Medicine
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Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare non-hereditary disease of unknown etiology that is characterized by the appearance of multiple polyps in the entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract, except in the esophagus, with GI and non-GI symptoms. Various factors are associated with the pathogenesis of CCS. Immune dysregulation has been discussed as one of the pathogeneses of CCS, and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota can affect the immune system. Currently, standard treatment has not been established. ⋯ Furthermore, we provide the possibility that microbiome modulation by FMT could serve as a complementary treatment in patients with steroid-refractory CCS.
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic autoimmune disease that contributes to progressive disability, systemic complications, higher mortality, and societal burden. Typical symptoms of RA include symmetrical pain and swelling in multiple joints, morning stiffness, and elevated levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and rheumatoid factor. The representative treatment for RA is medication, including disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, glucocorticoids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, these medications are not yet curative nor preventative and are associated with several adverse effects, leading to their discontinuation. Recent articles reported that Simiao Xiaobi decoction (SXD) could relieve the symptoms of RA by clinical trial and experimental study, but an evidence-based review on the effectiveness and safety of SXD on RA has not yet been provided. ⋯ Searching for randomized controlled trials on the use of SXD for RA will be performed by using multiple electronic databases, manual search, and contacting the authors by e-mail if needed. Studies will be selected according to the predefined criteria and the data collected on study participants, interventions, control groups, outcome measurements, their results, adverse events, and risk of bias will be summarized. The primary outcome will be the disease activity score (including effective rate, swollen joint count, tender joint count, and morning stiffness), and the secondary outcomes will be blood tests (including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and rheumatoid factor) and adverse events. We will use Review Manager software to perform a meta-analysis, the Cochrane Collaboration "risk of bias" tool for assessing the risk of bias, and grades of recommendation, assessment, development and evaluation for the determination of the quality of evidence.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Correlation and mechanism between cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and oral streptococcus count in patients with primary microvascular angina pectoris.
Although primary microvascular angina (PMVA) can be diagnosed clinically, the etiology and pathophysiology of PMVA remain unclear. The effects of conventional clinical medications (aspirin, statins, and nitrates) are unsatisfactory, and PMVA can lead to serious cardiovascular events. The present study was designed to analyze the correlation between the load perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) results and the Streptococcus sanguinis(S sanguinis) count and the correlations between the S sanguinis count in oral cavity subgingival plaque and changes in the plasma levels of platelet alpha-granule membrane glycoprotein 140 (GMP-140), fibrinopeptide A (FPA), von Willebrand factor (vWF), and homocysteine (Hcy) in patients with PMVA after increased anti-infective treatment of the oral cavity. This study also discusses the pathogenesis of PMVA from this perspective. The differences in the S sanguinis count in oral cavity subgingival plaque and oral health status between healthy people and PMVA patients will be compared, and the correlation between the oral cavity health status and disease in PMVA patients will be analyzed. ⋯ Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, (http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=45091).
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Multicenter Study
Extremely premature infants with patent ductus arteriosus closure: Comparative analysis of surgical ligation versus cardiac catheterization-based closure.
Our objective was to compare postprocedure hemodynamic decompensation in extremely premature infants who had their patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closed with surgical ligation (SL) versus cardiac catheter-based closure (CCC). This is a single-center retrospective review of extremely premature ( < 28 weeks) infants who had their PDA closed by SL or CCC. Of the total of 69 infants, 53 underwent SL, and 16 had CCC. ⋯ Nineteen percent of the infants in the SL group, compared to 6% in the CCC group (P = .34), required dose escalation or use of vasopressors after the PDA closure. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in postoperative hemodynamic decompensation. Large, multicenter, prospective study or randomized control trial will help to confirm our findings.
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Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. Pain can be persistent in some patients and interrupt daily activities and sportive activities. There are a lot of treatment options available for plantar fasciitis. ⋯ There was a statistically significant difference between the pre-procedure and postprocedure AOFAS scores (P < .001), there was no statistically significant difference between the AOFAS scores in the first month postprocedure and during the final follow-up. RFNA can be used as an alternative method to surgical procedures for treating plantar fasciitis because it is safe and effective. The advantages of RFNA are that patients can quickly return to their work and resume weight-bearing activities.