Current medical research and opinion
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Impact of atrial fibrillation and anticoagulation on the risk of death, thromboembolic disease and bleeding in patients with COVID-19: the ACO-VID Registry.
To describe the clinical profile, risk of complications and impact of anticoagulation in COVID-19 hospitalized patients, according to the presence of atrial fibrillation (AF). ⋯ Among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, patients with AF were older, had more comorbidities and had a higher risk of major bleeding. Age and elevated transaminases during hospitalization, but not AF nor anticoagulant treatment increased the risk of all-cause death.
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Prophylactic probiotics have been shown to be effective in preventing Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), according to multiple meta-analyses. However, different medical societies have varying recommendations on their use for preventing CDI. ⋯ We highlight four areas for future improvement: considering baseline risk for CDI, timing of probiotics with antibiotics, combining efficacy data from different probiotic strains, and safety. All societies agree on the need for more high-quality and adequately powered randomized controlled trials to further strengthen the evidence.
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To assess the utilization of palliative care (PC) and its associated factors among adult cancer patients in Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HUCSH) oncology center, Hawassa, Ethiopia, 2021. ⋯ The current study revealed two thirds of patients had better utilization of PC services. Older patients with low educational status and income and those living in rural areas had worse access to PC services. It is recommended to improve information provision about PC especially for older patients and patients with low education and to improve accessibility for patients in suburban and rural areas.
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The treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis has seen significant improvements in recent years with the advent of biologic drugs. The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of anti-IL17 drugs and other biologic therapies used to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in France and Germany over a one-year time horizon. ⋯ Driven by its lower costs and high response rates, brodalumab was the most cost-effective treatment option for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis over a one-year time-horizon within the anti-IL17 class and when compared to all other biologics in France and Germany.
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To determine the cut-off values of the serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentration for different age groups (21-25, 26-30, 31-35 years) to diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). ⋯ The serum AMH concentration is a valuable parameter for assessing patients with symptoms indicative of PCOS. We recommend measuring serum AMH levels to support the diagnosis or to use them instead of the AFC for the Rotterdam criteria.