Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Carcinoma ; Lymph Nodes ; Asymptomatic Diseases

A clinical prediction model can be applied to several challenging clinical scenarios: screening high-risk individuals for asymptomatic disease, predicting future events such as disease or death, and assisting medical decision-making and health education. Despite the impact of clinical prediction models on practice, prediction modeling is a complex process requiring careful statistical analyses and sound clinical judgement. Although there is no definite consensus on the best methodology for model development and validation, a few recommendations and checklists have been proposed. In this review, we summarize five steps for developing and validating a clinical prediction model: preparation for establishing clinical prediction models; dataset selection; handling variables; model generation; and model evaluation and validation. We also review several studies that detail methods for developing clinical prediction models with comparable examples from real practice. After model development and vigorous validation in relevant settings, possibly with evaluation of utility/usability and fine-tuning, good models can be ready for the use in practice. We anticipate that this framework will revitalize the use of predictive or prognostic research in endocrinology, leading to active applications in real clinical practice.
Asymptomatic Diseases ; Checklist ; Consensus ; Dataset ; Endocrinology ; Health Education ; Mass Screening

Endochondral pseudocyst of the ear is considered to be a benign, asymptomatic condition seen infrequently in clinical practice. It is an intracartilaginous cyst devoid of epithelial lining and filled with a sterile, viscous, straw-colored fluid. It is important to remove the pseudocyst to prevent recurrence and good esthetic outcome. We experienced a case of a 59-years-old man with an endochondral pseudocyst of his right auricle. To our knowledge, this is the first report in Korea, so we report this case with a review of the literature.
Asymptomatic Diseases ; Ear ; Ear Cartilage ; Ear, External ; Korea ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Asymptomatic Diseases ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Carotid Stenosis ; Fingers

Myocarditis is defined as the myocardial inflammation caused by various infectious agents (such as virus, rickettsia , bacteria, protozoa, fungus and parasites). The clinical manifestations of myocarditis ranges from the asymptomatic state due to focal inflammation to fulminant fatal congestive heart failure secondary to diffuse myocardial involvement. Clinically, in some cases, it may simulate an acute myocardial infarction. We experienced a case of acute fulminant myocarditis that presented as acute myocardial infarction initially, and then progressed into and recovered from congestive heart failure and multiorgan failure.
Asymptomatic Diseases ; Bacteria ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Fungi ; Heart Failure* ; Inflammation ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocarditis* ; Rickettsia

Pulmonary embolism is a rare complication after percutaneous vertebroplasty for compression fracture. Embolization is related to cement leakage outside the treated vertebral body into the adjacent venous system. We report on a case of pulmonary embolism with bone cement in the right pulmonary artery in a 75-year-old female who had undergone percutaneous vertebroplasty 2 months before. Her simple X-ray of the spine captured polymethyl metacrylate leakage from the vertebral body, which indicated the pathophysiology of this event.
Aged ; Asymptomatic Diseases ; Bone Cements ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Spine ; Vertebroplasty*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The relationship between Crohn's disease and gallstones is established. However, the prevalence and risk factors for gallstones in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are not yet well understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of gallstones in patients with UC. METHODS: This study was a retrospective single center study. A total of 87 patients with UC and 261 healthy controls were enrolled. Age, sex, and body mass index were matched. To investigate risk factors, the extent of UC, duration of disease, number of hospital admissions, and number of steroid treatments in patients with UC were evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalence of gallstones in patients with UC was 13.8%, whereas that in healthy controls was only 3.1% (P<0.001). For patients with UC, patients > or =50 years of age had a 3.6-times higher risk of gallstones compared to that in those <50 years of age, and the difference was statistically significant (odds ratio, 3.60; confidence interval, 1.03-12.61) in univariate analysis. There were no statistically significant disease-related risk factors for gallstones in UC patients. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study of gallstone prevalence in Korean UC patients. In this study, patients with UC had a higher prevalence of gallstones compared to that in well-matched healthy controls. Age seemed to be a possible risk factor, and more studies are needed. Further prospective, large-scale studies will be required to confirm the risk factors for gallstones in UC patients.
Asymptomatic Diseases ; Body Mass Index ; Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Crohn Disease ; Gallstones* ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The relationship between Crohn's disease and gallstones is established. However, the prevalence and risk factors for gallstones in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are not yet well understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of gallstones in patients with UC. METHODS: This study was a retrospective single center study. A total of 87 patients with UC and 261 healthy controls were enrolled. Age, sex, and body mass index were matched. To investigate risk factors, the extent of UC, duration of disease, number of hospital admissions, and number of steroid treatments in patients with UC were evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalence of gallstones in patients with UC was 13.8%, whereas that in healthy controls was only 3.1% (P<0.001). For patients with UC, patients > or =50 years of age had a 3.6-times higher risk of gallstones compared to that in those <50 years of age, and the difference was statistically significant (odds ratio, 3.60; confidence interval, 1.03-12.61) in univariate analysis. There were no statistically significant disease-related risk factors for gallstones in UC patients. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study of gallstone prevalence in Korean UC patients. In this study, patients with UC had a higher prevalence of gallstones compared to that in well-matched healthy controls. Age seemed to be a possible risk factor, and more studies are needed. Further prospective, large-scale studies will be required to confirm the risk factors for gallstones in UC patients.
Asymptomatic Diseases ; Body Mass Index ; Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Crohn Disease ; Gallstones* ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVEStudy on quality of life of asymptomatic HIV infected persons with traditional Chinese medical, which can provide the clinical basis for improving the quality of life.

METHODThis study applied a randomized, double-blind, and placeb-parallel control designed method to select 1 200 persons in the asymptomatic period of HIV infection as the subjects. The subjects were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group at the ratio of about 2:1. According to the results of monthly differential diagnosis of TCM, the test group and the control group were given homologue Chinese drugs preparations and model Chinese drugs. The total study period was 18 months. Using PRO scale and the world health organization AIDS determination of quality of life short scale form (WHOQOL-HIV-BREF) to investigate asymptomatic HIV infected persons, according to different times, we calculated the total score and each domain score of quality of life of the treatment group and control group, we did statistical analysis.

RESULTForm the PRO scale,we can see that the treatment group showed a trend of stability, compared with the control group with significant statistical difference (P < 0.05) after 6 months; from the WHOQOL-HIV scale analysis, we can see that compared with before treatment, the quality of life of the treatment group was increased, the difference was significant (P < 0.05), but the quality of life of the control quality of life was decreased, the differences was significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDialectical therapy of Chinese medicine can significantly improve the patient's quality of life, which can provide the basis for the prevention and control policy formulation and implementation with asymptomatic HIV infected persons.

Colorectal cancer, which is the leading cancer in Singapore, can be prevented by increased use of screening and polypectomy. A range of screening strategies such as stool-based tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy and computed tomography colonography are available, each with different strengths and limitations. Primary care physicians should discuss appropriate screening modalities with their patients, tailored to their individual needs. Physicians, patients and the government should work in partnership to improve uptake of colorectal cancer screening to reduce the morbidity and mortality from colorectal cancer.
Asymptomatic Diseases ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Primary Health Care ; Singapore