Risk of Lymphoma and Leukemia in Thyroid Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Germany.

Thyroid cancer is the ninth most common cancer worldwide. While differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) has a high survival rate, concerns arise regarding optimal treatment strategies and potential long-term risks, including second primary malignancies (SPMs), associated with therapies such as radioiodine (RAI). The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between thyroid cancer and the incidence of subsequent lymphoma and leukemia in Germany. This retrospective cohort study used the IQVIA TM Disease Analyzer database and included adults with a first documented diagnosis of thyroid cancer between January 2005 and December 2021 as well as propensity score matched individuals without thyroid cancer in 1284 general practices. Univariate Cox regression models were performed to examine the association between thyroid cancer and the incidence of subsequent lymphoma and leukemia. A total of 4232 thyroid cancer patients (mean age: 54.2 years; 73.6% female) and 21 160 controls (mean age: 54.2 years; 72.6% female) were available for analyses. Thyroid cancer was significantly associated with a higher lymphoma incidence (HR: 3.35, 95% CI: 2.04-5.52), especially in men (HR: 5.37) and those aged 61-70 years. Leukemia incidence was not significantly associated with thyroid cancer (HR: 1.79, 95% CI: 0.91-3.53), although associations were notable in younger age groups. Thyroid cancer is positively associated with a risk of subsequent lymphoma, highlighting the need for vigilant surveillance and tailored treatment strategies. While the association with leukemia is less pronounced, close surveillance remains critical, especially in younger patients.

The role of pressure on lattice thermal conductivity and its related thermodynamical parameters in In0.53Ga0.47As nanofilms.

Lattice thermal conductivity (LTC) for In0.53Ga0.47As alloy films, with thicknesses ranging from 10 nm to 1.4 µm, was investigated under pressures of up to 11 GPa and temperatures between 1 and 450 K, utilizing the modified Debye-Callaway model. The effects of structural and thermodynamical parameters, as well as phonon interactions, on LTC were examined. The Clapeyron, Murnaghan, and Post equations were applied to determine the pressure dependence of the melting temperature, lattice volume, and Debye temperature, respectively. A novel derivative form of the bulk modulus, suitable for nanomaterials, has been introduced. It was found that decreasing the film thickness increases the Gruneisen parameter, while increasing pressure decreases it. The LTC of nanofilms is significantly affected by their thickness and pressure strength; notably, under 11 GPa, films with a thickness of 10 nm exhibit a substantial decrease in LTC. LTCmax declines due to the greater influence of boundary scattering compared to dislocations. These findings suggest potential applications in managing nanofilm temperature and size, which are key to advancing nanomaterials and enhancing the efficiency of electronic devices.

Bladder Sparing Approaches for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancers.

OPINION STATEMENT: Organ preservation has been increasingly utilised in the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Multiple bladder preservation options exist, although the approach of maximal TURBT performed along with chemoradiation is the most favoured. Phase III trials have shown superiority of chemoradiotherapy compared to radiotherapy alone. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy gives local control outcomes comparable to those of radical surgery, but seemingly more superior when considering quality of life. Bladder-preserving techniques represent an alternative for patients who are unfit for cystectomy or decline major surgical intervention; however, these patients will need lifelong rigorous surveillance. It is important to emphasise to the patients opting for organ preservation the need for lifelong bladder surveillance as risk of recurrence remains even years after radical chemoradiotherapy treatment. No randomised control trials have yet directly compared radical cystectomy with bladder-preserving chemoradiation, leaving the age-old question of superiority of one modality over another unanswered. Radical cystectomy and chemoradiation, however, must be seen as complimentary treatments rather than competing treatments. Meticulous patient selection is vital in treatment modality selection with the success of recent trials within the field of bladder preservation only being possible through this application of meticulous selection criteria compared to previous decades. A multidisciplinary approach with radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and urologists is needed to closely monitor patients who undergo bladder preservation in order to optimise outcomes.

Self-management approaches among hypertensive residents in nursing homes in Malaysia.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of hypertension in Malaysia is increasing and an effective management of hypertension is important to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To determine the knowledge, awareness and perception towards hypertension among residents in nursing homes as well as the roles of caregivers in hypertension management. METHODS: A face-to-face survey with 200 hypertensive residents and 30 caregivers from 24 nursing homes in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia was conducted. RESULTS: Of all the hypertensive residents, 90.5% (n = 181) knew that lowering their blood pressure could improve their health. Most residents strongly believed that taking antihypertensive drugs is important for keeping their high blood pressure under control (n = 162, 81%). Taking medication was perceived as the most important factor in controlling the high blood pressure (58%, n = 116) compared to lifestyle or diet modification. The majority of the caregivers reported that they played a major role in managing hypertension, especially with regards to medication-taking. task (66.7%, n = 20). CONCLUSION: The knowledge, attitude and perceptions of hypertension play a relatively major role in the self-management of hypertension. The role of caregivers also needed to be recognised in managing hypertension in nursing homes.

Bladder reconstruction: The past, present and future.

Ileal conduit urinary diversion is the gold standard treatment for urinary tract reconstruction following cystectomy. This procedure uses gastrointestinal segments for bladder augmentation, a technique that is often associated with significant complications. The substantial progression in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine over the previous two decades has resulted in the development of techniques that may lead to the construction of functional de novo urinary bladder substitutes. The present review identifies and discusses the complications associated with current treatment options post-cystectomy. The current techniques, achievements and perspectives of the use of biomaterials and stem cells in the field of urinary bladder reconstruction are also reviewed.

Intestinal parasitic infections in schoolchildren of Abha (Asir), Saudi Arabia.

Stool specimens from 1282 children between the age of 5 and 13 years attending 10 primary schools for boys in the city of Abha, southwestern Saudi Arabia, were examined for the presence of intestinal parasites. Of these, 313, (24.4%) were found infected with one or more species of 11 intestinal protozoa and helminths. The most common pathogenic protozoa being Giardia lamblia (10.9%) followed by Entamoeba histolytica (4.1%). The nonpathogenic protozoan, Entamoeba coli had the highest prevalence rate (11.3%) in the children's stools. Hymenolepis nana was the commonest intestinal helminth (3.0%). Other intestinal helminths, including Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura. Schistosoma mansoni, Dicrocoelium dendriticum were detected to a lesser extent. The distribution of the common intestinal infections among the children surveyed were also analysed according to age, nationality and multiplicity of infection. Prevalence of E. histolytica was found to increase with age whereas Giardia infections were less common among older children. This pair of parasite species were strongly associated. Yemeni children had consistently the highest prevalence of infection with protozoa and helminths, followed by Saudi and non-Saudi children.

Synthesis and evaluation of N-acetylprolinate esters - novel skin penetration enhancers.

A series of N-acetylproline esters (alkyl side chain length, 5-18) were synthesized and tested for potential skin penetration enhancement activity using modified Franz diffusion cells and hairless mouse skin as the penetration barrier. Benazepril and hydrocortisone were used as model drugs and were applied as saturated solutions in propylene glycol. The enhancers were added at a concentration of 5% (w/v). Drug flux, permeability coefficient and enhancement ratios for permeability coefficient were determined. Azone was used as the positive control. While all the compounds tested increased the skin penetration of hydrocortisone, the 5- and 8- carbon esters had no significant effect on the skin penetration of benazepril. The highest fluxes were obtained with 11, 12, and 18-carbon esters and they were comparable to Azone. There was no significant difference between the fluxes obtained with 2 and 5% (w/v) concentrations of the 12-carbon ester on hydrocortisone permeation. The 16-carbon ester, where ethanol was used as a cosolvent, significantly increased the fluxes of both the drugs compared to the control. Differential scanning calorimetric studies suggested that the enhancers may be acting on the lipids of the stratum corneum and their effect was similar to that of Azone. The membrane/vehicle partition coefficient studies indicated an increase in benazepril partition coefficient with enhancer treatment compared to the control. Maximum flux increase was obtained with the 11 and 12 carbon (alkyl chain length) esters for both benazepril and hydrocortisone. The 18- carbon ester which has a cis-double bond in the alkyl side chain, also increased the flux significantly.

Portable mosquito net support devices for indoor and outdoor use.

Polyvinyl chloride plumbing and electrical cover pipes are used in the assembly of low priced devices that will support mosquito bed nets. One such device is a frame assembled from components in a lightweight compact set with dimensions of 75 x 20 x 5 cm, weighing approximately 0.5 kg. It can be mounted on a wall or attached to a stand of adjustable height which is also made from plumbing pipes. This support frame provides minimum obstruction of view and movement as it is attached at only one point. It can be used indoors or outdoors either for sleeping on beds or on the ground. A second device is composed of short pipe sheaths attached to bed legs for easy insertion or removal of support poles.

Field evaluation of two diagnostic antigen tests for Wuchereria bancrofti infection among Indian expatriates in Saudi Arabia.

Two commercially available diagnostic tools (Tro-Bio ELISA and ICT card test) were used to detect circulating filarial antigen of Wuchereria bancrofti infections among Indian expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia. Daytime serum samples collected from 302 individuals (210 men and 92 women) were tested. Night blood surveys for microfilaraemia were restricted to those individuals who became positive for the trop-Bio assay test. The overall prevalence of filarial antigeaemia was 10.6% (32 individuals). Of these 32 antigen positive cases, microfilariae were found in 10 men (31.3%), with a mean microfilarial count of 105 mff/ml. No positive antigen results were found in control sera from 200 native healthy Saudis or from patients with helminthic infections (schistosomiasis, echinicoccosis, hookworm, ascariasis and trichuriasis). All 32 positive sera with the Trop-Bio ELISA showed a positive ICT card reaction (specificity and sensitivity 100%). It is concluded that, in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, where a continuous flow of south- and southeastern workers coming from areas endemic for bancroftian filariasis, the ICT card test may be useful in monitoring the potential risk of introducing bacncroftian filariasis to the host countries.

Detection of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine enzyme in recurrent pterygium raising a question on its role on recurrence.

AIM: To detect the presence of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine enzyme (8-OHdG) in recurrent pterygium and its role on recurrence. METHODS: Ninty-two samples were collected of which 55 from primary pterygium, 12 from recurrent and 25 from normal conjunctiva. A cross sectional study was embarked to detect the presence of the 8-OHdG enzyme in primary, recurrent pterygium and the normal conjunctival tissue by immunohistochemistry test. RESULTS: THE IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY TEST SHOWED POSITIVE RESULTS: 35 in primary, 2 in recurrent pterygia and 4 in normal conjunctiva, respectively. Significant association between primary pterygium and 8-OHdG enzyme (63.6% of samples are positive) and no significant relation was detected with recurrent pterygium (16.7% of samples are positive). CONCLUSION: 8-OHdG enzyme is associated with primary pterygium. It is also present in normal conjunctival tissue. For the first time it is detected in recurrent pterygia. This may raise question whether 8-OHdG enzyme has a role in recurrence of pterygium.