European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Oct 2020
Prevalence and control of hypertension among patients on hemodialysis.
Earlier studies provided considerably variable estimates on the prevalence and control rates of hypertension in haemodialysis because of their heterogeneity in definitions and blood pressure (BP) measurement techniques applied to detect hypertension. ⋯ This study shows that the prevalence, but mainly the control rates of hypertension in patients on haemodialysis, differs between peridialytic and interdialytic BP recordings. Therefore, the wider use of home BP monitoring may improve the determination of BP control status in this high-risk population.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Oct 2020
ReviewGenetic Predisposition in Metabolic-Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Cardiovascular Outcomes - Systematic Review.
Despite the demonstrated increased cardiovascular (CV) risk associated with metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), genetic variants predisposing to MAFLD were not constantly associated with CV events. Recently, rs641738C > T near membrane-bound O-acyltransferase domain-containing 7 (MBOAT7) has been studied in MAFLD and CV outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association between rs641738C > T in the presence and severity of hepatic steatosis, fibrosis, biochemical markers and progression to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in addition to CV outcomes in MAFLD. ⋯ Despite inconclusive results in Asian populations, rs641738C > T near MBOAT7 is associated with increased hepatic fat, MAFLD severity, susceptibility to develop NASH, advanced fibrosis and HCC in adults from Caucasian, Hispanic and African American ethnicities with MAFLD, as well as elevated ALT levels in children, while exerting neutral effects in CAD.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Oct 2020
ReviewEpidemiology, Clinical Characteristics of the First Cases of COVID-19.
COVID-19 is currently the most urgent threat to public health in the world. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the first cases of COVID-19 to make further improvements in health policies and prevention measurements in response to the outbreak of COVID-19. ⋯ Understanding the epidemiological characteristics, clinical characteristics, and diagnosis and treatment of the first patients in various countries are of great significance for the identification, prevention and control of COVID-19.
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Little is known about the incidence and risk of intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired bloodstream infections (BSI) in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). ⋯ The incidence rate of BSI was high, and the cumulative risk of developing BSI increased with ICU stay. Further study will clarify if the increased risk of BSI we detected in COVID-19 patients treated with anti-inflammatory drugs is outweighed by the benefits of reducing any possible pro-inflammatory dysregulation induced by SARS-CoV-2.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Oct 2020
ReviewCOVID-19 Susceptibility in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
In barely nine months, the pandemic known as COVID-19 has spread over 200 countries, affecting more than 22 million people and causing over than 786 000 deaths. Elderly people and patients with previous comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes are at an increased risk to suffer a poor prognosis after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Although the same could be expected from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), current epidemiological data are conflicting. ⋯ The present paper is an up-to-date review that discusses the available research regarding the implications of coronavirus infection in COPD. Although validation in large studies is still needed, COPD likely increases SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and increases COVID-19 severity. Hence, specific mechanisms to monitor and assess COPD patients should be addressed in the current pandemic.