Irish journal of medical science
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Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained arrhythmia in older adults, causes significant complications such as stroke, dementia, and decreased quality of life. Frailty is a geriatric syndrome that is associated with increased risk of poor clinical outcomes including falls, disability, and mortality. We aimed to investigate the relationship between AF and frailty and functionality in older adults. ⋯ EHRA AF symptom severity score is positively correlated with frailty. AF is associated with worse metabolic profile and clinical features on CGA that AF might be a frailty marker. Frailty should be investigated in AF patients.
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Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been shown to reduce mortality and morbidity in symptomatic patients with reduced left ventricular systolic function < 35%, a left bundle branch block (LBBB) and a widened QRS complex. This paper compares Irish national CRT practices with the European data that was gathered in the same multi-centre CRT Survey II. ⋯ Within Ireland, the majority of CRT implantation are adherent with ESC guidelines. It has also highlighted problems that are noted in other ESC member countries such as the underutilization of device therapy in women, lack of referrals from peripheral centres and further need for optimization of medical therapy before device implantation.
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Bisphosphonates are the mainstay therapeutic options for prevention of skeletal-related events and generally used for up to 2 years in bone metastatic cancer patients. ⋯ Bisphosphonates might be prolonged for more than 2 years in BMBC patients with an acceptable toxicity profile. In addition, bisphosphonates switch therapy should be preferred in those with progressive bone metastasis since it might contribute to better survival despite bisphosphonates could not have been shown to have survival benefit in previous studies.
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The magnitude of effects of lean mass and fat mass on bone health is controversial, and this study is a contribution to understand its effects on skeletal composition. ⋯ Both lean mass and fat mass are significant predictors of BMD. To preserve BMD maintenance or increase of lean mass is more effective than fat mass. BMI correlates well with body composition; however, we recommend the use of direct measures of body fat and muscle to make this relation more interpretable. Total Body DXA is a readily available diagnostic tool which provides high-valued information about body composition.
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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the malignant tumors with highest mortality. The role of USP9X in the carcinogenesis of HCC has not yet been determined. In this study, USP9X was found significantly highly expressed in the intratumor tissues. ⋯ In vitro studies revealed that knockdown of USP9X significantly inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells. Mechanically, USP9X promotes HCC cell proliferation by regulating the expression of beta-catenin. The results of the present study demonstrated that high expression of USP9X in intratumoral cells is associated with poor HCC prognosis, which may serve as a potential target for an adjuvant therapy.