Search results for "diagnostic"

The diagnostic accuracy of PIK3CA mutations by circulating tumor DNA in breast cancer: an individual patient data meta-analysis

2022

Background: The circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) diagnostic accuracy for detecting phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha ( PIK3CA) mutations in breast cancer (BC) is under discussion. We aimed to compare plasma and tissue PIK3CA alterations, encompassing factors that could affect the results. Methods: Two reviewers selected studies from different databases until December 2020. We considered BC patients with matched tumor tissue and plasma ctDNA. We performed meta-regression and subgroup analyses to explore sources of heterogeneity concerning tumor burden, diagnostic technique, sample size, sampling time, biological subtype, and hotspot mutation. Pooled sensitiv…

Anthropometric indices, lipid profile, and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein levels in metabolic endotoxemia: A case-control study in Calabar Metrop…

2020

Objectives: To determine the anthropometric indices, lipopolysaccharide-binding proteins (LBP), and lipid profile in patients with metabolic endotoxemia. Methods: The study comprised of 47 patients with metabolic endotoxemia (the metabolic endotoxemia group) and 43 controls (the control group). Patients in the metabolic endotoxemia group were categorized further into three subgroups including the normal weight group (n=8), the overweight group (n=12) and the obese group (n=27). Height, weight, waist, and hip circumference were measured, and waist-hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. LBP was determined by ELISA and total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprot…

Liquid biopsy in colorectal carcinoma: the search for potential prognostic and predictive biomarkers

Background: Liquid biopsy is considered a repeatable, non-invasive and dynamic tool. It could be able to recover from liquid samples (expecially blood)) cancer-specific informations (miRNAs, circulating-free DNA (cfDNA), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and exosomes) by overcoming the limitations associated with traditional tissue biopsy. Aim: to investigate the potential prognostic and predictive role of blood cancer-related biomarkers such as cfDNA or ctDNA and exosomal DNA in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Results: cfDNA or ctDNA and exosomal DNA could have a potential applicability in CRC management. New generation technologies are able to identify clinically relevant genomic alteration…

Amplicon-based high-throughput pooled sequencing identifies mutations in CYP7B1 and SPG7 in sporadic spastic paraplegia patients

2011

Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a neurodegenerative disorder defined clinically by progressive lower limb spasticity and weakness. HSP is a genetically highly heterogeneous condition with at least 46 gene loci identified so far, involving X-linked, autosomal recessive (AR) and autosomal dominant inheritance. For correct diagnosis, molecular testing is essential because clinical parameters by themselves are not reliable to differentiate HSP forms. The purpose of this study was to establish amplicon-based high-throughput genotyping for AR-HSP. A sample of 187 index cases with apparently sporadic or recessive spastic paraplegia were analyzed by applying an array-based amplification stra…

Infective Endocarditis: Preliminary Results of a Cohort Study in the Southern Italian Population.

2020

Background Infective endocarditis (IE) is an uncommon disease with an involved interplay of clinical and surgical team management. We aimed to define diagnosis parameters and delineate in-hospital management in patients with IE admitted in a tertiary hospital of Southern Italian. Materials and methods Fifty-six consecutive patients (42 males, 14 females; age range: 34-85 years) admitted for IE in the Infectious Diseases, Cardiac Surgery, and Cardiology units, between January 2011 and August 2017, were enrolled. Demographic data, mortality, comorbidities, specimen type, microscopy results, special histological staining performed, and antimicrobial therapy were collected and analyzed. Any com…

Tuberculosis among Migrant Populations in Sicily: A Field Report

2021

Background. In the EU, tuberculosis (TB) mainly affects vulnerable people, including migrants. From 2014 to 2017, we have estimated the frequency of both tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among the migrant population hosted in 41 reception centers in western Sicily (ITaCA network). Materials and Methods. All migrants were consecutively recruited for the screening of TB infection with physical examination and TST in 1,020 migrants and with IGRA in the others 2,690. The screening was carried out 4–8 weeks after landing in Sicily. For all migrants with a positive screening test, chest X-ray and smear examination were performed. LTBI was defined by positivity of TST or IGRA …

Oral contraceptives in the prevention of endometrioma recurrence: does the different progestins used make a difference?

2013

""The primary aim of the study was to analyze the endometrioma recurrence rate in patients who underwent laparoscopic excision followed by postoperative long-term regimen of oral contraceptives (OCs).. . MATERIALS AND METHODS: 168 patients who underwent a conservative laparoscopic surgery for endometrioma, during the period between September 2009 and August 2010 in three university hospitals were studied. A long-term OCs therapy was offered to all women following surgery. Patients were randomly divided into three groups according to different progestins used (desogestrel, gestodene, dienogest). Women who refused a postoperative hormonal therapy served as control. Follow-up visits and transv…

RADIOPROTECTION IN 2018: AN UPDATE

2018

Fluoroscopically-guided interventional procedures are performed in large numbers in Europe and in the United States. Radiation doses received by interventional radiologists can vary for the same type of procedure and for similar patient doses. Occupational radiation protection is a necessity whenever radiation is used in the practice of medicine. The International Commission on Radiological Protection is engaging against occupational radiation damages, publishing regular recommendations on dose limits. These limits are expressed as effective doses for the whole body and also as equivalent doses for particular regions or tissues of practitioners’ bodies. Shielding and personal protective clo…

Biogeographic patterns of base-rich fen vegetation across Europe

2014

International audience; Questions: What is the distribution of base-rich fen vegetation and the specia- list species along European biogeographic regions? How do the gradients in spe- cies composition correlate to geography and climate at continental scale? What are the implications of such patterns for the classification of these habitats?Location: Fifteen countries of Central, Western and Northern Europe.Methods: We compiled a vegetation plot database of base-rich fens and related communities including vascular plants and bryophytes. The initial data set with 6943 plots was filtered according to the presence of specialists using discriminant analysis. We used DCA to analyse the correlatio…

Evaluation of waterborne exposure to heavy metals in innate immune defences present on skin mucus of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

2015

Aquatic animals are continuously exposed to chemical pollutants but the effects evoked in skin surfaces, which receive the most direct contact with them, are poorly investigated. Terminal carbohydrate composition and immunological components present in skin mucus of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) specimens exposed to waterborne sublethal dosages of heavy metals [arsenic (As2O3), cadmium (CdCl2) and mercury (CH3HgCl) at 5, 5 and 0.04 μM, respectively for 2, 10 and 30 days were analysed. Moreover, the presence of a fucose binding lectin (FBL) was evaluated by western blot and the protein profiles were by SDS-PAGE and HPLC. Results showed little effects of heavy metals in the presence of…