scholarly journals PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROMES: SINGLE-CENTER EXPERIENCE

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 238-246
Keyword(s):  
Prognostic Factors ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
World Health ◽  
Single Center ◽  
Single Center Experience ◽  
Age Of Diagnosis ◽  
Transfusion Dependency ◽  
Health Organization

Introduction: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is one of the most common myeloid neoplasms of elderly characterized by cytopenias and limited therapeutic options. The main aim of this retrospective single-center study was to examine the value of classical prognostic factors. The main outcome of the study was overall survival (OS) defined as death from MDS or any other reason. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of patients diagnosed with MDS at single centre in the period from beginning of 2013 to the end of 2016. Results: Total of 58 patients (median age of diagnosis being 69 years) were included in the study. After median of follow-up of 12 months, median OS was 17 months and estimated 3-year OS rate 25%. Classical prognostic systems such as IPSS, WPSS and R-IPSS were statistically significant prognostic factors discriminating adequately between low and high risk groups in terms of outcome. However, due to small sample size, we were not able to distinguish the most appropriate scoring system. The cytogenetics subgroups according to IPPS and R-IPSS were significant predictors of outcomes underlying its crucial role in MDS diagnosis. Despite the statistical tendency morphological features of MDS (2008 World Health Organization subtype and number of blasts in bone marrow) were not significant predictors of OS. Among clinical features, only presence and degree of anemia and transfusion dependency were significant predictors of inferior survival. Conclusion: The majority of traditional prognostic factors were significant in our cohort in concordance with literature review.

scholarly journals The Summary of an Urdu Version of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Measure: Psychometric Evaluation and Validation

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 215013272093529
Author(s):  
Rashid M. Ansari ◽  
Mark F. Harris ◽  
Hassan Hosseinzadeh ◽  
Nicholas Zwar
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Psychometric Evaluation ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
World Health ◽  
Self Management ◽  
English Version ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

Objective: The English version of the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) measure is the most frequently used self-reporting instrument assessing diabetes self-management. This study is aimed at translating English SDSCA into the Urdu version and validating and evaluating its psychometric properties. Methods: The Urdu version of SDSCA was developed based on the guidelines provided by the World Health Organization for translation and adaptation of instruments. The panel of experts examined the content validity, reliability, and internal consistency of the instrument. The translation process from the English version to the Urdu version revealed excellent results at all the stages. Results: The instrument showed promising and acceptable results. Of particular mention are the results related to split-half reliability coefficient 0.90, test-retest reliability ( r = 0.918, P < .001), intraclass coefficient (0.912), and Cronbach’s alpha (.79). The factor analysis (exploratory and confirmatory) was not performed in this study due to the small sample size (n = 30) as the objective was to validate the Urdu version of the SDSCA instrument. Conclusions: This study provided evidence for the reliability and validity of the Urdu Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (U-SDSCA) instrument, which may be used in the future for the patients of diabetes in order to assess type 2 diabetes self-management activities in the rural area of Pakistan and other Urdu-speaking countries.

Cutaneous Melanoma Arising in Congenital Melanocytic Nevus: A Retrospective Observational Study

Dermatology ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Stefano Caccavale ◽  
Giulia Calabrese ◽  
Emanuela Mattiello ◽  
Paolo Broganelli ◽  
Alice Ramondetta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Melanocytic Nevus ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Retrospective Observational Study ◽  
Congenital Melanocytic Nevus ◽  
Single Center ◽  
Single Center Experience ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Congenital Melanocytic Nevi

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) are benign proliferations of melanocytes usually present at birth. The magnitude of the melanoma risk for CMN is controversial, generating an ongoing debate on the best approach to manage these lesions. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> To perform a retrospective, observational study with the aim to evaluate the prevalence of CMN-associated melanomas in tertiary referral centers, as well as the eventual correlation between clinical, dermoscopic, and histological features of CMN-associated melanomas. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A single-center retrospective observational study was performed on all clinical and dermoscopic images of histologically confirmed melanomas arising on CMN over a 14-year period (January 2005 to March 2019). <b><i>Results:</i></b>Our database included 2,159 melanomas in the considered period. Of those, 27 (1.3%) were CMN-associated melanomas. The mean age of patients with CMN-associated melanoma was 33 years (range, 11–70 years). The mean diameter of CMN-associated melanoma was 18 mm (range, 6 mm to 20 cm), and 56% were located on the back. Twenty-one (77.8%) of CMN-associated melanomas arose on small CMN (&#x3c;1.5 cm), 5 (18.5%) on medium-sized CMN (1.5–19.9 cm), and 1 (3.7%) on a large/giant type (≥20 cm). The majority of CMN-associated melanomas (63%) exhibited a globular dermoscopic pattern in their benign part, while a blue-white veil and irregular blotches were the most frequent dermoscopic features in the malignant part. About three quarters of melanomas occupied 10–50% of the nevus surface. Breslow thickness was higher in melanomas involving less than 10% of nevus surface (mean thickness, 1 mm) than in those affecting 10–50 and &#x3e;50% of the nevus surface (0.8 and 0.7 mm, respectively). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> In our series, small CMN was the most frequent type of CMN-associated melanoma. Although the risk of melanoma is increasing by the increasing size of CMN, our finding is definitely related to the much higher prevalence of small CMN in the general population as compared to the prevalence of intermediate-sized and large CMN. <b><i>Limitations:</i></b> Small sample size, single-center experience, retrospective design.

scholarly journals Chasing a rarity: a retrospective single-center evaluation of prognostic factors in primary gliosarcoma

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cas S. Dejonckheere ◽  
Alexander M. C. Böhner ◽  
David Koch ◽  
Leonard C. Schmeel ◽  
Ulrich Herrlinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prognostic Factors ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Promoter Hypermethylation ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Single Center ◽  
Who Grade ◽  
Entire Cohort ◽  
Time To Death ◽  
Time To Recurrence

Abstract Background and purpose Primary gliosarcoma (GS) is a rare variant of IDH-wildtype glioblastoma multiforme. We performed a single-center analysis to identify prognostic factors. Patients and methods We analyzed the records of 26 patients newly diagnosed with primary WHO grade IV GS. Factors of interest were clinical and treatment data, as well as molecular markers, time to recurrence, and time to death. Results Median follow-up was 9 months (range 5–21 months). Gross total resection did not lead to improved survival, most likely due to the relatively small sample size. Low symptom burden at the time of diagnosis was associated with longer PFS (P = 0.023) and OS (P = 0.018). Median OS in the entire cohort was 12 months. Neither MGMT promoter hypermethylation nor adjuvant temozolomide therapy influenced survival, consistent with some previous reports. Conclusion In this retrospective study, patients exhibiting low symptom burden at diagnosis showed improved survival. None of the other factors analyzed were associated with an altered outcome.

A(H1N1)v cases of the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 influenza seasons in the Medical and Health Sciences Centre of Debrecen University

2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (17) ◽  
pp. 649-654
Author(s):  
Piroska Orosi ◽  
Judit Szidor ◽  
Tünde Tóthné Tóth ◽  
József Kónya
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
National Level ◽  
Organ Transplant ◽  
High Risk Patient ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
World Health ◽  
Transplant Patients ◽  
Health Organization

The swine-origin new influenza variant A(H1N1) emerged in 2009 and changed the epidemiology of the 2009/2010 influenza season globally and at national level. Aims: The aim of the authors was to analyse the cases of two influenza seasons. Methods: The Medical and Health Sciences Centre of Debrecen University has 1690 beds with 85 000 patients admitted per year. The diagnosis of influenza was conducted using real-time polymerase chain reaction in the microbiological laboratories of the University and the National Epidemiological Centre, according to the recommendation of the World Health Organization. Results: The incidence of influenza was not higher than that observed in the previous season, but two high-risk patient groups were identified: pregnant women and patients with immunodeficiency (oncohematological and organ transplant patients). The influenza vaccine, which is free for high-risk groups and health care workers in Hungary, appeared to be effective for prevention, because in the 2010/2011 influenza season none of the 58 patients who were administered the vaccination developed influenza. Conclusion: It is an important task to protect oncohematological and organ transplant patients. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 649–654.

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