Medicine
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Radiocarpal fracture-dislocations are extremely infrequent injuries caused by high-energy trauma and involve significant osseous and ligamentous injuries. If not treated properly, it can lead to serious complications such as ulnar translation of the carpus, multidirectional instability, loss of motion, and post-traumatic arthritis. Purely ligamentous injuries are rarer than fracture-dislocation injuries. Because previous studies have reported small patient cohorts, there has been no standardized treatment strategy for purely ligamentous radiocarpal dislocation. ⋯ Aggressive surgical management is needed earlier in the treatment of purely ligamentous radiocarpal dislocation, especially if the ulnar translation of the carpus was observed in the initial radiographs.
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Quality of life (QoL) is a matter of concern in both healthy and diseased individuals. Lifestyle factors such as physical activity and sleep have a direct impact on QoL. In this context, interactions between activity time expenditure and QoL might be different in comorbid and non comorbid patients. ⋯ Activity-relative time expenditure could be an adequate measure of daily activity pattern in the evaluation of QoL. Relative time spent in physical activity and sleep might be positively associated to Physical QoL. Sleep and comorbidity could have a statistically significant interaction in the prediction of Physical QoL.
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Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) has been identified as marker for renal fibrosis. Present study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of serum HE4 in liver fibrosis. ⋯ Serum HE4 was closely correlated with C-P class and might be a potential marker for liver fibrosis.
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To audit the young patients referred to the Hypertension Clinic at Groote Schuur Hospital that predominately serves the underprivileged communities of Cape Town. Folders of patients between the ages of 15 and 30 years over a 2 year period were reviewed. The data collected included demographic, clinical and laboratory data, investigations, causes of hypertension, and presence of hypertensive organ damage. ⋯ High risk behavior, including smoking and illicit drug use, and obesity were identified as contributing factors. Secondary causes were identified in 14.2%. These results suggest a targeted approach to the investigation of young hypertensives for secondary causes, and significant opportunities for lifestyle intervention.
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Clinical Trial
First clinical study using HCV protease inhibitor danoprevir to treat COVID-19 patients.
As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak globally, repurposing approved drugs is emerging as important therapeutic options. Danoprevir boosted by ritonavir (Ganovo) is a potent hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease (NS3/4A) inhibitor, which was approved and marketed in China since 2018 to treat chronic hepatitis C patients. ⋯ Our findings suggest that repurposing danoprevir for COVID-19 is a promising therapeutic option.