Sixth Month Of Treatment Research Articles

Impact of oral isotretinoin on the inflammatory markers: can lymphocyte/HDL-C and platelet/HDL-C ratios be new indicators of inflammation in acne vulgaris patients?

Introduction The effect of isotretinoin on inflammatory markers has been reported with conflicting results. No studies have been reported on the relationship between isotretinoin and lymphocyte/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] ratio (LHR), neutrophil/HDL-C ratio (NHR), or platelet/HDL-C ratio (PHR) in acne patients. Objectives We aimed to investigate how isotretinoin affects the inflammatory markers, including LHR, NHR, and PHR, in acne vulgaris patients. Methods A total of 361 patients with moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris who received systemic isotretinoin for at least six months were included. Complete blood count and biochemical analyses, including monocyte/HDL-C ratio (MHR), NHR, LHR, PHR, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), obtained at the treatment onset and the end of the first, third, and sixth months of treatment were investigated. Results There was no significant difference in MHR and NHR levels between repeated measures. A significant increasing trend was seen in LHR and PHR (P = 0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). HDL-C levels gradually and significantly declined during the six months (P < 0.001). Serum NLR, derived NLR, SII, SIRI, MLR, and AISI showed a significant decrease in line with clinical improvement in acne during the six months of therapy (P < 0.05). Conclusions Declining levels of NLR, MLR, SII, SIRI, and AISI may indicate the anti-inflammatory effects of isotretinoin on the pilosebaceous unit, whereas increasing levels of LHR and PHR may show systemic inflammatory activity of isotretinoin.

6662 Effect of Selenium Supplementation on Mild Graves’ Ophthalmopathy at a Tertiary Hospital - A Six-Month Open-Labelled, Assessor-Masked, Randomized-Controlled Trial

Abstract Disclosure: J.M. Flores: None. N.G. Sioson: None. J.D. Uy-Ho: None. A.L. Suller-Pansacola: None. Graves’ orbitopathy is associated with increased oxidative stress. Selenium, with its antioxidant and immunoregulatory actions, has been proposed as an adjuvant therapy. Objective: This study was undertaken to determine whether selenium supplementation for six months can decrease signs and prevent worsening of mild Graves ophthalmopathy among Filipinos. Methods: We conducted an open-labelled, assessor-masked, Randomized-Controlled Trial on patients with mild Graves’ ophthalmopathy wherein one arm was assigned to standard of care (eye drops) only for a period of six months while another arm was assigned to 200 ug/day oral Selenium supplementation alongside standard of care. Population: Adult patients with Graves’ hyperthyroidism, with at least one sign of mild ophthalmopathy with GO disease duration of less than 18 months Results: Independent Sample T-test, Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher’s Exact/Chi-square test were used to determine the difference of mean, rank and frequency, between patients given Selenium versus patients given standard of care. Paired Sample T-test, Wilcoxon Sign rank test and McNemar test were used to determine the difference of mean, rank and frequency on patients from initial to 3rd month or 6th month observation. Null hypotheses were rejected at 0.05α-level of significance. There was a significant difference in Clinical Activity Score (CAS) between patients given selenium supplementation and those assigned to standard of care. On initial examination for the Selenium group, 14 eyes (33.33%) had a CAS score of 0, which increased to 27 eyes (64.29%) on the third month and ended to a 26 eyes (61.9%) at the sixth month of treatment. For the non-selenium group, 11 eyes had a CAS score of zero initially, increased to 16 eyes (and 38.1%) then finally arrived to a total count of 14 eyes (33.33%). Improvement in CAS may be attributed specifically to improvement in caruncle/plical swelling showing a significant difference (p-value 0.040). Comparing the two groups, a statistical significance in CAS is noted between the treatment versus the control group with a p-value of 0.017 on the 6th month. Conclusion: Selenium supplementation provided significant benefit in terms of decreasing signs and preventing worsening of mild GO through improved CAS score. Further studies exploring the baseline and end of treatment selenium concentrations in the Philippines may be warranted. Presentation: 6/3/2024

What can be learned from real-world data about chronic spontaneous urticaria?

Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a common disease with complex pathogenesis. Patients' clinical characteristics and responses to treatment vary. Objective: We aimed to investigate the role of data obtained from routinely recommended tests in predicting the response to omalizumab, the only biologic agent approved for treatment, and in defining the clinical characteristics of the patients. Methods: A retrospective study of patients who started omalizumab treatment for CSU between 2015 and 2022 at the Department of Dermatology, Pamukkale University, was conducted. Response criteria were based on the urticaria control test, and patients with a urticaria control test score <12 at 6 months were considered treatment non-responders. Eosinophil and basophil counts, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic immune inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels of the patients were evaluated before treatment and at the sixth month of treatment. Results: A total of 23.1% of the patients were unresponsive to omalizumab. The response rate to the omalizumab treatment of the patients with a total IgE level ≤ 30 IU/L (n = 4 [5.7%]) was significantly lower than patients with total IgE level > 30 IU/L (n = 66 [94.3%]) (p = 0.015). The mean ± standard deviation SIRI levels were significantly higher in non-responders versus responders (1.53 ± 1.03 versus 1.15 ± 7.76; p = 0.026). Eosinophil counts positively correlated with basophil counts (r = 587; p < 0.001) and IgE levels (r = 0.290; p = 0.005) but a negative correlation was found with levels of NLR (r = -0.475; p < 0.001), SIRI (r = -0.259; p = 0.013), and SII (r = -0.285; p = 0.006). NLR levels were lower in CSU patients with atopy, than in those without atopy (1.9 ± 0.9 vs 2.9 ± 2.1, p = 0.022). Conclusion: We suggest that eosinopenia and high NLR levels are linked to autoimmune CSU. Predicting a poor response to omalizumab seems possible with total IgE levels < 30 IU/L and high SIRI levels.

Overview of Urine Cylinders in Patients With Pulmonary Tuberculosis Undergoing Advanced First-Line Treatment at the RSUD Ciamis

Background &amp; Objective: Pulmonary tuberculosis is a contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria that can attack various organs, especially the lungs. Tuberculosis patients are treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs such as rifampicin and streptomycin, which can potentially cause kidney function impairment. To detect any abnormalities in the kidneys, a urine sediment examination is conducted, which can identify an increase in urine cylinders if any damage to the kidneys is present. This study aims to provide insights into urine cylinders in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis based on the duration of their treatment. Method: This is a descriptive study that utilised a purposive sampling technique. The study involved 38 Tuberculosis patients as respondents. Sampling was carried out at the DOTS clinic of RSUD Ciamis and the research was conducted between October 2021 and May 2022. Result: Out of 38 samples, 6 people tested positive for cylinders at a value of +1 (which means very little). These cylinders included hyaline, wax, granule, fat, and epithelial cell cylinders. The percentage of people who tested positive for cylinders was 15.8%. On the other hand, 32 people tested negative for cylinders, which accounts for 84.2% of the total sample. Conclusion: It can be concluded that cylinders were found in tuberculosis patients. Future researchers are advised to examine urine cylinders in pulmonary tuberculosis patients undergoing the sixth month of treatment in patients at a young age.

Smoking cessation among tuberculosis patients during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic.

Smoking has been recognized as a significant risk factor for COVID-19 and mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended smoking cessation to reduce the impact of COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the smoking cessation rate of patients starting tuberculosis (TB) treatment at six months using motivational interviewing based on the WHO "five steps to quit" model. In addition, we assessed the knowledge about smoking and the barriers to smoking cessation. We conducted a retrospective cohort study. Outpatients aged >18 years, smokers, and those who are starting TB treatment in two outpatient TB clinics were invited to participate. Patients received information about the importance of smoking cessation, especially in TB patients, and standardized advice based on guidelines. This information was repeated during phone calls during the second and fourth months of treatment. During the study period, 111 patients were included. The primary outcome was the smoking cessation rate at the end of the sixth month of treatment, which was 26.8% (19/71). The barriers to smoking cessation described by the patients were anxiety/depression (47.4%), seeing someone smoking (38.5%), drug use (19.2%), and alcohol abuse (2.6%). The assessment of knowledge about smoking showed that patients had some information gaps. In conclusion, TB smokers who tried to quit smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic faced many challenges. Despite this, we demonstrated a reasonable smoking cessation rate with a nurse-conducted motivational interview.

Lumasiran treatment in pediatric patients with PH1: real-world data within a compassionate use program in Italy.

Primary hyperoxaluria (PH) is a rare, severe genetic disorder, characterized by increased urinary excretion of calcium oxalate, which is responsible for kidney damage and systemic clinical manifestations. Since the year 2020, a new molecule, lumasiran, based on RNA interference (RNAi) technology, has been added to the traditional therapeutic approach. The aim of this analysis was to define the baseline characteristics of a PH1 pediatric population treated with lumasiran in a compassionate-use program setting, and to evaluate the medium-term efficacy of this drug in the routine clinical setting. A retrospective observational analysis was conducted in nine pediatric patients (male:female 5:4; median age at lumasiran start 1.9 years, range 0-14.1). Data concerning oxalate concentration in plasma and urine, kidney stones events, ultrasound and kidney function were collected during the study period (follow-up, mean±standard deviation: 15.3±5 months). In this analysis, a reduction in the urinary oxalate to creatinine ratio (reduction range within the sixth month of treatment from 25.8% to 69.6%, median 51.2%) as well as plasma oxalate concentration under the limit of supersaturation of oxalate in all the patients. Only one patient presented new stone events; kidney ultrasonographic findings related to nephrocalcinosis remained stable in eight out of nine patients. Glomerular filtration rate remained stable during treatment. No adverse events related to lumasiran were noted. Data from this analysis support the efficacy and safety of lumasiran in a pediatric clinical setting, especially if administrated in early life.

Solution is not simple; sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor use in Conn syndrome.

In patients with bilateral primary hyperaldosteronism (PA) and those with unilateral PA who are unwilling or unable to undergo adrenalectomy an increase in plasma renin activity (PRA) provided by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) therapy reflects sufficient antagonism for elevated aldosterone. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2-i) have cardiovascular, renal protective properties and some clinical data have shown an increase in PRA levels with SGLT2-i. Here, we present our experience of using SGLT2-i in PA patients with suppressed PRA despite 100 mg/day spironolactone therapy. We prospectively evaluate the laboratory values of seven patients who were diagnosed with bilateral hyperaldosteronism. All of them were diabetic and had an HbA1c <7% with metformin treatment alone. Spironolactone was started in all of the patients after diagnosis and although the dose was increased to 100 mg/day, PRA levels remained <1 ng/ml/h. Metformin treatment was changed to empagliflozin in all patients and PRA was checked again at the sixth month of treatment. Metformin treatment was changed to empagliflozin in all patients and PRA was checked again at the sixth month of treatment. Mean PRA levels were 0.464 ± 0.189 ng/ml/h before the treatment change and increased to mean 3.257 ± 1.881 ng/ml/h in the sixth month ( P = 0.008). The mean PRA was >1 ng/ml/h except for one patient in the sixth month of treatment. Larger molecular and clinical studies are needed to understand whether the increase in PRA after empagliflozin treatment indicates interference, whether spironolactone treatment has become more effective, or whether empagliflozin has aldosterone receptor antagonism apart from its known effects.

The effects of dienogest and combined oral contraceptives on protein S-specific activity in endometriosis patients

ObjectiveOne serious side effect of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) is venous thromboembolism. Reduced activity in activated protein C-related coagulation pathways is attributable to low protein S activity in one-third of Japanese patients with deep vein thrombosis. Herer, we quantified the behavior of protein S-specific activity in response to dienogest (DNG) and COCs using the protein S-specific activity assay system to explore its potential utility as a thrombosis marker. Study DesignThis was a prospective cohort study. Female patients aged 20 – 49 years who were starting drug treatment for endometriosis using DNG or COCs were enrolled. Blood samples were taken before treatment and at the first, third, and sixth months of treatment. To analyze the primary endpoints, changes in total protein S antigen levels, total protein S activity, and protein S-specific activity from baseline to each time point were estimated using a linear mixed-effects model. All statistical analyses were performed in the SAS software version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). A two-sided P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results64 patients took DNG and 34 patients took COCs. Protein S-specific activity did not change significantly from baseline in the six months after treatment started in either group. In the DNG group, total protein S activity and total protein S antigen levels increased slightly from baseline levels after the treatment. The means for total protein S activity and total protein S antigen levels in the COC group remained within reference limits, but they both decreased markedly in the first month and stayed low. Protein S-specific activity in four women remaind below the reference limit throughout the whole study period, suggesting they may have potential protein S deficiencies. ConclusionThe effects of DNG on protein S were negligible, though both total protein S activity and antigen levels decreased soon after COC treatment began and remained low. As there was no VTE event during the study, further studies with larger numbers of patients will be needed to confirm that protein S-specific activity can be a surrogate maker of VTE risk.

The Effect of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy on The Plasma Atherogenic Index in Rheumatic Diseases.

Background: The risk of atherosclerosis is increased in individuals with rheumatological disease. The objective of this study is to examine the heightened susceptibility to atherosclerosis in persons afflicted with rheumatological disorders. This study aimed to assess the impact of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) medication on the plasma atherogenic index (PAI) in persons diagnosed with rheumatological disease. Methods: This study used a retrospective cross-sectional design to investigate a cohort of 136 patients with rheumatological disease who were undergoing anti-TNF therapy (Group 1), as well as a comparison group of 117 patients getting conventional therapy (Group 2). Measurements of PAI were conducted at the initial baseline and again at the sixth month of treatment. Results: Initially, there was no statistically significant disparity observed in PAI values between the two cohorts. After a period of 6 months, a notable reduction in PAI was identified in the group receiving anti-TNF medication (P = 0.01), while no significant alteration was detected in the group receiving conventional treatment. Conclusion: It provides findings showing that anti-TNF therapy can reduce the PAI in individuals with rheumatological disease. This may indicate a potential cardiovascular protective effect of anti-TNF therapy.

Drug Exposure and Susceptibility of Pyrazinamide Correlate with Treatment Response in Pyrazinamide-Susceptible Patients with Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis.

Exploring the influence of pyrazinamide exposure and susceptibility on treatment response is crucial for optimizing the management of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). This study aimed to investigate the association between pyrazinamide exposure, susceptibility, and response to MDR-TB treatment, as well as find clinical thresholds for pyrazinamide. A prospective multi-center cohort study of participants with MDR-TB using pyrazinamide was conducted in three TB-designated hospitals in China. Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to investigate the associations. Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis was used to identify clinical thresholds, which were further evaluated by multivariate analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The study included 143 patients with MDR-TB. The exposure/susceptibility ratio of pyrazinamide was associated with two-month culture conversion (adjusted risk ratio (aRR), 1.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07-1.20), six-month culture conversion (aRR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.06-1.16), treatment success (aRR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03-1.10), as well as culture conversion time (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.18; 95% CI,1.14-1.23). The threshold for optimal improvement in sputum culture results at the sixth month of treatment was determined to be a pyrazinamide AUC0-24h/MIC ratio of 7.8. In conclusion, the exposure/susceptibility ratio of pyrazinamide is associated with the treatment response of MDR-TB, which may change in different Group A drug-based regimens.

Rheumatoid factor titers, but not Fc fragments, may be strongly associated with drug survival of anti-TNF agents in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

To investigate the effects of both the Fc fragment in tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and rheumatoid factor (RF) titers on treatment survival, disease activity, and laboratory parameters in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this retrospective cohort study, patients with RA who had started any anti-TNF therapy between January 2017 and March 2020 and who had stayed on this treatment for at least six months were included. The data of the patients were compared separately according to continuation or discontinuation of treatment and the presence or absence of Fc portion in the structure of anti-TNFs. Patients who were taking certolizumab pegol (CZP) without the Fc fragment were placed in the "without Fc group" (wo/Fc), while patients who were taking other drugs (adalimumab, etanercept, golimumab, and infliximab) were placed in the "with Fc group" (w/Fc). Among the 221 RA patients whose data were available, 52 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. There was a significant difference in the DAS28-CRP score between wo/Fc group and w/Fc group in the third month of treatment (p=0.012). However, this difference did not persist at the sixth month of treatment (p=0.384). According to the cox-regression results, RF titers were determined to have a significant impact on the drug survival of anti-TNF agents when adjustments were made for the effects of other candidate predictors (Hazard ratio: 1.007 (1.002-1.012), p=0.009). Our results suggest that compared to the Fc fragment, RF titers were the more important risk factor in survival of anti-TNF drugs.

The effect of polypharmacy on rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis treatment: retrospective study.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are chronic, progressive inflammatory diseases that can be accompanied by other diseases. In recent years, with the increase in the lifespan of individuals, the concept of polypharmacy has become more prominent. We aimed to show the prevalence of polypharmacy and the effects of polypharmacy on disease activity in RA and PsA. This study included PsA patients who had peripheral joint involvement and, RA patients. Since PsA has a heterogeneous clinical picture, only patients with peripheral joint involvement were included in the study and patients with inflammatory low back pain or radiological sacroiliitis or spondylitis, dactylitis or enthesitis were not included in the study due to homogeneity concerns. The numbers of medications used by the patients at the onset of their treatment and at sixth months into their treatment were recorded. Polypharmacy was accepted as the simultaneous use of at least five medications by the person. The Disease Activity Score 28 joints C-Reactive Protein (DAS-28 CRP) was used to assess disease activity for both disease. The modified Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores of the patients were calculated based on their chronic diseases. The sample of the study included 232 RA and 73 PsA patients. Polypharmacy was present at the treatment onset in 115 (49.6%) of the RA patients and 28 (38.4%) of the PsA patients. At the sixth month of treatment, polypharmacy was present in the sixth month of the treatment in 217 (93.5%) RA and 61 (83.6%) PsA patients. The mean ages of the RA and PsA patients who were receiving polypharmacy treatment at the beginning were significantly older than the mean ages of those who were not receiving polypharmacy treatment. In both the RA and PSA groups, the patients with polypharmacy at the beginning had statistically significantly higher DAS-28 CRP scores at six months of treatment than those without polypharmacy at the beginning (p<0.001). Polypharmacy was present both at the time of diagnosis and in the treatment process in the RA and PsA patients, and the presence of polypharmacy at the beginning of the treatment was among the factors that affected the treatment of these patients by significantly affecting their 6th-month DAS-28 CRP values.

Discontinuation of Nucleos(t)ide Analog treatment in HBeAg-Negative Non-Cirrhotic Chronic Hepatitis B Patients: Real-Life Data of 20 Years.

Discontinuation of nucleos(t)ide analog is controversial in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients not achieved HBsAg loss. We aimed to evaluate re-treatment rates and risk factors in non-cirrhotic HbeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients for whom nucleosi(t)ides analogs were discontinued. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data before and at the end after discontinuation of nucleos(t)ide analogs were collected retrospectively. Seventy-two patients followed up between January 2000 and December 2019 were included; 43 were male, with a mean age of 46.3 (±10.8). Baseline median alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hepatitis B virus DNA levels were 55.5 IU/L and 465 925 IU/mL, respectively. The median histologic activity index was 5.5 and the fibrosis score was 2. The median duration of treatment and consolidation therapy were 59 and 56 months, respectively. The median follow-up time after discontinuation of treatment was 55 months. Among 56 patients eligible for evaluation according to proposed re-treatment criteria, 29 (51.7%) patients were re-treated. The median time for relapse was 11 months. Re-treatment was significantly common in males (P = .034) and patients treated with tenofovir/entecavir (P = .04). Baseline hepatitis B virus DNA and levels of ALT, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) at the third and sixth months of treatment and at the end of treatment were statistically significantly higher in re-treated patients. A cutoff value of ≥405 000 IU/L for hepatitis B virus DNA discriminated patients for re-treatment. HBsAg was lost permanently in 2 non-re-treated patients. In resource-limited areas where follow-up of HBsAg or other markers is not possible, nucleos(t)ide analog discontinuation can be considered in patients in the early stage, with low baseline hepatitis B virus DNA and ALT levels, after a long consolidation therapy.

Treatment of Maxillary Deficiency with Reverse Chin Cup: A Case Report

Introduction: This case report aims to illustrate the dentoalveolar changes of a 13-year-old class III patient with maxillary deficiency treated with a Reverse Chin Cup appliance.one of the popular appliances for treating class III patients with deficient maxilla is facemask. In class III growing patients, treatment options include extraoral and intraoral devices. chin and forehead are used for extraoral anchorage supports. Case Presentation: The patient is a 13-year-old girl with a mild maxillary deficiency. She had an Angle Class III molar relationship. She refused to use a face mask due to its highly bulky size. The Reverse Chin Cup is attached to a removable appliance in the upper jaw, with Adams clasps on the first molars, the first premolars, and C-clasps on the upper central and lateral incisors for additional anchorage. Results: After the sixth month of treatment with a chin cup, SNA increased by 2°, and a positive overjet was achieved. Conclusion: This case demonstrates that the reverse chin cup appliance is a suitable alternative to facemasks in class III and maxillary deficient cases.

Clinical portrait of an "ordinary" patient with benign prostatic hyperplasia and the efficacy of treating lower urinary tract symptoms

Introduction. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in aging men that is often associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).Objective. To determine the clinical portrait of an "ordinary" patient with benign prostatic hyperplasia and develop an algorithm for improving the efficacy of treating lower urinary tract symptoms in benign prostatic hyperplasia.Materials &amp; methods. The study included 112 BPH-patients who received tamsulosin therapy or a combination of tamsulosin + solifenacin for three months. After three months of therapy, the patients were divided into two groups depending on the effectiveness of therapy: group 1 — a positive result (n = 77); group 2 — no positive effect (n = 35). Due to the lack of efficacy in patients of group 2, a multichannel urodynamics was performed, according to the results of which the patients were prescribed treatment with a subsequent assessment of the result after 3 months.Results. After 3 months of therapy in patients of group 1, a decrease in pollakiuria was noted. Regression of obstructive and irritative symptoms was also observed, and the urination-associated quality of life (QoL) improved. The maximum urine flow rate (Q max) remained unchanged mainly. By the sixth month, the frequency of urination continued to decrease (11.05 vs 9.32 episodes; p = 0.022), as well as the improvement of other parameters (IPSS, QoL, Q max and post-void residual urine volume (PVR) (80.87 vs 56.17 ml; p = 0.012). The indicators of patients of group 2 following three months of therapy remained without significant changes. Sixteen patients underwent transurethral prostate resection, 19 patients underwent therapy correction, which allowed reducing the number of episodes of daily pollakiuria. The total IPSS score decreased by 4.37 compared to baseline (IPSS (obstructive) — 13.79 vs 7.26 pts; p = 0.032). The QoL value was 2.84 pts, Q max — 14.90 mL/s, PVR — 10.58 mL.Conclusion. 19.8% of BPH-patients are resistant to drug therapy. The ineffectiveness of therapy may be due to the severe BOO. In the absence of the effect of the therapy within 3 months, it is recommended to perform multichannel urodynamics. Correction of therapy according to the multichannel urodynamics data improves its effectiveness by the sixth month of treatment. Indicators of IPSS, Q max and PVR after 3 months of therapy allow predicting the effectiveness of therapy, or suspect the need for surgical treatment.

Functional Outcomes of Fixation of the Scaphoid Fracture with Herbert Screw: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: The present study aims at the assessment of the radiological union and clinical outcomes of scaphoid fracture followed by fixation by Herbert Screw. Study design: A cross-sectional study Place and Duration: This study was conducted Muhammad Medical College and Hospital Mirpurkhas from may 2021 to may 2022 Methodology: A total of 20 patients were included in the study and all of them had sustained a scaphoid fracture. All of them were treated with Herbert screw fixation. Overall 18 of them were male and 2 were female. Serial radiographs were obtained for the assessment of union and the Modified Mayo wrist scoring (MMWS) system was used for the assessment of functional outcomes. The patients were called after 6 months of surgery for a follow-up visit. A total of 9 (45%) patients were treated within the first week of the injury. Overall 5 (25%) were treated in two weeks and 6 (30%) were treated in 2 to 4 weeks Results: Out of 20 patients included in the study, 17 had fractured at the waist of the scaphoid and the remaining 3 had sustained fractures at the proximal pole of the scaphoid. The dorsal and volar approach of fixation by Herbert Screw was used for treating all the fractures. A good alignment was observed post-operatively. Out of all the 20 patients, 12 (60%) patients showed excellent outcomes with a full range motion of the wrist, 6 (30%) had shown good results, and 2 (10%) showed poor results. A final follow-up was arranged during the sixth month of treatment and 18 (90%) patients showed adequate radiological union. Conclusion: Fixation of scaphoid fracture with a Herbert Screw in a convenient and effective mode of treatment which has shown excellent functional outcomes and exceptionally reduced complications. Keywords: Herbert Screw, Fixation, Functional outcomes, Scaphoid fracture

Effect of levetiracetam therapy on electrocardiographic parameters

AimThe purpose of this study was to compare the electrocardiographic parameters before and at the sixth month of treatment of patients diagnosed with epilepsy and who were started on levetiracetam therapy. MethodsThe files of 30 patients diagnosed with epilepsy and on levetiracetam therapy were examined in this study. Clinical findings, electroencephalography (EEG), cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electrocardiography (ECG) data before and at the sixth month of treatment were recorded. ResultsThe patients’ mean age was 10.93 ± 3.74 (4–17) years; 16 (53.33%) patients were boys. In total, 13 (43.3%) were found to experience focal seizures, and 17 (56.7%) generalized epilepsy-type seizures. Comparison of the ECG parameters (PR interval, QTc, QT interval, and QRS duration) revealed a shortening in the PR interval and QTc values at the sixth month of treatment, although the changes were not statistically significant. No significant differences in terms of gender and epilepsy types were observed between the ECG parameters before treatment and at the sixth month (p > 0.05). ConclusionIn this study, levetiracetam was found to have no effect on ECG parameters.

Short-term effect of 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel on myopia progression in children.

To investigate the effect of 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel on myopia progression and axial elongation in a 6-month treatment in children. Totally 185 children aged 6-12y with binocular myopia of 3.0 D or less in both eyes were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. The atropine group (n=125) received one drop of 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel in each eye before bedtime daily. The control group included 60 matched children without drug intervention during the same period. The spherical equivalent and axial length was recorded at baseline and the sixth month of treatment. The efficacy was evaluated by the change of the spherical equivalent and axial length. Adverse events were also recorded. The average spherical equivalent and axial length at baseline were not statistically significant between the atropine group (-1.64±0.80 D, 24.13±0.76 mm) and the control group (-1.59±0.94 D, 24.06±0.77 mm, P>0.05). After 6mo, there was significantly difference in the spherical equivalent progression between the atropine and the control group (-0.27±0.33 vs -0.60±0.35 D, P<0.001), with a relative reduction of 55.0% in myopia progression. The increase in axial elongation in the atropine group was significantly less than control group (0.19±0.14 vs 0.26±0.14 mm, P<0.001), with a relative reduction of 26.9% in axial length. The 84.4% and 38.4% of the eyes progressed by less than 0.50 D and remained stable in the atropine group, compared with 51.7% and 4.2% in the control group. No adverse events were observed. Atropine sulphate eye gel 0.01% can slow down myopia progression and axial elongation in children with a 6-month treatment.

New markers to predict the response to omalizumab in chronic spontaneous urticaria

Omalizumab has high treatment efficacy in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) who do not respond to high doses of antihistamines. Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) were described as novel inflammatory and prognostic biomarkers. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of SII and SIRI in patients with CSU who receive omalizumab therapy. A total of 124 patients with severe urticaria who had an urticaria activity score over 7 days (UAS-7) ≥28 were included in the study. UAS-7, C-reactive protein (CRP), SII, and SIRI values ​​were recorded before and after omalizumab treatment. Patients with UAS-7 ≤6 at week 12 and/or week 24 of omalizumab treatment were considered responders. Three months after omalizumab treatment, significant decreases were observed in SII, SIRI, CRP, and UAS-7 compared to pre-treatment values ​​(p= 0.003, p< 0.001, p=0.006, and p< 0.001, respectively). At the third and sixth months of treatment, baseline SII and SIRI levels of the omalizumab responder group were significantly higher than the non-responder group (p< 0.001). However, there was no difference in baseline CRP and UAS-7 levels between responders and non-responders (p˃0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, only pre-treatment SII (OR: 1.002, 95% CI: 1.000-1.004, p=0.036) and SIRI (OR: 4.334, 95% CI: 1.751-10.726, p=0.002) values were independently associated with response to omalizumab at 3 months in multivariate regression analysis. SII and SIRI could be effectively used to predict the response to omalizumab therapy. More comprehensive studies are needed to validate and elaborate on this relationship.

The Relationship Between Prescription Patterns and Symptom-Based Subtypes of Depression Using Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) Specific Problems Scales in Korean Clinical Sample

We derived five heterogeneous subtypes for 473 Korean depressive disorder patients through a latent profile analysis using the specific problems scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), which we used in a previous study (Choi, 2019). In this study, we attempted to confirm the clinical usefulness of specific problem scales by comparing the drug prescription patterns of the five derived subtypes: mild, helpless, somatic, avoidant with anxiety, and irritable with anxiety. Through retrospective medical records of 473 patients with depressive disorder, we investigated their demographic variables, hospitalizations, and prescriptions during the initial, third, and sixth months of treatment. There was a significant difference among the groups in the number of antidepressants prescribed initially and in the third months of treatment. Additionally, we noted differences in antipsychotics prescription in months three and six and sedative/hypnotics prescription in month six. The study results confirmed that the subtypes of depressive disorder based on specific problem scales of the MMPI-2-RF were associated with prescription patterns and clinical course. This finding suggests that subtyping based on multidimensional symptoms, not just the main symptoms of depression, may be useful in establishing a focused treatment plan tailored to the individual characteristics of patients in the initial phase of treatment.