Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
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In-hospital mortality for patients presenting with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) has been reported to be up to 7 times higher for patients with decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). However, few studies have assessed its effect on long-term mortality. ⋯ Decreased renal function is a prognostic factor for increased all-cause mortality 90 days and 1 year after acute PE.
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Non-dipper hypertension (HT) confers greater risk compared with dipper HT. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) recently emerged as a novel and independent marker of cardiovascular disease, both in diagnostic and prognostic scopes. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship of circadian blood pressure (BP) pattern with serum GDF-15 level in newly diagnosed HT patients without left ventricular hypertrophy. ⋯ Our results showed GDF-15 upregulation in the non-dipper HT group. GDF-15 and nighttime diastolic BP were independently associated with the non-dipping pattern. This study may suggest possible utilization of GDF-15 in the prediction of non-dipper HT.
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Diabetic complications involve multiple pathological pathways, including hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Combination therapy is usually employed to improve treatment outcomes and to lower potential adverse effects. In this study, we evaluated the effects of antidiabetic and antihypertensive agents, glibenclamide (GLI) and losartan (LT), on diabetes mellitus (DM)-associated metabolic changes in rats. ⋯ Adding LT to GLI therapy revealed prospective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action, while no synergistic or additive effects were observed.
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This study aimed to investigate the preoperative level of serum leptin in cesarean section (C-section) patients with and without acute labor pain and its association with postoperative analgesic consumption and preoperative pain threshold. ⋯ Preoperative levels of serum leptin were higher in C-section patients with labor pain than in those without labor pain, and increased serum leptin levels were associated with decreased preoperative pain threshold and increased postoperative analgesic consumption in our study population. Postoperative analgesic requirements may vary among patients, and their requirements might be predicted using preoperative indicators. Serum levels of leptin might be one such indicator and this warrants further studies with larger sample sizes.
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Observational Study
Platelet-Rich Plasma Diffusion in Achilles Tendon: Relationship with Therapeutic Outcomes.
The therapeutic efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy is controversial. Among the variables which can explain the discrepant results, little attention has been paid to the distribution of platelet-rich plasma inside the tendon. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether this factor is related to the clinical outcome of treatment. ⋯ Platelet-rich plasma diffusion has no effect on clinical outcome, which mainly depends on the metabolic activation of the whole structure of the tendon.