Search results for "retrospective studies"
showing 10 items of 3098 documents
The effect of amifostine or IMRT to preserve the parotid function after radiotherapy of the head and neck region measured by quantitative salivary gl…
2008
Purpose: In this retrospective study, two approaches to preserve the parotid function after radiotherapy (RT) were compared: application of the radioprotective agent amifostine during RT and parotid sparing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Patients and methods: Patients were qualified for this analysis if (1) both parotid glands received a radiation dose of P50 Gy using conventional radiotherapy techniques (cRT) or if they received a parotid sparing IMRT as alternative, if (2) salivary gland scintigraphies before and after RT were performed, and if (3) a normal parotid function was present before RT. Quantitative salivary gland scintigraphy was used to assess the parotid gland funct…
To do or not to do? plasma exchange and timing of steroid administration in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
2016
OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the effect of plasma exchange (PLEX; yes = PLEX+ , no = PLEX- ) and steroids administration timing (prophylactically [proST] or therapeutically [therST]) on the longitudinal clinical course of patients with natalizumab-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and full-blown immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (PML-IRIS). METHODS: Clinical and radiological data of 42 Italian patients with PML were analyzed. Patient's data are available until 12 months after PML diagnosis. PLEX and steroids treatment as time-dependent covariates were entered in: (1) a Cox model to investigate their impact on full-blown PML-IRIS latency; (2) an anal…
The effect of age on cognitive performance of frontal patients
2015
Age is known to affect prefrontal brain structure and executive functioning in healthy older adults, patients with neurodegenerative conditions and TBI. Yet, no studies appear to have systematically investigated the effect of age on cognitive performance in patients with focal lesions. We investigated the effect of age on the cognitive performance of a large sample of tumour and stroke patients with focal unilateral, frontal (n=68), or non-frontal lesions (n=45) and healthy controls (n=52). We retrospectively reviewed their cross sectional cognitive and imaging data. In our frontal patients, age significantly predicted the magnitude of their impairment on two executive tests (Raven's Advanc…
Correlation of Skin Test Results and Specific Immunoglobulin E Blood Levels with Nasal Provocation Testing for House-Dust Mite Allergies
2016
Background Allergen-specific immunotherapy for house-dust mite (HDM) allergies is associated with lower success rates when compared with similar treatments for other inhalant allergens, such as grass or birch. One reason might be the greater difficulty in diagnosing patients with assumed HDM allergies because symptoms occur perennially and may differ from those of a conventional allergic rhinitis. Objective The aim of the study was to compare the different methods of diagnosis in patients with assumed HDM allergy. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of nasal provocation tests (NPT) from patients (n = 161) evaluated for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (n = 127) and Dermatophagoides …
Is Quantitative sIgE Serology Suitable for Distinguishing Between Silent Sensitization and Allergic Rhinitis to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus?
2019
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE An increasing number of studies have recently discussed whether provocation tests might be replaced by specific IgE serology in patients sensitized to airborne allergens. Objective: Our study aimed to analyze the concordance between a nasal provocation test with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and specific IgE measurements based on real-life data. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed concordance between the result of the provocation test and the IgE titer for house dust mite components and extracts in 223 patients with proven sensitization to D pteronyssinus. RESULTS In contrast to findings from other studies, the anti-Der p 1 level alone was not sufficient to disting…
Evaluation of serum s-IgE/total IgE ratio in predicting clinical response to allergen-specific immunotherapy.
2009
Background: To date, no predictive tests for the clinical response to allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASI) are available. Therefore an in vivo or in vitro test would be of great value. Objective: We sought to evaluate pretreatment parameters used in diagnosing allergic rhinitis and determining serum specific IgE (s-IgE) levels, serum total IgE (t-IgE) levels, and blood eosinophil counts and to identify whether can be used to predict clinical improvement in monosensitized patients with allergic rhinitis with or without asthma treated with immunotherapy. Methods:We analyzed 279 patients who had undergone 4 years of ASI administered either by means of the subcutaneous immunotherapy (76 patien…
Treatment of skin swellings with C1-inhibitor concentrate in patients with hereditary angio-oedema.
2008
Background: Skin swellings are the most frequent symptoms in hereditary angio-oedema (HAE) arising out of C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency. They may be painful and impact daily activities of patients. Detailed clinical data concerning the treatment of skin swellings by C1-INH concentrate have not been reported yet. Methods: From 1976 through 2007, a total of 2104 skin-swelling attacks in 47 patients with HAE were treated with the C1-INH concentrate. Time to relief and duration of the swellings were documented during personal interviews using standardized questionnaires. The results were compared with 9046 untreated skin swellings in the same patients. Results: The first clinical sign of …
Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia with severe involvement of the aortic valve—A sibling‐controlled case study on the efficacy of lipoprotein a…
2020
Background Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (hoFH) can cause severe atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in early infancy. Diagnosis and initiation of effective lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) are recommended as early as possible to prevent ASCVD-related morbidity and mortality. Methods The clinical courses of a pair of siblings with an identical hoFH genotype, who exhibited major similarities of their clinical phenotype were analyzed in a case-control fashion including the family. Results The older sibling was diagnosed with hoFH at the age of 4. Untreated LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) was 17 mmol/L (660 mg/dL). LLT including lipoprotein apheresis (LA) was initiated and has been s…
Body mass index as a determinant of clozapine plasma concentrations: A pharmacokinetic-based hypothesis
2021
Background: Knowledge regarding the impact of body composition measures on pharmacokinetics of antipsychotics is limited. Aims: Our aim was to investigate the impact of body weight and body mass index on clozapine pharmacokinetics using a therapeutic drug monitoring database. Methods: A large therapeutic drug monitoring dataset of clozapine plasma concentrations considering three patient subgroups was analysed: a control group (CLZ0, 20–30 kg/m2, n=266), a group with high body mass index (CLZhigh, body mass index ⩾30 kg/m2, n=162) and with low body mass index values (CLZlow, body mass index <20 kg/m2, n=27). Comparisons of plasma and dose-adjusted plasma concentrations (C/D) of clozapine…
Lack of neurofibromatosis type 2 gene promoter methylation in sporadic vestibular schwannomas.
2011
<i>Background:</i> Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are benign tumors of the nervous system that are usually sporadic but also occur in the inherited disorder neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). In VS, losses of chromosomal material and mutations of the NF2 gene have been established to be causative. For a subset of VS without detectable gene alterations, promoter inactivation by hypermethylation has been suggested. However, published data are very limited and contradictory. <i>Methods:</i> We analyzed NF2 gene promoter methylation in 35 sporadic VS by methylation-specific PCR. <i>Results:</i> Twenty-three of the tumors were informative, showing no promoter methyl…