Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
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Valproate, a widely utilized medication for epilepsy, mood disorders, and migraines, has attracted attention for its potential therapeutic benefits extending beyond its traditional uses. This review article compiles recent findings on the expanded utility of valproate outside of epilepsy, mood disorders, and migraines. ⋯ In addition to treating generalized and focal epilepsy, valproate has shown efficacy in managing status epilepticus, migraines, and manic episodes of bipolar disorder in conjunction with lithium. Anticipated as a valuable resource, this review aims to furnish researchers and clinicians with the most current and comprehensive information on the uses of valproate.
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This study evaluated the predictive performance of age, creatinine, and ejection fraction (ACEF) I and II scores for the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation (PoAF) after isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery and compared them with a novel nomogram model developed for PoAF prediction. ⋯ ACEF scores could be helpful risk stratification tools for PoAF after on-pump CABG procedures. Additional validation studies are required to confirm their clinical utility in diverse surgical procedures and patient populations.
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Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease, with its own clinical, radiological and histopathological characteristics, which mainly affects premature newborns, resulting from a combination of factors that include immaturity, inflammation and lung injury, in addition to therapy with mechanical ventilation and exposure to high concentrations of oxygen. However, even with advances in care for critically ill newborns, BPD continues to be a challenge for the care team and family members. This has been identified as one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality due to prematurity, and can have significant impacts on the quality of life of the affected patients. ⋯ Genetic variants in the Glutathione S-Transferase Mu-1/Glutathione S-Transferase Theta-1-null (GSTM1/GSTT1) genes may be associated with a greater risk of developing BPD in premature newborns, as they affect the function of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) enzymes and, consequently, the body's ability to eliminate toxic or harmful pro-inflammatory substances. GSTM1/GSTT1-null individuals, due to the absence of gene expression, present loss of enzymatic activity of the respective GST enzymes, triggering failures in the detoxification process and the consequent development of numerous diseases resulting from oxidative damage such as infertility, chronic kidney disease, eryptosis, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, periventricular leukomalacia, intraventricular hemorrhage. The objective of this narrative review is to highlight the role of genetic variants in the GSTM1/GSTT1 genes in the onset of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in neonates. Understanding the changes in the prevalence of common uropathogens is essential for early diagnosis and effective treatment of UTIs. This study aims to identify etiological agents and determine the local antibiotic susceptibility patterns of uropathogens causing UTIs. ⋯ Gram-negative isolates are considered the predominant causative agents of UTIs in neonates at Maternity Hospital. Reduced antibiotic susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics poses a notable challenge in the clinical management of neonates with UTIs. This study underscores the importance of proactive surveillance in monitoring causative organisms and antibiotic susceptibility in neonates.
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Although COVID-19 vaccines exhibit diverse side effects, taste and saliva secretory disorders have remained poorly understood despite their negative impact on the overall quality of life. The present study aimed to characterize oral adverse effects following COVID-19 vaccination and assess their similarities with oral symptoms in COVID-19 patients. A literature search was conducted in databases, including PubMed, LitCovid, and Google Scholar, to retrieve relevant studies. ⋯ Considering that oral adverse effects following COVID-19 vaccination share some characteristics with oral symptoms in COVID-19 patients, it is speculated that the spike protein derived from COVID-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection may be pathophysiologically responsible for taste and saliva secretory disorders. This is because such spike protein has the potential to interact with ACE2 expressed on the relevant cells, produce proinflammatory cytokines, and form antiphospholipid antibodies. Our results do not deny the advantage of COVID-19 vaccination, but attention should be paid to post-vaccination oral effects in addition to COVID-19 oral symptoms.