Ahmet Cemal Pazarlı, Hüseyin Alper Kızıloğlu, Handan İnönü Köseoğlu
Background: We aimed to investigate the radiological findings in individuals exposed to antimony-inert dust relative to their working periods. Objective: Fifty-six symptomatic male antimony miners were retrospectively evaluated for demographics and chest computed tomography (CT) scans. Methods: The demographic and radiological data of patients with a history of antimony mining, who presented at our pulmonary clinic between June 2017 and June 2023, were analyzed according to the duration of exposure. Results: The study included 56 male patients with a mean age of 58.5± 13.02 years and a mean exposure duration of 13.63 ± 6.82 years. CT scans showed that 73.2% (n=41) had upper and middle lung zone involvement, and 55.4% (n=31) had extensive involvement. Micronodules with centriacinar ground-glass opacities were the most common finding (n=37, 66.1%), followed by nodular opacities with irregular margins (n=22, 39.3%) and solid micronodules (n=20, 35.7%). Patients with over 20 years of exposure had significantly higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular disease (p< 0.05). Increased exposure time correlated with more extensive parenchymal involvement and higher rates of calcification in mediastinal lymph nodes, solid micronodules, nodular opacities with irregular margins, honeycombing, and conglomerate mass appearance. Conclusion: Radiological findings in pneumoconiosis generally worsen with longer exposure. Given the scarcity of up-to-date information on antimony pneumoconiosis, further studies focusing on radiological findings and chemical analyses of those exposed to antimony mine dust are essential to identify related pathologies.
{"title":"Antimoniosis: Radiological Insights into a Rare Pneumoconiosis in Miners","authors":"Ahmet Cemal Pazarlı, Hüseyin Alper Kızıloğlu, Handan İnönü Köseoğlu","doi":"10.2147/ijgm.s472755","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s472755","url":null,"abstract":"<strong>Background:</strong> We aimed to investigate the radiological findings in individuals exposed to antimony-inert dust relative to their working periods.<br/><strong>Objective:</strong> Fifty-six symptomatic male antimony miners were retrospectively evaluated for demographics and chest computed tomography (CT) scans.<br/><strong>Methods:</strong> The demographic and radiological data of patients with a history of antimony mining, who presented at our pulmonary clinic between June 2017 and June 2023, were analyzed according to the duration of exposure.<br/><strong>Results:</strong> The study included 56 male patients with a mean age of 58.5± 13.02 years and a mean exposure duration of 13.63 ± 6.82 years. CT scans showed that 73.2% (n=41) had upper and middle lung zone involvement, and 55.4% (n=31) had extensive involvement. Micronodules with centriacinar ground-glass opacities were the most common finding (n=37, 66.1%), followed by nodular opacities with irregular margins (n=22, 39.3%) and solid micronodules (n=20, 35.7%). Patients with over 20 years of exposure had significantly higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular disease (p< 0.05). Increased exposure time correlated with more extensive parenchymal involvement and higher rates of calcification in mediastinal lymph nodes, solid micronodules, nodular opacities with irregular margins, honeycombing, and conglomerate mass appearance.<br/><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Radiological findings in pneumoconiosis generally worsen with longer exposure. Given the scarcity of up-to-date information on antimony pneumoconiosis, further studies focusing on radiological findings and chemical analyses of those exposed to antimony mine dust are essential to identify related pathologies.<br/><br/>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142254515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amr J Halawani, Hisham I Abu-Tawil, Salah Alharbi, Bandar S Almalki, Fawaz M Majmi, Renad A Miny, Nada G Alghoribi, Sulaiman S Alabsi, Saeed M Kabrah, Haneen O Alhaj, Musaed M Alshahrani, Nora Y Hakami
Purpose: Jazan Province in Saudi Arabia is notable for its high prevalence of inherited hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disease and thalassemia, necessitating frequent blood transfusions for affected individuals. To mitigate risks such as RBC alloimmunization and hemolytic transfusion reactions, ensuring blood compatibility is crucial. The Kell (KEL) blood group system, pivotal alongside the ABO and RH systems, encompasses multiple antigens implicated in these complications. This study aimed to investigate the frequencies of KEL blood group antigens (K, k, Kpa, and Kpb) and determine KEL phenotypes (K/k and Kpa/Kpb) among Saudi blood donors living in Jazan Province. Methods: A total of 138 anonymous healthy Saudi blood donors from Prince Mohammed bin Nasser Hospital in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia, were enrolled in this study. Anticoagulated blood was analyzed using the gel card technique to assess K, k, Kpa, and Kpb antigens. Results: The prevalence of KEL antigens was as follows: K (n = 9, 6.52%), k (n = 137, 99.28%), Kpa (n = 1, 0.72%), and Kpb (n = 138, 100%). KEL phenotypes observed were K+k+ (n = 8, 5.80%), K+k− (n = 1 0.72%), K−k+ (n = 129, 93.48%), Kp(a+b+) (n = 1, 0.72%), and Kp(a−b+) (n = 137, 99.28%). Conclusion: This study provides insights into the prevalence of KEL blood group antigens and phenotypes in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. These findings may contribute to the establishment of a national blood group database and guide transfusion practices to ensure compatibility and minimize alloimmunization risks.
Keywords: Kell blood group, blood transfusion, immunohematology, Saudi Arabia
{"title":"The Incidences of KEL Blood Group Antigens and Phenotypes in Southwestern Saudi Arabia","authors":"Amr J Halawani, Hisham I Abu-Tawil, Salah Alharbi, Bandar S Almalki, Fawaz M Majmi, Renad A Miny, Nada G Alghoribi, Sulaiman S Alabsi, Saeed M Kabrah, Haneen O Alhaj, Musaed M Alshahrani, Nora Y Hakami","doi":"10.2147/ijgm.s489320","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s489320","url":null,"abstract":"<strong>Purpose:</strong> Jazan Province in Saudi Arabia is notable for its high prevalence of inherited hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disease and thalassemia, necessitating frequent blood transfusions for affected individuals. To mitigate risks such as RBC alloimmunization and hemolytic transfusion reactions, ensuring blood compatibility is crucial. The Kell (KEL) blood group system, pivotal alongside the ABO and RH systems, encompasses multiple antigens implicated in these complications. This study aimed to investigate the frequencies of KEL blood group antigens (K, k, Kpa, and Kpb) and determine KEL phenotypes (K/k and Kpa/Kpb) among Saudi blood donors living in Jazan Province.<br/><strong>Methods:</strong> A total of 138 anonymous healthy Saudi blood donors from Prince Mohammed bin Nasser Hospital in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia, were enrolled in this study. Anticoagulated blood was analyzed using the gel card technique to assess K, k, Kpa, and Kpb antigens.<br/><strong>Results:</strong> The prevalence of KEL antigens was as follows: K (n = 9, 6.52%), k (n = 137, 99.28%), Kpa (n = 1, 0.72%), and Kpb (n = 138, 100%). KEL phenotypes observed were K+k+ (n = 8, 5.80%), K+k− (n = 1 0.72%), K−k+ (n = 129, 93.48%), Kp(a+b+) (n = 1, 0.72%), and Kp(a−b+) (n = 137, 99.28%).<br/><strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study provides insights into the prevalence of KEL blood group antigens and phenotypes in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. These findings may contribute to the establishment of a national blood group database and guide transfusion practices to ensure compatibility and minimize alloimmunization risks.<br/><br/><strong>Keywords:</strong> Kell blood group, blood transfusion, immunohematology, Saudi Arabia<br/>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142254518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ziyad F Al Nufaiei, Reem H Alluhibi, Mashael B Alsabiti, Haya Onaybisi, Lama M Alahmadi, Shatha A Jabal, Raid M Al Zhranei
Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), if left untreated, can have major negative effects on health, such as an elevated risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Increasing people’s knowledge of this illness might lessen the stigma associated with sleep problems and motivate them to get treatment if they think they might have OSA. Aim of the Study: This study aims to assess the knowledge and awareness of OSA among patients’ families in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A phenomenological-oriented study with in-depth interviews was used to collect data from 28 participants. Results: Two themes and subthemes emerged from the interviews, revealing significant knowledge gaps, especially regarding the health risks and management of OSA. Only a few participants were aware of the serious health implications of untreated OSA. Furthermore, many did not know about effective management strategies for OSA. Conclusion: The level of awareness and knowledge among participants was poor, with participants’ lifestyles significantly affected by having relatives with OSA. They expressed concerns about challenges with CPAP adherence and recommended various coping techniques to support affected individuals.
背景：阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停（OSA）如不及时治疗，会对健康产生严重的负面影响，如增加患糖尿病、心脏病和中风的风险。增加人们对这种疾病的了解可能会减少与睡眠问题相关的耻辱感，并促使他们在认为自己可能患有 OSA 时接受治疗：本研究旨在评估沙特阿拉伯患者家属对 OSA 的了解和认识：方法：采用深入访谈的现象学研究方法，收集 28 名参与者的数据：结果：访谈中出现了两个主题和次主题，揭示了重大的知识差距，尤其是关于 OSA 的健康风险和管理。只有少数参与者意识到未治疗的 OSA 对健康的严重影响。此外，许多人并不了解有效管理 OSA 的策略：参与者的认识和知识水平较低，他们的生活方式因其亲属患有 OSA 而受到严重影响。他们对坚持使用 CPAP 所面临的挑战表示担忧，并推荐了各种应对技巧以支持受影响的个人。
{"title":"Assessing the Knowledge and Awareness of Obstructive Sleep Apnea among Patient Families in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study","authors":"Ziyad F Al Nufaiei, Reem H Alluhibi, Mashael B Alsabiti, Haya Onaybisi, Lama M Alahmadi, Shatha A Jabal, Raid M Al Zhranei","doi":"10.2147/ijgm.s472087","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s472087","url":null,"abstract":"<strong>Background:</strong> Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), if left untreated, can have major negative effects on health, such as an elevated risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Increasing people’s knowledge of this illness might lessen the stigma associated with sleep problems and motivate them to get treatment if they think they might have OSA.<br/><strong>Aim of the Study:</strong> This study aims to assess the knowledge and awareness of OSA among patients’ families in Saudi Arabia.<br/><strong>Methods:</strong> A phenomenological-oriented study with in-depth interviews was used to collect data from 28 participants.<br/><strong>Results:</strong> Two themes and subthemes emerged from the interviews, revealing significant knowledge gaps, especially regarding the health risks and management of OSA. Only a few participants were aware of the serious health implications of untreated OSA. Furthermore, many did not know about effective management strategies for OSA.<br/><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The level of awareness and knowledge among participants was poor, with participants’ lifestyles significantly affected by having relatives with OSA. They expressed concerns about challenges with CPAP adherence and recommended various coping techniques to support affected individuals.<br/><br/>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142254521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wajd A Alhadi, Ebtihaj Yahya Alshehry, Nouf A Hamood, Lama Dafer Albishri, Ghaida Mohammed Al Hunaif, Roaa M Al Murayyi, Zainah Al-Qahtani, Syed Esam Mahmood
Background: The current annual incidence of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is 3– 4 cases per one million population. CVT manifests itself with varying degrees of clinical presentation that may cause vital or morbid consequences if not treated and managed promptly. Studies have suggested varied levels of CVT public awareness. Aim: To assess the level of knowledge and public perception of CVT across the different socio-economic strata of the Saudi Adult population. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a mixed-method approach (an electronic questionnaire and phone interviews) for collecting the data. A validated questionnaire was distributed to consenting study participants and filled out to the best of their ability. The study setting was a nationwide survey conducted in Saudi Arabia and involved a representative portion of the study population. Results: A total of 1912 participants were included in this study. Overall, the majority of study participants (67.2%) had a low knowledge level of CVT on assessment, and only 2.6% had a high knowledge level of CVT. Younger age, female gender, working adults, higher education level, marital status, Saudi nationals, and place of residency were significantly associated with knowledge of CTV (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study indicates a lower index of knowledge of CVT which offers an opportunity for much improvement in public perception and awareness of CVT in the study population. Our results can be utilized to target the demographics with the lowest knowledge via the most popular ways to gain information.
{"title":"Knowledge and Perceptions of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Among the Adult Population: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia","authors":"Wajd A Alhadi, Ebtihaj Yahya Alshehry, Nouf A Hamood, Lama Dafer Albishri, Ghaida Mohammed Al Hunaif, Roaa M Al Murayyi, Zainah Al-Qahtani, Syed Esam Mahmood","doi":"10.2147/ijgm.s470463","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s470463","url":null,"abstract":"<strong>Background:</strong> The current annual incidence of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is 3– 4 cases per one million population. CVT manifests itself with varying degrees of clinical presentation that may cause vital or morbid consequences if not treated and managed promptly. Studies have suggested varied levels of CVT public awareness.<br/><strong>Aim:</strong> To assess the level of knowledge and public perception of CVT across the different socio-economic strata of the Saudi Adult population.<br/><strong>Methods:</strong> A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a mixed-method approach (an electronic questionnaire and phone interviews) for collecting the data. A validated questionnaire was distributed to consenting study participants and filled out to the best of their ability. The study setting was a nationwide survey conducted in Saudi Arabia and involved a representative portion of the study population.<br/><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 1912 participants were included in this study. Overall, the majority of study participants (67.2%) had a low knowledge level of CVT on assessment, and only 2.6% had a high knowledge level of CVT. Younger age, female gender, working adults, higher education level, marital status, Saudi nationals, and place of residency were significantly associated with knowledge of CTV (p < 0.001).<br/><strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study indicates a lower index of knowledge of CVT which offers an opportunity for much improvement in public perception and awareness of CVT in the study population. Our results can be utilized to target the demographics with the lowest knowledge via the most popular ways to gain information.<br/><br/>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142254519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Gensini Score System is a Useful Tool in Assessing the Burden and Severity of Coronary Artery Atherosclerotic Lesions [Letter]","authors":"Abdulrahman Naser","doi":"10.2147/ijgm.s495194","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s495194","url":null,"abstract":"<strong>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142254517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Purpose: LIPH4 has been identified as an oncogenic lncRNA in different malignant diseases. This research aims to elucidate the link between the expression of LIPH4 and its prognostic application in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). Methods: To assess the expression of LIPH4, 142 TSCC and normal cases, respectively, which met the selection parameters, were used for qRT-PCR analysis. Furthermore, the association of LIPH4 expression with TSCC’s clinicopathological features was identified via the Chi-square test. Moreover, the Kaplan–Meier test was used for calculating the survival rates, whereas the association of patient survival with prognostic factors was assessed with the help of Cox proportional hazard analysis. Results: The data indicated upregulated LIPH4 levels in TSCC samples than healthy samples. Furthermore, LIPH4 expression was associated with TSCC differentiation and stage, where increased expression indicated reduced disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates. Additionally, advanced TSCC individuals with enhanced LIPH4 expression had reduced OS and DFS rates than those with reduced LIPH4 expression. Serum LIPH4 could be a promising diagnostic bio-index for TSCC, with an area under the curve of 0.8920 (95% CI = 0.8540– 0.9299). These data revealed that the overexpression of LIPH4 might be a substantial prognostic factor for independently predicting the OS and DFS rates of TSCC patients. Conclusion: Altogether, this research revealed that the expression of LIPH4 expression is closely associated with TSCC progression and, therefore, can be employed as a biomarker for its prognosis.
{"title":"Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma Prognosis Can Be Effectively Predicted by LncRNA LIPH4: A Prospective Study","authors":"Hailei He, Zhen Wang, Cuilin Fang, Junfeng Yan","doi":"10.2147/ijgm.s474142","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s474142","url":null,"abstract":"<strong>Purpose:</strong> LIPH4 has been identified as an oncogenic lncRNA in different malignant diseases. This research aims to elucidate the link between the expression of LIPH4 and its prognostic application in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC).<br/><strong>Methods:</strong> To assess the expression of LIPH4, 142 TSCC and normal cases, respectively, which met the selection parameters, were used for qRT-PCR analysis. Furthermore, the association of LIPH4 expression with TSCC’s clinicopathological features was identified via the Chi-square test. Moreover, the Kaplan–Meier test was used for calculating the survival rates, whereas the association of patient survival with prognostic factors was assessed with the help of Cox proportional hazard analysis.<br/><strong>Results:</strong> The data indicated upregulated LIPH4 levels in TSCC samples than healthy samples. Furthermore, LIPH4 expression was associated with TSCC differentiation and stage, where increased expression indicated reduced disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates. Additionally, advanced TSCC individuals with enhanced LIPH4 expression had reduced OS and DFS rates than those with reduced LIPH4 expression. Serum LIPH4 could be a promising diagnostic bio-index for TSCC, with an area under the curve of 0.8920 (95% CI = 0.8540– 0.9299). These data revealed that the overexpression of LIPH4 might be a substantial prognostic factor for independently predicting the OS and DFS rates of TSCC patients.<br/><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Altogether, this research revealed that the expression of LIPH4 expression is closely associated with TSCC progression and, therefore, can be employed as a biomarker for its prognosis.<br/><br/><strong>Keywords:</strong> lncRNA, LIPH4, biomarker, tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC)<br/>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142254572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Objective: To explore how non-surgical esophageal cancer patients can identify high-risk factors for radiation-induced pneumonitis after receiving radiotherapy. Methods: We retrospectively included 228 esophageal cancer patients who were unable to undergo surgical treatment but received radiotherapy for the first time. By retrospective analysis and identifying potential risk factors for symptomatic radiation-induced pneumonitis (ie ≥grade 2), as well as delineating the affected lung as an area of interest on localized CT and extracting radiomics features, along with extracting dosimetric parameters from the affected lung area. After feature screening, patients were randomly divided into training and testing sets in a 7-to-3 ratio, and a prediction model was established using machine learning algorithms. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to validate the predictive performance of the model. Results: A total of 54 cases of symptomatic radiation pneumonitis occurred in this study, with a total incidence rate of 23.68%. The results of multivariate analysis showed that the occurrence of symptomatic radiation pneumonitis was significantly correlated with the mean lung dose (MLD), esophageal PTVD90, esophageal PTVV50, V5, V10, V15, and V20 in patients. The machine learning prediction model constructed based on candidate prediction variables has a prediction performance interval between 0.751 (95% CI: 0.700– 0.802) and 0.891 (95% CI: 0.840– 0.942) in the training and validation sets, respectively. Among them, the RFM algorithm has the best prediction performance for radiation-induced pneumonitis, with 0.891 (95% CI: 0.840– 0.942) and 0.887 (95% CI: 0.836– 0.938) in the training and validation sets, respectively. Conclusion: The combination of localization CT radiomics features and diseased lung dosimetry parameters has good predictive value for radiation-induced pneumonitis in esophageal cancer patients after radiotherapy. Especially, the radiation-induced pneumonitis prediction model constructed using RF algorithm can be more effectively used to guide clinical decision-making in esophageal cancer patients.
Keywords: esophageal cancer, radiotherapy, radiation pneumonitis, radiomics, prediction model
{"title":"Predictive Value of Simulated CT Radiomics Combined with Ipsilateral Lung Dosimetry Parameters for Radiation Pneumonitis in Patients with Esophageal Cancer: A Machine Learning-Based Retrospective Study","authors":"Shuli Hu, Yaling Li, Xuepeng Fan","doi":"10.2147/ijgm.s475302","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s475302","url":null,"abstract":"<strong>Objective:</strong> To explore how non-surgical esophageal cancer patients can identify high-risk factors for radiation-induced pneumonitis after receiving radiotherapy.<br/><strong>Methods:</strong> We retrospectively included 228 esophageal cancer patients who were unable to undergo surgical treatment but received radiotherapy for the first time. By retrospective analysis and identifying potential risk factors for symptomatic radiation-induced pneumonitis (ie ≥grade 2), as well as delineating the affected lung as an area of interest on localized CT and extracting radiomics features, along with extracting dosimetric parameters from the affected lung area. After feature screening, patients were randomly divided into training and testing sets in a 7-to-3 ratio, and a prediction model was established using machine learning algorithms. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to validate the predictive performance of the model.<br/><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 54 cases of symptomatic radiation pneumonitis occurred in this study, with a total incidence rate of 23.68%. The results of multivariate analysis showed that the occurrence of symptomatic radiation pneumonitis was significantly correlated with the mean lung dose (MLD), esophageal PTVD90, esophageal PTVV50, V5, V10, V15, and V20 in patients. The machine learning prediction model constructed based on candidate prediction variables has a prediction performance interval between 0.751 (95% CI: 0.700– 0.802) and 0.891 (95% CI: 0.840– 0.942) in the training and validation sets, respectively. Among them, the RFM algorithm has the best prediction performance for radiation-induced pneumonitis, with 0.891 (95% CI: 0.840– 0.942) and 0.887 (95% CI: 0.836– 0.938) in the training and validation sets, respectively.<br/><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The combination of localization CT radiomics features and diseased lung dosimetry parameters has good predictive value for radiation-induced pneumonitis in esophageal cancer patients after radiotherapy. Especially, the radiation-induced pneumonitis prediction model constructed using RF algorithm can be more effectively used to guide clinical decision-making in esophageal cancer patients.<br/><br/><strong>Keywords:</strong> esophageal cancer, radiotherapy, radiation pneumonitis, radiomics, prediction model<br/>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142254569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abdifatah Abdullahi Jalei, Abdifetah Ibrahim Omar, Shafie Abdulkadir Hassan, Yahye Sheikh Abdulle Hassan, Nur Rashid Ahmed
Introduction: Reference intervals (RIs) are crucial for the accurate interpretating of laboratory test results in clinical settings, serving as benchmarks for evaluating individual health status. This study investigates the influence of sex and age on common liver function tests (LFTs) and renal function tests (RFTs) in healthy adults in Mogadishu, Somalia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from October 2022 to January 2023 on a randomly selected sample of 255 healthy participants from Mogadishu, Somalia. Approximately 5 mL of whole blood was collected from each participant and processed screening of hepatitis B and C, and human immunodeficiency virus, and then biochemical analyses were conducted for common liver and kidney parameters. Results: The study found significant sex and age-related differences in the measured LFTs and RFTs parameters. For LFTs, males had higher levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) compared to females (ALT: 11.5 vs 7.5 U/L; AST: 25.5 vs 19.1 U/L; both p < 0.001). Age-related differences were also observed, with individuals aged 30 and above had higher levels of ALT and AST compared to those aged 18– 29 (ALT: 10.9 vs 8.5 U/L; AST: 24.3 U/L vs 21.0 U/L, both p < 0.001). For RFTs, males had higher levels of creatinine (0.9 vs 0.7 mg/dL), urea (23.1 vs 16.1 mg/dL), and uric acid (5.2 vs 4.2 mg/dL) than females, all with p < 0.001. Conclusion: The study established population specific RIs for common liver and renal function parameters and revealed significant variations across sex and age groups. These findings underscore the importance of developing and using local RIs to ensure accurate clinical interpretation and effective patient management. Further research with larger sample sizes and in diverse regions of Somalia is highly recommended.
Keywords: reference intervals, liver function tests, renal function tests, Mogadishu, Somalia
简介参考区间（RIs）是准确解释临床化验结果的关键，也是评估个人健康状况的基准。本研究调查了索马里摩加迪沙健康成年人的性别和年龄对常见肝功能检测（LFTs）和肾功能检测（RFTs）的影响：方法：2022 年 10 月至 2023 年 1 月，我们在索马里摩加迪沙随机抽取了 255 名健康参与者，开展了一项基于社区的横断面研究。每位参与者采集约 5 毫升全血，进行乙型肝炎、丙型肝炎和人类免疫缺陷病毒筛查，然后对常见的肝脏和肾脏参数进行生化分析：结果：研究发现，所测得的 LFTs 和 RFTs 参数存在明显的性别和年龄差异。在 LFTs 方面，男性的丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）和天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）水平高于女性（ALT：11.5 vs 7.5 U/L；AST：25.5 vs 19.1 U/L；P 均为 0.001）。还观察到与年龄有关的差异，30 岁及以上人群的谷丙转氨酶和谷草转氨酶水平高于 18-29 岁人群（谷丙转氨酶：10.9 U/L vs 8.5 U/L；谷草转氨酶：24.3 U/L vs 21.0 U/L，均为 p <0.001）。就 RFTs 而言，男性的肌酐（0.9 vs 0.7 mg/dL）、尿素（23.1 vs 16.1 mg/dL）和尿酸（5.2 vs 4.2 mg/dL）水平高于女性，P 均为 0.001：该研究确定了常见肝肾功能参数的特定人群相关指数，并揭示了不同性别和年龄组之间的显著差异。这些发现强调了制定和使用本地相关指标的重要性，以确保准确的临床解释和有效的患者管理。强烈建议在索马里不同地区开展样本量更大的进一步研究。 关键词：参考区间；肝功能检测；肾功能检测；摩加迪沙；索马里
{"title":"Establishment of Reference Intervals for Common Renal and Liver Function Parameters in Healthy Adults in Mogadishu, Somalia: A Cross-Sectional Study","authors":"Abdifatah Abdullahi Jalei, Abdifetah Ibrahim Omar, Shafie Abdulkadir Hassan, Yahye Sheikh Abdulle Hassan, Nur Rashid Ahmed","doi":"10.2147/ijgm.s480478","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s480478","url":null,"abstract":"<strong>Introduction:</strong> Reference intervals (RIs) are crucial for the accurate interpretating of laboratory test results in clinical settings, serving as benchmarks for evaluating individual health status. This study investigates the influence of sex and age on common liver function tests (LFTs) and renal function tests (RFTs) in healthy adults in Mogadishu, Somalia.<br/><strong>Methods:</strong> A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from October 2022 to January 2023 on a randomly selected sample of 255 healthy participants from Mogadishu, Somalia. Approximately 5 mL of whole blood was collected from each participant and processed screening of hepatitis B and C, and human immunodeficiency virus, and then biochemical analyses were conducted for common liver and kidney parameters.<br/><strong>Results:</strong> The study found significant sex and age-related differences in the measured LFTs and RFTs parameters. For LFTs, males had higher levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) compared to females (ALT: 11.5 vs 7.5 U/L; AST: 25.5 vs 19.1 U/L; both p < 0.001). Age-related differences were also observed, with individuals aged 30 and above had higher levels of ALT and AST compared to those aged 18– 29 (ALT: 10.9 vs 8.5 U/L; AST: 24.3 U/L vs 21.0 U/L, both p < 0.001). For RFTs, males had higher levels of creatinine (0.9 vs 0.7 mg/dL), urea (23.1 vs 16.1 mg/dL), and uric acid (5.2 vs 4.2 mg/dL) than females, all with p < 0.001.<br/><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The study established population specific RIs for common liver and renal function parameters and revealed significant variations across sex and age groups. These findings underscore the importance of developing and using local RIs to ensure accurate clinical interpretation and effective patient management. Further research with larger sample sizes and in diverse regions of Somalia is highly recommended.<br/><br/><strong>Keywords:</strong> reference intervals, liver function tests, renal function tests, Mogadishu, Somalia<br/>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142254568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background & Aims: The metabolic pathways of tryptophan (TRP) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), positing that the strategic modulation of TRP consumption may exert regulatory effects on serotonin levels, consequently altering the clinical manifestation of IBS. This systematic review was meticulously orchestrated to evaluate the effect of TRP restriction on IBS. Methods: A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases was conducted. Controlled trials that compared the efficacy of TRP restriction in IBS patients were scrutinized. The primary outcomes were gastrointestinal symptoms, quality of life, and pain, whereas the secondary outcomes included anxiety, mood, and safety. The risk of bias was meticulously assessed according to the guidelines recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. Results: A total of five trials, enrolling 135 participants, were incorporated into the qualitative synthesis. Low-TRP intake attenuated gastrointestinal discomfort and enhanced psychological well-being in IBS patients, while the effects of acute TRP depletion were controversial. Safety data from one randomized controlled trial reported no occurrence of adverse events. Conclusion: This systematic review suggests that moderating, rather than depleting, TRP intake may potentially be a feasible and safe adjunctive treatment for patients with IBS. Future research incorporating a high-quality study design and consensus on clinical outcome measurements for IBS is warranted.
{"title":"Effect of Tryptophan Restriction in the Therapy of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: a Systematic Review","authors":"Ben Wang, Peilin Cheng, Bingjie Jin, Ying Jiang, Qingcai Wang, Hongwei Xu","doi":"10.2147/ijgm.s474525","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s474525","url":null,"abstract":"<strong>Background & Aims:</strong> The metabolic pathways of tryptophan (TRP) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), positing that the strategic modulation of TRP consumption may exert regulatory effects on serotonin levels, consequently altering the clinical manifestation of IBS. This systematic review was meticulously orchestrated to evaluate the effect of TRP restriction on IBS.<br/><strong>Methods:</strong> A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases was conducted. Controlled trials that compared the efficacy of TRP restriction in IBS patients were scrutinized. The primary outcomes were gastrointestinal symptoms, quality of life, and pain, whereas the secondary outcomes included anxiety, mood, and safety. The risk of bias was meticulously assessed according to the guidelines recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration.<br/><strong>Results:</strong> A total of five trials, enrolling 135 participants, were incorporated into the qualitative synthesis. Low-TRP intake attenuated gastrointestinal discomfort and enhanced psychological well-being in IBS patients, while the effects of acute TRP depletion were controversial. Safety data from one randomized controlled trial reported no occurrence of adverse events.<br/><strong>Conclusion:</strong> This systematic review suggests that moderating, rather than depleting, TRP intake may potentially be a feasible and safe adjunctive treatment for patients with IBS. Future research incorporating a high-quality study design and consensus on clinical outcome measurements for IBS is warranted.<br/><br/><strong>Keywords:</strong> irritable bowel syndrome, reduced tryptophan diet, acute tryptophan depletion, systematic review<br/>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142254523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chao Yang, Haitao Xiao, Qizhi Yang, Zhendong Zhao, Yifan Liu
Objective: This study aimed to assess the association between preoperative neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and febrile urinary tract infection (fUTI) in patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Patients and Methods: The clinical data of patients who underwent PCNL at our hospital between March 2020 and May 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether fUTI occurs after operation, collected data were divided to the patients into fUTI and non-fUTI. Univariate analysis, relative operating characteristic (ROC) curves and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed on the data. Results: A total of 405 patients were enrolled in the study. The procedure was successfully performed in all patients, and the incidence of fUTI was 8.4% (34/405). Eight patients eventually developed sepsis, and the incidence of sepsis in fUTI patients was 23.5%. The result shows a significant correlation between NLR and fUTI (95% confidence interval [CI],1.21– 1.83, Odds ratio [OR]=1.49, p< 0.001). The predictive ability of NLR on the occurrence of fUTI was assessed by plotting relative operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The area under the curve (AUC) in the ROC curve for NLR was 0.718 according to the Youden index, and the best cut-off value of NLR was 2.71. Furthermore, logistic multiple regression model adjustment was carried out to further confirm the robustness of the relationship between NLR and fUTI. The results indicated robustness regardless of whether NLR was a continuous variable or a categorical variable. Conclusion: NLR can be used as a simple and effective preoperative indicator for the prediction of fUTI in patients undergoing PCNL.
Keywords: percutaneous nephrolithotomy, febrile urinary tract infection, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio
{"title":"The Association Between Preoperative Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio and Febrile Urinary Tract Infection in Patients Treated by Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy","authors":"Chao Yang, Haitao Xiao, Qizhi Yang, Zhendong Zhao, Yifan Liu","doi":"10.2147/ijgm.s477047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s477047","url":null,"abstract":"<strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to assess the association between preoperative neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and febrile urinary tract infection (fUTI) in patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).<br/><strong>Patients and Methods:</strong> The clinical data of patients who underwent PCNL at our hospital between March 2020 and May 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether fUTI occurs after operation, collected data were divided to the patients into fUTI and non-fUTI. Univariate analysis, relative operating characteristic (ROC) curves and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed on the data.<br/><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 405 patients were enrolled in the study. The procedure was successfully performed in all patients, and the incidence of fUTI was 8.4% (34/405). Eight patients eventually developed sepsis, and the incidence of sepsis in fUTI patients was 23.5%. The result shows a significant correlation between NLR and fUTI (95% confidence interval [CI],1.21– 1.83, Odds ratio [OR]=1.49, p< 0.001). The predictive ability of NLR on the occurrence of fUTI was assessed by plotting relative operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The area under the curve (AUC) in the ROC curve for NLR was 0.718 according to the Youden index, and the best cut-off value of NLR was 2.71. Furthermore, logistic multiple regression model adjustment was carried out to further confirm the robustness of the relationship between NLR and fUTI. The results indicated robustness regardless of whether NLR was a continuous variable or a categorical variable.<br/><strong>Conclusion:</strong> NLR can be used as a simple and effective preoperative indicator for the prediction of fUTI in patients undergoing PCNL.<br/><br/><strong>Keywords:</strong> percutaneous nephrolithotomy, febrile urinary tract infection, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio<br/>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142254522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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