Medicina
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We conducted a retrospective cohort study to report the clinical characteristics, incidence and outcomes of patients with severe COVID-19 with acute kidney injury (AKI). One-hundred and sixtytwo intensive care unit (ICU) admitted patients in a tertiary level hospital in the city of Buenos Aires with COVID-19 diagnosis were included. We hypothesized that COVID-19 related AKI would develop in the period of more severe hypoxemia as an early event and late AKI would be more probably related to intensive care unit complications. ⋯ A history of hypertension or heart failure, age and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) requirement were identified as risk factors. Late AKI (n = 25, 35.7%) was associated with sepsis and nephrotoxic exposure, whereas early AKI occurred closer to the timing of IMV initiation and was more likely to have an unknown origin. In conclusion, AKI is frequent among critically ill patients with severe COVID-19 and it is associated with higher in-hospital mortality.
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This review is an update on antiplatelet therapy and its interaction with oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetic patients with ischemic heart disease. We summarize the main pathophysiological mechanisms that intervene in diabetic patients and that increase the ischemic risk, the effects of the combination of oral hypoglycemic agents, their antithrombotic effects and their interaction with antiplatelet, and finally the studies that demonstrated the benefits of antiplatelet in diabetic patients in different scenarios of ischemic heart disease. The different mechanisms of action involve improved glycemic control, increased bioavailability of nitric oxide, reduced oxidative stress and, for certain molecules, direct inhibition of platelet activation and aggregation.
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Recently it has been demonstrated the clinical effectiveness of tocilizumab (TCZ) associated with systemic steroids for the treatment of severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia with rapid progression. The objective of this work was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and evolution characteristics of the patients who received this treatment. Between March and June 2021, TCZ was administered in a cohort study of adults with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, in a private hospital in the City of Buenos Aires; 30 patients were included, 63% men, middle age 55 years. ⋯ Of the entire cohort, seven who died during hospitalization had the highest requirement for IMV (100% vs. 43% p = 0.010) and secondary infections (100% vs. 35%, p = 0.006). In this relatively young cohort of patients with severe or critical SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, obesity does not appear to be a predisposing factor for superinfection or death. The presence of secondary infections, organ failure and shock are presented as probable factors of worse evolution, as well as the requirement of IMV.
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Fast acting aspart insulin is a faster-acting formulation of aspart insulin, having nicotinamide and Larginine added to the molecule, in order to achieve a faster absorption through the subcutaneous cellular tissue. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies showed a left-shifted mean serum concentration-time profile compared to the conventional formulation. ⋯ In addition, fast acting aspart insulin allows a more flexible treatment schedule, as it may be administrated at mealtime, immediately before or up to 20 minutes after; this schedule represents an advantage regarding quality of life in patients with diabetes treated with prandial insulin, especially in populations such as children, pregnant women or elderly subjects. The safety and tolerability profiles are comparable to conventional aspart insulin.
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Some patients diagnosed with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis could be reclassified as IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). Classification criteria have not been uniform and prevalence of IgG4-related retroperitoneal fibrosis (IgG4-RPF) is unknown in our region. We aimed to describe IgG4-RPF frequency relying on criteria published recently and comparing clinical, histopathologic and radiologic features with non-IgG4-RPF. ⋯ Over half of the patients in our cohort met the criteria of IgG4-RPF. New criteria may harmonize the identification of IgG4-RD. As IgG4-RD may be reversible at initial stages, these findings may lead to early recognition, treatment and integral follow-up.