OBJECTIVE: Platelet derived growth factor-CC (PDGF-CC) isoform is activated by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) regulating blood brain barrier permeability after ischemia. We aimed to study the association of PDGF isoforms serum levels with hemorrhagic transformation (HT) and edema after thrombolytic treatment in ischemic stroke. METHODS: We studied 129 patients with ...

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between the imbalance in pro- and anti-coagulant factors and portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in individuals with cirrhosis is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether the imbalance in pro- and anti-coagulant factors contributes to the development of PVT in cirrhotic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ...

OBJECTIVES:Recent studies using histology alone in select patients have suggested that Helicobacter pylori-negative gastritis may be common. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori among individuals with histologic gastritis.METHODS:Subjects between 40 and 80 years underwent elective esophagogastroduodenoscopy at a VA Medical Center. Gastric biopsies ...

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate risk factors for pancreatic stones and atrophy in autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). METHODS: Seventy-one patients with AIP observed for more than 1 year were enrolled. The frequency of pancreatic stone development and atrophy on computed tomography as well as their risk factors were examined. RESULTS: ...

It remains debated whether traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces a different coagulopathy compared to non-TBI. This study investigated traditional coagulation tests, biomarkers of coagulopathy and endothelial damage in trauma patients with and without TBI. Blood from 80 adult trauma patients were sampled (median of 68 min (IQR 48-88) post-injury) upon ...

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a life threatening condition characterized by jaundice, encephalopathy and coagulopathy leading to multiorgan failure in a patient with no prior history of liver disease. Forty three consecutive patients of ALF admitted in Pediatric ICU were studied for etiology and prognostic factors. Etiology was established in ...

OSTEOCLASTOGENESIS IS COORDINATED BY THE INTERACTION OF THREE MEMBERS OF THE TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR (TNF) SUPERFAMILY: Osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK). The aim of this study was to investigate RANKL and OPG levels, and their relative ratio in ...

To characterize the importance of the vertical angle of the sacral curvature (VASC) in lumbar disc herniations. Morphological data derived from lumbar sagittal MRI imaging. The statistical significance of the findings are discussed. The angles of 60 female patients with lumbar disc herniations (LDH) were compared with the 34 female ...

Racial disparities appear to exist in the susceptibility and severity of systemic sclerosis (SSc, scleroderma) and are responsible for a greater health burden in blacks as compared with whites. Disparities in socioeconomic status and access to healthcare do not sufficiently explain the observed differences in prevalence and mortality. It is ...

There are several studies in the literature investigating factors which can induce non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in different populations. However, the existing literature lacks powerful studies addressing the factors which may predict the severity of NAFLD. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate factors independently associated with liver ...

BACKGROUND:Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities are frequent in patients with intracranial insult. In this study, we evaluated the factors predisposing to the repolarization abnormalities, i.e., prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval, ischemic-like ECG changes and morphologic end-repolarization abnormalities, and examined the prognostic value of these abnormalities in patients with subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhages ...

Increased levels of factor VIII (FVIII) are a prevalent and independent risk factor for deep venous thrombosis (DVT). After a median of 10 years of the first DVT, we evaluated FVIII coagulation levels in 55 patients with DVT of the lower limbs and previous high levels of FVIII and in ...

Factor XIII (FXIII) is the final enzyme in the coagulation cascade. Acquired FXIII deficiency is caused by inhibitors of FXIII or decreased synthesis and/or increased consumption of FXIII, which leads to severe bleeding. Recently, we experienced a case of hemorrhagic-acquired factor XIII deficiency that occurred during treatment with the IL-6 ...

OBJECTIVE: In ankylosing spondylitis (AS), the cervical spine, like other sections of the spine and sacroiliac joints, is vulnerable during the disease process. Atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) has been studied in connection with AS, but its risk factors and progression have not been clarified. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence and ...

Cerebral sinus-venous thrombosis (CSVT) is a rare life-threatening disease with an estimated annual incidence of 3-4 cases per million in adults and 7 cases per million in neonates. Brain tumors, cerebral infections and traumas are local risk factors for CSVT, but the commonest encountered risk factors are oral contraceptive use, ...

BACKGROUND: /st>Fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) is widely used in critically ill patients, despite a weak evidence base. Factors that influence the decision to transfuse FFP before intravascular catheter insertion are poorly described. METHODS: /st>We undertook a case-controlled study based on a prospective cohort study of 1923 admissions to 29 intensive care ...

Epidural hemorrhage (EDH) that develops remote to the decompressed hemisphere is a devastating morbidity after hemicraniectomy for traumatic brain injury (TBI). In this study, we aimed to investigate the incidence, risk factors, and outcome influence of postcraniectomy remote EDH. For this retrospective study, we enrolled 139 patients undergoing unilateral hemicraniectomy ...

STRUCTURED ABSTRACT: Study Design. A retrospective, consecutive case series.Objective. To determine the risk factors that have a statistically significant association with the need of tracheostomy in the patients with cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) at the acute stage.Summary of Background Data. Respiratory complications remain major cause of further morbidity and ...

We investigated the correlation between body weight index (BWI) and the effective power of erythrocytapheresis in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) who received therapeutic erythrocytapheresis (TEA). Furthermore, the risk factors of the adverse events related to erythroapheresis therapy were analyzed. Two hundred and seventeen cycles of therapeutic erythrocytapheresis were carried ...

Purpose:  To evaluate the positivity rate of temporal artery biopsies (TAB) performed in suspects of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and to study the epidemiological and clinical factors associated to the biopsy result. Methods:  A retrospective, multicenter, case-control study was performed, including three hundred and thirty-five patients who underwent TAB for ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: To determine the differences of precipitating and relieving factors between migraine and tension type headache METHODS: This is a cross sectional study. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 250 migraine patients and 250 patients diagnosed as tension type headache from the specialized headache clinic in Dept. of Neurology, ...

BACKGROUND: Recent clinical data suggest that treatment with terlipressin (TP) may be more advantageous for septic shock than catecholamines. However, it is unknown whether TP would be effective for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients with shock. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the impact of TP ...

Listeria monocytogenes is a known cause of meningitis, but cerebral abscess formation is exceedingly rare. We describe a patient who presented with an unsteady gait and a small ring-enhancing lesion in the right parietal lobe. Pathologic evaluation demonstrated an abscess with associated microglial nodules, and culture revealed Listeria. In spite ...

BACKGROUND - Chronic gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach mucosa, which is considered its main etiological factor the Helicobacter pylori. AIM - To observe the differences in patients with chronic gastritis as well as the presence and absence of H. pylori, to obtain a better understanding of the etiological ...

  We aimed to determine the prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and define its clinical and endoscopic characteristics in Chinese patients.   Esophageal specimens obtained from January 2006 to December 2010 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were reviewed, and the data on clinical characteristics and endoscopic ...

  This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) among patients with esophageal or upper gastrointestinal (UGI) symptoms.   Patients with esophageal or UGI symptoms including dysphagia food impaction, acid regurgitation, heartburn, chest pain, epigastric pain, nausea and/or vomiting were prospectively collected. The enrolled patients responded ...

Vascular rings refer to anomalies of the great arteries that cause respiratory or feeding problems. The purpose of this study was to analyze a series of patients with vascular rings and evaluate associated risk factors for mortality. A retrospective review of all patients identified with vascular rings between 1997 and ...

CASE REPORT: We describe a 42 year-old patient who developed acute myopia and closed-angle glaucoma one week after beginning treatment with topiramate. Ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed a bilateral angle closure and choroidal effusion. The clinical findings resolved with withdrawal of the topiramate. DISCUSSION: Topiramate may cause acute myopia and closure angle ...

Introduction: The use of helium-oxygen mixture (heliox) for ventilation has an advantage in patients with obstruction of the airways. The physical properties of helium enable an easier gas flow through the airways; this enables easier breathing for the patient when compared to standard ventilation of air. A high cost of ...

The objective of this study was to present clinical, audiological, and radiologic findings of a rare case of the temporomandibular joint herniation associated with lymphangioma of the parotid region. A 21-year-old man with the complaints of a mass on the right side of the face, otalgia, and hearing loss in ...

Reports indicate that repair procedures for ischaemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) are less durable than previously thought. Repair failure has been shown to be stress related. Leaflet curvature is the major determinant of valve stress. Theoretical and animal experiments have shown that saddle-shaped annuloplasty optimizes leaflet curvature when compared with standard ...

This study aimed to evaluate the presenting symptoms, the effectiveness of imaging methods, and the surgical treatment of vascular rings. Data for 44 patients (32 enrolled prospectively, 12 reviewed retrospectively) over a 10-year period in a tertiary referral center were analyzed. These patients comprised 25 patients with a left aortic ...

Background:  Cardiovascular problems are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Aim:  The aim of this study was to investigate coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) as a marker of endothelial dysfunction, carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) as a marker of subclinical ...

BACKGROUND: We report four patients who developed periodic eyelid opening following hypoxic ischemic injury. This manuscript reviews the clinical course of our patients as well as previously published cases and discusses the neuroanatomical basis of eyelid opening. METHODS: Data were collected from the patients' electronic medical record and digital electroencephalography ...

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine how tympanic membrane (TM) perforations and their closure, using a paper-patch technique, affect middle-ear mechanics and, thus, conductive hearing for different sizes of the TM perforation. STUDY DESIGN: Temporal bone (TB) study and prospective clinical trial. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Nine patients with ...

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) promotes the survival and function of neutrophils. G-CSF is also a neurotrophic factor, increasing neuroplasticity and suppressing apoptosis. We analyzed G-CSF levels in 197 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 203 cognitively normal controls (NCs) from a longitudinal study by the Texas Alzheimer's Research and ...

The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) during childhood is low with two peaks - neonatal and adolescent age. This retrospective study is focused on clinical characteristics ofVTE during adolescence. The main goals are to assess the most frequent inherited and acquired risk factors and to evaluate the benefit of D-dimers ...

Multiple and complex abnormalities of hemostasis are revealed by laboratory tests in such common diseases as cirrhosis and end-stage renal insufficiency. Because these abnormalities are associated with a bleeding tendency, a causal relationship is plausible. Accordingly, an array of transfusional and nontransfusional medications that improve or correct these abnormalities is ...

To assess the significance and evolution of parafoveal rings of high-density fundus autofluorescence (AF) in 12 patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Twelve patients with autosomal recessive RP or Usher syndrome type 2 were ascertained who had a parafoveal ring of high-density AF and a visual acuity of 20/30 or better ...

Differentiation between exudative and transudative pleural effusions is the initial step in assessment of pleural effusion. The aim of this study was to determine whether high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) are diagnostic utilities for exudative pleural effusion. This experimental study assessed 79 patients with ...

Exsanguinating hemorrhage is the major cause of death in patients with pelvic ring disruption. The aim of this study was to document outcomes after the stabilization of pelvic ring injuries by a C-clamp and control of hemorrhage by pelvic packing. Physiological parameters were tested as prognostic factors. This was a ...

Object Congenital craniovertebral anomalies are relatively common, but anomalies leading to overt craniocervical instability may be difficult to recognize and treat. The authors present a series of patients with atlantal hemi-rings, a disorder resulting in congenital craniovertebral instability. Presentation, treatment, imaging, and follow-up data obtained in patients with atlantal hemi-rings ...

It is generally believed that reflex recruitment of pharyngeal dilator muscles is insufficient to open the airway of obstructive apnea (OSA) patients once it is closed and, therefore, that arousal is required. Yet, arousal promotes recurrence of obstruction. There is no information about how much dilator (Genioglossus; GG) activation is ...

Percutaneous Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation. Patients with an atrial septal defect (ASD) commonly have atrial fibrillation (AF) and closure of the ASD rarely controls the arrhythmia. We report on the management of 4 patients with recurrent medically refractory AF in the setting of an unrepaired ASD who underwent percutaneous RFA prior ...

To study, whether the association of Schatzki rings with other esophageal disorders support one of the theories about its etiology. From 1987 until 2007, all patients with newly diagnosed symptomatic Schatzki rings (SRs) were prospectively registered and followed. All of them underwent structured interviews with regards to clinical symptoms, as ...

The goal of this study was to describe a novel pattern of genitourinary (GU) anomalies in VACTERL association,which involves congenital anomalies affecting the vertebrae,anus, heart, trachea and esophagus, kidneys, and limbs.We collected clinical data on 105 patients diagnosed with VACTERL association and analyzed a subset of 89 patients who met ...

Abstract Introduction. Aspirin is effective in the secondary prevention and high-risk primary prevention of cardiovascular events. However, clinical and laboratory evidence demonstrates diminished or no response to aspirin in some patients. This study was designed to assess aspirin response in haemodialysis patients. Methods. We prospectively enrolled 78 haemodialysis patients (28 ...

The aim of the article is fourfold; firstly, to detect the aetiology of torticollis in patients with Müllerian duct/renal aplasia-cervicothoracic somite dysplasia syndrome; secondly, spine pathology in Müllerian duct/renal aplasia-cervicothoracic somite dysplasia syndrome varies considerably from one patient to another and there are remarkable differences in severity and localization; thirdly, ...

PURPOSE.: To evaluate the influence of proteinuria on renal Doppler sonographic (US) measurements in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with or without diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS.: Renal resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), and maximum kidney length were measured by US in 113 patients suffering from CKD without DM ...

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of a cohort of Chinese patients with late onset lupus nephritis. Methods: Clinical, pathological and outcome data for patients with late onset lupus nephritis (onset at age ≥50 years) and early onset lupus nephritis (onset at age ...