Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Studies have found that multiple sclerosis (MS) has an impact on the initiation or the course of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This review amied to investigate the prevalence and odds of asthma and COPD among people with MS (pwMS). METHOD: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were systemically searched from inception to May 2023. R version 4.3.2 and random-effect model were used to calculate the pooled prevalence and odds ratio (OR), with their 95 % confidence interval (CI), in pwMS. RESULTS: A total of 40 studies consisting of 287,702 pwMS were included. 37 studies indicated that the pooled prevalences of asthma and COPD among pwMS were 5.97 % (95 % CI: 4.62 %-7.69 %, I2=99 %) and 3.03 % (95 % CI: 1.82 %-5.00 %, I2=99 %), respectively. 24 studies on 236,469 pwMS and 85,328,673 healthy controls revealed that the overall odds of asthma and COPD in MS were 1.14 (95 % CI: 0.76-1.71, p-value=0.53, I2=97 %) and 1.28 (95 % CI: 1.11-1.47, p-value<0.01, I2=70 %), respectively. CONCLUSION: MS can increased the risk of developing COPD, while asthma does not exhibit a significant relationship with MS. Our study highlights the importance of identifying pwMS who face greater risks of respiratory issues to monitor efficiently and initiate suitable preventative actions.

XRayWizard: Reconstructing 3-D lung surfaces from a single 2-D chest x-ray image via Vision Transformer.

BACKGROUND: Chest x-ray is widely utilized for the evaluation of pulmonary conditions due to its technical simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and portability. However, as a two-dimensional (2-D) imaging modality, chest x-ray images depict limited anatomical details and are challenging to interpret. PURPOSE: To validate the feasibility of reconstructing three-dimensional (3-D) lungs from a single 2-D chest x-ray image via Vision Transformer (ViT). METHODS: We created a cohort of 2525 paired chest x-ray images (scout images) and computed tomography (CT) acquired on different subjects and we randomly partitioned them as follows: (1) 1800 - training set, (2) 200 - validation set, and (3) 525 - testing set. The 3-D lung volumes segmented from the chest CT scans were used as the ground truth for supervised learning. We developed a novel model termed XRayWizard that employed ViT blocks to encode the 2-D chest x-ray image. The aim is to capture global information and establish long-range relationships, thereby improving the performance of 3-D reconstruction. Additionally, a pooling layer at the end of each transformer block was introduced to extract feature information. To produce smoother and more realistic 3-D models, a set of patch discriminators was incorporated. We also devised a novel method to incorporate subject demographics as an auxiliary input to further improve the accuracy of 3-D lung reconstruction. Dice coefficient and mean volume error were used as performance metrics as the agreement between the computerized results and the ground truth. RESULTS: In the absence of subject demographics, the mean Dice coefficient for the generated 3-D lung volumes achieved a value of 0.738 ± 0.091. When subject demographics were included as an auxiliary input, the mean Dice coefficient significantly improved to 0.769 ± 0.089 (p < 0.001), and the volume prediction error was reduced from 23.5 ± 2.7%. to 15.7 ± 2.9%. CONCLUSION: Our experiment demonstrated the feasibility of reconstructing 3-D lung volumes from 2-D chest x-ray images, and the inclusion of subject demographics as additional inputs can significantly improve the accuracy of 3-D lung volume reconstruction.

Alemtuzumab-induced petechiae and epistaxis in a patient with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A case report.

Here, we present a case of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis that experienced petechiae and epistaxis following treatment with second dose of alemtuzumab. This study highlights such effects, emphasizing the need for vigilance as alemtuzumab usage increases. Timely recognition and management are vital for patient care.

Predictors of survival rate in patients with pancreatic cancer: A multi-center analytical study in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is among the deadliest cancers of the gastrointestinal tract worldwide and a growing global health concern. AIM: This study was aimed to evaluate the survival rate and prognostic factors of survival in patients with PC. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, the records of 556 patients with PC registered in the hospital cancer registration system from September 2007 to September 2020 were evaluated. In this regard, demographic data, tumor characteristics, received treatments, and patients' final status were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier and Cox's regression were used for univariate and multivariate analyses, respectively. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rate was found to be 4.3%. The median survival time was 12.4 ± 6.6 months. Univariate analysis showed that age, BMI (kg/m2 ), blood transfusions, differentiation, tumor stage, tumor size, number of involved lymph nodes, lymph node ratio (LNR), and type of treatment received were significantly associated with patient survival (p < .05). Multivariate Cox regression indicated that the age ≥60 years [Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-1.49], BMI <18 (kg/m2 ; HR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.13-2.14), poor differentiation (HR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.75-2.49), tumor size >2.5 cm (HR = 4.61, 95% CI = 3.30-6.78), metastasis presence (HR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.49-2.60), more than two involved lymph nodes (HR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.31-1.77), LNR <0.2 (HR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.36-0.77), and adjuvant therapy with surgery and chemotherapy (HR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.28-0.61) are the most important prognostic factors of survival in patients with PC (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the survival rate of patients with pancreatic cancer varies based on the characteristics of the tumor and the type of treatment received.

Association of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 With Endothelial Dysfunction, Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and thrombotic events in Children With End-stage Renal Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) are members of endopeptidases which contribute to CVD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of MMP-2 and MMP-9 with markers of endothelial dysfunction, soluble E-selectin and brachial flow-mediated dilatation; several biochemical risk factors of CVD; and thrombotic incidents in children with ESRD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one children with ESRD and 18 healthy age- and sex-adjusted controls underwent measurement of serum levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, soluble E-selectin, phosphorus, calcium, parathyroid hormone, lipid profile, thrombotic factors, and albumin. Flow-mediated dilatation was measured in both groups by Doppler ultrasonography. Thrombotic events were assessed in patients with ESRD. RESULTS: Matrix metalloproteinase-2 positively correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, soluble E-selectin, creatinine, cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone and negatively correlated with body mass index, hemoglobin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and flow-mediated dilatation, while MMP-9 correlated with soluble E-selectin, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, and albumin and negatively correlated with body mass index and hemoglobin. Six patients (19.3%) had thrombotic incidents. There was no significant difference between the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the children with and without thrombotic events. CONCLUSIONS: This study determined the associations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 with markers of endothelial dysfunction and several traditional and uremia related CVD risk factors in children with ESRD. No associations were found between these two MMPs and thrombotic events.

First Report on the Percentiles of the Glomerular Filtration Rate in Iranian Children Using the 2009 Schwartz Equations.

The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is widely considered the best overall index of renal function. The Schwartz equations are designed for measuring the GFR in children between 1 and 16 years of age. In the present study, we investigated the percentiles of the GFR in a general population of Iranian children with no known renal disease via the 2009 Schwartz equations (updated and combined equations). Between 2010 and 2011, we selected 687 children aged 7-16 years from the Iranian province of Isfahan. Blood samples were analyzed for blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and cystatin C. For each child, we calculated the GFR using 2 Schwartz equations. The Wilcoxon test was applied to examine the differences in the estimated GFRs between the equations. To determine the correlation between the GFRs obtained via the updated and combined Schwartz equations in the boys and the girls and also for the correlation between age and the GFR, we performed the Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients. The statistical analyses were conducted using MedCalc, version 12.1.4.0 (MedCalc Software, Mariakerke, Belgium). The mean GFR was 100.06±19.80 mL/min/1.73 m2 based on the updated equation and 96.10±18.44 mL/min/1.73 m2 according to the combined equation. No significant differences were observed between these equations in estimating the GFRs. The correlation analysis for determining the association between age and the GFR estimated by the updated (r=0.05, P=0.1) and combined (r=0.06, P=0.09) Schwartz equations was not statistically significant. In conclusion, in the current study we showed that the updated and combined Schwartz equations exhibited high concordance in estimating GFR values in this age group.

Herpes zoster segmental paresis in an immunocompromised breast cancer woman.

Herpes zoster is an infectious disease with neurological complications caused by reactivation of varicella zoster virus in dorsal root ganglia of spinal cord which is also known as "Shingles." Suppression of immune system is the major predisposing factor for reactivation of latent virus. Disease is mainly characterized by rash, vesicles and pain along one or more dermatomes which are innervated from one or more spinal nerve roots. Complications may be present after a while despite of patient treatment. Motor involvement is included. Some previous studies showed segmental zoster paresis as a rare complication, a few weeks after first presentation, among immunocompetent individuals. We present post herpetic motor involvement of C5 and C6 in a 59-year-old woman who underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy due to breast cancer, manifesting left upper limb weakness and paresis, 6 months after left partial mastectomy. Segmental paresis of zoster virus should be considered as a cause of motor impairment in an immunocompromised person suffering from shingles.