Medicine
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The world will be facing huge population aged 65 and older, accounting for 13% of the total population in the future. Significant disabilities rates reflect an accumulation of health risks. Psychiatry disability is one of the most significant disabilities, because it manifests in cognitive, affective, and behavior disorders that limit one's daily life and restrict their participations. ⋯ Socioeconomic inequities, such as current employment status and marital status, were associated with psychiatry disability in both surveys. These associations remained even after these 2 surveys were combined. The rapidly rising prevalence of psychiatric disorders expected warrants strategies to reduce the burden of these disabilities among females and rural residents.
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Undiagnosed connective tissue diseases: High prevalence in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients.
Among different subgroups of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), those associated with connective tissue diseases (CTDs) have distinct hemodynamic and prognostic features; a correct etiologic diagnosis is thus mandatory. To estimate frequency and prognosis of previously undiagnosed CTDs in a suspect idiopathic (i) PAH cohort. Consecutive patients with PAH confirmed by right heart catheterization referred at the Cardiology Division of our Hospital without a previous rheumatological assessment or the occurrence of other conditions explaining PAH were checked for CTD by a clinical, laboratory, and instrumental evaluation. ⋯ We show a high prevalence of undiagnosed CTDs in patients with iPAH without a previous rheumatological assessment. All patients with RP were diagnosed with SSc. Our data stress the importance of a rheumatological assessment in PAH, especially because of the unfavorable prognostic impact of an associated SSc.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Role of gender in types and frequency of coronary artery aneurysm and ectasia.
This study aimed to evaluate the role of gender in types and frequency of coronary artery aneurysm and ectasia. We assessed retrospectively the angiography records of 6100 patients. At first, we mainly reviewed angiographic movies for the presence of coronary ectasia and/or aneurysm. ⋯ Incidence of CAE presence on the RCA was significantly greater in males than females (2.7% vs 1.9%, P < 0.05). This study showed that incidence of CAE is more common in males than females. Particularly, frequency for the involvement of CAE on RCA and concurrently on 3 vessels is greater in male patients than female patients.
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Review Meta Analysis
Radiofrequency ablation for treatment of benign thyroid nodules: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes.
Thyroid nodules (TNs) usually appearing in the general population have the potential possibility of malignant transformation and common problems of jugular oppression such as dyspnea and hoarseness. We performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the efficiency of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of benign TNs in accord with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statements. ⋯ In summary, by pooling of these studies we recommended that RFA indeed has the advantages in improving outcomes and providing better prognosis for patients with benign TNs.
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Review Case Reports Meta Analysis
Cryptococcal meningitis complicating sarcoidosis.
Cryptococcal meningitis is an uncommon but severe complication of sarcoidosis. ⋯ Cryptococcal meningitis is a rare but life-threatening complication of sarcoidosis. Patients were often initially misdiagnosed as neurosarcoidosis, which resulted in considerable treatment delay and worse outcome. CSF cryptococcal antigen tests are advised in patients with sarcoidosis and meningitis.