The number of risk factors increases the recurrence events in ischemic stroke.

PURPOSE: Stroke is a significant cause of disability worldwide and is considered a disease caused by long-term exposure to lifestyle-related risk factors. These risk factors influence the first event of stroke and recurrent stroke events, which carry more significant risks for more severe disabilities. This study specifically compared the risk factors and neurological outcome of patients with recurrent ischemic stroke to those who had just experienced their first stroke among patients admitted to the Hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We observed and analyzed 300 patients' data who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. This retrospective observational study was conducted on consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients admitted to the top referral hospital, West Java, Indonesia. The data displayed are epidemiological characteristics, NIHSS score at admission and discharge, and the type and number of risk factors. Data were then analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS: Most patients had more than one risk factor with hypertension as the most frequent (268 subjects or 89.3%). In patients who experienced ischemic stroke for the first time, the average National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was lower (6.52 ± 3.55), and the alteration of NIHSS score was higher (1.22 ± 2.26) than those with recurrent stroke (6.96 ± 3.55) for NIHSS score and 1.21 ± 1.73 for alteration of NIHSS score). We processed the data with statistical analysis and showed a positive correlation between age (P < 0.05) and the number of risk factors (P < 0.001) in the recurrent ischemic stroke group. CONCLUSIONS: Age and the number of risk factors correlate with recurrent ischemic strokes.

Prediction of post-radiotherapy survival for bone metastases: a comparison of the 3-variable number of risk factors model with the new Katagiri scoring system.

We investigated patient survival after palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases while comparing the prognostic accuracies of the 3-variable number of risk factors (NRF) model and the new Katagiri scoring system (Katagiri score). Overall, 485 patients who received radiotherapy for bone metastases were grouped as per the NRF model (groups I, II and III) and Katagiri score (low-, intermediate- and high-risk). Survival was compared using the log-rank or log-rank trend test. Independent prognostic factors were identified using multivariate Cox regression analyses (MCRA). MCRA and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare both models' accuracy. For the 376 evaluable patients, the overall survival (OS) rates decreased significantly in the higher-tier groups of both models (P < 0.001). All evaluated factors except 'previous chemotherapy status' differed significantly between groups. Both models exhibited independent predictive power (P < 0.001). Per NRF model, hazard ratios (HRs) were 1.44 (P = 0.099) and 2.944 (P < 0.001), respectively, for groups II and III, relative to group I. Per Katagiri score, HRs for intermediate- and high-risk groups were 4.02 (P < 0.001) and 7.09 (P < 0.001), respectively, relative to the low-risk group. Areas under the curve (AUC) for predicting 6-, 18- and 24-month mortality were significantly higher when using the Katagiri score (P = 0.036, 0.039 and 0.022). Both models predict survival. Prognostic accuracy of the Katagiri score is superior, especially in patients with long-term survival potential; however, in patients with short prognosis, no difference occurred between both models; simplicity and patient burden should also be considered.

Evaluation of biochemical recurrence in patients with high-risk prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy plus androgen deprivation therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients with high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) or radiotherapy (RT) plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). METHODS: Subjects were patients with National Comprehensive Cancer Network-defined high-risk PCa treated with either RP or RT plus ADT. We calculated BCR-free survival in patients with those treatments and evaluated risk factor against BCR. RESULTS: A total of 114 patients, 71 RP and 43 RT plus ADT, were evaluated. A total of 59 and 20.9% of patients experienced BCR in the RP and RT treatment groups, respectively. The 5-year BCR-free survival probabilities improved significantly for patients who received RT compared to those who received RP (81.3 vs 37.3%, P<0.001). According to the number of risk factors, 59.2% of patients in the RP and 51.2% of patients in the RT treatment groups were classified with one risk factor (P<0.014). The 5-year BCR-free survival probabilities for patients treated with RP were 46.6 and 21.7% for one and multiple risk factors, respectively (P=0.008). On univariate analysis, only the number of risk factors had a significant impact on the risk of BCR. Meanwhile, there were no significant differences in the 5-year BCR-free survival probabilities between one and multiple risk factors in patients treated with RT. CONCLUSION: Among patients treated with RP, a marked heterogeneity existed in the oncological outcomes. Based on these findings, the number of risk factors should be emphasized to decide the optimal treatments for patients with high-risk PCa.

Factores de riesgo aterogénicos en dos grupos de adultos mayores / Atherogenic risk factor in two groups of elderlies

Objetivos: comparar la prevalencia de factores de riesgo aterogénicos en dos grupos de adultos mayores, uno con complicaciones ateroscleróticas y el otro sin ellas. Métodos: estudio descriptivo retrospectivo y comparativo en seis consultorios del médico de la familia del policlínico 19 de Abril en los años 2007 y 2008. Cada grupo estuvo formado por 80 adultos mayores, los que fueron vistos en consulta o en terreno. Se tuvieron en cuenta los requerimientos éticos de una investigación. Resultados: el tabaquismo fue el único factor de riesgo que se observó con mayor prevalencia en los hombres no complicados en relación con los complicados. La hipertensión arterial fue el único factor que se observó con mayor prevalencia en mujeres que en hombres. En los hombres complicados primó la presencia de dos factores de riesgo y solo uno en las mujeres. Conclusiones: los factores de riesgo se observan con mayor frecuencia en los adultos mayores que han sufrido alguna complicación ateroscleróticas y de ellos, en el sexo masculino

Objectives: to compare the prevalence of atherogenic factors in two groups of elderlies, one with atherosclerosis complications and the other without it. Methods: a comparative, retrospective and descriptive study was conducted in patients seen in six family physicians consulting rooms from the 19 de Abril Polyclinic during 2007 and 2008. Each group included 80 elderlies seen in the consulting room or at home. Ethical requirements of a research were taken into account. Results: smoking was the only risk factor present with a great prevalence in involved men compared with those non-involved. High blood pressure was the only factor observed with a higher prevalence in women than in men. In involved men predominated two risk factors and in women only one. Conclusions: the more frequent risk factors are observe in elderlies with some atherosclerosis complication in male sex

Factores de riesgo aterogénicos en dos grupos de adultos mayores / Atherogenic risk factor in two groups of elderlies

Objetivos: comparar la prevalencia de factores de riesgo aterogénicos en dos grupos de adultos mayores, uno con complicaciones ateroscleróticas y el otro sin ellas. Métodos: estudio descriptivo retrospectivo y comparativo en seis consultorios del médico de la familia del policlínico 19 de Abril en los años 2007 y 2008. Cada grupo estuvo formado por 80 adultos mayores, los que fueron vistos en consulta o en terreno. Se tuvieron en cuenta los requerimientos éticos de una investigación. Resultados: el tabaquismo fue el único factor de riesgo que se observó con mayor prevalencia en los hombres no complicados en relación con los complicados. La hipertensión arterial fue el único factor que se observó con mayor prevalencia en mujeres que en hombres. En los hombres complicados primó la presencia de dos factores de riesgo y solo uno en las mujeres. Conclusiones: los factores de riesgo se observan con mayor frecuencia en los adultos mayores que han sufrido alguna complicación ateroscleróticas y de ellos, en el sexo masculino(AU)

Objectives: to compare the prevalence of atherogenic factors in two groups of elderlies, one with atherosclerosis complications and the other without it. Methods: a comparative, retrospective and descriptive study was conducted in patients seen in six family physicians consulting rooms from the 19 de Abril Polyclinic during 2007 and 2008. Each group included 80 elderlies seen in the consulting room or at home. Ethical requirements of a research were taken into account. Results: smoking was the only risk factor present with a great prevalence in involved men compared with those non-involved. High blood pressure was the only factor observed with a higher prevalence in women than in men. In involved men predominated two risk factors and in women only one. Conclusions: the more frequent risk factors are observe in elderlies with some atherosclerosis complication in male sex(AU)