The American journal of medicine
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Multicenter Study
Effect of periodontal treatment on reducing chronic inflammation in systemically healthy patients with periodontal disease: a multicenter study.
We determined the effects and an accurate marker of periodontal treatment on serum interleukin (IL)-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP) levels in systemically healthy individuals with periodontal disease. ⋯ Periodontal treatment effectively decreased serum IL-6 levels, independent of periodontal pathogen infection, in systemically healthy individuals with periodontal disease.
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Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and latent tuberculosis infection are associated with a significant global burden, but both are underdiagnosed and undertreated. We described the screening patterns and risk factors for co-infection with latent tuberculosis and HBV within a large healthcare system. ⋯ Latent tuberculosis risk is elevated among HBV patients, and vice versa. Risk of co-infection was highest among persons born in high-incidence countries and Asians. These findings support recent guidelines to increase HBV and tuberculosis screening, particularly among persons with either infection.
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Physical inactivity and obesity crises persist in the United States despite substantial mitigation efforts. The primary goal of this analysis is to determine whether the geographic concentration of religious institutions overlaps with geographic patterns for physical inactivity and obesity prevalence. ⋯ Approaches to addressing the pandemics of unhealthy lifestyle-related health factors of physical inactivity and obesity in the United States have, in large part, been unsuccessful. Church-based healthy lifestyle programs, particularly in areas where a high concentration of congregations align with high physical inactivity and obesity, may offer a novel and effective approach to addressing this issue.
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Buprenorphine is effective for the treatment of opioid use disorder and chronic pain, has a safer pharmacological profile than full mu-opioid agonists, and can now be prescribed by any US provider with a Drug Enforcement Administration license. This study aimed to examine a decade of buprenorphine prescribing patterns in the United States. ⋯ Buprenorphine is infrequently used, despite being effective for pain and safer than full mu-opioid agonists. The Drug Enforcement Administration recently ended the requirement for prescribers to obtain an X-waiver, which may increase the rate of buprenorphine use among US practitioners.