Medicina clinica
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Hemodialysis (HD) patients often have elevated levels of hepcidin hormone, which is a key regulator of systemic iron homeostasis. While pentoxifylline (PTX) has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory properties, it is unclear if these effects would also have an inhibitory effect on hepcidin. This study aimed to examine the potential role of PTX on hepcidin and its consequent effects on iron profile and anemia in HD patients. ⋯ This study reveals that PTX reduces hepcidin levels and consequently provides an improvement in the iron profile and anemia in HD patients.
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Studies have shown that fecal occult blood is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke, but the relationship between fecal occult blood and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) remains largely unknown. This study aimed to identify predictors for CSVD, with fecal occult blood and its proxies as potential influencing factors in elderly patients. ⋯ The presence of fecal occult blood is probably related to the risk of CSVD in elderly patients and could be used as a screening tool for CSVD in elderly populations.
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Both cigarette smoking (CGS), through its role as a benzene source, and some metabolic detoxyfiying enzymes (EDTOX) polymorphisms that hamper its inactivation, are considered as risk factors for the development of myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) and related disorders. This study aims to confirm such associations. ⋯ Cigarette smoking history is more relevant than EDTOX genotype in MDS etiopathogenesis.