UNASSIGNED: The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced various aspects of colorectal cancer (CRC) patient care, including diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. This study assesses the pandemic\'s impact on CRC patients.
UNASSIGNED: We performed a retrospective analysis of medical records for CRC patients who underwent surgery at five hospitals affiliated with Hallym University from January 2017 to December 2022. Patients were divided into two groups: the pre-COVID group (2017-2019) and the COVID group (2020-2022).
UNASSIGNED: Among 2038 patients, 987 (48.4%) were in the pre-COVID group, and 1051 (51.6%) were in the COVID group. The COVID group had more patients with two or more comorbidities (P < 0.001) and a higher incidence of rectal cancer (P = 0.010). While the rates of laparoscopic surgeries were similar, the COVID group had increased emergency surgeries (P = 0.005) and diversion procedures (P = 0.002). Additionally, the COVID group faced more overall complications (P < 0.001) and severe complications (Grade III-V, P = 0.004). There was a rise in lymphovascular invasion (P < 0.001) and T4 stage tumors (P < 0.001) within the COVID group. Despite these differences, both groups had similar 2-year overall survival rates (P = 0.409).
UNASSIGNED: Although patients treated during the COVID period experienced more frequent stoma formation, complications, and adverse prognostic factors, there were no differences in short-term oncologic outcomes, which was likely due to the follow-up period being insufficient to detect differences in OS.

OBJECTIVE: Late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (LoSLE) is known to possess characteristics different from those of early-onset SLE (EoSLE), thereby making their diagnosis difficult. This study aimed to assess the characteristic features of LoSLE in Japan, a model country with a super-aged society.
METHODS: Data were obtained from the Lupus Registry of Nationwide Institutions, which includes a multicenter cohort of patients with SLE in Japan who satisfied the 1997 American College of Rheumatology revised classification criteria for SLE. Data were compared between patients with LoSLE (≥50 years old at onset) and EoSLE (<50 years old at onset). To identify factors associated with LoSLE, binary logistic regression was used for the multivariate analysis, and missing values were complemented by multiple imputations. We also conducted a sub-analysis for patients diagnosed within 5 years of onset.
RESULTS: Out of 929 enrolled patients, 34 were excluded owing to a lack of data regarding onset age. Among the 895 remaining patients, 100 had LoSLE, whereas 795 had EoSLE. The male-to-female ratio was significantly higher in the LoSLE group than in the EoSLE group (0.32 vs 0.11, p < 0.001). With respect to SLEDAI components at onset, patients with LoSLE exhibited a higher frequency of myositis (11.9% vs 3.75%, p = 0.031), lower frequency of skin rash (33.3% vs 67.7%, p < 0.001), and lower frequency of alopecia (7.32% vs 24.7%, p = 0.012). No significant differences in overall disease activity at onset were observed between the two groups. Regarding medical history, immunosuppressants were more commonly used in EoSLE. A multivariate analysis revealed that a higher male proportion and a lower proportion of new rash at onset were independent characteristic features of LoSLE. We also identified late onset as an independent risk factor for a high SDI score at enrollment and replicated the result in a sub-analysis for the population with a shorter time since onset.
CONCLUSIONS: We clarified that LoSLE was characterized by a higher male proportion, a lower frequency of skin rash and a tendency to organ damage. Now that the world is faced with aging, our results may be helpful at diagnosis of LoSLE.

UNASSIGNED: Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, is believed to be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Despite this understanding, the clinical epidemiological status of psoriasis patients with a family history of the disease remains uncertain.
UNASSIGNED: In this study, we participated in a multicenter observational epidemiological study involved over 1,000 hospitals and enrolled a total of 5,927 psoriasis patients. These patients were categorized into two groups based on the presence or absence of a family history of psoriasis: family history cases (896) and sporadic cases (5,031). The clinical manifestations of these two groups were analyzed through clinical classification, comorbidities, treatment response, and other relevant factors.
UNASSIGNED: The findings of our study indicate that individuals with a family history of psoriasis predisposition exhibit a notably elevated prevalence of psoriatic arthritis compared to those with sporadic occurrences. Moreover, patients with a family history of psoriasis display a more rapid and efficacious response to secukinumab. Additionally, individuals with moderate to severe psoriasis are at a heightened risk of developing cardiovascular and liver diseases in comparison to those with mild psoriasis, with no discernible impact of familial history on the likelihood of comorbidities.
UNASSIGNED: Our study identified the clinical characteristics of individuals with a familial predisposition to psoriasis, offering novel insights into the management and therapeutic approaches for patients with this condition.

UNASSIGNED: To improve (patient-tailored) instructions for intranasal corticosteroid (INC) administration, we need to gain insight into specific characteristics of INC users and comedication use.
UNASSIGNED: We examined INC prescriptions obtained from the Dutch InterAction Database to gain insight into the prevalence and incidence rates, INC use in previous years, and comedication.
UNASSIGNED: We retrospectively examined INC prescriptions written between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019. Prevalence and incidence rates were stratified by age and sex. The use of INCs in previous years and comedication were analyzed.
UNASSIGNED: In 2019, a total of 172,563 INC prescriptions were written and dispensed to 75,048 individuals. Also in 2019, the prevalence and incidence of INC users were 68.9 and 25.6 per 1000 individuals, respectively. INCs were used by all age groups. More than half of INC users in 2019 did not receive a prescription in 2018, almost a quarter received a prescription in 5 consecutive years, 28% used an INC in combination with an inhaler, 29% used an INC together with a systemic antihistamine, 9% used an INC along with ocular medication, and 1% used an INC with an intranasal antihistamine. Several corticosteroid-containing drugs were being used in combination with INCs by 2% to 16% of those studied.
UNASSIGNED: This study gives insights into opportunities for patient-tailored instructions. INCs are used by various age groups and by new or intermittent users as well as by continuous users. On the bases of these results, patient-tailored instructions can be developed and subsequently studied to determine whether the instructions affect treatment adherence and efficacy. The insights gained about comedication provide opportunities for improved evaluation of the INC administration technique. Taken together, these suggestions might lead to a more patient-tailored approach, which might in turn lead to improved treatment with INCs.

This study examined the content characteristics and user responses of athlete-run sports YouTube channels, providing empirical insights for content production strategies and contributing to the development of athlete-run sports YouTube channels. Content analysis was conducted on 3306 videos posted on 20 popular YouTube channels of South Korean athletes from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2021. The formal characteristics analyzed included video length, the presence of foreign language subtitles, paid advertisements, and information sources. The content characteristics examined were the types of sports events, main content themes, and whether the content matched the athlete\'s sport. Results revealed significant differences in content characteristics and user responses based on whether the athletes were active or retired. This study\'s distinctive contribution lies in highlighting the evolving role of athletes as content creators and providing strategic implications for enhancing the competitiveness of athlete-run sports YouTube channels. Future research should consider a broader range of sports YouTubers and a wider variety of YouTube channels to gain comprehensive insights into the sports content ecosystem on this platform.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for sialolithiasis patients using a large community and hospital-based cohort.
METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted on 20,396 individuals, including 5100 sialolithiasis patients and 15,296 matched controls. Demographics and laboratory data were obtained from electronic medical records. Statistical analyses were performed to identify significant differences between the two groups. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.
RESULTS: Sialolithiasis was more prevalent in women, with a mean age at diagnosis of 55.75 years. Several geographic location variables emerged as risk factors for sialolithiasis including Israeli birth, higher socioeconomic communities, and specific areas of residency. Tobacco smoking (odds ratio = 1.46) was a significant risk factor. Low high-density lipoprotein levels, elevated triglycerides, and elevated amylase levels were associated with sialolithiasis.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides valuable insights into the demographic and laboratory characteristics of sialolithiasis patients, indicating that area of residency and lifestyle factors contribute to the risk of developing sialolithiasis. The findings may contribute to a better understanding of the disease and the development of preventative measures or early diagnostics tools.

Background: PalliPed is the first Italian nationwide project aimed at describing the characteristics of patients accessing specialized pediatric palliative care (PPC) and their families, in the main care settings (hospice, home care, and hospital). The project\'s secondary aim is to assess the extent and quality of regional PPC networks/facilities and the number of dedicated resources. In this article, we present the results of the first part of the project. Methods: All Italian PPC centers/facilities were invited to participate in the project. Children and young adults in the care of the specialized PPC networks/structures as of 24 October, 2022, including prenatal care, were involved. Children\'s eligibility for specialized PPC was assessed according to the Assessment Form for Complex Clinical Needs in Pediatrics (ACCAPED Scale) and after a multidisciplinary assessment by the healthcare team. Data were collected through an online survey. Results: A total of 867 patients were described. The lack of adequate specialized PPC service emerged, according to the available estimate of specialized PPC needs, as well as the need for improved referral to PPC by pediatricians or territorial services, particularly for infants and oncological patients. More family support measures also seem necessary, particularly for the mothers. Healthcare providers\' communication skills should be improved to ensure greater involvement of patients and families in care decisions. Conclusions: This analysis represents the first step toward defining a constantly updated database for the census and monitoring of specialized PPC activities at the national level. This research model can be extended to other realities in different countries, allowing comparison of different care models.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in two large cohorts from Turkey and the United States.
METHODS: Patients diagnosed with childhood-onset SLE who fulfilled the 1997 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for SLE from four reference centers in Turkey and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in the United States were included in this study. A comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the similarities and differences in clinical and laboratory features, damage accrual, and treatment experiences between the two populations.
RESULTS: A total of 174 patients with childhood-onset SLE were included in this study (108 patients from Turkey and 66 patients from the United States). The female-to-male ratio was similar between the two cohorts (∼3:1, p = .73). The median age at diagnosis was 11.67 years (2.19-17.93) in the Turkish cohort and 13.68 years (2.74-17.93) in the U.S. cohort (p < .001). Photosensitivity (45.4% and 21.2%; p = .007) and renal involvement (41.7% and 36.4%; p = .045) were higher in the Turkish cohort. Anti-Ro/SSA (34.8% and 15.7%; p < .001), anti-Sm (59.1% and 19.4%; p < .001), and anti-RNP (47.0% and 14.8%; p < .001) positivity was more frequent in the U.S. cohort. Current use of rituximab (37.9% and 1.9%; p < .001) and belimumab (19.7% and 0%; p < .001) was more prevalent in the U.S. cohort, while the use of cyclophosphamide (often according to the low dose Euro-Lupus protocol) throughout the disease course (24.1% and 4.5%; p < .001) was more frequent in the Turkish cohort. SLICC/ACR Damage Index scores were not different between the two cohorts.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides detailed clinical and laboratory features of childhood-onset SLE in two independent and geographically divergent cohorts. Our findings suggest an earlier age of disease onset and a higher prevalence of kidney involvement in Turkish patients. Differences in treatment approaches were also noted. However, damage accrual related to SLE does not appear to be different between the two patient populations.

UNASSIGNED: Urethrocutaneous fistula (UCF) is one of the major complications of circumcision. The risk factors associated with UCF are not clear-cut but its repair remains a challenge for urological surgeons. The aim of this study was to highlight the epidemiological, and clinical features and outcomes obtained from the management of UCF in the context of a country with limited medical resources where ritual circumcision is widely practiced.
UNASSIGNED: From February 2010 to December 2022, 35 patients underwent surgical repair for post-circumcision UCF in two tertiary hospitals in Yaounde, Cameroon. Simple closure, Thiersch-Duplay-Snodgrass and Mathieu techniques were performed.
UNASSIGNED: The mean age of patients was 7.4 ± 4.1 years with a range of 2 to 21 years; the median age at circumcision was 24 months (12; 48). Most (95%) of circumcisions were performed by paramedical staff. The majority of patients (n = 26) consulted for a bifid stream, Three-quarters of fistulae were located at the corona. Small fistulae represented 74.28% (n = 26) of cases as opposed to large fistulae (25.71%). More than 70% of patients underwent a simple closure. The therapeutic results were satisfactory in 91.4% of cases (n = 32) after an average follow-up of 91.85 ± 51.92 months. There were no statistically significant differences between the patients with coronal fistula and patients with distal penile fistula concerning demographic, clinical and surgical characteristics.
UNASSIGNED: Urethrocutaneous fistula is a major and frequent complication of circumcision mostly practiced by non-qualified personnel on children aged 24 months. The usual presentation is micturition with a bifid stream occurring on average 3 months after circumcision. Coronal fistulas are the commoner location. Simple closure, Thiersch-Duplay-Snodgrass and Mathieu technique appear to be safe with the advantages of low recurrence rate. An accurate diagnosis with a timeframe respecting the principles of fistula surgery combined with regular follow-up is mandatory for good long-term results with a low recurrence rate. Further prospective studies on the factors affecting the formation of urethrocutaneous fistula should be performed to prevent this complication of circumcision.

BACKGROUND: Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease. Although several large-scale studies have investigated MBC patients in other countries, the features of MBC patients in China have not been fully explored. This study aims to explore the features of Chinese MBC patients comprehensively.
METHODS: We retrospectively collected data of MBC patients from 36 centers in China. Overall survival (OS) was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox regression analyses. Multivariate Cox analyses were used to identify independent prognostic factors of the patients.
RESULTS: In total, 1119 patients were included. The mean age at diagnosis was 60.9 years, and a significant extension over time was observed (P < 0.001). The majority of the patients (89.1 %) received mastectomy. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in 7.8 % of the patients diagnosed in 2009 or earlier, and this percentage increased significantly to 38.8 % in 2020 or later (P < 0.001). The five-year OS rate for the population was 85.5 % [95 % confidence interval (CI), 82.8 %-88.4 %]. Multivariate Cox analysis identified taxane-based [T-based, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.32, 95 % CI, 0.13 to 0.78, P = 0.012] and anthracycline plus taxane-based (A + T-based, HR = 0.47, 95 % CI, 0.23 to 0.96, P = 0.037) regimens as independent protective factors for OS. However, the anthracycline-based regimen showed no significance in outcome (P = 0.175).
CONCLUSIONS: As the most extensive MBC study in China, we described the characteristics, treatment and prognosis of Chinese MBC population comprehensively. T-based and A + T-based regimens were protective factors for OS in these patients. More research is required for this population.