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Neurologia Medico-chirurgica Jun 2017The prevalence of unruptured cerebral aneurysms (UCAs) in elderly patients is increasing in our aging population. UCA management in elderly patients has some... (Review)
Review
The prevalence of unruptured cerebral aneurysms (UCAs) in elderly patients is increasing in our aging population. UCA management in elderly patients has some difficulties, such as reduced life expectancy, increased comorbidities and treatment risks, and poor prognosis in case of rupture. In this review article, we summarize the most recent findings on the natural history, therapeutic options and treatment results for UCAs exclusively in elderly patients, and describe possible medical treatments for patients with UCAs.
Topics: Age Factors; Aged; Humans; Intracranial Aneurysm
PubMed: 28428448
DOI: 10.2176/nmc.ra.2016-0286 -
Database : the Journal of Biological... Oct 2023The initiative 'Swiss Natural History Collection Network' (SwissCollNet) aims to improve the accessibility of the Swiss natural history collections for research,...
The initiative 'Swiss Natural History Collection Network' (SwissCollNet) aims to improve the accessibility of the Swiss natural history collections for research, education and the wider public. In the 2021-24 funding period, SwissCollNet is identifying, prioritizing and digitizing as many collections as possible and building an online portal called the 'Swiss Virtual Natural History Collection' (hereafter SVNHC) to provide open access to harmonized sample data from Swiss collections. The University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons developed scenarios for the technical implementation of the SVNHC portal in a preliminary study on behalf of SwissCollNet and based on the requirements of collections and data centres.
Topics: Switzerland; Natural History
PubMed: 37935581
DOI: 10.1093/database/baad072 -
ELife Jan 2022The Puerto Rican coquí frog is both a cultural icon and a species with an unusual natural history that has attracted attention from researchers in a number of... (Review)
Review
The Puerto Rican coquí frog is both a cultural icon and a species with an unusual natural history that has attracted attention from researchers in a number of different fields within biology. Unlike most frogs, the coquí frog skips the tadpole stage, which makes it of interest to developmental biologists. The frog is best known in Puerto Rico for its notoriously loud mating call, which has allowed researchers to study aspects of social behavior such as vocal communication and courtship, while the ability of coquí to colonize new habitats has been used to explore the biology of invasive species. This article reviews existing studies on the natural history of and discusses opportunities for future research.
Topics: Animal Communication; Animals; Anura; Larva; Life Cycle Stages; Puerto Rico; Sexual Behavior, Animal
PubMed: 35029143
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.73401 -
Respiration; International Review of... 2023Lung herniation has been described in case reports or series. There are scare data in the form of original research studies to systematically evaluate this condition.
BACKGROUND
Lung herniation has been described in case reports or series. There are scare data in the form of original research studies to systematically evaluate this condition.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to evaluate lung hernias with a focus on their natural history.
METHODS
This is a retrospective study at our institution of patients who were found to have lung herniation on imaging between September 2010 and November 2022. Electronic medical record review was performed to extract clinical information regarding patients. Computed tomographic imaging was used to evaluate hernia size and size progression over time with a median follow-up time of 3.8 years.
RESULTS
Thirty-eight patients were eligible for analysis. Majority of patients were overweight or obese (31/38), smokers (31/38), had prior thoracic surgery (30/38), and were asymptomatic (33/38). Twenty of 38 patients had stability in hernia size, 12 of 38 patients had hernia size progression, and 6 of 38 patients showed hernia size regression. Younger age was found to be predictive of hernia size progression with age of 60 years being the cut-off for its prediction.
CONCLUSION
Lung hernias typically either remain stable in size or show size progression. Younger age (60 years cut-off) was found to be predictive of size progression. This is the largest systematic investigation at a medical institution to the best of our knowledge of lung hernias which used computed tomographic imaging to follow up lung hernias. Further information could be given to patients with this condition and to clinicians for potential management guidance.
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Electronic Health Records; Obesity; Overweight; Thorax
PubMed: 37669638
DOI: 10.1159/000533196 -
Bone May 2021Achondroplasia, the most common form of disproportionate short stature, is caused by a variant in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene. Advances in drug... (Review)
Review
Achondroplasia, the most common form of disproportionate short stature, is caused by a variant in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene. Advances in drug treatment for achondroplasia have underscored the need to better understand the natural history of this condition. This article provides a critical review and discussion of the natural history of achondroplasia based on current literature evidence and the perspectives of clinicians with extensive knowledge and practical experience in managing individuals with this diagnosis. This review draws evidence from recent and ongoing longitudinal natural history studies, supplemented with relevant cross-sectional studies where longitudinal research is lacking, to summarize the current knowledge on the nature, incidence, chronology, and interrelationships of achondroplasia-related comorbidities across the lifespan. When possible, data related to adults are presented separately from data specific to children and adolescents. Gaps in knowledge regarding clinical care are identified and areas for future research are recommended and discussed.
Topics: Achondroplasia; Adolescent; Adult; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Foramen Magnum; Humans; Longitudinal Studies
PubMed: 33545406
DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2021.115872 -
Cureus Dec 2020Over the years, knowledge regarding the natural history of Chiari malformation type I (CM-I) has improved. However, there are still uncertainties in the literature... (Review)
Review
Over the years, knowledge regarding the natural history of Chiari malformation type I (CM-I) has improved. However, there are still uncertainties in the literature regarding asymptomatic and oligosymptomatic patients with CM-I. We performed a literature review in order to determine the natural history of CM-I in symptomatic patients who were not operated and in asymptomatic adult patients. Among symptomatic patients, the most frequent symptom was headache (77%). Cough-related headache alone (34%), migraine-related headache alone (21.4%), and both cough- and migraine-related headaches (21.8%) were the most prevalent forms of headache. Some symptoms improved more effectively with surgical treatment options; cough-related headaches improved by 95% following surgery and by 40% following conservative treatment. Other headache types improved by 93% and 61.5% following conservative and surgical treatments, respectively. Patients diagnosed with asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic CM-I may improve over time or stabilize with conservative treatment. There is great heterogeneity in the literature regarding the diagnostic criteria for CM-I. Owing to the heterogeneity among the articles identified for this review, there is no consensus regarding the precise indications for surgery in asymptomatic patients. The natural CM-I history in asymptomatic patients reveals a favorable evolution.
PubMed: 33447479
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.12050 -
ZooKeys 2022In Italy, differently from other countries, a national museum of natural history is not present. This absence is due, among other reasons, to its historical political...
In Italy, differently from other countries, a national museum of natural history is not present. This absence is due, among other reasons, to its historical political fragmentation up to 1870, which led to the establishment of medium-sized museums, mostly managed by local administrations or universities. Moreover, a change of paradigm in biological research, at the beginning of the 20 century, contributed to privilege experimental studies in universities and facilitated the dismissal of descriptive and exploratory biology, which formed the basis of the taxonomic research carried out by natural history museums. Consequently, only a few museums have a provision of curatorial staff, space and material resources adequate to maintain their original mission of discovering the natural world, by conducting a regular research activity accompanied by field campaigns. The creation of a national research centre for the study of biodiversity, facilitating interconnections among the existing natural history museums could be a solution and is here supported, together with a centralised biorepository to host collections and vouchers, to the benefit of current and future taxonomic research and environmental conservation. Such an institution should find place and realisation within the recently proposed National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) planned within the National Plan of Recovery and Resilience (PNRR). Pending upon the creation of this new national centre, a network among the existing museums should coordinate their activities.
PubMed: 36761931
DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1104.79823 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2014Intracranial atherosclerotic disease was very common among stroke patients of Asians, Blacks, and Hispanics ancestry. Furthermore, stroke patients with intracranial... (Review)
Review
Intracranial atherosclerotic disease was very common among stroke patients of Asians, Blacks, and Hispanics ancestry. Furthermore, stroke patients with intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) have higher recurrence rate of cerebral ischemia and death than those without ICAS. However, the natural history of intracranial atherosclerotic disease is still in controversy. Most of the studies were retrospective and randomized controlled trial of drugs. This review summarized the prognosis of symptomatic and asymptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease in order to guide clinical decision-making and further clinical research.
PubMed: 25071710
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2014.00125 -
ISRN Allergy 2014Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease with early onset and with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 20%. The aetiology of atopic dermatitis is unknown,... (Review)
Review
Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease with early onset and with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 20%. The aetiology of atopic dermatitis is unknown, but the recent discovery of filaggrin mutations holds promise that the progression of atopic dermatitis to asthma in later childhood may be halted. Atopic dermatitis is not always easily manageable and every physician should be familiar with the fundamental aspects of treatment. This paper gives an overview of the natural history, clinical features, and treatment of atopic dermatitis.
PubMed: 25006501
DOI: 10.1155/2014/354250 -
Asia Pacific Allergy Oct 2022Dermographism is the most common form of chronic inducible urticaria. However, the natural history and clinical course of patients with dermographism in tropical...
BACKGROUND
Dermographism is the most common form of chronic inducible urticaria. However, the natural history and clinical course of patients with dermographism in tropical countries has not fully been described.
OBJECTIVE
To examine clinical features, natural history and clinical course of dermographism in Thai patients according to their experiences.
METHODS
A cross-sectional, internet-based survey was conducted in 2021. All study respondents completed a 45-item questionnaire that was circulated on social media regarding dermographism.
RESULTS
Among the 2,456 respondents who reported dermographism, 1,900 had symptomatic dermographism (SD), while 556 had simple dermographism (SimD). Of the respondents who reported SD and SimD, the female to male ratio was 2.2:1 and 2.4:1, respectively. The median age of the first episode of SD and SimD was 16 and 15 years, respectively. Older age, greater body weight, cardiovascular diseases, allergic conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis, changes in temperature, and family history of dermographism were all factors linked to an increased probability of SD. Half of the respondents with SD reported moderate itch severity. Moreover, about half of SD and almost all of SimD respondents let the wheal resolve on its own. Second generation H-antihistamines were most commonly prescribed while over-the-counter medicines were taken by both SD and SimD respondents.
CONCLUSION
This survey highlights several aspects of dermographism in Thai patients which can be useful for healthcare providers. SD is troublesome and affects the quality of life of many patients, leading some to seek medication themselves.
PubMed: 36452017
DOI: 10.5415/apallergy.2022.12.e39