Irish journal of medical science
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Solar maculopathy (SM) is a rare cause of acquired maculopathy related to direct viewing of the sun. Primary symptoms include central scotomata, blurred vision and/or metamorphopsia due to thermal/photochemical damage to foveal photoreceptors. ⋯ While no effective treatment has been identified for SM, VA can significantly improve in some cases, but persistent scotomata are reported and may be debilitating; thus, prevention by public health measures remains critical.
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Although available literature indicates that the incidence of dementia in the epilepsy population and the risk of seizures in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) population are high, the specific genetic risk factors and the interaction mechanism are unclear, rendering rational genetic interpretation rather challenging. ⋯ The findings suggest that the three genes, SCN2A, GRIA1, and KCNJ9, may serve as potential targets for treating AD comorbid with epilepsy.
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Many people on both sides of the debate to legalise physician-hastened death are motivated by compassion and a desire to provide better end of life care for others. Assisted dying may include euthanasia and/or assisted suicide (EAS). It is legal in some jurisdictions and under debate in others including Ireland. ⋯ Progressive expansion of eligibility for EAS has occurred over time in the Netherlands, Belgium and Canada. Given the complexity of assessing coercion, the risks to persons in vulnerable groups (including older persons, persons with mental health conditions and persons with disabilities), the progressive expansion of eligibility for EAS, the lack of safety and the undermining of suicide prevention strategies, the current law is most protective of persons in vulnerable groups in the interest of social justice. Person-centred and compassionate care needs be prioritised with greater access and equitable access to primary and specialist palliative care and mental health care for persons with incurable and terminal illnesses and support for caregivers allowing patients to die naturally with optimised symptom control.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has been recognized as severe acute respiratory syndrome, one of the worst and disastrous infectious diseases in human history. Until now, there is no cure to this contagious infection although some multinational pharmaceutical companies have synthesized the vaccines and injecting them into humans, but a drug treatment regimen is yet to come. ⋯ In our study, we also observed the nucleotide sequence of protease protein consisting of 316 amino acid residues and the influence of these pronouncing drugs over these sequences. The outcome of this research work provides researchers with a track record for carrying out further investigational procedures by applying docking simulations and in vitro and in vivo experimentation with these reprofile drugs so that a better drug can be formulated against coronavirus.
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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been increasingly recognized as an important factor contributing to medical morbidity and mortality. It was reported that more than half of the population with hypertension had OSA. Limited studies have been done on assessing OSA in hypertensive patients. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, socio-demographic characteristics, and factors associated with probable OSA in hypertensive patients in primary care clinics in Sarawak. ⋯ Because of the high prevalence of probable OSA among patients with hypertension, primary care physicians should be more vigilant in identifying hypertensive patients with OSA risk. Early detection and intervention would reduce disease complications and healthcare costs.