ABSTRACT
The incidence and mortality rates of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer remain high. Despite constant improvements in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, the early diagnosis, mid- and late-stage treatment, drug tolerance, and cancer recurrence and metastasis in GI cancer remain challenging. In this review article we summarize the recent research advance in the roles of keratins in GI cancer, with the hope that they will become efficient biomarkers for the prediction, diagnosis, or treatment of these malignancies.
Subject(s)
Humans , Biomarkers, Tumor , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/therapy , KeratinsABSTRACT
Background: Accurate diagnosis of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is essential for the clinician. In Bangladesh MRSA creates a great problem for the treatment of infection. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to observe the clinical and diagnostic significance of MRSA infection in Bangladesh. Design: Systematic review of published articles in Bangladesh. Data Sources: PubMed (Medline), Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Databases (African, eastern Mediterranean, Latin American and Caribbean, western Pacific, and southeast Asian regions) as well as Google Scholar, Banglajol, Asiajol. Review Methods: The search was restricted to full articles published from January 2000 (publication date of the first study identified by the research) to December 2013. Studies were excluded that did not provide appropriate data on the prevalence of MRSA. Only English language was applied. Result: A total number of 125 studies were identified during systematic review which were relevant to the present research question and among these only 14 studies were met the criteria for analysis. The level of evidence and freedom from bias of these studies were generally low. MRSA was diagnosed phenotypic in most of the articles. Majority were isolated from skin wound. The isolation rate of MRSA among all culture isolates ranged from 4.8-78.7%. From all studies diagnosis of MRSA infection was done from hospital setting; however, only two studies had been reported from community settings though the CDC definition was not followed in either study. Conclusion: Significance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in Bangladesh is very high leading to a huge clinical as well as laboratory burden in the heath care facilities as well as in the community settings of Bangladesh.
ABSTRACT
The cold water immersion test with finger skin temperature (FST) measurement is used to assess vascular disorders in hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). The test method is currently being standardized within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in which a water temperature of 12°C for 5 min of hand immersion and an option of using a waterproof hand covering during immersion are proposed. It is necessary to evaluate the diagnostic significance of the test with FST measurement under different conditions to provide a proper management of HAVS patients. The aim of this article is to review research findings of this test with FST measurement and discuss test conditions influencing the results and diagnostic significance. Different conditions were employed, and the test results were shown to be influenced by water temperature, immersion time and other conditions such as room temperature, season, ischemia during immersion, and evaluation parameters. These factors need to be considered in the standardization of the cold water immersion test with FST measurement. It has been mentioned that a high water temperature, a short immersion time and other conditions should be chosen to expose a subject to minimal suffering during the test. A water temperature between 10°C and 15°C and a 5 min immersion might be suitable for the cold water immersion test. The reported sensitivity and specificity evaluating rewarming to the initial temperature for the test using a water temperature of 12°C and a 3 min immersion are 58% and 100%, respectively; these are low but similar to those for the water immersion test at 10°C. Therefore, the proposed cold water immersion test at 12°C for 5 min by the ISO (Draft International Standard) is the focus of much interest, and further studies are needed to obtain sufficient data for evaluating the diagnostic significance of the test. At present, the test needs to be used together with a test battery.