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Background/Aims@#Non-alcoholic liver disease and alcoholic liver disease begin as simple steatosis that may progress to steatohepatitis and ensuing liver-related complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We explored differences in characteristics between non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and alcoholic steatohepatitisrelated (ASH) HCC. @*Methods@#NASH and ASH patients were identified from our department’s prospective HCC database. A total of 54 and 45 patients met predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria for the NASH-HCC and ASH-HCC groups, respectively. Clinical, biochemical and tumor characteristics were studied. @*Results@#NASH-HCC patients were older compared to ASH-HCC patients (72±9 vs. 66±9 years, P<0.001) and less male predominant (65% vs. 98%, P<0.001). Prevalence of diabetes mellitus (78% vs. 36%, P<0.001) and hypertension (80% vs. 58%, P<0.001) were significantly higher in the NASH-HCC group. Liver function tests and Child-Pugh scores were similar. There were no differences in alpha-fetoprotein level, lesions found at diagnosis (unifocal/multifocal) or prevalence of portal vein invasion. In both groups, almost half of the patients were in TNM stage 4 at the time of diagnosis and more than 50% of patients were not suitable for any therapy. Median survival in the NASH-HCC and ASH-HCC groups were 13 and 7 months respectively (P=0.113). @*Conclusions@#Despite significant differences in demography of the NASH-HCC and ASH-HCC groups, liver and tumor characteristics were comparable. Most patients were diagnosed late and were not amenable to curative or locoregional therapies. Better characterization of patients with NASH and ASH at risk of HCC is necessary to optimize screening, surveillance, and management strategies.
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INTRODUCTION@#This retrospective matched case-control study aimed to identify predictors of cut-out following intramedullary nailing of intertrochanteric fractures with the 200-mm Synthes proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA).@*METHODS@#609 patients underwent intramedullary nailing for intertrochanteric fractures at our institution between January 2011 and December 2014. 370 patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. There were 20 cases of implant cut-out. Cases and controls were matched using a propensity score-matching method with an m:n ratio, matching the criteria of gender, age and side of operation. Radiographs were assessed to determine fracture classification, fracture reduction quality, tip-apex distance, calcar referenced tip-apex distance (CalTAD), anteroposterior (AP) Parker's ratio index, lateral Parker's ratio index and cervical angle difference. Conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to determine any association between potential predictors and cut-outs.@*RESULTS@#The cut-out incidence was 5.4%. Of the 20 cut-outs, 16 were superior and four were cut-throughs. Univariate analysis only showed a significant association between unsatisfactory fracture reduction quality and cut-outs (odds ratio [OR] 10.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31-77.6, p = 0.027). This association remained significant with multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR 16.4, 95% CI 1.9-140.4, p = 0.011). Cut-throughs had significantly lower CalTAD (16.2 vs. 27.5, p = 0.016) and AP Parker's ratio index values (38.7 vs. 50.7, p = 0.007) than superior cut-outs.@*CONCLUSION@#Unsatisfactory fracture reduction quality was a significant predictor of cut-out in intertrochanteric fractures treated with the 200-mm PFNA. Cut-outs had two distinct modes, with cut-throughs having a deeper and more inferior helical blade position in the femoral head compared to superior cut-outs.
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<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>This study aimed to assess the accuracy and outcomes of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) performed in a regional hospital in Singapore.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The Changi General Hospital CCTA database was retrospectively analysed over a 24-month period. Electronic hospital records, catheter coronary angiography (CCA) and CCTA electronic databases were used to gather data on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and CCA results. CCTA findings were deemed positive if coronary artery stenosis ≥ 50% was reported or if the stenosis was classified as moderate or severe. CCA findings were considered positive if coronary artery stenosis ≥ 50% was reported.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The database query returned 679 patients who had undergone CCTA for the evaluation of suspected coronary artery disease. Of the 101 patients in the per-patient accuracy analysis group, there were six true negatives, one false negative, 81 true positives and 13 false positives, resulting in a negative predictive value of 85.7% and positive predictive value of 86.2%. The mean age of the study sample was 53 ± 13 years and 255 (37.6%) patients were female. Mean duration of patient follow-up was 360 days. Of the 513 negative CCTA patients, none developed MACE during the follow-up period, and of the 164 positive CCTA patients, 19 (11.6%) developed MACE (p < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Analysis of CCTA studies suggested accuracy and outcomes that were consistent with published clinical data. There was a one-year MACE-free warranty period following negative CCTA findings.</p>