Tag: pubmed

Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2022 Mar 29;94(1):51-56. doi: 10.4081/aiua.2022.1.51.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the efficacy of voiding efficiency (VE) to distinguish between underactive bladder (UB) and bladder outlet obstruction (BO) without using pressure flow studies (PFS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: in male patients, uroflowmetry and post-void residual (PVR) urine data and subsequent pressure flow studies (PFS) data were examined retrospectively. Bladder outlet obstruction index (BOI) and bladder contractility index (BCI) were calculated from patients’ PFS values. Patients with BCI < 100 and BOI < 40 were grouped as UB group and patients with BCI > 100 and BOI > 40 were grouped as BOO group. VE was computed as a percentage of volume voided compared to the pre-void bladder volume.

RESULTS: In total we examined 93 patients, 44 in UB and 49 in BO group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in relation to Qmax value (p = 0.38). However, total voiding time, time to reach the maximum urinary flow rate and voided volume showed statistically significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.001). Average VE was 63.6 + 2.43% and 46.2 + 2.63%) for UB and BO groups respectively and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). UB can be diagnosed with at least 95% sensitivity and 88% specificity in men over age 80.

CONCLUSIONS: Non-invasive uroflowmetry and VE measurements were able to differentiate between UB and BOO patients, presenting with identical clinic features, but different findings of PFS.

PMID:35352525 | DOI:10.4081/aiua.2022.1.51

Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2022 Mar 29;94(1):46-50. doi: 10.4081/aiua.2022.1.46.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a group of RNA viruses involved in several human diseases affecting respiratory, enteric, hepatic, and neurological systems. COVID-19 was identified in 2020 and was named SARS-CoV-2. To limit worldwide contagion, many countries instituted a lockdown, which conducted to disruption of routine life. In fact, pandemic was associated with several stresses among population, such as loss of employment, deaths of family members, friends, or colleagues, financial insecurity, and isolation. This led to long-lasting psychosocial effects as anxiety and depression, increasing the prevalence of stress and traumarelated disorders in the population. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between lower urinary tracts symptoms (LUTS) and stress/depressive symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous cross-sectional webbased survey (comprehending anthropometric data, education level, occupation status, smoking and alcohol habits, current therapies, quarantine and COVID-19 infection status) was conducted from March to May 2020 in Italy. LUTS were examined through National Institute of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) and Genitourinary Pain Index (GUPI). Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) was utilized to evaluate depressive and anxiety symptoms. Non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H Test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 356 out of 461 subjects fully completed the survey, with a response rate of 77.2%. Data showed that subjects involved in economic difficulties, quarantine measures or with increased HDRS reported a significative statistic worsened urinary symptoms (H(3) = 11.731, p = 0.008), quality of life, (H(3) = 10.301, p = 0.016), total NIH-CPSI/GUPI score (H(3) = 42.150, p = 0.000), and quality of life (H(3) = 48.638, p = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 pandemic provoked several alterations in everyday life. Although general lockdown, quarantine and social distancing have been necessary to prevent virus spreading, this had long term effects on all population in terms of mental and physical health. NIH-CPSI and GUPI scores increased linearly with stress and anxiety levels measured at HDRS, confirming worse LUTS in subjects who suffered anxiety and stress from COVID-19 pandemic.

PMID:35352524 | DOI:10.4081/aiua.2022.1.46

Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2022 Mar 28;94(1):18-24. doi: 10.4081/aiua.2022.1.18.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Being the second most common cancer in men, prostate cancer detection relies on laboratory tests, imaging, and surgical procedures, although biopsy remains the mainstay in diagnosis of prostate cancer. No clear cut-off of prostate specific antigen density (PSAD) for suspecting prostate cancer has been established in the Lebanese population. Our primary objective was to evaluate the diagnostic strength of the PSAD value versus total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) level in the Lebanese men in correlation with biopsy outcome to avoid unnecessary prostate biopsy.

METHODS: A retrospective study of 347 patients with history of prostate biopsy done for cancer suspicion included tPSA, prostate volume, and prostate density values and results of prostate biopsy. Data was collected from Bahman hospital and statistical analysis of the mean values of tPSA, prostate volume and PSAD in different age groups was done. Significance of the results was tested using.

RESULTS: On average, patients with negative biopsies were younger and they had lower tPSA levels, lower PSAD values and larger prostate volume compared to patients with positive biopsies. A PSAD cutoff of 0.185 ng/ml2 revealed the highest predictive strength for prostate cancer (6 times risk) compared with other parameters. These findings were mainly referred to patients with PSA > 10 ng/ml.

CONCLUSIONS: A multifactorial approach must be conducted including all parameters in order to decide upon the need for prostate biopsy. PSAD proved to be a good marker in favor or against a prostate biopsy with a cut-off of 0.185 ng/ml2, especially in patients with tPSA level higher to 10 ng/ml. A multicenter study was recommended for better and more reliable results and more precise cut-offs.

PMID:35352520 | DOI:10.4081/aiua.2022.1.18

ACR Open Rheumatol. 2022 Mar 29. doi: 10.1002/acr2.11413. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We undertook this study to examine the X chromosome complement in participants with systemic sclerosis (SSc) as well as idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

METHODS: The participants met classification criteria for the diseases. All participants underwent single-nucleotide polymorphism typing. We examined X and Y single-nucleotide polymorphism heterogeneity to determine the number of X chromosomes. For statistical comparisons, we used χ² analyses with calculation of 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS: Three of seventy men with SSc had 47,XXY (P = 0.0001 compared with control men). Among the 435 women with SSc, none had 47,XXX. Among 709 men with polymyositis or dermatomyositis (PM/DM), seven had 47,XXY (P = 0.0016), whereas among the 1783 women with PM/DM, two had 47,XXX. Of 147 men with inclusion body myositis (IBM), six had 47,XXY, and 1 of the 114 women with IBM had 47,XXX. For each of these myositis disease groups, the excess 47,XXY and/or 47,XXX was significantly higher compared with in controls as well as the known birth rate of Klinefelter syndrome or 47,XXX.

CONCLUSION: Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY) is associated with SSc and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, similar to other autoimmune diseases with type 1 interferon pathogenesis, namely, systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren syndrome.

PMID:35352506 | DOI:10.1002/acr2.11413

Clin Transl Med. 2022 Mar;12(3):e694. doi: 10.1002/ctm2.694.

ABSTRACT

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology has become the state-of-the-art approach for unravelling the heterogeneity and complexity of RNA transcripts within individual cells, as well as revealing the composition of different cell types and functions within highly organized tissues/organs/organisms. Since its first discovery in 2009, studies based on scRNA-seq provide massive information across different fields making exciting new discoveries in better understanding the composition and interaction of cells within humans, model animals and plants. In this review, we provide a concise overview about the scRNA-seq technology, experimental and computational procedures for transforming the biological and molecular processes into computational and statistical data. We also provide an explanation of the key technological steps in implementing the technology. We highlight a few examples on how scRNA-seq can provide unique information for better understanding health and diseases. One important application of the scRNA-seq technology is to build a better and high-resolution catalogue of cells in all living organism, commonly known as atlas, which is key resource to better understand and provide a solution in treating diseases. While great promises have been demonstrated with the technology in all areas, we further highlight a few remaining challenges to be overcome and its great potentials in transforming current protocols in disease diagnosis and treatment.

PMID:35352511 | DOI:10.1002/ctm2.694

ACR Open Rheumatol. 2022 Mar 29. doi: 10.1002/acr2.11428. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to explore differences in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) diagnosis experiences between men and women by examining the coding of health events over the 2 years preceding AS diagnosis.

METHODS: Claims data (January 2006-April 2019) from the MarketScan databases were examined. Patients who had received two or more AS diagnoses at least 30 days apart and had at least 2 years of insurance enrollment before their first AS diagnosis were analyzed. Men were matched 1:1 to women by age, diagnosis date, insurance type, and enrollment duration. Health events (diagnosis and provider codes) were examined over 2 years before AS diagnosis and stratified by gender. Data were analyzed using univariate χ² tests.

RESULTS: Among 7744 patients, 274 of 1906 AS-related codes showed statistically significant differences between men and women. Women received more diagnosis codes than men across diagnoses and providers; the largest difference in diagnosis codes among women versus men was in peripheral symptom coding (57.7% vs. 43.9%, respectively). More women than men received diagnosis codes for depression (21.2% vs. 9.8%) and other musculoskeletal symptoms (52.8% vs. 40.0%); only gout was more common in men (6.5%) than in women (2.2%). Among men, backache codes gradually increased 12 months before AS diagnosis, whereas axial and sacroiliitis coding increased sharply immediately before diagnosis. The greatest difference in physician types visited was for rheumatologists: 64.2% of women had visits compared with 45.1% of men.

CONCLUSION: Further investigation into the dissimilarities in diagnostic experiences between men and women is needed to determine whether differences are due to disease phenotype or potential cognitive bias influencing diagnostic decision-making.

PMID:35352497 | DOI:10.1002/acr2.11428

Clin Otolaryngol. 2022 Mar 30. doi: 10.1111/coa.13933. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of topical steroids on acute-onset olfactory dysfunction in patients infected with COVID-19.

DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

PARTICIPANTS: Patients infected with COVID-19.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science, SCOPUS, Cochrane database, and Google Scholar were searched for articles up to September 2021. We analyzed studies comparing the improvement of olfactory dysfunction between topical steroid treatment and control groups (placebo or no treatment). In addition, we performed a subgroup analysis by study type.

RESULTS: The improvement of olfactory score at 2 (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.7272, 95% confidence interval = [0.3851, 1.0692], p < 0.0001, I² = 62.1%) and 4 weeks posttreatment (SMD = 1.0440 [0.6777, 1.4102], p < 0.0001, I² = 61.2%) was statistically greater in the treatment than control group. However, there was no significant difference (odds ratio [OR] = 1.4345 [0.9525, 2.1604], p = 0.0842, I² = 45.4%) in the incidence of fully recovery from anosmia/hyposmia between the treatment and control groups. In subgroup analysis, there were no significant differences in the improvement of olfactory score at 4 weeks posttreatment (OR = 0.6177 [0.1309, 1.1045] vs. 0.1720 [0.8002, 1.5438], p = 0.0761) or the incidence of full recovery from anosmia/hyposmia (OR = 1.8478 [0.6092, 5.6053] vs. 1.3784 [0.8872, 2.1414], p = 0.8038) between randomized and non-randomized controlled trials.

CONCLUSIONS: Although this meta-analysis found that topical steroids improved the acute onset olfactory dysfunction caused by COVID-19, there was no difference in the rate of full olfactory recovery between treated and control patients.

PMID:35352483 | DOI:10.1111/coa.13933

Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 2022 Mar 29. doi: 10.1111/ajco.13740. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors are established therapies for advanced lung, colorectal, and head and neck cancers. They commonly cause acneiform eruptions that affect patient quality of life and may lead to discontinuation of therapy.

METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken to assess strategies for the prevention and reactive management of acneiform rash associated with EGFR inhibitor therapy for advanced lung, colorectal, and head and neck cancers. A systematic Medline, Embase, and EBM Reviews database search was conducted on the 2nd of January 2021. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement was followed and the studies were critically appraised. Studies were selected if they focused on preventing or treating acneiform eruptions in adults being treated for advanced lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and head and neck cancers with EGFR inhibitors.

RESULTS: Oral antibiotics had the greatest efficacy in preventing grade 2 or higher acneiform eruptions with a relative risk reduction of 40% (RR = .6, 95% CI .46-.79, p < .01). Other treatment modalities did not have statistically significant results. Topical antibiotics had a total relative risk reduction of 19% (RR = .81, 95% CI .45-1.48, p = .5). Vitamin K1 cream did not reduce the relative risk (RR = 1.08, 95% CI .45-1.48, p = .50). Sunscreen had a total relative risk reduction of 25% (RR = .75, 95% CI .49-1.14, p = .18).

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this meta-analysis reinforce the fact that oral tetracycline antibiotics are the most efficacious prophylactic option for acneiform eruptions in EGFR inhibitors. They should be offered to suitable patients commencing treatment and used with a general skin-care routine involving emollients and avoidance of irritants.

PMID:35352492 | DOI:10.1111/ajco.13740

Int Wound J. 2022 Mar 29. doi: 10.1111/iwj.13793. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The study aims to follow up on the analysis of Pressure injuries (PIs) prevalence conducted between 2007 and 2014 and after the new methodological requirements for PIs surveillance establishment at the national level. A retrospective, nationwide cross-sectional analysis of data regarding the STROBE checklist was collected by the National Health Information System (NHIS). The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) diagnoses L89.0-L89.9 for PIs were used in the period 2010-2019. A total of 264 442 records of patients with diagnoses of L89.0-L89.9 were identified from 2010 to 2019 (26 444 patients per year on average). The numbers are increasing every year, and there is a 40% increase between 2010 and 2019. When comparing recorded PIs, the percentage of PIs occurrence in category I decreased, and the number of PIs in category IV increased in the second analysed period. Still, in absolute numbers, there is an increase across all categories. The age of patients with recorded PIs also rose slightly in the second analysed period. We have proven the PIs prevalence increase in an ageing population.

PMID:35352481 | DOI:10.1111/iwj.13793

Conserv Biol. 2022 Mar 30. doi: 10.1111/cobi.13916. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Data hungry, complex ecosystem models are often used to predict the consequences of threatened species management, including perverse outcomes. Unfortunately, this approach is impractical in many systems, which have insufficient data to parameterize ecosystem interactions or reliably calibrate or validate such models. Here we demonstrate a different approach, using a minimum realistic model to guide decisions in data- and resource-scarce systems. We illustrate our approach with a case-study in an invaded ecosystem from Christmas Island, Australia, where there are concerns that cat eradication to protect native species, including the red-tailed tropicbird, could release meso-predation by invasive rats. We use biophysical constraints (metabolic demand) and observable parameters (e.g. prey preferences) to assess the combined cat and rat abundances which would threaten the tropicbird population. We find that the population of tropicbirds cannot be sustained if predated by 1607 rats (95% credible interval (CI) [103, 5910]) in the absence of cats, or 21 cats (95% CI [2, 82]) in the absence of rats. For every cat removed from the island, the bird’s net population growth rate improves, provided that the rats do not increase by more than 77 individuals (95% CI [30, 174]). Thus, in this context, one cat is equivalent to 30-174 rats. Our methods are especially useful for on-the-ground predator control in the absence of knowledge of predator-predator interactions, to assess whether 1) the current abundance of predators threatens the prey population of interest, 2) managing one predator species alone is sufficient to protect the prey species given potential release of another predator, and 3) control of multiple predator species is needed to meet the conservation goal. Our approach demonstrates how to use limited information for maximum value in data-poor systems, by shifting the focus from predicting future trajectories, to identifying conditions which threaten the conservation goal. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:35352431 | DOI:10.1111/cobi.13916