Medicine
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The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare associated infections: A teaching hospital experience.
Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic, with a high capability of contagious distribution, where national secondary and co-infections characterization are lacking. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infection rates among patients admitted to the intensive care units at King Abdullah University Hospital, profiling the drug resistance rates nationally. This is a cross-sectional study of COVID-19 associated infections that was conducted at a teaching hospital, in the north of Jordan. ⋯ The ratio of bacterial co-infection to secondary infections was 1:8. Gram-negative bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii (40.1%), Eschericia coli (17.5%), Klebsiella pneumonia (6.8%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.1%) were the most abundant isolated species. The detection rates of E coli (ESBL), K pneumonia (ESBL), A baumannii (CRO), P aeruginosa (CRO), S aureus (MRSA) were 52%, 67%, 97%, 44%, and 67%, respectively.
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Atezolizumab is now the standard treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). Herein, we investigated the prognostic role of inflammatory markers in patients treated with atezolizumab plus chemotherapy and evaluated the efficacy and safety of adding atezolizumab to chemotherapy for patients with ES-SCLC and prognostic and predictive factors as a real-life experience. This retrospective study included 55 patients who received front-line atezolizumab with etoposide plus platin regimen for ES-SCLC. ⋯ The patients with PLR ≤ 135.7 were significantly good responders to atezolizumab plus chemotherapy treatment. Real-life data demonstrated a significant correlation between survival and NLR and, PLR in ES-SCLC patients treated with atezolizumab. In addition, PLR was a significant predictive indicator of response to atezolizumab plus chemotherapy.
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Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) regulates low-density lipoprotein (LDL) homeostasis and plays a key role in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The cardioprotective effect of PCSK9 inhibition extends beyond LDL cholesterol reduction, involving regulation of platelet function by not yet unraveled mechanisms. Oxidized-LDL (ox-LDL) is increased during ACS and induces platelet activation via binding to platelet surface. We will evaluate serum PCSK9 and its correlation with platelet reactivity and platelet-ox-LDL binding in Chinese ACS patients. ⋯ This study will reveal possible relationship between serum PCSK9 and platelet reactivity in the setting of ACS which may shed light on therapeutic potential in platelet inhibition by targeting PCSK9. The study will also explore the association of serum PCSK9 and platelet-ox-LDL binding, an important mechanism for platelet-LDL interplay, to provide mechanistic insight into PCSK9-mediated regulation of platelet reactivity.
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Adults are increasingly eating fast-food, which is connected to adverse health outcomes such as obesity and chronic diseases. This work was carried out to study the prevalence of fast-food intake among a multi-ethnic population of middle-aged men and its connection with sociodemographic factors and obesity. This cross-sectional study enrolled 1800 middle-aged men from Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ⋯ Obese participants had a significantly higher odds ratio (OR) of weekly (OR = 5.83, P <.001) and daily (OR = 1.93, P <.001) fast-food intake than non-overweight/nonobese participants. Fast-food intake was prevalent among middle-aged men who reside in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Results connect fast-food intake with nationality and obesity.
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Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is a rare malignant tumor. There is insufficient data supporting the efficiency of current treatments in multiple metastatic settings, and novel therapeutic options for ESS are considered an area of high unmet clinical need. ⋯ High-dose insulin and dexamethasone combined with radiotherapy provides a novel and promising option for patients with multiple ESS metastases.