10 research outputs found
Cytomorphometric analysis: A possible adjunct for age estimation
Background: Age estimation plays a crucial role in identifying an unknown individual in the event of any mass disaster or crime. One of the important noninvasive procedures that may have an impact on determining an individual's age is exfoliative cytology.
Aim and Objective: Exfoliated buccal mucosa cells were used in the study to determine the participant's age by assessing the changes in nuclear diameter (ND), nuclear–cytoplasmic (N: C) ratio, and cell diameter (CD).
Materials and Methods: With the help of a moistened wooden spatula and a light scraping motion, buccal smears were taken from 100 healthy and normal individuals across various age groups. The samples were then preserved with 95% ethanol and stained using ultrafast Papanicolaou stain. Cell and nuclear diameter were measured for each of these cells using the ImageJ software, and N: C was calculated from the two parameters. The N: C was calculated from CD and ND for each subject. One-way ANOVA tests were used for statistical analysis.
Results: A significant difference in the diameter of cell and nucleus with the individual's age (P < 0.05) was noticed. The N: C ratio reduces with increasing age but is not consistent.
Conclusion: Buccal smears show age-related alterations that could be utilized as an effective tool for age estimation
Effect of Sustained Inflations vs Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation on Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia or Death Among Extremely Preterm Infants The SAIL Randomized Clinical Trial
Developmen
Cardiovascular events associated with rofecoxib : final analysis of the APPROVe trial
Background: Selective inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase-2 has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events in several clinical trials. The Adenomatous Polyp Prevention on Vioxx (APPROVe) study assessed the effect of 3-year treatment with a cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib (25 mg), on recurrence of neoplastic polyps of the large bowel. We report the cardiovascular outcomes of a long-term follow-up of participants in the trial. Methods: The APPROVe study is a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. 2587 patients with a history of colorectal adenomas were recruited at 108 centres worldwide during 2000 and 2001. Participants were followed for adverse events while on treatment and during the following 14 days. However, after early termination of treatment because of cardiovascular toxicity, we attempted to follow up all randomised patients for at least 1 year after stopping study treatment. External committees blindly assessed potential serious cardiovascular events. The focus of the analysis was the combined incidence of non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, and death from cardiovascular, haemorrhagic, and unknown causes (Antiplatelet Trialists' Collaboration [APTC] combined endpoint). We used Cox proportional hazards regression to calculate endpoint hazard ratios. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT0282386. Findings: We obtained extended post-treatment cardiovascular follow-up data from 84% of participants, and extended mortality follow-up from 95%. In total, 59 individuals had an APTC endpoint in the rofecoxib group and 34 in the placebo group (hazard ratio 1.79, 95% CI 1.17-2.73; p=0.006). In the first year after cessation of treatment, there was a non-significant increase in the risks of APTC endpoints. The APTC hazard ratio did not substantially change over time. Interpretation: Use of rofecoxib is associated with increased rates of APTC events. Study data are compatible with an early increase in risk that persists for one year after stopping treatment
No Difference Between Latiglutenase and Placebo in Reducing Villous Atrophy or Improving Symptoms in Patients With Symptomatic Celiac Disease
Ustekinumab induction and maintenance therapy in refractory Crohn's disease.
BACKGROUND: In patients with Crohn's disease, the efficacy of ustekinumab, a
human monoclonal antibody against interleukin-12 and interleukin-23, is unknown.
METHODS: We evaluated ustekinumab in adults with moderate-to-severe Crohn's
disease that was resistant to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment. During
induction, 526 patients were randomly assigned to receive intravenous ustekinumab
(at a dose of 1, 3, or 6 mg per kilogram of body weight) or placebo at week 0.
During the maintenance phase, 145 patients who had a response to ustekinumab at 6
weeks underwent a second randomization to receive subcutaneous injections of
ustekinumab (90 mg) or placebo at weeks 8 and 16. The primary end point was a
clinical response at 6 weeks.
RESULTS: The proportions of patients who reached the primary end point were
36.6%, 34.1%, and 39.7% for 1, 3, and 6 mg of ustekinumab per kilogram,
respectively, as compared with 23.5% for placebo (P=0.005 for the comparison with
the 6-mg group). The rate of clinical remission with the 6-mg dose did not differ
significantly from the rate with placebo at 6 weeks. Maintenance therapy with
ustekinumab, as compared with placebo, resulted in significantly increased rates
of clinical remission (41.7% vs. 27.4%, P=0.03) and response (69.4% vs. 42.5%,
P<0.001) at 22 weeks. Serious infections occurred in 7 patients (6 receiving
ustekinumab) during induction and 11 patients (4 receiving ustekinumab) during
maintenance. Basal-cell carcinoma developed in 1 patient receiving ustekinumab.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease that was resistant
to TNF antagonists had an increased rate of response to induction with
ustekinumab, as compared with placebo. Patients with an initial response to
ustekinumab had significantly increased rates of response and remission with
ustekinumab as maintenance therapy