Journal of internal medicine
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SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 causative agent, has infected millions of people and killed over 1.6 million worldwide. A small percentage of cases persist with prolonged positive RT-PCR on nasopharyngeal swabs. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for prolonged viral shedding amongst patient's basal clinical conditions. ⋯ We found that chronic rhinosinusitis and atopy might be associated with increased risk of prolonged viral shedding. If confirmed in prospective trials, this finding might have clinical implications for quarantine duration due to increased risk of pandemic spread.
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COVID-19 pandemic causes high global morbidity and mortality and better medical treatments to reduce mortality are needed. ⋯ CsA used as an adjuvant to steroid treatment for COVID-19 patients showed to improve outcomes and reduce mortality, mainly in those with moderate to severe disease. Further investigation through controlled clinical trials is warranted.
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Wild-type transthyretin (ATTRwt) amyloidosis is the most common systemic amyloidosis in Western countries and manifests mainly as progressive restrictive cardiomyopathy. ⋯ The prevalence of ATTR deposits in ligamentum flavum in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis was high but not associated with manifest ATTR cardiac amyloidosis. However, the findings of fibril type A, the prevalence of previous carpal tunnel syndrome and ATTR amyloid in surrounding adipose and vascular tissue indicate that amyloid deposits in ligamentum flavum may be an early manifestation of systemic ATTR disease.
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Recent evidence suggests that carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and brachial biceps tendon rupture (BBTR) represent red flags for ATTR cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA). The prevalence of upper limb tenosynovial complications in conditions entering differential diagnosis with CA, such as HCM or Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD), and hence their predictive accuracy in this setting, still remains unresolved.
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Currently, weight loss remains the main management strategy for NAFLD, but the weight loss intention and methods remain poorly characterized. ⋯ Overweight or obese perception was a key driver in weight loss activities but was inconsistent with actual weight status and varied by race/ethnicity and other sociodemographic factors. Weight loss programme is under-utilized and should take in account of weight perception training and culturally appropriate approach.