Clin. Pract., Volume 13, Issue 6 (December 2023) – 27 articles

The optimal time to ambulation remains unclear for intensive care unit (ICU) patients following abdominal surgery. While previous studies have explored various mobilization techniques, a direct comparison between ambulation and other early mobilization methods is lacking. Additionally, the impact of time to ambulation on complications and disuse syndrome prevention requires further investigation. This study aimed to identify the optimal time to ambulation for ICU patients after abdominal surgery and considered its potential influence on complications and disuse syndrome. We examined the relationship between time to ambulation and hospital length of stay (LOS). Patients were categorized into the nondelayed (discharge within the protocol time) and delayed (discharge later than expected) groups. Data regarding preoperative functioning, postoperative complications, and time to discharge were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Of the 274 postsurgical patients managed in the ICU at our hospital between 2018 and 2020, 188 were included. Time to ambulation was a significant prognostic factor for both groups, even after adjusting for operative time and complications. The area under the curve was 0.72, and the cutoff value for time to ambulation was 22 h (sensitivity, 68%; specificity, 77%). A correlation between time to ambulation and complications was observed, with both impacting the hospital LOS (model 1: p < 0.01, r = 0.22; model 2: p < 0.01, r = 0.29). Specific cutoff values for time to ambulation will contribute to better surgical protocols. Full article

Individuals with acquired brain injuries (ABIs) may experience various complications related to poor coughing or impaired cough reflex (including risk of aspiration pneumonia or respiratory infections). For this reason, cough assessment is an important component in the clinical evaluation since patients with ABI are not able to cough voluntarily due to severe motor deficits. When voluntarily coughing is not possible, it is essential for clinical practices to find a quick and minimally invasive way to induce a cough reflex. In the present study, we evaluated the cough reflex in ABI patients using a new method based on a capsaicin spray stimulation test. In total, 150 healthy controls demographically matched with 50 ABI patients were included in this study. Clinical observations demonstrated robust cough response in both healthy controls and ABI patients, as well as the safety and tolerability of capsaicin spray stimulation. ABI patients with dysphagia were characterized by slower and delayed cough responses. Further studies are needed to validate this feasible, less-invasive, and simple-to-comprehend technique in inducing cough reflex. According to this preliminary evidence, we believe that this test might be translated into a simple and effective treatment to improve reflexive cough modulation in ABI patients. Full article

Objectives: Early case report studies and anecdotes from patients, medical colleagues, and social media suggest that patients may present to chronic pain clinics with a number of complaints post COVID-19 infection or vaccination. The aim of this study is to systematically report on a consecutive series of chronic pain patients seen in a community-based pain clinic, who acquired symptoms after COVID-19 infection or vaccination. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study identified all patients seen at the clinic over a 4-month period (January–April 2022) with persistent symptoms after COVID-19 infection, vaccination, or both. Information was collected on sex, gender, age, details of vaccination, new pains, or exacerbation of old pain plus the development of novel symptoms. Results: The study identified 21 community dwellers (17 females and 4 males; F/M 4.25/1; age range 22–79 years; mean age 46.3 years), with symptoms attributed to COVID-19 infection or vaccination. Several patients suffered exacerbation of previous pains or developed novel pains, as well as high levels of anxiety and mood disorders. A review of the existing literature provides support for the spectrum of symptoms displayed by the study group. Conclusions: Information collected in this study will add to the body of COVID-19-related literature and assist particularly community practitioners in recognizing and managing these conditions. Full article

Malnutrition, hypercatabolism, and metabolic changes are well-established risk factors for delirium in critically ill patients. Although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, there is mounting evidence suggesting that malnutrition can cause a variety of changes that contribute to delirium, such as electrolyte imbalances, immune dysfunction, and alterations in drug metabolism. Therefore, a comprehensive metabolic and malnutrition assessment, along with appropriate nutritional support, may help to prevent or ameliorate malnutrition, reduce hypercatabolism, and improve overall physiological function, ultimately lowering the risk of delirium. For this aim, bioelectrical impedance analysis can represent a valuable strategy. Further research into the underlying mechanisms and nutritional risk factors for delirium is crucial to developing more effective prevention strategies. Understanding these processes will allow clinicians to personalize treatment plans for individual patients, leading to improved outcomes and quality of life in the intensive-care-unit survivors. Full article

About 70% of patients with Sjogren’s syndrome suffer from fatigue, and for a large proportion of patients, it is one of the most noticeable manifestations leading to disability. To date, no study has been conducted in Romania to determine the quality of life of patients and the impact of fatigue in patients with Sjogren’s syndrome. The present work proposes the translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of two questionnaires for the Romanian context, namely the ‘Profile of Fatigue and Discomfort–Sicca Symptoms Inventory’ (PROFAD-SSI-SF) and ‘Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome—Quality of Life’ (PSS-QoL), whose purpose is to assess quality of life and fatigue in patients with Sjogren’s syndrome. These two questionnaires were administered to 52 patients with Sjogren’s syndrome diagnosed according to the 2016 ACR-EULAR criteria. Subsequently, the conceptual, semantic, and operational analyses of the data were performed with the aim of cultural adaptation. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using indices of measurement accuracy such as internal consistency. Based on statistical analyses, this pilot study shows that the Romanian versions of the PROFAD-SSI and PSS-QoL questionnaires are as reliable as their English counterparts. Full article

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the second most common cancer worldwide, resulting in 1.8 million deaths per year. Most patients are diagnosed with a metastatic disease. Brain metastases are one of the most common metastatic sites and are associated with severe neurological symptoms, shorter survival, and the worst clinical outcomes. Brain radiotherapy and systemic oncological therapies are currently used for controlling both cancer progression and neurological symptoms. Brain radiotherapy includes stereotactic brain ablative radiotherapy (SBRT) or whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). SBRT is applied for single or multiple (up to ten) small (diameter less than 4 cm) lesions, whereas WBRT is usually applied for multiple (more than ten) and large (diameter greater than 4 cm) brain metastases. In both cases, radiotherapy application may be viewed as an overtreatment which causes severe toxicities without achieving a significant clinical benefit. Thus far, a number of scoring systems to define the potential clinical benefits derived from brain radiotherapy have been proposed. However, most are not well established in clinical practice. In this article, we present a clinical case of a patient with advanced NSCLC carrying a BRAF^V600E mutation and brain metastases. We review the variables in addition to applicable scoring systems considered to have potential for predicting clinical outcomes and benefits of brain radiotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC and brain metastases. Lastly, we highlight the unmet need of specific scoring systems for advanced NSCLC patients with brain metastases carrying oncogene alterations including BRAF^V600E mutations. Full article

Background: Workplace stress and burnout in the Greek healthcare system had been considered severe even before the high pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to investigate occupational quality of life and burnout effects on workplace errors among the administrative staff in the Greek healthcare system. Methods: We enrolled 120 administrative healthcare employee participants between April and May 2019. Occupational burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Findings: Inadequate staffing, a low sense of well-being, exhaustion, and low family income were associated with workplace errors. Increased workload and staff shortages were associated with occupation related quality of life. Conclusions: Targeted interventions supporting healthcare staff mental health are warranted. Application to Practice: Wellness and professional burnout can affect professional efficiency and are associated with workplace errors in the healthcare sector. Targeted interventions are warranted to support the mental health of healthcare staff during work and to prevent incidents of post-traumatic stress. Shortages of staffing may lead to an increase in the cost of the provided services. Full article

Background: With the growing incidence of breast cancer, efficient and correct staging is essential for further treatment decisions. Axillary ultrasound (US) remains the most common method for regional nodal involvement assessment. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether high-risk US features can accurately predict axillary lymph node metastasis. Methods: A total of 150 early-stage breast cancer patients (T1 or T2) were prospectively included in the study. Based on axillary US, patients were classified as normal, low-risk, or high-risk, with all patients in the low-risk and high-risk groups undergoing fine-needle aspiration (FNAB) and core-needle biopsies. Results: For the low-risk US group, a lower prediction rate of axillary nodal metastasis was achieved than for the group with high-risk features, recording a sensitivity of 66.6% vs. 89.2%, a specificity of 57.1% vs. 100%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 26.6% vs. 100%, a negative predictive value (NPV) of 88% for both groups, and an accuracy of 58.9% vs. 94%, respectively. FNAB resulted in more false-negative results compared to core-needle biopsy in both low-risk and high-risk US groups. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that high-risk US features can predict axillary lymph node metastasis with high accuracy. Full article

Despite the motivation of oncology patients to take part in clinical trials, only a minority of them are enrolled in clinical trials. Implementation of new practical procedures can become a barrier that withholds patients from participating in clinical trials. Treating physicians are crucial in augmenting trial accrual. The drivers that promote physicians to allocate patients for clinical trials need further assessment. We conducted two separate cross-sectional surveys, addressing patients with a haematological disease in one survey and haematologists in another survey. The patient survey was filled out by 420 patients. Significant relationships between the willingness to participate in a trial and trial knowledge (p < 0.001) and between doctor–patient relationship and participation willingness (p = 0.007) were noted. Patients above 60 years were less willing to use an electronic consent procedure vs. patients younger than 60 (p < 0.001). The physician questionnaire was completed by 42 participants of whom most (83%) were active in and (94%) motivated for clinical trials. Apart from the patient benefit and scientific interest, prestige was an equal motivator closely followed by financial remunerations. First goal was not to harm the patient. Our study confirms the high willingness of patients for trial participation and the need to rethink the structure of trial organisation. The e-consent procedure is not the method preferred by most patients above 60 years old. Full article

(1) Background: This study aimed to compare patient-reported outcome measures when accelerating en masse retraction between the piezocision procedure and the subsequent application of low-level laser therapy (FC+LLLT), with the piezocision alone (FC), and in a control group. (2) Methods: A three-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted involving 60 patients (41 females and 19 males) with Class II division I malocclusion. The en masse retraction was performed using NiTi closed coil springs attached to miniscrews. The LLLT was performed using an 808 nm Ga-Al-As diode laser. Patient responses regarding pain, discomfort, swelling, and chewing difficulties were reported at ten assessment points. (3) Results: The greatest pain levels were observed 24 h after the application of force during the first and third months of retraction. The mean pain, discomfort, swelling, and chewing difficulties were significantly smaller in the control group than in the FC and FC+LLLT groups. High satisfaction levels were reported in all three groups (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: The accelerated en masse retraction via piezocision, followed by a small course of LLLT, was accompanied by significantly fewer pain, discomfort, and chewing difficulties than the control group. LLLT is a valuable addition to piezocision, with an improved patient experience. Full article

Background and objectives: One of the most severe forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is tuberculous meningitis (TBM), which is linked to significant morbidity and high mortality. It is well recognized that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive people are more likely to develop EPTB, including TBM, especially if they have severe immunodeficiencies. We aim to highlight the profile and the characteristics of TBM in HIV-infected patients. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective clinical study based on hospital medical records of patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) and TBM in Northeast Romania, hospitalized at “St. Parascheva” Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases of Iasi from 1 January 2010 to 1 December 2022. Results: From a total number of 1692 patients on record in our center, 195 had a HIV–tuberculosis (TB) coinfection, and 19 cases were HIV–TBM coinfected. Six cases were newly HIV-diagnosed late presenters, and thirteen patients’ names were already found in the center’s records with deficient immunological viral status (median CD4 lymphocyte level 47/mm³). The average age in the study group was 27 years old. The clinical manifestations and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) variables were typical in most cases, despite the severe immunodepression of the patients. The Thwaites scoring system correctly identified 89.5% of the patients. The median admission period was 18 days; the lethality rate was 31.6%, despite access to ART and anti-TB drugs, and was associated with a more severe immunosuppression. No rifampicin resistance was detected. Conclusions: TBM appeared in a minority of our HIV cohort and affected severely immunodepressed patients; the clinical and CSF variables had a typical aspect in most cases, and the Thwaites scoring system performed well for this type of patient. The lethality rate was high and was correlated with a more severe immunodepression. Full article

The rapid progress in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing has led to increasingly sophisticated large language models (LLMs) for use in healthcare. This study assesses the performance of two LLMs, the GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 models, in passing the MIR medical examination for access to medical specialist training in Spain. Our objectives included gauging the model’s overall performance, analyzing discrepancies across different medical specialties, discerning between theoretical and practical questions, estimating error proportions, and assessing the hypothetical severity of errors committed by a physician. Material and methods: We studied the 2022 Spanish MIR examination results after excluding those questions requiring image evaluations or having acknowledged errors. The remaining 182 questions were presented to the LLM GPT-4 and GPT-3.5 in Spanish and English. Logistic regression models analyzed the relationships between question length, sequence, and performance. We also analyzed the 23 questions with images, using GPT-4’s new image analysis capability. Results: GPT-4 outperformed GPT-3.5, scoring 86.81% in Spanish (p < 0.001). English translations had a slightly enhanced performance. GPT-4 scored 26.1% of the questions with images in English. The results were worse when the questions were in Spanish, 13.0%, although the differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.250). Among medical specialties, GPT-4 achieved a 100% correct response rate in several areas, and the Pharmacology, Critical Care, and Infectious Diseases specialties showed lower performance. The error analysis revealed that while a 13.2% error rate existed, the gravest categories, such as “error requiring intervention to sustain life” and “error resulting in death”, had a 0% rate. Conclusions: GPT-4 performs robustly on the Spanish MIR examination, with varying capabilities to discriminate knowledge across specialties. While the model’s high success rate is commendable, understanding the error severity is critical, especially when considering AI’s potential role in real-world medical practice and its implications for patient safety. Full article

(1) Background: Children are susceptible to home injuries. How prepared parents were to protect their children from accidents before and during the COVID-19 quarantine is uncertain. (2) Methods: We conducted a community-based, cross-sectional study in Greece between November and December 2021. We asked parents to complete an anonymous questionnaire voluntarily. Questions focused on accident-preventive measures taken at home during the COVID-19 quarantine. (3) Results: A greater proportion of parents took protective measures for a safer home before the lockdown than during the quarantine, while an interesting percentage of parents never utilized preventive measures for their children. Slightly more than half (58.6%) of parents did not seem to worry about a possible increase in domestic accidents during the quarantine. It was observed that those who had one or two children took more protective measures than those with more than two children. Older parents seemed to explain to their children how to access emergency services more often. Mothers stayed at home with the children more often, and their education affected the presence of some of the assessed measures. In our logistic regression modeling, parental concern about accidents was more related to the incidence of an accident during the pandemic and attendance at seminars. (4) Conclusions: Although the COVID-19 lockdowns disorganized family life, parents were aware of the importance of their parenting role in creating a safe environment for children, but according to the study, there is room for improvement. Full article

Neuroimaging can provide significant benefits in evaluating patients with movement disorders associated with drugs. This literature review describes neuroimaging techniques performed to distinguish Parkinson’s disease from drug-induced parkinsonism. The dopaminergic radiotracers already reported to assess patients with drug-induced parkinsonism are [123I]-FP-CIT, [123I]-β-CIT, [99mTc]-TRODAT-1, [18F]-DOPA, [18F]-AV-133, and [18F]-FP-CIT. The most studied one and the one with the highest number of publications is [123I]-FP-CIT. Fludeoxyglucose (18F) revealed a specific pattern that could predict individuals susceptible to developing drug-induced parkinsonism. Another scintigraphy method is [123I]-MIBG cardiac imaging, in which a relationship between abnormal cardiac imaging and normal dopamine transporter imaging was associated with a progression to degenerative disease in individuals with drug-induced parkinsonism. Structural brain magnetic resonance imaging can be used to assess the striatal region. A transcranial ultrasound is a non-invasive method with significant benefits regarding costs and availability. Optic coherence tomography only showed abnormalities in the late phase of Parkinson’s disease, so no benefit in distinguishing early-phase Parkinson’s disease and drug-induced parkinsonism was found. Most methods demonstrated a high specificity in differentiating degenerative from non-degenerative conditions, but the sensitivity widely varied in the studies. An algorithm was designed based on clinical manifestations, neuroimaging, and drug dose adjustment to assist in the management of patients with drug-induced parkinsonism. Full article

Introduction: Breast cancer affects almost 1.5 million women worldwide below the age of 45 years each year. Many of these women will be advised to undergo adjuvant chemotherapy to minimize the risk of death or recurrence of the tumor. For these patients, chemotherapy is a known cause of infertility, as it can damage primordial follicles, which can lead to early menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency. This systematic review aims to synthesize the current evidence of the most suitable treatments for fertility preservation. Methodology: This review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. The authors conducted an extensive search from the last 15 years. Relevant studies were pursued in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library up until 31 July 2023. A total of seven eligible studies were identified. Results: From the reviewed literature, ovarian suppression with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists showed promising results in preserving fertility for breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Additionally, oocyte and embryo cryopreservation demonstrated successful outcomes, with embryo cryopreservation being the most effective option. Notably, the slow-freezing and vitrification methods were both effective in preserving embryos, with vitrification showing superior results in clinical-assisted reproductive technologies. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation emerged as a viable option for prepubertal girls and those unable to undergo conventional ovarian stimulation. The potential of in vitro maturation (IVM) as an alternative method presents a promising avenue for future fertility preservation research. Discussion: The most suitable treatments for fertility preservation in young patients is the temporary suppression with luteinizing hormone-releasing analogs, while the patient undergoes chemotherapy and cryopreservation. For cryopreservation, the physicians might deem it necessary to either cryopreserve ovarian tissue taken from the patient before any treatment or cryopreserve embryos/oocytes. Cryopreservation of oocytes and/or embryos is the most effective solution for fertility preservation in women of reproductive age, who have a sufficient ovarian reserve and are diagnosed with breast cancer, regardless of the histological type of the tumor. Because approximately 50% of young breast cancer patients are interested in becoming pregnant right after completion of therapy, the evolution and development of fertility preservation techniques promise to be very exciting. Full article

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasing rapidly worldwide. Without proper management, DM can have serious complications. We aimed to investigate the association between protection motivation theory (PMT) constructs, self-care behaviors, and biomarkers among diabetic patients in a community in northern Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Simple random sampling was used to select 422 subjects from patients enrolled in primary care in Chiang Rai Province. Data were collected using questionnaires and blood sampling to measure fasting blood sugar (FBS) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Pearson’s correlation and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. The diabetic subjects’ age was 62.25 years (standard deviation [SD] = 8.90), and the duration of diabetes was 9.07 years (SD = 7.23). Positive correlations were found between the DM knowledge score and the PMT score (r = 0.812, p < 0.01) and between the PMT score and the preventive behavior score (r = 0.817, p < 0.01). The preventive behavior score was negatively correlated with FBS (r = −0.319, p < 0.01) and HbA1c (r = −0.625, p < 0.01) and significantly associated with income (B = 0.15) and the PMT score (B = 0.71), accounting for 67.0% of the variance. Age (B = −0.73), sleep problems (B = 10.71), and the preventive behavior score (B = −1.15) were statistically significantly associated with FBS (R² = 14.3%). Four variables, the female gender (B = −0.26), being married (B = −0.24), sleep problems (B = 0.42), and the preventive behavior score (B = −0.09), were statistically significantly associated with HbA1c levels (R² = 41.6%). Health education programs should primarily target awareness of disease severity, complications, and self-efficacy enhancement to generate intention and behavior change. This may delay or reduce the occurrence of diabetes-related complications in people with type 2 diabetes. Full article

Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an unpredictable reaction of individuals exposed to a certain drug, and drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis (DIAIH) presents a DILI phenotype that mimics idiopathic autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) when considering the clinical, biochemical, serological and histological parameters. We present a case report of a 48-year-old male who was hospitalized due to severe hepatocellular liver injury two months after self-treatment with a muscle-building dietary supplement based on arginine-alpha-ketoglutarate, L-citrulline, L tyrosine, creatine malate and beet extract. His immunology panel was positive with increased IgG levels, and radiologic methods showed no signs of chronic liver disease. He underwent corticosteroid treatment with adequate response. After therapy withdrawal, a clinical relapse occurred. Seven months after the initial presentation, liver MR suggested initial cirrhotic changes in the right liver lobe. A liver biopsy revealed abundant lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate with piecemeal necrosis and grade 2 fibrosis. He responded well to the corticosteroid treatment again, and was further treated with low-dose prednisone without additional relapses. Several years later, further management confirmed the presence of liver cirrhosis with no histological or biochemical signs of disease activity. DIAIH is a DILI phenotype that is difficult to distinguish from idiopathic AIH despite a wide armamentarium of diagnostic methods. It should always be considered among the differential diagnoses in patients presenting with hepatocellular liver injury. Full article

Background: The global pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in many deaths from fulminant respiratory failure. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There has been great concern regarding the impact of COPD on the COVID-19 illness. Methods: Data from the Philippine CORONA study were analyzed to determine the association of COPD and COVID-19 in terms of mortality, disease severity, respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation, and lengths of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital. Results: A total of 10,881 patients were included in this study, and 156 (1.4%) patients had been diagnosed with COPD. A majority of COVID-19 patients with COPD had other existing comorbidities: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic cardiac disease, and chronic kidney disease. COPD patients were 2.0× more likely to present with severe to critical COVID-19 disease. COVID-19 patients with COPD in our study have a 1.7× increased mortality, 1.6× increased respiratory failure, and 2.0× increased risk for ICU admission. Smokers with COVID-19 were 1.8× more likely to present with more severe disease and have a 1.9× increased mortality. Conclusion: Our study supports the growing evidence that COPD among COVID-19 patients is a risk factor for higher mortality, more severe form of COVID-19, higher ICU admission, and higher respiratory failure needing ventilatory support. Full article

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is an extremely rare and aggressive soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) subtype with poor prognosis and limited response to radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Prompt recognition and referral to sarcoma centers for appropriate management are crucial for patients’ survival. The purpose of this study was to report ASPS pre-treatment imaging features and to examine the existing literature on this topic. Twelve patients (7 women, 5 men—mean age 27.1 ± 10.7 years) were included from our single-center experience. Ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) available were reviewed according to an analysis grid incorporating features from the latest research on STS. Clinical, histological, and outcome data were collected. MRI was available in 10 patients (83.3%), US in 7 patients (58.3%), and CT in 3 patients (25%). Mean longest tumor diameter was 7.6 ± 2.9 cm, and all tumors were deeply seated. Large peritumoral feeding vessels were systematically found and identified on ultrasonography (7/7), MRI (10/10), and CT (3/3). US revealed a well-defined heterogeneous hypoechoic pattern, with abundant flow signals in all patients (7/7). In all patients, MRI showed mildly high signal intensity (SI) on T1-WI and high SI on T2-WI and peritumoral edema. Moreover, flow-voids (due to arteriosus high-flow) into the peritumoral/intratumoral feeding vessels were detected in the MRI fluid-sensitive sequences of all patients. At baseline, whole-body contrast-enhanced CT revealed metastases in 8/12 (66.7%) patients. A pre-treatment longest diameter > 5 cm was significantly associated with distant metastases at diagnosis (p = 0.01). A maximum diameter > 5 cm represents a risk of metastatic disease at diagnosis (odds ratio = 45.0000 (95% CI: 1.4908—1358.3585), p = 0.0285). In the comprehensive literature review, we found 14 articles (case series or original research) focusing on ASPS imaging, with a total of 151 patients included. Merging our experience with the data from the existing literature, we conclude that the hallmark of ASPS imaging at presentation are the following characteristics: deep location, a slight hyperintense MRI SI on T1-WI and a hyperintense SI on T2-WI, numerous MRI flow voids, high internal vascularization, and large peritumoral feeding vessels. Full article

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is an emerging disease. This review aims to investigate the role of gender-related factors in the diagnosis, clinical, and surgical management of LBP. Methods: From January 2002 to March 2023, EMBASE, SCOPUS, OVID-MEDLINE, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched to identify relevant papers for further analysis. Results: Fifteen papers were included in this review. Sex- and gender-related differences were analyzed regarding the following points: (1) LBP epidemiology; (2) LBP physiopathology; (3) conservative management of LBP; (4) major vertebral surgery for LBP. The conservative treatment of LBP highlights that women claim services later in terms of poorer health status than men. In the postoperative phase, female patients show worse LBP, quality of life, and disability, but equal or greater interval change, compared with male patients complaining of lumbar degenerative disease. Conclusions: LBP epidemiology and clinical outcomes, following conservative and surgical management of patients complaining of back pain, might depend on both sex- and gender-related factors. It is mandatory to assess gender-related indicators in patients referred to LBP and address them to improve their clinical outcomes and quality of life. Full article

This study aimed to translate and psychometrically validate the Neck Outcome Score (NOOS) in the Polish population according to the recommendations of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Participants completed online version of the NOOS, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain assessment (23 November 2021–9 April 2022). The questionnaires were completed by 57 women and 32 men with cervical spine ailments. A retest was performed after 48 h. The analysis confirmed the high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha of 0.95) of the Polish NOOS. No floor/ceiling effects were observed. The Polish NOOS showed a significant Spearman’s coefficient correlation with NDI (0.87; p < 0.001) and VAS (0.79; p < 0.001). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the test–retest was found to be high (0.97). The Polish NOOS can be used for clinical and research purposes as an equivalent to the original version. Full article

Chronic hyperplastic candidiasis (CHC) presents a distinctive and relatively rare form of oral candidal infection characterized by the presence of white or white–red patches on the oral mucosa. Often mistaken for leukoplakia or erythroleukoplakia due to their appearance, these lesions display nonhomogeneous textures featuring combinations of white and red hyperplastic or nodular surfaces. Predominant locations for such lesions include the tongue, retro-angular mucosa, and buccal mucosa. This paper aims to investigate the potential influence of specific anatomical locations, retro-angular mucosa, on the development and occurrence of CHC. By examining the relationship between risk factors, we present an approach based on machine learning (ML) to predict the location of CHC occurrence. In this way, we employ Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR) to classify CHC lesion locations based on important risk factors. This estimator can serve both research and diagnostic purposes effectively. The findings underscore that the proposed ML technique can be used to predict the occurrence of CHC in retro-angular mucosa compared to other locations. The results also show a high rate of accuracy in predicting lesion locations. Performance assessment relies on Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), R-squared (R²), and Mean Absolute Error (MAE), consistently revealing favorable results that underscore the robustness and dependability of our classification method. Our research contributes valuable insights to the field, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and informing treatment strategies. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic due to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus showed acute and prolonged effects on human health. In addition, over the past four years, there has been a tremendous surge in COVID-19-related scientific publications, as shown by bibliometric and scientometric studies. However, such analysis of the scientific literature is lacking in the area of male reproduction. The current scientometric study analyzes publication characteristics of articles related to male reproduction and COVID-19 infection. We used the Scopus database to analyze scientometric data (the number of publications, journals, countries, type of documents, and subject area) related to COVID-19 and male reproductive research. Our literature search identified 345 articles related to COVID-19 and male reproductive research. Most of the articles were published in the USA (n = 72), Italy (n = 55), and China (n = 51). Such research was mainly focused around medicine (57.1%), followed by biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology (25.7%). Also, in the area of male reproduction, only 37.1% (n = 128) of the articles contributed towards original research, whereas 52.8% (n = 182) were review articles and editorials focusing more on sexual dysfunction than infertility. Such a small number of studies published on COVID-19-related effects on male reproduction warrants a significant increase in research, which is required to decipher the mechanism(s) underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection-associated impairment of male reproductive function. Full article

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally. Morbidity and disability related to non-fatal events are increasing exponentially. There are several symptoms that may arise after invasive therapeutic approaches such as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), including chronic pain in anatomical areas connected to the mediastinum; these pains can be found not only initially after surgery but also years later. We present a case where non-specific neck pain (NNP), in a patient undergoing CABG five years earlier, was resolved with an osteopathic technique, working the pericardial area. To the knowledge of the authors, it is the first article illustrating an osteopathic approach with resolution of NNP, with a manual technique used on the pericardial area. Full article

Background: Type 2 sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors (SGLT2i) are among the main therapeutic options for patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of SGLT2i on the echocardiographic parameters of left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular function among outpatients with a long history of HFrEF, in optimized therapy. Methods: We evaluated consecutive patients affected by HFrEF in whom the SGLT2i therapy was prescribed. Following a baseline evaluation (T0), in which SGLT2i was prescribed, patients were re-evaluated at 3 (T3), 6 (T6), and 12 (T12) months. Results: We considered 60 patients for the analysis with a median history of HFrEF of more than seven years in optimal medical and electrical therapy. After SGLT2i therapy, LV ejection fraction and LV global longitudinal strain improved from baseline at T3, T6, and T12. Analogously, RV global and free wall longitudinal strain improved at T3 and T6. Conclusions: Our study shows that the addition of SGLT2i to the optimized therapy for HFrEF was associated with a significant improvement in both LV and RV function, thus highlighting a possible mechanism responsible for the benefit obtained with this class of drugs. Full article

Background: Rituximab is a human monoclonal antibody directed against the B-cell transmembrane protein CD20. Although well-tolerated, given its mechanism of action, rituximab can induce a state of severe immunosuppression, increasing the risk of opportunistic and fulminant infection and mortality. Aim: To evaluate the risk of infection, mortality, and hypogammaglobulinemia and their associated factors among rituximab receivers. Method: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of adults treated with rituximab for various indications. Hypogammaglobulinemia was defined by a cut-off value below the normal limit (an IgG level of <7.51 g/L, an IgM level of <0.46 g/L, and/or an IgA level of <0.82 g/L). Patients who met the definition of hypogammaglobinemia solely based on IgA were excluded. Severe infection was defined as any infection that required intensive care unit admission. Results: A total of 137 adults with a mean age of 47.69 ± 18.86 years and an average BMI of 28.57 ± 6.55 kg/m² were included. Hematological malignancies and connective tissue diseases were the most common primary diagnoses for which rituximab was used. More than half of the patients received the 375 mg/m² dose. Rituximab’s mean cumulative dose was 3216 ± 2282 mg, and the overall mortality rate was 22.6%. Hypogammaglobulinemia was diagnosed in 43.8% of the patients, and it was significantly more prevalent among males and the 375 mg/m² and 500 mg doses. Hematological malignancy was the only predictor for infection. Patients with blood type AB or B, hematological malignancies, and corticosteroids had a significantly higher mortality rate. Receiving the 1000 mg dose and having a low CD19 were associated with a significantly lower risk of infection and mortality, respectively. Conclusions: Hypogammaglobulinemia was diagnosed in 43.8% of the patients, and it was significantly more common among males and the 375 mg/m² and 500 mg doses. Hematological malignancies were significantly associated with higher infection and mortality rates, while corticosteroids were significantly associated with a higher mortality. Since the culprit of mortality was infection, these findings highlight the critical need for more frequent immunological monitoring during rituximab treatment period to mitigate the burden of infection and identify candidates for immunoglobulin replacement. Full article