The American journal of the medical sciences
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Comparative Study
The clinical impact of bacteremia in complicated acute pyelonephritis.
Bacteremia has been considered as a surrogate marker of severe infection in several infectious diseases. However, it remains uncertain whether the presence of bacteremia correlates with severe infection in patients with complicated acute pyelonephritis (APN). ⋯ Bacteremia in cases of complicated APN indicates a severe disease, which is more likely to recur in patients with non-E coli bacteremia. Our study showed that bacteremia is indeed a useful clinical indicator of severe disease and, if found, should influence patient management. Therefore, we recommend that blood culture samples should be taken in all patients with complicated APN.
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We were interested in determining the rates of hypertension awareness, treatment, and control in individuals living in the southeastern United States and evaluating the impact of lifestyle behaviors on these rates. ⋯ In a sample of southeastern residents, the control rate was suboptimal despite a relatively high rate of treatment. Low levels of FV consumption and PA were noted especially in African-American patients and may explain this rate.
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Review Case Reports
Pericardial involvement as an atypical manifestation of giant cell arteritis: report of a clinical case and literature review.
Pericardial effusion has been known to be a rare manifestation of giant cell arteritis. During the last six decades, only 24 cases have been cited in the literature. In this report, we describe the case of a patient presenting with nonspecific symptoms and development of pericardial effusion. ⋯ The diversity of clinical manifestations (such as pericardial effusion) in such a potentially severe disease should alert the physician to prompt diagnosis and treatment in view of impending irreparable vascular damages, even in cases in which the initial presentation is quite uncommon.