European journal of internal medicine
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In recent years, cases of scurvy have mainly been described in populations at risk. The prevalence and risk factors for hypovitaminosis C among hospitalized patients in a department of internal medicine are largely unknown. ⋯ Hypovitaminosis C is frequent in hospitalized patients but should be interpreted according to the presence or absence of an acute phase response. The main risk factors are living conditions and excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · May 2003
Interrelationship of smoking, paraoxonase activity, and leisure time physical activity: a population-based study.
We determined the effect of smoking on PON1 activity levels in a population-based sample of 1380 subjects and examined the possibility of regular physical activity modulating the effect of cigarette smoking on PON1 activity levels at a population level. ⋯ Smoking appears to have a deleterious effect on PON1 activity levels. Being physically active clearly attenuates this effect.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Dec 2002
Clinical practice of nutritional support in Dutch intensive care units: a survey.
A questionnaire was sent to all Dutch ICUs. The design of the study was a 1-day point prevalence study. ⋯ Nutritional support is provided to the majority of critically ill patients. Enteral feeding is more common than parenteral nutrition.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Aug 2002
Autoantibodies and defined target autoantigens in autoimmune hepatitis: an overview.
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a disease of unknown aetiology characterised by hypergammaglobulinaemia, non-organ and liver-related autoantibodies, association with HLA-DR3 or DR4 and a favourable response to immunosuppression. The current classification of AIH and the several autoantibodies/target autoantigens found in this disease are reported. The importance of these markers in the differential diagnosis and the study of pathogenesis of AIH is also given. ⋯ Autoantibodies against liver microsomes (anti-LM) are the specific autoantibodies found in AIH as a disease component of APS-1. However, anti-LM autoantibodies have also been described in cases of dihydralazine-induced hepatitis. Cytochrome P450 1A2 has been identified as the target autoantigen of anti-LM autoantibodies in both disease entities.