What is the optimal length of stay in hospital for ST elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention?

Backgound: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and practicality of very early (within 48 h) discharge with long-term follow-up results, and to define an optimal length of stay in hospital for patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) according to their demographic characteristics and risk assessment. Methods: A total of 267 patients with STEMI successfully treated with primary coronary intervention were retrospectively analyzed. Patients was divided into four groups according to length of hospitalization: 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, and more than 72 hours. The groups were compared in terms of the patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics, short- and long-term follow-up results, mortality, revascularization and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Results: More than two thirds of the patients were discharged within 48 hours (68.9%). No difference was observed between groups in terms of one month and one year MACE and one year restenosis. However, one month restenosis was slightly higher in the fourth group. At the end of the first year, there had been only four deaths, and these were in the third and fourth groups. There were no deaths among patients discharged within 48 hours. Killip class, left ventricular ejection fraction, multi-vessel disease and diabetes were the major determinants of length of stay in hospital. Conclusions: Very early discharge is safe and feasible and does not increase the mortality rate. Uncomplicated STEMI patients with single vessel disease could be discharged after 24 hours. Patients with multi-vessel disease classified in the low risk group could be discharged after 48 hours. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 4: 378–384

Thyroid fine needle aspiration reporting rates and outcomes before and after Bethesda implementation: A single-center experience over 8 years

Aimː To evaluate data from our hospital system before and after the implementation of the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytology (TBSRTC) and comparison of our data with the previously published studies. Methods: Seven hundred seventy-one patients with thyroid nodules who underwent fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and surgery at our institution were analyzed retrospectively. FNAB results were divided into two parts in terms of the period they related to: pre-TBSRTC (between 2005 and 2010) and TBSRTC (between 2011 and 2013). Results: 341 FNAB were applied in the period of TBSRTC. Of the 341 FNAB, 53(16%) were non diagnostic, 82(24%) were benign, 62(18%) were atypia of undetermined significance or follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS), 28(8%) were follicular neoplasms and/or suspicion of follicular neoplasms (FN/SFN), 95(28%) were suspicion for malignancy (SuspM), and 21(6%) were malignant. Rates of malignancy reported on follow-up histopathological examination were non diagnostic in 11%, benign in 4.9%, AUS/FLUS in 23%, FN/SFN in 32%, SuspM in 44%, and malignant in 95.3%. Conclusions: In this study, the distribution of cases in TBSRTC categories and malignancy rates, differed from, recommended by TBSRTC and some studies. Implementation of TBSRTC did significantly affect our institution’s reporting rates

Impact of active smoking on survival of patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma harboring an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation

Lung cancer in smokers and non-smokers demonstrates distinct genetic profiles, and cigarette smoking affects epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) function and causes secondary EGFR tyrosine kinase resistance. We evaluated the effect of active smoking in patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. A total of 132 metastatic lung adenocarcinoma patients, diagnosed between 2008 and 2013, with known EGFR mutation status, were evaluated retrospectively. Among these patients, 40 had an activating EGFR mutation. Patients who continued smoking during the treatment were defined as active smokers. Former smokers and never smokers were together defined as non-smokers. The outcomes of the treatment in relation to the EGFR mutation and smoking status were evaluated. The median follow-up time was 10.5 months. The overall response rate for the first-line therapy was significantly higher among the EGFR-mutant patients (p = 0.01), however, smoking status had no impact on the response rate (p = 0.1). The EGFR-mutant active smokers progressed earlier than the non-smokers (p < 0.01). The overall survival (OS) of the non-smokers and patients treated with erlotinib was significantly longer (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively). Smoking status did not affect the OS in EGFR wild type tumors (p = 0.49) but EGFR-mutant non-smokers had a longer OS than the active smokers (p = 0.01).The active smokers treated with erlotinib had poorer survival than the non-smokers (p = 0.03). Multivariate analysis of EGFR-mutant patients showed that erlotinib treatment at any line and non-smoking were independent prognostic factors for the OS (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively). Smoking during treatment is a negative prognostic factor in metastatic lung adenocarcinoma with an EGFR mutation

The relationship between aspirin and cancer via its inhibition of mTOR pathway

AACR Special Conference on Targeting PI3K/mTOR Signaling -- NOV 30-DEC 08, 2018 -- Boston, MAWOS: 000576804500054[No abstract available]Amer Assoc Canc Re

Examining the Effect of the Case Management Model on Patient Results in the Palliative Care of Patients With Cancer

WOS: 000342571500011PubMed ID: 24097840Purpose We aimed to investigate the improvement in symptoms, quality of life, patient and family satisfaction with care, and direct costs resulting from a palliative care program based case management model. Methods The research was implemented at the Medical Oncology Clinic hospital of a University between September 2009 and September 2011. The research sample consisted of a total of 44 patients (22 control and 22 intervention group). The research tools were the Edmonton Symptom Diagnosis System, the Karnofsky Performance Scale, the EORTCQLQ-C30 Quality of Life Scale, a patient and family satisfaction form, and a patient cost record form. Results The difference between total symptom mean scores and the sub-dimension symptoms of pain, fatigue, nausea, depression, anxiety, lack of appetite, lethargy, well-being, dyspnea, and constipation post-hospitalization and post-discharge of patients in the control and experimental groups were found to be statistically significant (p 0.05). Conclusion We provided a better symptom control, improved the patient s quality of life (excluding physical and congnitive functions), and patient and family satisfaction levels were higher in the palliative care based case management intervention group, but direct health costs were not affected

Palliative Care Activity in the Field of Oncology in Turkey

WOS: 000293483600008PubMed ID: 2126852

Ultrastructural Alterations in the Epidermis of Patients with Tinea Pedis

Objective: Tinea pedis is the most common superficial fungal infection of the foot. Although light microscopic characteristics of tinea pedis have already been described and are well known, electron microscopic data is still lacking. In this study, we aimed to examine the ultrastructural changes in the epidermis of patients diagnosed with tinea pedis