The American journal of medicine
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Statins have potent anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory studies of pulmonary inflammation. We investigated whether statin users had improved outcome when admitted with community-acquired pneumonia. ⋯ Statin use is associated with reduced markers of systemic inflammation and improved outcomes in patients admitted with community-acquired pneumonia.
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To assess the diagnostic value of history-taking and physical examination of medial collateral ligament lesions after a knee injury presenting in general practice. ⋯ Medial collateral ligament lesions are frequently seen in patients with traumatic knee injury. History-taking has a diagnostic value, while adding physical examination increases the diagnostic value.
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This study was designed to assess 8-year trends in the duration of hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia and to evaluate the impact of declining length of stay on postdischarge short-term readmission and mortality. ⋯ The marked decreased in the length of stay for patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia since 2000 has not been accompanied by an increase in short-term mortality or hospital readmission.
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Left ventricular hypertrophy is a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality. The contribution of left ventricular hypertrophy to racial and ethnic differences in cardiovascular mortality is poorly understood. ⋯ ECG left ventricular hypertrophy contributes more to the risk of cardiovascular mortality in African Americans than it does in whites. Using regression of ECG left ventricular hypertrophy as a goal of therapy might be a means to reduce racial differences in cardiovascular mortality; prospective validation is required.
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Review Comparative Study
Gastric banding or bypass? A systematic review comparing the two most popular bariatric procedures.
Bariatric surgical procedures have increased exponentially in the United States. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is now promoted as a safer, potentially reversible and effective alternative to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the current standard of care. This study evaluated the balance of patient-oriented clinical outcomes for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. ⋯ Weight loss outcomes strongly favored Roux-en-Y gastric bypass over laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Patients treated with laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding had lower short-term morbidity than those treated with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, but reoperation rates were higher among patients who received laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Gastric bypass should remain the primary bariatric procedure used to treat obesity in the United States.