Objective: To identify in what phases in the treatment of head and neck cancer do delays happen at a tertiary hospital and to determine the association between the length of treatment delays and the oncologic outcomes (disease-free survival and overall survival) for patients with head and neck cancer. : Methods Design: Retrospective Cohort Study Setting: Tertiary National University Hospital Participants: Sixty-eight (68) patients who had surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy for invasive head and neck cancer at the Philippine General Hospital during the 5-year period of January 2014 to December 2019 were included in the initial consideration. Only 15 had survival data and were thus eligible for inclusion in this study. Results: The median treatment package time for head and neck cancers in our institution was 27.6 weeks or 193 days. The treatment package time statistically correlated with both overall survival, F(1,13)=12.952, p <0.005, R2=0.499, and disease-free survival, F(1-13)=12.823, p <0.005, R2= 0.497. However, the independent effects of other predictors such as time interval between first consult to histopathologic diagnosis, diagnosis to surgery, and surgery to post-operative radiotherapy, showed no statistically significant association with overall survival and disease free survival. Conclusion All study patients experienced treatment delays from diagnosis to surgery, and surgery to adjuvant radiation therapy, and in their total treatment package time. The positive correlation among treatment package time, and disease-free and overall survival in this study must be further investigated in order to elucidate the true effect of delays across time intervals in the treatment of head and neck cancer in the Philippine General Hospital. Every effort should be made towards timely management of these patients.
Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Radiotherapy ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Time-to-Treatment ; Surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Postoperative Care

Objectives: Responding to the reality of neonate patients with delayed childhood development due to late diagnosis of and intervention on hearing impairment, this study aims to determine the features based on time-frequency domain of auditory brainstem response (ABR) signals and to test the protocol on ABR signals from PhysioNet. Methods: This is done by pre-processing, performing time-frequency analysis, and characterizing hearing impairment using the dominant features of the ABR. In this study, normal (N) and hearing impaired (HI) ABR adult human signals were acquired from Physionet.org, a publicly available database. Considering its high signal-to-noise ratio, numerous filters and transformations were applied to extract the ABR. Consequently, the features acquired — dominant frequency and bigrams, were used as data classifiers. Results: Initial results using only N classifiers, that is features from the Normal dataset, and bandpass Chebyshev filter with a lower cut-off frequency of 60 Hz show that the tests yielded low to middle sensitivity. Further tests were done to improve the sensitivity that incorporated the HI classifiers, used data filtered with a low cut-off frequency of 300 Hz, and data divided per stimulus intensity level. Conclusion Conclusions made are 1) data with both N and HI classifiers have higher sensitivity than those using only N classifiers, 2) data with a Chebyshev cut-off frequency of 300 Hz have a higher sensitivity than those with 60 Hz, and 3) data divided per intensity level have a higher sensitivity than data analyzed as a whole, and that features with stimulus intensity in middle ranges have a better distinction between HI and N patients.
Evoked Potentials ; Brain Stem ; Delayed Diagnosis

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the nutritional status and its influencing factors in children with newly diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children who were diagnosed with IBD for the first time in Hunan Children's Hospital from January 2015 to December 2021. Diagnostic delay was defined as the time from the symptom onset to IBD diagnosis being in the upper quartile (P₇₆-P₁₀₀) of all IBD children in the study. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors for emaciation and growth retardation. RESULTS: A total of 125 children with newly diagnosed IBD were included, with Crohn's disease being the main type (91.2%). The rates of emaciation and growth retardation were 42.4% (53 cases) and 7.2% (9 cases), respectively, and the rate of anemia was 77.6% (97 cases). Diagnostic delay was noted in 31 children (24.8%), with the time from the symptom onset to IBD diagnosis of 366 to 7 211 days. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diagnostic delay was a risk factor for emaciation and growth retardation (OR=2.73 and OR=4.42, respectively; P<0.05) and that age was positively associated with emaciation (OR=1.30, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Children with newly diagnosed IBD have poor nutritional status, and the rates of anemia, emaciation, and growth retardation are high. Diagnostic delay is associated with malnutrition in children with IBD.
Humans ; Child ; Colitis, Ulcerative/diagnosis* ; Nutritional Status ; Retrospective Studies ; Emaciation/complications* ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/complications* ; Malnutrition/complications* ; Growth Disorders/complications*

PURPOSE: Abdominal CT scan using oral and intravenous (IV) contrast is helpful in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal injuries. However, the use of oral and IV contrast delays the process of diagnosis and increases the risk of aspiration. It has also been shown that CT scan with IV contrast alone is as helpful as CT scan with oral and IV contrast and rectal CT scan in detecting abdominal injuries. Therefore, the present study aims to prospectively compare the diagnostic value of CT scan with oral and IV contrast versus CT scan with IV contrast alone in the diagnosis of blunt abdominal trauma (BAT). METHODS: Altogether 123 BAT patients, 60 (48.8%) women and 63 (51.2%) men with the mean age of (40.4 ± 18.7) years who referred to the emergency department of Imam Khomeini Educational and Medical Center in Sari, Iran (a tertiary trauma center in north of Iran) from November 2014 to March 2017 and underwent abdominal CT scans + laparotomy were investigated. Those with penetrating trauma or hemodynamically unstable patients were excluded. The participants were randomly allocated to two groups: abdominal CT scan with oral and IV contrast (n = 63) and CT scan with IV contrast alone (n = 60). No statistically significant difference was found between two groups regarding the hemodynamic parameters, age, gender, injury mechanisms (all p > 0.05). The results of CT scan were compared with that of laparotomy results. The collected data were recorded in SPSS version 22.0 for Windows. Quantitative data were presented as mean and SD. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of CT scan using oral and IV contrast in the diagnosis of BAT were estimated at 96.48 (95% CI: 90.73 - 99.92) and 92.67 (95% CI: 89.65 - 94.88), respectively; while CT scan with IV contrast alone achieved a comparable sensitivity and specificity of 96.6 (95% CI: 87.45 - 99,42 and 92.84 (95% CI: 89.88 - 95.00), respectively. CONCLUSION CT scan with IV contrast alone can be used to assess visceral injuries in BAT patients with normal hemodynamics to avoid diagnostic delay.
Male ; Humans ; Female ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating/diagnostic imaging* ; Abdominal Injuries/diagnostic imaging* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Retrospective Studies

Humans ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/diagnosis* ; Delayed Diagnosis ; East Asian People ; Asian People

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Delayed Diagnosis/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis* ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of relapsing polychondritis(RP)patients presented with arthropathy. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 201 RP patients who were hospitalized in our center between December 2005 and February 2019.After 16 patients with co-existing other autoimmune diseases and malignancies were ruled out,185 RP patients entered the final analysis,among whom 16 RP patients were presented with arthropathy and 169 without arthropathy.The demographic data,clinical manifestations,laboratory findings,and prognosis were compared between these two groups. Results Five of the 16 RP patients with arthropathy at presentation were misdiagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis.Compared with RP patients without arthropathy at presentation,RP patients with arthropathy at presentation had a longer disease course[(37.50±66.50)months
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Joint Diseases/diagnosis* ; Polychondritis, Relapsing/diagnosis* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Hydatid disease is a zoonotic infection in humans. The disease is endemic in some parts of the world, including Africa, Australia, and Asia, where cattle grazing is common; the disease is spread by an enteric route following the consumption of food contaminated with the eggs of the parasite. Failure to identify this parasite results in delayed diagnosis and increased morbidity to the patient. Upon diagnosis, every possible step should be taken, both surgical and medical, to prevent anaphylactic reactions from the cystic fluid. Postsurgical long-term follow up along with periodical ultrasonography of the liver and computed tomography scan of the abdomen is essential to rule out possible recurrence.
Abdomen ; Africa ; Anaphylaxis ; Animals ; Asia ; Australia ; Cattle ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Echinococcosis ; Eggs ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Ovum ; Parasites ; Recurrence ; Ultrasonography ; Zoonoses

OBJECTIVE: To understand the distribution patterns and the factors influencing the interval between entry of mainland China and diagnosis in imported COVID-19 cases in Guangdong Province to provide evidence for formulating and implementing effective control measures. METHODS: We collected the data of imported COVID-19 cases from March 1st to April 10th, 2020 published on the official websites of Health Commission of Guangdong Province and local government of the cities in Guangdong Province for epidemiological analysis. Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze the distribution patterns of the interval between entry of mainland China and diagnosis of the imported cases, and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing the interval. RESULTS: A total of 179 imported cases were reported in Guangdong by April 10th, 2020. The average interval between entry of mainland China and diagnosis was 4.21 days with a median of 2 days. The interval was between 1 and 3 days in 69.8% of the cases. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a negative result of the initial nucleic acid test (OR=5.205, 95% : 1.100-24.640, =0.038) and interval between entry of mainland China and a positive diagnosis >2 days (OR=85.654, 95%: 24.569-298.615, < 0.001) were risk factors for the finding delay. CONCLUSIONS The results of initial nucleic acid detection and the interval between entry of mainland China and a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 are the major contributing factors of delayed case detection. This finding suggests that strict quarantine and detection measures should be carried out for the personnel entering China to accurately and quickly identify the cases.
Betacoronavirus ; China ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and immunological characteristics, treatment and prognosis of common variable immune deficiency (CVID) in adult patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 13 adult patients hospitalized in our hospital for CVID diagnosed according to the criteria in International Consensus Document (2016), and analyzed their clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, imaging findings, pathological examinations and treatments. RESULTS: The mean age of onset was 24.46±16.82 years in these patients, who had a mean age of 32.54±14.86 years at diagnosis with a median diagnostic delay of 5 years (IQR: 2-15 years). The main manifestation of the patients was repeated infections, including repeated respiratory tract infection (10 cases; 76.9%) and repeated diarrhea (3 cases; 23.1%). Three (23.1%) of the patients had autoimmune disease and 10 (76.9%) had chronic pulmonary disease. IgG, IgA and IgM were decreased in all the patients. The proportion of CD4+T cells decreased in 10 patients (76.9%), CD8+T cells increased in 11 patients (84.6%), and CD4/ CD8 decreased in 10 patients (76.9%). Complement C3 decreased in 58.3% (7/12) and C4 decreased in 33.3% (4/12) of the patients. Twelve patients (92.3%) were treated with intravenous infusion of gamma globulin with symptomatic treatments. One patient died due to massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and the other patients showed improve ments after the treatments and were discharged. CONCLUSIONS The clinical manifestations of CVID are diverse, and recurrent respiratory tract infection is the most common manifestation. Decreased IgG often accompanied by lowered IgA and IgM levels is a common finding in laboratory tests. The treatment of CVID currently relies on gamma globulin with symptomatic treatments for the complications.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Child ; Common Variable Immunodeficiency ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult