Current medical research and opinion
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Review Case Reports
Hyperglycemic hemichorea due to diabetic striatopathy: case-based review.
Diabetic Striatopathy (DS) is a rare complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) with poor glycemic control and typical neuroimaging findings. DS predominantly leads to a unilateral reversible injury of the basal ganglia resulting in various movement disorders such as hemichorea and hemibalismus. We present a rare case of DS with left-sided hemichorea as a first presentation for a newly diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus (DM) type II and to make a thorough review of this disorder and to provide a practical approach to its management. ⋯ The patient was managed with Insulin and Haloperidol as the symptoms entirely resolved on the tenth day. In conclusion (DS) is a condition with a good prognosis and reversible clinical and neuroimaging findings after a prompt diagnosis and management. DS should be considered a possible differential diagnosis in patients with abrupt onset of hyperkinetic movement disorders.
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To determine vitamin D supplementation frequency among children aged 1-24 months, factors that influence adherence, and reasons for discontinuation of initiated vitamin D. ⋯ The rate of vitamin D supplementation was higher among families who visited family physicians, which suggests the importance of well-baby visits. Since vitamin D supplementation was less common among exclusively breastfed children, mothers should be educated. Healthcare professionals need further education about the importance of vitamin D supplementation and indications for discontinuation.
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Post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis (post-ET MF) is a type of Philadelphia chromosome-negative MF. Patients with MF treated with ruxolitinib are immunosuppressed, and therefore more at risk of infection. Several opportunistic infections can occur in the first 6 months of ruxolitinib treatment. However, cases of MF complicated by intra-abdominal Streptococcus agalactiae infection during treatment with ruxolitinib are rare. ⋯ Our case indicates that ruxolitinib is a risk factor for GBS infection in MF patients. Accurate pathogen identification is critical for effective antimicrobial treatment and improved patient outcomes.
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Risk evaluation of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases can guide the decision-making on various preventive measures, such as initiating or deferring statin therapy. Pharmacists can play an active part in the risk evaluation and primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Thus, our study aimed to assess the pharmacists' knowledge, attitude, perceived barriers, and practices regarding risk assessment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. ⋯ Pharmacists have a high positive attitude toward CVD risk assessment. However, they had insufficient knowledge and only provided limited activities and counseling services for CVD prevention and statin therapy. Participants perceived several barriers to CVD risk assessment services in pharmacies. Therefore, it is necessary to remove these impediments for pharmacists to be more involved in CVD risk assessment and prevention. Also, continuing medical education and adequate training for pharmacists are required.
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Observational Study
Descriptive study on burden and communication of fatigue among castration-resistant prostate cancer patients in Japan.
Prostate cancer is a common malignancy and patients may progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Among patients with CRPC, fatigue is a common symptom associated with current treatments. The aim of this real-world study was to describe patient-reported fatigue in Japanese patients treated with androgen receptor-axis-targeted therapies for CRPC. ⋯ Patient interviews highlighted the impact of fatigue on patients' lives and difficulties in communicating fatigue to physicians. Fatigue frequency after medication may need to be monitored and its burden is considered to provide treatment that meets the needs, wishes, and circumstances of each patient. Further research is needed to elucidate how fatigue affects patients' lives, and underscore patient-physician communication difficulties.