scholarly journals The impact of treatment delay on skin cancer in COVID-19 era: a case-control study

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Seretis ◽  
Eleni Boptsi ◽  
Anastasia Boptsi ◽  
Efstathios G. Lykoudis
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Treatment Delay ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Control Study

Abstract Background The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic led to a 2-month lockdown in Europe. Elective surgeries, including skin cancer excisions, were postponed. The purpose of this prospective case-control study was to assess the impact of the treatment delay on patients with non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) or melanoma operated in the first post-lockdown period. Methods A comparative study of skin cancer operations performed in a 4-month period either in 2020 or in 2019 was conducted. All data were collected from a prospectively maintained clinic database and the pathological reports. Continuous variables were compared with t test or Mann-Whitney U test according to their distribution. Categorical variables were compared with Fisher exact test. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was used to assess the risk of excising high-risk NMSC in 2020 compared with 2019. Results Skin cancer excision was performed in 158 cases in 2020 compared to 125 cases in 2019 (26.4% increase). Significantly, more SCC were excised in 2020 (p = 0.024). No significant difference for several clinical parameters regarding BCC, SCC, and melanoma was identified. However, the reconstructive method applied, following NMSC excision, was significantly different, requiring frequently either skin grafting or a flap. Conclusion These results indicate that skin cancer treatment delay, due to COVID-19 pandemic, is related to an increased incidence of SCC and more complicated methods of reconstruction. Considering the relapsing COVID-19 waves, significant skin cancer treatment delays should be avoided. Trial registration The study adhered to the STROBE statement for case-control studies.

scholarly journals Peri-implantitis and extracellular matrix antibodies: A case–control study

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (03) ◽  
pp. 340-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piero Papi ◽  
Stefano Di Carlo ◽  
Daniele Rosella ◽  
Francesca De Angelis ◽  
Mario Capogreco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Matrix ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Test Group ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Type I ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Control Study

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this case–control study was to compare patients with a healthy peri-implant environment and patients affected by peri-implantitis, evaluating the occurrence of antibodies to extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules. The authors hypothesized the presence of ECM autoantibodies in serum of peri-implantitis patients. Materials and Methods: Patients were divided into two groups: one with dental implants with a diagnosis of peri-implantitis and one control group with implants classified as being “healthy.” Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed on patients' sera to detect human antibodies to type I, III, IV, and V collagens, laminin, and fibronectin. Fisher exact test was performed to evaluate statistical association, with a significant P < 0.05. Results: Forty-two patients were enrolled in this study, 27 females (64.28%) and 15 males (35.72%) with a mean age of 53 ± 29.69 years (age range 32–74). The presence of antibodies to CIII was recorded in 6/21 (28.57%) patients of test group, compared to just 2/21 (9.52%) for the control group, showing a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Other antibodies tested were found to be not statistically significant or absent. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that further studies, with larger sample and different design, are necessary to address the research purpose, evaluating possible associations between anti-ECM antibodies and peri-implantitis.

Factors associated with delays in head and neck cancer treatment: case–control study

2015 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Nash ◽  
J Hughes ◽  
A Sandison ◽  
S Stewart ◽  
P Clarke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck Cancer ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Neck Cancer ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Treatment Delay ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Control Study

AbstractBackground:Delays in head and neck cancer treatment lead to increased mortality, more extensive treatment and patient anxiety. We aim to treat all patients with cancer within 62 days of receipt of a referral. An analysis was conducted of those patients whose treatment had been delayed in order to identify factors associated with treatment delay.Methods:In this retrospective case–control study, 50 patients whose treatment was delayed were identified and compared with 50 patients whose treatment was not delayed. Individual factors assessed included patient age, co-morbidity, tumour location and stage, the treatment agreed, the hospitals to which the patients were referred, and the clinicians they saw.Results:There was a significant association between referral to a non-head and neck cancer centre, or review by a non-head and neck multidisciplinary team member, and treatment delay.Conclusion:In the context of centralisation of head and neck cancer services, it is important to consider delays that may be associated with a ‘hub and spoke’ model of service provision.

scholarly journals High Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Discoid Lupus Erythematosus: A Cross-Sectional, Case-Control Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sevgi Akarsu ◽  
Ozlem Ozbagcivan ◽  
Fatma Semiz ◽  
Sebnem Aktan
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Discoid Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Control Study

Although it is known that systemic form of lupus erythematosus (LE) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are frequently observed together, there are no published reports on MetS in patients with skin-restricted LE. We aimed to compare the frequencies of MetS and its components in discoid LE (DLE) with the non-DLE control group. Additionally, we intended to determine the differences of sociodemographic and clinical data of the DLE patients with MetS compared to the patients without MetS. This was a cross-sectional, case-control study, including 60 patients with DLE and 82 age- and gender-matched control subjects. In DLE group, the presence of MetS was observed as more frequent (48.3% versus 24.4%, p=0.003), and hypertriglyceridemia (43.3% versus 22.0%, p=0.006) and reduced HDL-cholesterol (61.7% versus 23.2%, p<0.001) among the MetS components were found significantly higher when compared to the control group. DLE patients with MetS were at older age (50.45±11.49 versus 43.06±12.09, p=0.02), and hypertension, hyperlipidemia/dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease histories were observed at a higher ratio when compared to the patients without MetS. Between the DLE patients with and without MetS, no significant difference was observed in terms of clinical characteristics of DLE. Moreover, further large case-control studies with follow-up periods would be required to clearly assess the impact of MetS on the clinical outcomes of DLE.

scholarly journals Case-control study on ocular changes and ophthalmic Doppler velocimetric indices among preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e000550
Author(s):  
Chiemelie Onwudiegwu ◽  
Ademola Adekanmi ◽  
Bolutife Olusanya ◽  
Olatunji Lawal ◽  
Babatunde Adedokun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intraocular Pressure ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Peak Systolic Velocity ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Ocular Changes ◽  
Control Study ◽  
Ibadan Nigeria

ObjectiveTo compare the ocular changes and Doppler velocimetric indices in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women.Methods and analysisThis was a case-control study of 71 preeclamptic women and 72 parity-matched normotensive pregnant women conducted at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Demographic data were obtained using questionnaires. All participants had visual acuity assessment, funduscopy, intraocular pressure measurement and orbital Doppler ultrasonography. The differences in parameters between the two groups were tested using Student’s t-test for quantitative variables and χ2 tests for categorical variables.ResultsThere were no significant differences between cases and controls with respect to sociodemographic variables. The mean pulsatility index was 1.35±0.46 in cases and 2.1±0.4 in controls (p<0.001); the resistivity index was 0.7±0.18 in cases and 0.83±0.27 among the controls (p=0.01). A similar pattern was observed in the peak systolic velocity (p<0.001) and the peak ratio (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups concerning end-diastolic velocity (p=0.535). Three preeclampsia patients (5.2%) had abnormalities on funduscopy compared with none of the controls. Preeclamptic women had significantly higher intraocular pressures in both eyes at baseline and at 24 hours post delivery.ConclusionThis study demonstrated lower Doppler velocimetry and impedance parameters and higher intraocular pressure among preeclampsia cases compared with controls. Abnormal funduscopic findings were observed in a few preeclamptic women and none among the controls. Ophthalmic artery Doppler parameters could be useful in identifying those women who are likely to suffer preeclampsia and its complications.

scholarly journals The Impact of Diabetes on Cutaneous Leishmanisis: A Case Control Study on Infection, Treatment Outcomes and its Public Health Importance

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahshid Mostafavi ◽  
Iraj Sharifi ◽  
Gholamreza Asadikaram ◽  
Nozar Nakhaee ◽  
Sina Kakooei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Risk Determinants ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Control Study

Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to assess the associated-risk determinants for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) compared to patients without diabetes. Methods: This work was performed as a case-control study between 2016 and 2019 in southeastern Iran. Participants were selected from patients with DM without CL, patients with CL without DM, and DM patients co-infected with CL as case groups and healthy individuals as a control group. The groups were screened, interviewed, and clinically examined. These cases were compared for parasitological, immunological, biochemical, and hematological parameters. T-test, univariate, multivariate logistic regression, univariate and multivariate multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to compare the inter- and intra-subgroups. P < 0.05 was defined significant. Results: The findings demonstrated that parasitological factors regarding the number, duration, and size of the lesion in CL patients showed a significant difference among patients with and without diabetes (p < 0.05). Data analysis showed that six major risk factors, including female (odds ratio (OR) = 3.47, confidence interval (CI) =1.84–6.53, p < 0.001), total protein in CL group (OR= 4.9, CI=2.3-10.44, p <0.001), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentration in CL group (OR= 0.87, CI=0.81-0.93, p<0.001) and DM co-infected with CL group (OR= 0.8, CI=0.72-0.88, p <0.001) than healthy group, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentration in DM group (OR= 0.86, CI=0.76-0.98, p =0.02), transforming growth factor beta )TGF-β( level in the CL group (OR= 1.03, CI=1.003-1.05, p=0.02) and presence of diabetes disease (OR = 2.07, CI = 1.16–3.7, p < 0.05) were significantly linked with the induction of CL lesion. Furthermore, the parasitological, immunological, biochemical, and hematological findings were different from the CL group to DM co-infected with CL group.Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that there was a significant relationship between DM and CL in distinct risk determinants. Also, the study revealed that DM enhanced the severity of active CL. Therefore, proper prophylactic and therapeutic measures should be taken in endemic countries where DM and CL are co-infected.

scholarly journals Maternal first trimester metabolic profile in TGA pregnancies - a case-control study

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Huida ◽  
Tiina Ojala ◽  
Johanna Hautala ◽  
Heljä-Marja Surcel ◽  
James R Priest ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Profile ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Case Control ◽  
The Body ◽  
Multiple Testing Correction ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Control Study

Objective: To evaluate the association between maternal first trimester metabolic profile and transposition of the great arteries (TGA) in the offspring. Design: A matched case-control study using national register data and maternal first trimester blood samples. Settings: Finland Patients: A total of 100 mothers with TGA in their offspring and 200 controls matched by the year of birth and sex of the child, and the age and the body mass index (BMI) of the mother. Interventions: None. Main outcome measures: To identify the impact of 73 metabolic measure concentrations on the likelihood that a child would be born with TGA. Results: A higher concentration of four subtypes in extremely large very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles and one in large VLDL particles were observed in mothers with TGA in their offspring. This finding did not reach statistical significance after multiple testing correction. In the analysis of the subgroups of maternal BMI over 25 and 30 only, the odds ratios (OR) of the metabolic variables were higher compared to the original population. In the group with a BMI over 25 the mean OR was 1.3 (N= 111, total) and in the group with a BMI over 30 was 2.1 (N= 42, total). Conclusions: We found no statistically significant difference between the metabolic profiles of mothers with TGA in their offspring, and their controls. However, the trend in our BMI-matched study potentially indicates that the likelihood of TGA development associates with maternal early-pregnancy metabolic profile, and the association is more pronounced in the subgroups of BMI over 25 and 30. Further studies are needed especially in the higher BMI groups.

Maternal-Fetal Management in Trombophilia Related and Placenta-Mediated Pregnancy Complications

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 2396-2401
Author(s):  
Costin Berceanu ◽  
Elena Loredana Ciurea ◽  
Monica Mihaela Cirstoiu ◽  
Sabina Berceanu ◽  
Anca Maria Ofiteru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Pregnancy Complications ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Placental Insufficiency ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Specific Therapy ◽  
Pregnancy Morbidity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Control Study

It is widely accepted that thrombophilia in pregnancy greatly increases the risk of venous thromboembolism. Pregnancy complications arise, at least partly, from placental insufficiency. Any change in the functioning of the gestational transient biological system, such as inherited or acquired thrombophilia, might lead to placental insufficiency. In this research we included 64 pregnant women with trombophilia and 70 cases non-trombophilic pregnant women, with or without PMPC, over a two-year period. The purpose of this multicenter case-control study is to analyze the maternal-fetal management options in obstetric thrombophilia, the impact of this pathology on the placental structure and possible correlations with placenta-mediated pregnancy complications. Maternal-fetal management in obstetric thrombophilia means preconceptional or early diagnosis, prevention of pregnancy morbidity, specific therapy as quickly as possible and fetal systematic surveilance to identify the possible occurrence of placenta-mediated pregnancy complications.

Risk factors associated with subacromial pain in young athletes: A case control study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Zoran Z. Sarcevic ◽  
Andreja P. Tepavcevic
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Sternoclavicular Joint ◽  
Pectoralis Major ◽  
Young Athletes ◽  
Serratus Anterior ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Lower Trapezius ◽  
Control Study

BACKGROUND: Subacromial pain (SAP) is a common complaint of young athletes, independently of the sport engaged. The prevalence of SAP in some sports is up to 50%. OBJECTIVE: The study was aimed to investigate some new factors possibly associated to subacromial pain in young athletes. The factors considered were the grade of tightness of the clavicular portion of the pectoralis major, dysfunction of the sternoclavicular joint, and serratus anterior and lower trapezius strength. METHODS: This case-control study included 82 young athletes 9–15 years, 41 with the symptoms of SAP and 41 controls. All participants self-reported whether they had subacromial pain. In addition, Hawkins–Kennedy Test was performed to all the participants to evaluate the subacromial pressure. Main outcome measures were the grade of tightness of the clavicular portion of the pectoralis major, dysfunction of the sternoclavicular joint, and serratus anterior and lower trapezius strength. The grade of tightness of the clavicular portion of the pectoralis major and the dysfunction of the sternoclavicular joint were measured with an inclinometer. Serratus anterior and lower trapezius strength were measured by a handheld dynamometer with external belt-fixation. The data were analyzed using t-test for independent samples, Mann-Whitney U test, contingency coefficients and a stepwise binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Significant statistical difference was observed in the grade of tightness of the clavicular portion of the pectoralis major and in the variable representing the physiological functioning of the sternoclavicular joint, between the cases and the controls. There was no significant difference in serratus anterior and lower trapezius strength between the cases and the controls. Logistic regression analysis showed that the variable representing the physiological functioning of the sternoclavicular joint and the grade of shortening of the clavicular portion of the pectoralis major were good predictors for presence of SAP. CONCLUSIONS: A strong association was determined between subacromial pain in young athletes, clavicular portion of pectoralis major tightness and the dysfunction of the sternoclavicular joint.

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