
Which statistical test should be used to compare treatment groups?
If the frequency of success in two treatment groups is to be compared, Fisher’s exact test is the correct statistical test, particularly with small samples. For large samples (about N> 60), the chi-square test can also be used [Table 1]. Paired samples
How often do doctors check PSA levels after radiation?
After radiation therapy. Doctors tend to follow the PSA levels every few months to look for trends. A one-time, small rise in PSA might be a cause for closer monitoring, but it might not mean that the cancer is still there (or has returned), as PSA levels can fluctuate slightly from time to time.
Why are cancer tests repeated at specific intervals?
Regardless of the test used - whether blood test, cell count, or tumor marker test, it is repeated at specific intervals so that the results can be compared to earlier tests of the same type. How Is Response Defined? Response to cancer treatment is defined several ways:
How often should follow-up lab tests be performed in patients with cirrhosis?
All Individuals: For all individuals who did not achieve an SVR and are awaiting or deferring retreatment, follow-up laboratory testing should occur every 6-12 months with a hepatic function panel, complete blood count, and international normalized ratio.

What is MCV in hemolytic anemia?
Hemolytic anemia is classified as normocytic anemia with an MCV of 80 to 100 fL. It is a form of low hemoglobin due to the destruction of red blood cells, increased hemoglobin catabolism, decreased levels of hemoglobin, and an increase in efforts of bone marrow to regenerate products.
What is the mechanism for ACI?
What is the mechanism for the anemia in chronic inflammation (ACI)? Acute phase reactants impair iron mobilization.
What test is used along with the mean cell volume MCV to morphologically classify anemias?
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) laboratory test, as part of a standard complete blood count (CBC), is used along with other RBC indices (MCH and MCHC) to help classify the cause of anemia based on red cell morphology.
How MCV is useful in classification of anemia?
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a laboratory value that measures the average size and volume of a red blood cell. It has utility in helping determine the etiology of anemia — calculation of the value is by multiplying the percent hematocrit by ten divided by the erythrocyte count.
What is endpoint in ACI?
An Endpoint consists of one MAC address and zero or more IP addresses. IP address is always /32. Each endpoint represents a single networking device.
What is an EPG in ACI?
EPGs are associated to a single bridge domain (BD) and used to define security zones within a BD. EPGs define both forwarding and security segmentation at the same time. The direct relationship between the BD and an EPG limits the possibility of an EPG to spanning more than one BD.
What is the difference between MCH and MCHC?
MCH quantifies the amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell. The normal values for MCH are 29 ± 2 picograms (pg) per cell. MCHC indicates the amount of hemoglobin per unit volume. In contrast to MCH, MCHC correlates the hemoglobin content with the volume of the cell.
What is MCV MCH and MCHC in blood test?
Hemoglobin is the protein in your red blood cells that transports oxygen to the tissues of your body. Your MCH value is related to two other values, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Together, MCH, MCV, and MCHC are sometimes referred to as red blood cell indices.
What is MCV and MCH high in blood test?
What Do High MCH Levels Mean? Your MCH will reflect your MCV. That means you'll have more hemoglobin if your red blood cells are larger than normal. Red blood cells can grow too large when you have fewer of them than normal -- a condition called macrocytic anemia. It's more common if you're elderly.
What is MCV in CBC test?
MCV stands for mean corpuscular volume. An MCV blood test measures the average size of your red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to every cell in your body. Your cells need oxygen to grow, reproduce, and stay healthy.
What if MCV MCH and MCHC are low?
The RBC count, hematocrit level, MCV, MCH and MCHC might also be low in patients with anemia. Low RBC counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels can be caused by other things too, such as a lot of bleeding or malnutrition (not enough nutrients in the food eaten).
Is MCV increased with iron deficiency?
ANEMIA (ANAEMIA) | Megaloblastic Anemias In cobalamin and folate deficiencies the MCV tends to increase before the decrease in the hemoglobin levels. The increase in MCV may not be present when there is concurrent microcytosis due to iron deficiency and thalassemia.
How long before a check up can you get a PSA test?
The PSA test is a blood test that measures the amount of a protein called prostate specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. You will usually have one done a week or two before your appointment, so that the results are available at your check-up. You will be told when to make an appointment for the test. It might be done at your GP surgery or at hospital, depending on the services in your area.
What tests are done to check for prostate cancer?
If your doctor or nurse is concerned about your PSA level or if you have new symptoms that suggest your cancer might have come back, they may recommend that you have some other tests, such as a prostate biopsy , MRI scan, CT scan , bone scan or PET scan.
What is follow-up?
If you’ve had treatment that aimed to get rid of your prostate cancer, such as surgery , radiotherapy or brachytherapy, you will have regular check-ups afterwards. This is often called follow-up.
What happens at a follow-up appointment?
At each appointment, your doctor or nurse will ask how you’ve been since your last appointment.
How long will my follow-up last?
You will have follow-up appointments for some time after your treatment. Exactly how long will depend on your cancer, any side effects of treatment and the services in your area. You will usually have appointments for several years.
What symptoms should I look out for?
If your cancer does come back, the first sign is likely to be a rise in your PSA level, rather than any symptoms. And problems will often be side effects of treatment rather than a sign that your cancer has come back.
How long does it take for PSA to drop after prostate surgery?
PSA level after surgery (radical prostatectomy) Your PSA level should drop so low that it’s not possible to detect it (less than 0.1 ng/ml) at six to eight weeks after surgery. This is because the prostate, which produces PSA, has been removed.
When should safety laboratory studies be obtained?
Safety laboratory studies should be obtained at baseline. Further safety laboratory monitoring (e.g. monthly) may be required in specific circumstances and/or in the case of abnormal results.
What is the approach to monitoring individuals following completion of a course of HCV therapy?
The approach to monitoring individuals following completion of a course of HCV therapy depends entirely on the person’s response to therapy. Two main scenarios exist: (1) the person achieved an SVR12, or (2) the person did not achieve an SVR, including persons who completed therapy persons who received an inadequate treatment course because of adherence problems, intolerance, or laboratory toxicity necessitating premature discontinuation of the treatment regimen.
How long does it take to get a HCV RNA level?
For individuals receiving HCV therapy, the AASLD-IDSA HCV Guidance recommends obtaining a quantitative HCV RNA level at baseline and at 12 weeks after completing therapy, regardless of the treatment duration; typical treatment durations are 8 weeks ( Figure 2 ) and 12 weeks ( Figure 3 ). [ 7]
How long does it take to monitor HCV RNA?
The recommended HCV RNA time points for monitoring, which are noted with solid blue circles with surrounding dashed red circles, should be at baseline and again at 12 weeks post treatment.
What is the best way to monitor HCV?
Monitoring requires use of a highly sensitive quantitative HCV RNA assay, typically with a lower limit of quantification in the range of 12 to 25 IU/mL. [ 1] In addition, to minimize interassay and interlaboratory variation, monitoring should ideally utilize the same HCV RNA assay performed by the same laboratory. Three commercially available HCV RNA assays are widely used in the United States: Roche COBAS TaqMan Version 1.0, Roche COBAS TaqMan Version 2.0, and the Abbott RealTime HCV (ART) assay. [ 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] The following definitions related to HCV RNA assay results are used in clinical practice and in research studies ( Figure 1 ): [ 4]
What happens if your ALT is elevated?
Clinical Symptoms and Increase in ALT Levels of Less than 10-Fold: If a patient receiving treatment for HCV has elevated ALT levels that are less than a 10-fold increase they should immediately stop therapy if they have either of the following: (1) symptoms suggestive of acute hepatitis (weakness, nausea, vomiting, or jaundice), or (2) a significant increase in other hepatic function panel labs (bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, or international normalized ratio). After stopping therapy, the individual should have close clinical and laboratory monitoring for liver toxicity. The AASLD-IDSA HCV Guidance does not specify what degree of change in bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, or international normalized ratio should be considered as "significant". Most experts would use clinical judgment with this recommendation and not discontinue therapy with a low-level increase in ALT accompanied by a low-level increase in bilirubin or alkaline phosphatase.
When was the FDA warning for HBV?
Food and Drug Administration Warning and Adverse Event Reporting Data. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a drug safety warning on October 4, 2016 in which they identified 24 cases of confirmed reactivation of HBV infection in persons receiving DAA medications for treatment of HCV. [ 18] .
How often should you monitor your PSA?
Doctors tend to follow the PSA levels every few months to look for trends. A one-time, small rise in PSA might cause closer monitoring, but it might not mean that the cancer is still there (or has returned), as PSA levels can fluctuate slightly from time to time. However, a PSA that is rising on consecutive tests after treatment might indicate that cancer is still there. Some medical groups have proposed that if the PSA rises more than 2 ng/mL above the lowest level reached, further treatment should be considered, but some doctors might advise tests to look for cancer in the body even if the PSA has not yet risen this much.
How long does it take for a PSA to drop after a prostatectomy?
Your PSA should fall to a very low or even undetectable level within a couple of months after radical prostatectomy. Because some PSA can remain in the blood for several weeks after surgery, even if all of the prostate cells were removed, doctors often advise waiting at least 6 to 8 weeks after surgery before checking the PSA level.
What happens if your PSA is higher than 2 ng/mL?
Some medical groups have proposed that if the PSA rises more than 2 ng/mL above the lowest level reached, further treatment should be considered, but some doctors might advise tests to look for cancer in the body even if the PSA has not yet risen this much.
What does a PSA level show?
When treatments such as hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy are used for more advanced prostate cancer, the PSA level can help show how well the treatment is working or when it might be time to try a different treatment.
How long does it take for prostate to drop after radiation?
PSA levels after radiation tend to drop slowly, and might not reach their lowest level until 2 years or more after treatment.
Why is PSA monitored?
If you choose observation or active surveillance, your PSA level will be monitored closely (most likely along with other tests) to help decide if the cancer is growing and if treatment should be considered. Your doctor will watch your PSA level and how quickly it is rising.
Can a doctor check your PSA?
Your doctor will watch your PSA level and how quickly it is rising. Not all doctors agree on exactly what PSA level might require further action (such as a prostate biopsy or treatment). Again, talk to your doctor so you understand what change in your PSA might be considered cause for concern.
Why is it important to use the same lab for all PSA tests?
Either way, it’s important to always use the same lab for all of your PSA tests because PSA values can fluctuate somewhat from lab to lab. Defining failure after other forms of therapy like seeds or cryotherapy is more challenging, but similar to that used with external radiation. 2.
How long does it take for a PSA to rise after prostate surgery?
Following surgery (radical prostatectomy), your PSA number should be undetectable after about a month. That means zero PSA, not 0–4 ng/dl. However, some men will have a very low non-rising PSA after surgery, which can sometimes be caused by normal prostate tissue left behind. This is uncommon, and referred to as benign regeneration. However, the most widely accepted definition of a cancer recurrence is a PSA >0.2 ng/mL that has risen on at least two separate occasions, at least two weeks apart, measured by the same lab. If you’ve had radiation therapy, the most widely accepted definition is a PSA that has risen from nadir in at least three consecutive tests, conducted at least two weeks apart, measured by the same lab. Some doctors believe that failure after radiation is not clear until the PSA has risen 2 points above its lowest value after radiation. Either way, it’s important to always use the same lab for all of your PSA tests because PSA values can fluctuate somewhat from lab to lab. Defining failure after other forms of therapy like seeds or cryotherapy is more challenging, but similar to that used with external radiation.
How to treat prostate cancer after prostatectomy?
If your PSA starts to rise after you’ve undergone prostatectomy, “salvage” radiation therapy might be a good option to explore, and has been shown to improve outcomes over time. With this approach, external beam radiation is delivered to the area immediately surrounding where the prostate was (the prostate bed), in the hopes of eradicating any remaining prostate cells that have been left behind. Depending on your PSA level, the addition of hormone therapy can improve outcomes with salvage radiation; for details, please see “Local Treatments for Recurrent Prostate Cancer” in our most recent patient guide. Other trials are looking at more aggressive experimental systemic therapies for these patients.
What is the goal of a PSA test?
The goal is to help you focus on what you need to know about rising PSA levels so you can hold meaningful, regular dialogues with all members of your health care team as you find the treatment path that’s right for you. Here are some questions you may have about the complexities of treatment in these cases—and some answers that will help prepare you for the ongoing discussions and decisions to be made to keep your prostate cancer under control.
How to block testosterone secretion?
There are several different ways to block the secretion of testosterone, including the surgical removal of the testes, drugs known as LHRH agonists, and estrogens.
Does prostate cancer come back after initial treatment?
How is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed? For the majority of men, prostate cancer is treatable and curable and does not come back after initial treatment. However, about 25%–33% of men with prostate cancer will experience a recurrence of their cancer after surgery or radiation.
Can a prostatectomy be performed after radiation?
With 3D conformal radiotherapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and brachytherapy, local tissue damage is often kept at a minimum, and surgeons at some of the larger cancer centers have been seeing improved results with “salvage” prostatectomy performed after radiation. But even under the best of circumstances, post-radiation surgery is a very difficult operation to perform, and few surgeons across the country perform it regularly.
How long before radiotherapy for Gleason grade tumor?
There is little disadvantage for taking hormonal therapy for one month before, during and for a month or two after radiotherapy. It is helpful in high Gleason grade tumors treated primarily with radiotherapy. If the Gleason grade is less than 7, it is probably unnecessary.
What to do if PSA is elevated after prostatectomy?
The persistently elevated PSA almost certainly indicates there is persistent tumor. The options would include postoperative radiotherapy, which is less successful in men whose PSA levels do not become undetectable after radical prostatectomy, hormonal therapy – either intermittent or continuous, or watchful waiting. Other options would include chemotherapy or experimental therapy. These latter two options are usually reserved for patients who have failed to respond to salvage radiotherapy or hormonal therapy. See my recent Quest article on treatment following radical prostatectomy
What does it mean when your PSA is high after surgery?
They can be treated with postoperative radiation therapy and/or postoperative hormonal therapy. In many cases the cancer can be controlled for a long time. There are other treatments available as well, and a lot of research is being done. So, there is hope for successful treatment.
What does 0.1 mean for PSA?
A PSA value of 0.1 is in the undetectable range and does not necessarily indicate a tumor recurrence . The treatment options for recurrence after radical prostatectomy are salvage radiotherapy or hormonal therapy.
Why does my prostate hormone go up after radiation?
However, there is a phenomenon called “PSA bounce” in which during the first 18 months or so after radiation treatment, the PSA goes up (presumably due to radiation-induced inflammation in the prostate gland) and then later comes down. So, it is possible that the rising PSA your father is having may be due to PSA bounce. If it continues to go up, it may mean that the radiation did not cure the tumor, and then he would be well advised to consider hormonal therapy.
How long does it take for a prostate cancer to rise after a prostatectomy?
Depending upon the stage and grade of the tumor, and the preoperative PSA level, a rising PSA occurs after radical prostatectomy within 7 years in about 20% of patients who were thought to have cancer that was contained within the prostate before surgery.
How long after surgery can you get a PSA of 0.02?
A PSA of 0.02 is essentially and undetectable PSA level. This is good news, especially being only 26 days after surgery. However, it is important to get follow-up testing every 6 months for 15 years.
Why is a blood test repeated?
Regardless of the test used - whether blood test, cell count, or tumor marker test, it is repeated at specific intervals so that the results can be compared to earlier tests of the same type.
What is a complete response?
Complete response - all of the cancer or tumor disappears; there is no evidence of disease. A tumor marker (if applicable) may fall within the normal range.
Can you change the number of cycles of chemotherapy?
Responses may be measured during the chemotherapy, but the number of cycles does not generally change unless the cancer grows. If the cancer grows, the chemotherapy will likely be stopped or changed to different drugs.
Does adjuvant chemotherapy show cancer?
With the exception of adjuvant chemotherapy, in which there is no apparent cancer present, the effectiveness of chemotherapy on cancer cells is measured in terms of "response." The techniques to monitor responses can be similar to the tests used to diagnose cancer.
Why do you have blood tests for autologous transplants?
You will have blood tests to ensure the cells being produced are new cells rather than the cancer cells returning. You may also have a bone marrow aspiration to check on how the new marrow is working. 4 .
How long does it take for a neutrophil to engraft?
For marrow or peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) recipients, neutrophil engraftment can occur as early as 10 days after transplant but is more common around 14-20 days. 5
What is engraftment in stem cell transplantation?
Engraftment in stem cell transplantation is when your body accepts the transplanted bone marrow or stem cells, and they begin to produce new blood cells and immune system cells. It is a step in a successful stem cell transplant. This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. Panyawat Boontanom / EyeEm / Getty Images.
How long does it take for stem cells to produce blood?
It takes about 12 to 15 days following infusion for stem cells to begin to produce new blood cells.
What are the cells that are produced during colony stimulation?
4 New cells include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Once production begins, engraftment is said to have occurred.
How long does it take to recover from a stem cell transplant?
Recovery times vary from person to person. Before stem cell transplant recipients can leave the hospital, they must be able to eat and drink fluids sufficiently, not have a fever, have no vomiting or diarrhea, and have safe levels of all blood cell counts. Transplant recipients may still tire easily and feel weak for months, however, in part because it takes time for the immune system to recover.
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Treatment
- The treatment of hepatitis C should include a pretreatment baseline evaluation, consideration of drug interactions, evaluation of treatment response during and after therapy, and monitoring for safety during treatment. A typical schedule for clinic visits related to an 8- or 12-week treatment course with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy would consist of a baseline visit just prior to sta…
Introduction
- Figure 1. HCV RNA Assay Reports The optimal and standard approach to monitoring for treatment efficacy consists of repeated measurement of quantitative HCV RNA levels. Monitoring requires use of a highly sensitive quantitative HCV RNA assay, typically with a lower limit of quantification in the range of 12 to 25 IU/ml.[1] In addition, to minimize interassay and interlaboratory variation…
Diagnosis
- Figure 3. Measurement of Sustained Virologic Response Following HCV Treatment The recommended testing to determine whether the patient has achieved an SVR is a quantitative HCV RNA level 12 weeks after completing therapy (Figure 3).[11,12] An undetectable HCV RNA level 12 weeks after completing therapy is referred to as SVR12 and this generally tra...
Adverse effects
- On October 22, 2015 the US FDA issued a Drug Safety Warning that treatment with ombitasvir-paritaprevir-ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir, can cause serious liver injury, mostly in patients with underlying advanced liver disease.[16] In most of the reported cases, the liver injury occurred within 1 to 4 weeks of starting treatment. Elevations in ALT to greater than 5 times the upper lim…
Clinical significance
- Hepatitis B (HBV) reactivation associated with severe hepatitis flare has been increasingly recognized as a potential adverse event associated with HCV DAA therapy. Previous reports have described HBV reactivation after interferon-based therapy, but in these prior cases, clinically significant hepatitis was rare. Chronic HCV has been known to suppress HBV replication in pers…
Risks
- The AASLD-IDSA HCV Guidance provides specific recommendations that address the risk of HBV reactivation following initiation of treatment for HCV.[7] The following summarizes these AASLD-IDSA HCV Guidance recommendations.
Preparation
- We recommend obtaining baseline HBsAg, anti-HB core, and anti-HBs prior to starting HCV DAA therapy to evaluate for risk of HBV reactivation during DAA therapy for HCV. Individuals with a positive baseline HBsAg should have a baseline HBV DNA level ordered. Based on results from this baseline evaluation, we recommend the following:
Assessment
- The approach to monitoring patients following completion of a course of HCV therapy depends entirely on the patient's response to therapy. Three main scenarios exist: (1) the patient achieved an SVR12, (2) the patient completed therapy but did not achieve an SVR12, or (3) the patient had an inadequate treatment course because of adherence problems, intolerance, or laboratory toxic…
Prognosis
- Patients who have an undetectable HCV RNA at week 12 (or later) after completing HCV therapy are considered to have achieved an SVR and this is associated with long-term reduced liver-related morbidity and mortality.[11,30,31] In a review of 44 studies involving more than 4,228 patients who achieved an SVR with an interferon-based regimen, 97% of patients maintained th…
Contraindications
- The AASLD-IDSA guidance recommends the following for patients who did not achieve an SVR with HCV therapy:[7]