1.Shifting the Paradigm of Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Prostate Cancer.
Michael A BELL ; Jeffrey D CAMPBELL ; Gregory JOICE ; Nikolai A SOPKO ; Arthur L BURNETT
The World Journal of Men's Health 2018;36(2):103-109
Historically, testosterone and prostate cancer have been demonstrated to have a positive association leading providers to forgo testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in men with concurrent histories of hypogonadism and prostate cancer. This paradigm has been gradually shifting with our evolving understanding of the relationship between testosterone and prostate cancer and the gaining popularity of the saturation model. Newer data suggests improved quality of life for men with hypogonadism after TRT leading to a more tempered view of the effects of this treatment and its risk in prostate cancer. As more reports emerge of TRT in men who have either undergone definitive treatment for prostate cancer or are on active surveillance, some providers see a role for TRT in these patients despite non-consensus in clinical guidelines. It is critical that we examine evidence currently available, while we await more rigorous data to emerge.
Androgens
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Humans
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Hypogonadism
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Male
;
Prostate*
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Prostate-Specific Antigen
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Prostatic Neoplasms*
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Quality of Life
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Testosterone*
2.Antibiotic-Resistant Gram-negative Bacteria Carriage in Healthcare Workers Working in an Intensive Care Unit
Bich Thuy DUONG ; Minh Cuong DUONG ; James CAMPBELL ; Van Minh Hoang NGUYEN ; Huu Hien NGUYEN ; Thi Bich HANH BUI ; Van Vinh Chau NGUYEN ; Mary-Louise MCLAWS
Infection and Chemotherapy 2021;53(3):546-552
Little is known about antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) intestinal carriage among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Vietnam. All HCWs at a tertiary intensive care units were asked to undertake weekly rectal swabs. Among 40 participants, 65% (26/40) carried extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)/AmpC β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli. Two HCWs colonized with ESBL/AmpC β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. One HCW colonized with Acinetobacter baumannii. No one carried Pseudomonas spp.. A quarter (10/40) of HCWs were identified as persistent and frequent carriers. There is an urgent need to screen antibiotic-resistant GNB among HCWs and improve HCWs' hand hygiene compliance to reduce the transmission of antibiotic-resistant GNB in the hospital.
3.Neuroimaging of Acute Ischemic Stroke: Multimodal Imaging Approach for Acute Endovascular Therapy
Mohamad ABDALKADER ; James E. SIEGLER ; Jin Soo LEE ; Shadi YAGHI ; Zhongming QIU ; Xiaochuan HUO ; Zhongrong MIAO ; Bruce C.V. CAMPBELL ; Thanh N. NGUYEN
Journal of Stroke 2023;25(1):55-71
Advances in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treatment have been contingent on innovations in neuroimaging. Neuroimaging plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and prognosis of ischemic stroke and large vessel occlusion, enabling triage decisions in the emergent care of the stroke patient. Current imaging protocols for acute stroke are dependent on the available resources and clinicians’ preferences and experiences. In addition, differential application of neuroimaging in medical decision-making, and the rapidly growing evidence to support varying paradigms have outpaced guideline-based recommendations for selecting patients to receive intravenous or endovascular treatment. In this review, we aimed to discuss the various imaging modalities and approaches used in the diagnosis and treatment of AIS.
4.Antibiotic-Resistant Gram-negative Bacteria Carriage in Healthcare Workers Working in an Intensive Care Unit
Bich Thuy DUONG ; Minh Cuong DUONG ; James CAMPBELL ; Van Minh Hoang NGUYEN ; Huu Hien NGUYEN ; Thi Bich HANH BUI ; Van Vinh Chau NGUYEN ; Mary-Louise MCLAWS
Infection and Chemotherapy 2021;53(3):546-552
Little is known about antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) intestinal carriage among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Vietnam. All HCWs at a tertiary intensive care units were asked to undertake weekly rectal swabs. Among 40 participants, 65% (26/40) carried extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)/AmpC β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli. Two HCWs colonized with ESBL/AmpC β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. One HCW colonized with Acinetobacter baumannii. No one carried Pseudomonas spp.. A quarter (10/40) of HCWs were identified as persistent and frequent carriers. There is an urgent need to screen antibiotic-resistant GNB among HCWs and improve HCWs' hand hygiene compliance to reduce the transmission of antibiotic-resistant GNB in the hospital.
5.Endovascular versus Medical Management of Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Randomized Controlled Trials
Mohamad ABDALKADER ; Stephanos FINITSIS ; Chuanhui LI ; Wei HU ; Xinfeng LIU ; Xunming JI ; Xiaochuan HUO ; Fana ALEMSEGED ; Zhongming QIU ; Daniel STRBIAN ; Volker PUETZ ; James E. SIEGLER ; Shadi YAGHI ; Kaiz ASIF ; Piers KLEIN ; Yuyou ZHU ; Bruce C.V. CAMPBELL ; Hui-Sheng CHEN ; Simon NAGEL ; Georgios TSIVGOULIS ; Zhongrong MIAO ; Raul G. NOGUEIRA ; Tudor G. JOVIN ; Wouter J. SCHONEWILLE ; Thanh N. NGUYEN ;
Journal of Stroke 2023;25(1):81-91
Background:
and Purpose The optimal management of patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) compared to medical management (MM) for acute BAO through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
Methods:
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs of patients with acute BAO. We analyzed the pooled effect of EVT compared to MM on the primary outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] of 0–3 at 3 months), secondary outcome (mRS 0–2 at 3 months), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and 3-month mortality rates. For each study, effect sizes were computed as odds ratios (ORs) with random effects and Mantel-Haenszel weighting.
Results:
Four RCTs met inclusion criteria including 988 patients. There were higher odds of mRS of 0-3 at 90 days in the EVT versus MM group (45.1% vs. 29.1%, OR 1.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–3.80; P=0.04). Patients receiving EVT had a higher sICH compared to MM (5.4% vs. 0.8%, OR 7.89, 95% CI 4.10–15.19; P<0.01). Mortality was lower in the EVT group (35.5% vs. 45.1%, OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42–0.99; P=0.05). In an analysis of two trials with BAO patients and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) <10, there was no difference in 90-day outcomes between EVT versus MM.
Conclusion
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, EVT was associated with favorable outcome and decreased mortality in patients with BAO up to 24 hours from stroke symptoms compared to MM. The treatment effect in BAO patients with NIHSS <10 was less certain. Further studies are of interest to evaluate the efficacy of EVT in basilar occlusion patients with milder symptoms.