Internal medicine

Blast is a complex phenomenon which needs to be understood, especially in a military framework, where this kind of loading can have severe consequences on the human body. Indeed, the literature lists a number of studies which try to investigate the dangerousness of such a phenomenon, both at experimental and numerical level, and the injuries that could occur when the fighters or police officers are stroke by blast wave. When focusing on primary blast effect, this paper analyses the effect of this loading on the occurrence of rib fracture, using previously developed injury risk curves...

After cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), the occurrence of systemic inflammatory response is often accompanied by a persistent compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome that can lead to a compromised immune competence termed immunoparalysis, rendering the patients susceptible to infections which is a leading complication following cardiac surgery. However, the underlying mechanisms of CPB-elicited immunoparalysis remain obscure. In this study we showed that peroxiredoxin 1 (Prdx1), a putative cytosolic antioxidant, was released immediately after CPB in a cohort of pediatric patients receiving congenital cardiac surgery...

OBJECTIVE: To reveal the presence and activities of healers from funerary contexts. MATERIALS: Ethnohistoric and ethnographic textual descriptions and the bioarchaeological record. METHODS: A synthesis of human remains, grave contexts, and funerary objects. CONCLUSIONS: The capacity to act as a "healer" forms part of the social identity of a diverse range of uniquely specialized individuals cross-culturally who also perform a variety of other roles associated with transcendent ideologies, beliefs, and religion...

In a globalized world, infectious diseases of international concern are inevitable. When they (re-)emerge, the regulatory system works towards mitigating their impact. Ebola outbreaks marked a turning point in regulatory preparedness and efforts led to the accelerated development of therapeutic agents, in a catastrophic environment. However, only one clinical trial determined a vaccine's efficacy. Key lessons were considered and applied thereafter. The collaborative work resulted in the approval of the first therapeutic options against Ebola, a milestone in public health preparedness...

The National Kidney Foundation convened an interdisciplinary international workshop in March 2019 to discuss the potential role of a new class of agents for the treatment of anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD): the hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHIs). International experts with expertise in physiology, biochemistry, structural chemistry, translational medicine and clinical management of anemia participated. Participants reviewed the unmet needs of current anemia treatment, the biology of hypoxia-inducible factor, the pharmacology of prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors, and the results of phase 2 clinical trials of HIF-PHIs among patients with both non-dialysis dependent and dialysis-dependent CKD...

Infectious mononucleosis (IM), mainly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, can result in prolonged symptoms. The objective of this study was to look at the length of sick leave, diagnosis of IM, treatment, and comorbidities in a real-world setting in Germany. This retrospective, cross-sectional study used electronic medical record data from office-based practices in Germany and included patients with an initial confirmed diagnosis of IM between the January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2018. Patients of working age (18-65 years) with statutory health insurance were included in order to look at the working population who would need a sick note for their employers in case of illness...

OBJECTIVE: SARS-CoV-2 has caused nearly 4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide in the approximately 4 months since it emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Comorbidities increase morbidity and mortality in COVID-19, and many laboratory parameters have been associated with mortality. The aim of the present study was to identify the relationship between endogenous carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level and the clinical course and prognosis of COVID-19. METHODS: The study included 48 non-smokers or ex-smokers aged 18 years or older who presented to the emergency department, were diagnosed with COVID-19 by real-time PCR analysis of nasopharyngeal swab sample, and were treated in the pulmonary diseases ward of the Atatürk University hospital after between March 24, 2020 and April 15, 2020...

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is often complicated by anemia, which is associated with disease progression and increased hospital visits, decreased quality of life, and increased mortality. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search of English language peer-reviewed articles in PubMed/MedLine published between 1998 and 2020 related to the treatment of anemia of CKD was conducted. The United States Renal Database System and Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) data reports, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Food and Drug Administration websites, and published congress abstracts in 2020 were surveyed for relevant information...

OBJECTIVE: Low intake of B-vitamins can lead to hyperhomocysteinaemia which is reported as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, little is known about this relationship. Therefore, we decided to examine the association between dietary intake of B-vitamins and cardiovascular risk factors in elderly men. METHODS: The present cross-sectional study consisted of 357 elderly men. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated and reliable food frequency questionnaire...

BACKGROUND: Biochemical recurrence (BCR) can be seen in the early or late period after radical prostatectomy (RP). Various models have been developed to predict BCR. OBJECTIVE: In our study we evaluated accuracy of four pre-operative models (GP score, PRIX, D'Amico risk classification, CAPRA) in predicting BCR after RP in Turkish patients. METHODS: Age, preoperative total prostate specific antigen (PSA) values, clinical stages, total number of cores taken in biopsy, number of positive cores, preoperative biopsy Gleason score (GS), follow-up time and presence of BCR after RP were recorded...

OBJECT: We aimed to evaluate the elevation of amylase and lipase enzymes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and their relationship with the severity of COVID-19. METHOD: In this study, 1378 patients with COVID-19 infection were included. Relation of elevated amylase and lipase levels and comorbidities with the severity of COVID-19 was analyzed. The effects of hemodynamic parameters and organ failure on pancreatic enzymes and their relations with prognosis were statistically analyzed...

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the degree of hydronephrosis and the presence of microscopic hematuria in patients that presented to the emergency department (ED) with ureteral stones. METHODS: The records of patients who presented to our ED due to urolithiasis between January 2017 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients aged 18 years or older who underwent non-contrast computed tomography (CT abdomen/pelvis) and urinalysis (UA) and were diagnosed with ureteral stones were included in the study...

BACKGROUND: Group B Streptococcus (GBS), also known as Streptococcus agalactiae, is a Gram-positive bacterium known for its ability to colonise the vaginal and rectal areas of the mother and is a leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. This study aimed at determining the prevalence, associated risk factors and antimicrobial susceptibility of GBS colonization among pregnant women attending antenatal Care (ANC) at Dschang District Hospital. METHODS: This hospital-based cross-sectional study used a multistage sampling method to recruit a total of 621 consented pregnant women who attended ANC in Dchang District Hospital...

BACKGROUND: Early prediction of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) for cardiac arrest (CA) patients is a major challenge. Different biomarkers have been studied as an early predictor for ROSC, but a consensus has not been achieved in this regard. This study's goal was to investigate the value of the carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and methemoglobin (MetHb) levels as a predictive marker for ROSC and prognostic marker for patients who achieve ROSC. METHODS: A total of 241 adult patients (109 female, 132 male) diagnosed as non-traumatic CA were included in the study...

AIMS: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a worldwide distributing viral disease. Hepatitis due to HBV reactivation may progress to chronic illness and associated with increased risk of hepatic failure and hepatocellular cancer. Rituximab (RTX) is an immunosuppressive agent, is particularly used in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Patients have significant risk for HBV reactivation following chemotherapy with a RTX containing regimen. This study aimed to determine the HBV screening manner and reactivation rates in patients with hematological neoplasm following chemotherapy including Rituximab...

AIM: In the literature, there are no data examining the association with lichen planus with acanthosis nigricans and acrochordon, which are skin findings of metabolic syndrome (MS). MATERIALS: 108 lichen planus (LP) cases, age and sex-matched 109 controls, 217 cases in total were prospectively included in the study. RESULTS: Metabolic Syndrome was found in 55 (50.9%) of 108 cases with lichen planus and 36.7% in the control group. The frequency of MS in the lichen planus group was found to be significantly higher than in the control group (p=0...

PURPOSE: Meaningfully grouping individuals with tinnitus who share the common characteristics (i.e., subgrouping, phenotyping) may help tailor interventions to certain tinnitus subgroups and hence reduce outcome variability. The purpose of this study was to test if the presence of tinnitus subgroups are discernible based on hearing-related comorbidities, and to identify predictors of tinnitus severity for each subgroup identified. METHODS: An exploratory cross-sectional study was used...

BACKGROUND: The use of dobutamine in patients with sepsis is questionable. Some studies reported milrinone was used as an alternative inotropic agent. We aim to evaluate whether milrinone is better than dobutamine in septic patients. METHODS: Based on the analysis of MIMIC III public database, we performed a big-data, real world study. According to the use of dobutamine or milrinone, patients were categorized as the dobutamine group or milrinone group.We used propensity score matched (PSM) analysis to adjust for confoundings...

BACKGROUND: Equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (eNAD/EDM) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder associated with a vitamin E deficiency within the first year of life. Vitamin E consists of 8 isoforms metabolized by the CYP4F2 enzyme. No antemortem diagnostic test currently exists for eNAD/EDM. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Based on the association of α-tocopherol deficiency with the development of eNAD/EDM, we hypothesized that the rate of α-tocopherol, but not γ-tocopherol or tocotrienol metabolism, would be increased in eNAD/EDM-affected horses...

INTRODUCTION: The Smart Safety Surveillance (3S) concept is based on the understanding that, when faced with competing pharmacovigilance priorities, countries will have to invest judiciously, by focusing on new priority products, sharing work and resources with other countries when possible and building national competence for those activities that cannot be delegated. METHOD: The 3S principles were applied to Armenia, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Peru and Thailand using three priority products: bedaquiline, rotavirus vaccine and tafenoquine...