Clinics
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To evaluate the prognostic value of platelet counts in acute kidney injury patients requiring renal replacement therapy. ⋯ Platelet counts upon admission to the intensive care unit and at the beginning of renal replacement therapy as well as sequential platelet count evaluation have prognostic value in acute kidney injury patients requiring renal replacement therapy.
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Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage puts patients at high risk for the development of pituitary insufficiency. We evaluated the incidence of pituitary dysfunction in these patients and its correlation with clinical outcome. ⋯ Pituitary dysfunction was identified in a substantial portion of patients with previous aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, but no association was found between this dysfunction and poor clinical outcome.
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Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial agent that has been used in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis treatment for many years. Recently, novel mechanisms of action have been proposed, thereby broadening the therapeutic perspective of this medication. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of hydroxychloroquine in T helper 17 (Th17) cytokines in healthy individuals and patients. ⋯ We demonstrated that in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers and in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis patients, there was a significant reduction in the IL-6, IL-17 and IL-22 supernatant levels after adding hydroxychloroquine. CONCLUSIONS Our in vitro results demonstrated that hydroxychloroquine inhibits IL-6, IL-17 and IL-22 production and contributes to a better understanding of the mechanism of action of this medication.
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Observational Study
Increased red cell distribution width in patients with slow coronary flow syndrome.
An elevated red cell distribution width has been recognized as a predictor of various cardiovascular diseases. Slow coronary flow syndrome is an important angiographic clinical entity with an unknown etiology. This study aimed to examine the relationship between red cell distribution width and the presence of slow coronary flow syndrome. ⋯ The data demonstrated that red cell distribution width levels are significantly higher and strongly positively correlated with both C-reactive protein and thrombosis in the myocardial infarction frame counts of patients with slow coronary flow syndrome. These findings suggest that red cell distribution width may be a useful marker for patients with slow coronary flow syndrome.
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The prevalence of electrocardiographic and echocardiographic abnormalities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease according to disease severity has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of electrocardiographic and echocardiographic abnormalities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients according to disease severity. ⋯ Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients have a high prevalence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, which is associated with disease severity. Because of this association, it is important to exclude decompensated heart failure during chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation.