at each step. Errors are most commonly found at the prescription and transcription stages, although it is known that most errors can easily be avoided through strict adherence to standardized procedure guidelines.

Fetal supraventricular tachycardia diagnosed and treated at 13 weeks of gestation: a case report.

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is the most commonly encountered clinically significant tachycardia in the fetus. When SVT is sustained, congestive heart failure and fetal hydrops may ensue, due to both systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Sonographic diagnosis is usually incidental during the second or third trimester.

Frequent apoptosis in human kidneys after acute renal hypoperfusion.

Background/aims: Apoptosis, a form of cell death characterized by DNA fragmentation and minimal inflammation, is induced by intrarenal hypoxia in rats. The objective of this study was to test whether apoptosis participates in human acute renal injury.

Methods: We examined kidneys obtained from autopsies of 40 patients following hemodynamic compromise and from 9 controls following sudden death.

Rapid DNA fragmentation from hypoxia along the thick ascending limb of rat kidneys.

Extensive DNA fragmentation, a marker for programmed cell death, was selectively and rapidly induced by hypoxia in the thick ascending limbs of rat kidneys. In isolated perfused kidneys, DNA breaks were present in medullary tubules as early as after 10 minutes of local hypoxia and were prevented by reduction of metabolic work. In a model of radiocontrast-induced acute renal failure, DNA breaks were detected selectively along thick ascending limbs as early as 15 minutes following insult, preceding overt morphological damage.