The American journal of medicine
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Climate change is leading to a rise in heat-related illnesses, vector-borne diseases, and numerous negative impacts on patients' physical and mental health outcomes. Concurrently, healthcare contributes about 4.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Low-value care, such as overtesting and overdiagnosis, contributes to unnecessary emissions. ⋯ Second, diagnostic quality issues, such as overtesting and overdiagnosis, contribute to climate change through unnecessary emissions and waste and should be targeted for interventions. We also highlight implications for clinical practice, research, and policy. Our findings call for efforts to engage healthcare professionals and policymakers in understanding the urgent implications for diagnosis in the context of climate change and reducing global greenhouse gas emissions to enhance both patient and planetary outcomes.
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Review
Human Papillomavirus as Non-Traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Fact or Fiction? Part 1.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and worldwide, with more than 42 million Americans infected with types of HPV that are known to cause disease. Although the link between HPV and the development of a variety of cancers has been strongly established, recent literature has demonstrated a potential association between HPV and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. ⋯ In this 2-part series, we discuss the emerging relationship between HPV and cardiovascular disease. In part 1, we focus on the pathophysiology of HPV infection and potential mechanisms for the development of cardiovascular disease.
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Cellular protein kinases are involved in diverse normal cellular functions. Many types of dysregulation of protein kinases are the molecular basis for development of common cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. ⋯ Newly designed protein kinase inhibitors and related forms of therapy based on a greater understanding of molecular mechanisms have diminished the appearance of disease resistance to protein kinase inhibitors and other side effects. These advances will further promote the success of protein kinase inhibitors in treatment of common cancers, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions.
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In certain situations, masks are worn during sleep to prevent respiratory infections. However, the effects of mask wearing on cardiopulmonary function during sleep are unknown. This study aimed to determine whether wearing masks during sleep has an impact on cardiopulmonary function, including in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. ⋯ Wearing masks during sleep at night does not adversely affect cardiopulmonary function but they can be uncomfortable, especially the N95 mask. Thus, in circumstances where wearing N95 masks during nocturnal sleep proves intolerable, we recommend the use of surgical masks as a more comfortable alternative.