Medicine
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Observational Study
A descriptive analysis of 21 patients with pulmonary amyloidosis: An observational study.
Pulmonary amyloidosis is an extremely rare disease, often detected incidentally because of its asymptomatic nature and potential to result in fatal outcomes. In this study, we aimed to present the clinical and radiological features of patients diagnosed with pulmonary amyloidosis by biopsy. This descriptive study included 21 patients with pathologically diagnosed pulmonary amyloidosis. ⋯ In conclusion, it is crucial to distinguish pulmonary amyloidosis from other pulmonary diseases such as malignancies, infectious diseases, and interstitial lung diseases, which may have similar clinical and radiological findings. Bronchoscopic diagnostic methods are usually sufficient for the diagnosis. Although patients with pulmonary involvement mostly remain stable during long-term follow-up without progression, it is important to consider the risk of malignancy.
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Observational Study
Height below 154 cm is a risk factor for pulmonary edema in twin pregnancy: An observational study.
In recent years, twin pregnancies have become increasingly common. The aim of our study was to analyze the exposure to risk factors for postpartum pulmonary edema in twin pregnancies. We get all our data from the "DATADRYAD" database, which is available directly. ⋯ Our study suggests that pregnant women with twin pregnancies whose height is <154 cm are more likely to suffer from postpartum pulmonary edema. Therefore, healthcare professionals and caregivers should pay closer attention to twin pregnancies with heights below 154 cm, be alert to the occurrence of pulmonary edema, and take preventive and therapeutic measures as early as possible. This will help prevent the development of pulmonary edema.
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Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition characterized by blood clots in deep veins, posing a significant public health burden. Muscle strength has been implicated as a potential risk factor for DVT due to its influence on venous return. This study aims to investigate the causal association between muscle strength and DVT using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, leveraging genetic variants as instrumental variables (IVs). ⋯ The MR analysis provided evidence of a causal association between muscle strength and DVT risk, suggesting that increasing muscle strength may have a protective effect. These findings have implications for preventive strategies and the promotion of resistance exercises and muscle-strengthening activities. Further research and validation of these results could inform clinical guidelines and interventions for DVT prevention.
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The 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic disrupts synchronized lifestyles and influences an individual's health status. However, Taiwan has limited studies on the impact of the epidemic on the health and lifestyle of its citizens. This study aims to investigate the impact on lifestyle and health status during the first wave of 2019 coronavirus disease in Taiwan. ⋯ Prevalence rates of MetS were 16.5%, 17.0%, and 18.7% during Episodes 1, 2, and 3, respectively. When compared to the pre-pandemic prevalence of MetS, the odds ratios increased by 1.19 [95% confidence intervals (CIs): 1.02-1.38] during the nationwide Level 3 epidemic alert, particularly, in male aged 45 to 64 years old and females aged under 45 years old by 1.56 (95% CI: 1.14-2.13) and 1.89 (95% CI: 1.22-2.92), respectively. During pandemic, sweeping influences on Taiwanese health status, especially in the labor force, may provide a lesson in health promotion policy at a specific age.
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The severity of the respiratory disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has escalated rapidly in recent years, posing a significant threat to global health. Sweroside and swertiamarin are bioactive iridoid glycosides extracted mainly from Swertia davidii Franch. It remains unclear how Swertia davidii Franch. ⋯ We found that 35 potential target genes can be used for the treatment of COVID-19, with androgen receptor (AR), HSP90AA1, RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase, cyclin-dependent kinase 1, epidermal growth factor receptor, and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta emerging as particularly promising candidates. Additionally, sweroside and swertiamarin demonstrated unambiguous interactions with the 3CL protease AR through molecular docking research. At the active site, sweroside and swertiamarin can bind to AR (1T65), the main protease (5R82), and 3CL protease (6M2N), showing therapeutic potential.