Postgraduate medical journal
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability worldwide, and its treatment is potentially a heavy economic burden. Suicide is another global public health problem and the second leading cause of death in young adults. Patients with TBI are known to have higher than normal rates of non-fatal deliberate self-harm, suicide and all-cause mortality. The aim of this study was to explore the association between TBI and suicide risk in a Chinese cohort. ⋯ Suicide is preventable if risk factors are recognised. Hence, TBI patients require special attention to minimise their risk of attempted suicide.
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We aimed to assess the association between alterations in serum chloride levels during hospitalisation and mortality. ⋯ Alterations in serum chloride during hospitalisation were associated with increased hospital mortality. The association was more prominent with upward than downward trend of serum chloride.
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The novel COVID-19 came under limelight few months back (December 2019) and has recently been declared a pandemic by WHO. It has resulted in serious financial implications being faced by dental practices, hospitals and healthcare workers. ⋯ In addition, healthcare workers are also facing financial challenges in this difficult time. Competent authorities should step in to help dental practices, hospitals and healthcare workers in order to ensure the provision of all types of healthcare efficiently in these testing times and beyond.
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The optimal dose of anticoagulant warfarin varies among patients to achieve the target international normalised ratio. Although genetic variations related to warfarin pharmacokinetics and vitamin K cycle are important factors associated with warfarin dose requirements, these variations do not completely explain the large interindividual variability observed in the most populations, suggesting that additional factors may contribute to this variability. microRNAs have recently been introduced as regulators of drug function genes, and therefore, may be involved in drug responses. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the possible association between variants in the seed region of microRNAs, which target the genes involved in the action of warfarin and warfarin dose requirement. ⋯ rs2910164 C/G in the seed region of miR-146a is associated with warfarin maintenance dose, likely by disrupting interaction between miR-146a and ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 gene, ABCB1. Therefore, this polymorphism may possibly be a potential factor for assessment of warfarin dose requirements.