Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
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The aim of this review was to describe the background and evolution of primary oral health care (POHC), including the development of an oral health policy, by identifying the resources necessary for oral health services, reviewing the evidence of the effectiveness of oral health promotion and education, providing essential oral health care, and establishing evidence of the benefits of regular dental visits for effective POHC. At present, evidence for the effectiveness of oral health education and regular dental visits is very weak. Nevertheless, POHC needs to be developed as an integral part of primary health care (PHC). Therefore, a need exists to increase financial investment, resources and workforce in PHC to lower the prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease in the Middle-East using the POHC approach.
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Maintaining cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels within healthy limits is critical for decreasing the risk of heart disease. Dyslipidemia refers to the abnormal levels of lipids in the blood, including low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), also known as good cholesterol, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), also known as bad cholesterol, and/or high TG levels that contribute to the development and progression of atherosclerosis. In this article we reviewed some of the current therapeutic targets for the treatment of dyslipidemia, with a primary focus on endothelial lipase and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase for raising HDL-C, and the proprotein convertase subtilisin-like kexin type 9 (PCSK9), microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, and the messenger RNA of apolipoprotein B for lowering LDL-C. ⋯ These are its mutated dimer (apoAI-Milano), a complex with phospholipids, and a mimetic peptide. Atherosclerosis, mainly because of dyslipidemia, is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease. Regarding the title of this article, the 'good' refers to HDL-C, the 'bad' refers to LDL-C, and the 'ugly' refers to atherosclerosis.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Combined therapeutic effect of probucol and cilostazol on endothelial function in patients with silent cerebral lacunar infarcts and hypercholesterolemia: a preliminary study.
This study evaluated the efficacy of combined therapy with probucol and cilostazol on endothelial function in silent lacunar cerebral infarcts (SLCI) and mild hypercholesterolemia. ⋯ Combined treatment with probucol and cilostazol resulted in subacute improvement in FMD/endothelial function in patients with SLCI with mild hypercholesterolemia. This combination therapy has the potential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events via improvements in endothelial function and lipid profiles.
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To evaluate the characteristics of hospital discharge diagnoses of influenza measured by using specific International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9 CM) codes. ⋯ In Sicily, more than one quarter of all hospital admissions with an ICD-9 CM code for influenza were observed in the months with a negligible circulation of influenza viruses. Our findings show that several hospital discharge records included ICD-9 CM codes for influenza with low levels of sensitivity, specificity and/or appropriateness for clinical information and support the need for improving medical education on the epidemiology and hospital management of influenza cases.
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Comparative Study
Sustained low-efficiency daily diafiltration for diabetic nephropathy patients with acute kidney injury.
To investigate the efficacy, safety and cost of treating patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and diabetic nephropathy (DN) with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) or sustained low-efficiency daily diafiltration with hemofiltration (SLEDD-f). ⋯ SLEDD-f offered a similar chance of renal recovery and also had further advantages such as a lower heparin dosage, a shorter therapy time and lower hospitalization costs for patients than CRRT. Studies with larger, randomized sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.