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Patton Pham posted an update 2 weeks, 5 days ago
General harm right after back discectomy resembling appendicitis: Record of the case.
Cellulitis in youngsters: a retrospective single center study from Australia.
Transient neonatal diabetes mellitus (TNDM) is caused by activating mutations in ABCC8 and KCNJ11 genes (KATP/TNDM) or by chromosome 6q24 abnormalities (6q24/TNDM). We wanted to assess whether these different genetic aetiologies result in distinct clinical features.
Retrospective analysis of the Italian data set of patients with TNDM.
Clinical features and treatment of 22 KATP/TNDM patients and 12 6q24/TNDM patients were compared.
Fourteen KATP/TNDM probands had a carrier parent with abnormal glucose values, four patients with 6q24 showed macroglossia and/or umbilical hernia. VX-478 Median age at diabetes onset and birth weight were lower in patients with 6q24 (1 week; -2.27 SD) than those with KATP mutations (4.0 weeks; -1.04 SD) (P = 0.009 and P = 0.007, respectively). Median time to remission was longer in KATP/TNDM than 6q24/TNDM (21.5 weeks vs 12 weeks) (P = 0.002). Two KATP/TNDM patients entered diabetes remission without pharmacological therapy. A proband with the ABCC8/L225P variant previously associuce long-lasting remission of diabetes in patients with KATP mutations associated with PNDM. Adult patients carrying KATP/TNDM mutations respond favourably to sulfonylurea monotherapy.Proteomic approaches have been widely used in reproductive studies to uncover protein biomarkers of bull fertility. Seminal plasma is one of the most relevant sources of these proteins that may influence sperm physiology. VX-478 Nonetheless, there are still gaps in existing knowledge in the functional attributes of seminal proteins. Thus, we reviewed the relationships between seminal plasma proteins and bull fertility by conducting a systematic review with data obtained from 71 studies. This review showed that the associations related to fertility improvement with the use of total seminal plasma proteins are still controversial. None of the studies explored the sperm fertilizing ability following these interactions. By contrast, the exposure to a single protein, such as osteopontin, binder of sperm proteins, and heparin binding proteins, can increment sperm motility, capacitation, and fertilizing ability by modulating intracellular calcium concentrations, removing lipids from sperm membranes, and regulating the acrosome reaction. Variations in protein analyses and the protein contents and their abundances between animals contributed to the difficulty of establishing protein biomarkers of fertilizing potential of the bull sperm. Indeed, the heterogenicity of methodologies was a limitation of this review. Standardized methods of seminal protein analyses, as well as sperm endpoints, may minimize such discrepancies. In conclusion, potential biomarkers of sperm parameters are still to be established. Future studies should evaluate protein isoforms and how they interact with sperm to ascertain their biological functions.
To investigate the prevalence and risks factors associated with the presence of liver fibrosis in subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).
This study was part of a population-based study conducted in the Barcelona metropolitan area among subjects aged 18-75 years old. VX-478 link2 Secondary causes of steatosis were excluded. Moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis was defined as a liver stiffness measurement (LSM) ≥ 8.0 kPa assessed by transient elastography.
Among 930 subjects with NAFLD, the prevalence of moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis was higher in subjects with T2D compared those without (30.8% vs 8.7%). By multivariable analysis, one of the main factors independently associated with increased LSM in subjects with NAFLD was atherogenic dyslipidemia but only in those with T2D. link2 The percentage of subjects with LSM ≥ 8.0 kPa was higher in subjects with T2D and atherogenic dyslipidemia than in those with T2D without atherogenic dyslipidemia both for the cut-off point of LSM ≥8.0 kPa (45% vs 24% P = 0.002) and ≥13 kPa (13% vs 4% P = 0.020). No differences were observed in the prevalence of LSM ≥8.0 kPa regarding glycemic control among NAFLD-diabetic subjects.
Factors associated with moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis in NAFLD are different in subjects with and without T2D. Atherogenic dyslipidemia was associated with the presence of moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis in T2D with NAFLD but not in non-diabetic subjects. These findings highlight the need for an active search for liver fibrosis in subjects with T2D NAFLD and atherogenic dyslipidemia.
Factors associated with moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis in NAFLD are different in subjects with and without T2D. Atherogenic dyslipidemia was associated with the presence of moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis in T2D with NAFLD but not in non-diabetic subjects. These findings highlight the need for an active search for liver fibrosis in subjects with T2D NAFLD and atherogenic dyslipidemia.
Missed GP appointments have considerable time and cost implications for healthcare services.
This systematic review aims to explore the rate of missed primary care appointments, what the reported reasons are for appointments being missed, and which patients are more likely to miss appointments.
This study reports the findings of a systematic review. link2 The included studies report the rate or reasons of missed appointments in a primary care setting.
Databases were searched using a pre-defined search strategy. Eligible studies were selected for inclusion based on detailed inclusion criteria through title, abstract, and full text screening. Quality was assessed on all included studies, and findings were synthesised to answer the research questions.
A total of 26 studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. Of these, 19 reported a rate of missed appointments. The mean rate of missed appointments was 15.2%, with a median of 12.9%. Twelve studies reported a reason that appointments were missed, with work or family/childcare commitments, forgetting the appointment, and transportation difficulties most commonly reported. In all, 20 studies reported characteristics of people likely to miss appointments. Patients who were likely to miss appointments were those from minority ethnicity, low sociodemographic status, and younger patients (
21 years).
Findings from this review have potential implications for targeted interventions to address missed appointments in primary care. This is the first step for clinicians to be able to target interventions to reduce the rate of missed appointments.
Findings from this review have potential implications for targeted interventions to address missed appointments in primary care. This is the first step for clinicians to be able to target interventions to reduce the rate of missed appointments.
Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) is common in older adults and known to be associated with polypharmacy and multimorbidity. Less is known about the prevalence and causes of PIP in middle-aged adults.
To determine the prevalence and predictors of PIP in middle-aged adults.
A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted using primary care data in London.
PIP was defined using the PRescribing Optimally in Middle-aged People’s Treatments (PROMPT) criteria. Prescribing and demographic data were extracted from Lambeth DataNet (LDN), a pseudonymised database of all patients registered at general practices in Lambeth, for those aged 45-64 years prescribed ≥1 medicines in each year from 2014-2019 (
= 46 633-52 582). link3 Prevalence and trends over 6 years were investigated, including the association of PIP with polypharmacy, multimorbidity, deprivation, sex, and age.
The prevalence of PIP decreased from 20% in 2014 to 18% in 2019. The most prevalent PROMPT criteria in 2019 were the use of ≥2 drugs from the same pharmacological class (7.6%), use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for >3 months (7.1%) and use of proton pump inhibitors above recommended maintenance dosages for >8 weeks (3.1%). link3 Over the study period, the prevalence of multimorbidity increased (47-52%) and polypharmacy remained stable (27%). link3 Polypharmacy, multimorbidity, deprivation, and age were independently associated with PIP. Sex was the only variable not associated with PIP.
Almost one-fifth of middle-aged adults prescribed medicines are exposed to PIP, as defined by the PROMPT criteria. This is likely to be linked with exposure to avoidable adverse drug events. The PROMPT criteria may provide a useful aid in interventions to optimise prescribing.
Almost one-fifth of middle-aged adults prescribed medicines are exposed to PIP, as defined by the PROMPT criteria. This is likely to be linked with exposure to avoidable adverse drug events. The PROMPT criteria may provide a useful aid in interventions to optimise prescribing.
Several countries have released digital proximity tracing (DPT) apps to complement manual contact tracing for combatting the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. DPT aims to notify app users about proximity exposures to persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 so that they can self-quarantine. The success of DPT apps depends on user acceptance and the embedding of DPT into the pandemic mitigation strategy.
By searching for media articles published during the first 3 months after DPT launch, the implementation of DPT in Switzerland was evaluated to inform similar undertakings in other countries. The second aim of the study was to create a link between reported DPT implementation challenges and normalization process theory for planning and optimizing complex digital health interventions, which can provide useful guidance for decision-making in DPT design and implementation.
A Swiss media database was searched for articles on the Swiss DPT app (SwissCovid) published in German or French between July 4 and October 3, 2020. In a strhe NPT analysis provides a novel perspective on DPT implementation and stresses the need for stakeholder inclusion in development and operationalization.
Early experiences from one of the first adopters of DPT indicate that nontechnical implementation challenges may affect the effectiveness of DPT. The NPT analysis provides a novel perspective on DPT implementation and stresses the need for stakeholder inclusion in development and operationalization.
Accumulating evidence suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has negative effects on public mental health. Digital interventions that have been developed and evaluated in recent years may be used to mitigate the negative consequences of the pandemic. However, evidence-based recommendations on the use of existing telemedicine and internet-based (eHealth) and app-based mobile health (mHealth) interventions are lacking.
The aim of this study was to investigate the theoretical and empirical base, user perspective, safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of digital interventions related to public mental health provision (ie, mental health promotion, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders) that may help to reduce the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A rapid meta-review was conducted. The MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and CENTRAL databases were searched on May 11, 2020. Study inclusion criteria were broad and considered systematic reviews and meta-analyses that investigated digital tools for health promotion, prevention, or treatment of mental health conditions and determinants likely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.