An analysis of hematological, coagulation and biochemical markers in COVID-19 disease and their association with clinical severity and mortality: an Indian outlook

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader An analysis of hematological, coagulation and biochemical markers in COVID-19 disease and their association with clinical severity and mortality: an Indian outlook Via American Journal of Blood Research Am J Blood Res. 2021 Dec 15;11(6):580-591. eCollection 2021. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The "cytokine storm" (CS) in COVID-19 leads to the worst stage of illness which can be controlled only with timely intervention. There is an urgent need to identify laboratory markers of disease progression for optimum allocation of resources in developing countries like India. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 COVID-19 positive patients over two months. The cases were sub-classified based on disease severity into mild to moderate (n=61), severe (n=26) and very severe (n=13) and into survivors (n=85) and non-survivors (n=15) based on survivor status. These patients were tested for hematological parameters (total blood lymphocyte counts, NLR, PLR, platelet indices etc.), coagulation markers (D-dimer, fibrin degradation products (FDP), fibrinogen etc.) and biochemical markers (LDH, ferritin, IL-6, procalcitonin, hs-CRP). RESU LTS: Statistically significant differences were observed in hematological variables (ANC, NLR and ESR), coagulation parameters (D-dimer, FDP, fibrinogen and thrombin time) and biochemical markers (LDH, ferritin, IL-6, procalcitonin and hs-CRP) with regard to subcategories based of disease severity as well as survivor status. There was strong correlation between NLR, D-dimer, IL-6, procalcitonin and ferritin. IL-6 emerged as the single best marker of disease severity (AUC: 0.997, P=0.00), however procalcitonin, LDH, D-dimer, FDP and NLR could also predict severe disease with a good sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSION: To conclude, study demonstrates a plethora of biomarkers which could be utilized to accurately identify the hyperinflammation and tissue damage reminiscent of cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients so that timely, safe, and effective therapies can be administered to prevent progression and potentially reduce mortality. PMID:35103112 | PMC:PMC8784646 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

A review of neoplasms with MITF/MiT family translocations

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader A review of neoplasms with MITF/MiT family translocations Via Cellular and Molecular Biology Histol Histopathol. 2022 Feb 2:18426. doi: 10.14670/HH-18-426. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF/MiT) family is a group of basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper (bHLH-LZ) transcription factors including TFE3 (TFEA), TFEB, TFEC and MITF. The first renal neoplasms involving MITF family translocation were renal cell carcinomas with chromosome translocations involving ASPL-TFE3/t(X;17)(p11.23;q25) or MALAT1-TFEB/t(6;11)(p21.1;q12), and now it is known as MiT family translocation RCC in 2016 WHO classification. Translocations involving MITF family genes also are found in other tumor types, such as perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasm (PEComa), Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS), epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, ossifying fibromyxoid tumor (OFMT), and clear cell tumor with melanocytic differentiation and ACTIN-MITF translocation. In this review, we summarize the features of different types of neoplasms with MITF family translocations. PMID:35107169 | DOI:10.14670/HH-18-426 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Sonographische Diagnostik tonsillärer Abszesse: Eigene Erfahrungen und eine systematische Übersicht

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Sonographische Diagnostik tonsillärer Abszesse: Eigene Erfahrungen und eine systematische Übersicht Via Laryngo-Rhino-Otologie Laryngorhinootologie DOI: 10.1055/a-1744-6305 Hintergrund Die transkutane Sonografie ist seit einigen Jahrzehnten ein fester Bestandteil der bildgebenden Diagnostik im Kopf-Hals-Bereich. Insbesondere in der Darstellung von Abszessen der Fossa tonsillaris ist die Sonografie eine schnelle, sichere und kostengünstige diagnostische Methode. Diese Arbeit soll einen Überblick über die derzeit publizierten Studien in Bezug auf die diagnostische Wertigkeit geben. Material und Methoden Systematische Literaturrecherche in folgenden Online-Datenbanken: PubMed und MEDLINE nach den Suchbegriffen transcutaneous ultrasound, tonsillar abscess, peritonsillar abscess, intratonsillar abscess, peritonsillar cellulitis und parapharyngeal abscess. Bewertung der wissenschaftlichen Relevanz der Arbeiten nach festgelegten Kriterien. Ergebnisse Die Publikationen wurden in Bezug auf die klinische Anwendung, die klinische Befunderhebung und die diagnostische Genauigkeit analysiert. Die Sensitivität und Spezifität werden je nach Studie und Patientenkollektiv zwischen 67 % und 100 % bzw. 50 % und 93 % angegeben. Schlussfolgerungen In Zusammenschau der aktuell publizierten Ergebnisse verspricht die transkutane Sonografie ein großes Potenzial, die Diagnostik des Peritonsillarabszesses zu verbessern, und ermöglicht eine gute Abgrenzbarkeit zur peritonsillären Zellulitis. Dies ist für das klinische Management von Patienten mit Abszessverdacht von entscheidender Bedeutung. [...] Georg Thieme Verlag KG Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany Article in Thieme eJournals: Table of contents  |  Abstract  |& nbsp; Full text View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Markerless registration approach using dynamic touchable region model

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Markerless registration approach using dynamic touchable region model Via The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery Abstract Background Markerless registration is required for image-guided surgery; it has limited accuracy due to the ambiguity of the correspondence point set. In this study, we proposed a registration framework to improve registration accuracy for markerless registration using a dynamic touchable region model (DTRM). Methods The DTRM is defined using the geometric characteristics of the surface around the fiducial area using Intrinsic Shape Signature (ISS) keypoints. The new registration procedure, which combines the DTRM with iterative closest point-based registration (ICDTP) was implemented and verified with phantom experiments for a single-user and multi-user study. Results The ICDTP registration framework provides improved performance over the paired-point registration for surgeries, where it is inappropriate to construct the corresponding positions with adhesive fiducial markers. Conclusion The proposed method can be an alternative approach for image-guided surgery in operations for which it is not appropriate to set up markers for registration. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Symptomatic Lingual Thyroglossal Duct Cyst in Children: A Laryngomalacia Phenotype

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Symptomatic Lingual Thyroglossal Duct Cyst in Children: A Laryngomalacia Phenotype Via otol rhinol Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2022 Jan 31:34894221075082. doi: 10.1177/00034894221075082. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: Patients with lingual thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) can present as symptomatic with obstructive airway and feeding difficulties. METHODS: We present 3 cases of symptomatic lingual TGDC. RESULTS: All 3 patients were diagnosed with laryngomalacia and underwent further concurrent or delayed airway intervention, in addition to cyst removal . CONCLUSIONS: We reason that there is a phenotype of laryngomalacia in the symptomatic lingual thyroglossal duct cyst patients who present with symptoms due to disruption in laryngeal anatomy rather than the cyst itself causing obstructive symptoms. Distinguishing this phenotype, especially in comparison to other pathologies such as vallecular cysts, may better allow for planning of concurrent or delayed airway procedures and overall counseling of parents. PMID:35100842 | DOI:10.1177/00034894221075082 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

TAAC - TMS Adaptable Auditory Control: a universal tool to mask TMS click

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader TAAC - TMS Adaptable Auditory Control: a universal tool to mask TMS click Via cortical auditory J Neurosci Methods. 2022 Jan 28:109491. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109491. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Coupling transcranial magnetic stimulation with electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) allows recording the EEG response to a direct, non-invasive cortical perturbation. However, obtaining a genuine TMS-evoked EEG potential requires controlling for several confounds, among which a main source is represented by the auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) associated to the TMS discharge noise (TMS click). This contaminating factor can be in principle prevented by playing a masking noise through earphones. NEW METHOD: Here we release TMS Adaptable Auditory Control (TAAC), a highly flexible, open-source, Matlab®-based interface that generates in real-time customized masking noises. TAAC creates noises starting from the stimulator-specific TMS click and tailors them to fit the individual, subject-specific click perception by mixing a nd manipulating the standard noises in both time and frequency domains. RESULTS: We showed that TAAC allows us to provide standard as well as customized noises able to effectively and safely mask the TMS click. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: Here, we showcased two customized noises by comparing them to two standard noises previously used in the TMS literature (i.e., a white noise and a noise generated from the stimulator-specific TMS click only). For each, we quantified the Sound Pressure Level (SPL; measured by a Head and Torso Simulator - HATS) required to mask the TMS click in a population of 20 healthy subjects. Both customized noises were effective at safe (according to OSHA and NIOSH safety guidelines), lower SPLs with respect to standard noises. CONCLUSIONS: At odds with previous methods, TAAC allows creating effective and safe masking noises specifically tailored on each TMS device and subject. The combination of TAAC with tools for the real-time visuali zation of TEPs can help control the influence of auditory confounds also in non-compliant patients. Finally, TAAC is a highly flexible and open-source tool, so it can be further extended to meet different experimental requirements. PMID:35101524 | DOI:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109491 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Sino-nasal hemangiopericytoma: a case series and systematic literature review

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Sino-nasal hemangiopericytoma: a case series and systematic literature review Via http://link.springer.com/journal/405,European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology,The European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Feb 1. doi: 10.1007/s00405-021-07239-w. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Hemangiopericytoma is a rare tumor of the sino-nasal tract. Its clinical behavior is controversial. Whereas some describe an indolent course, others consider it to be an aggressive lesion with a tendency toward rapid local recurrence. Here, we describe our experience in the management of sino-nasal hemangiopericytoma (SN-HPC), comparing our experience with the current literature, and evaluating signs and tools to improve diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: All cases of SN-HPC between 2010 and 2020 were extracted and reviewed from our institutional electronic medical records. SN-HPC cases from PubMed and EMBASE between 2010 and 2020 were analyzed in a systematic literature review using the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Data regarding demographics, presentation, d iagnosis, treatment, and outcome were collected. RESULTS: We identified four cases of SN-HPC in the nasal cavity in our institution and an additional 53 cases in previous reports. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 59 years, with a 1.2:1 male to female ratio. SN-HPC mostly appears unilaterally, arising in the ethmoid sinus (42.1%). The most common presenting symptoms were epistaxis (47.3) and nasal obstruction (47.3%). Both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were required for diagnosis and for tailoring the treatment plan. Endoscopic surgical excision was used in 85.9% of the patients, and in 15.7%, an additional preoperative embolization was performed, which was associated with septal necrosis in one patient (2.6%). The recurrence rate was 7%. CONCLUSION: Although previous reports attribute an aggressive tumoral behavior to SN-HPC, our experience and the literature review support a more indolent course with low recurrence rates followin g complete endoscopic resection. Preoperative embolization can be useful in certain cases, but due to potential complications, it should not be routinely indicated. PMID:35103868 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-021-07239-w View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.