The American journal of the medical sciences
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Meta Analysis
Angiotensin receptor blockers reduce left ventricular hypertrophy in dialysis patients: a meta-analysis.
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a major cardiovascular complication and an important predictor of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease. Angiotensin II blockades have been widely used in the treatment of hypertension; however, the influence of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) on LVH in dialysis patients has not been thoroughly studied. In this meta-analysis, the authors analyzed the effect of ARBs on LVH and left ventricular function in patients on maintenance dialysis. ⋯ ARBs are associated with a greater reduction in LVH in patients on dialysis. The ARB therapy tends to have a similar favorable effectiveness as ACEI; however, the combination of ARBs with ACEIs did not show additional benefit to LVH in patients on hemodialysis.
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Review Case Reports
Cutaneous vasculopathy and neutropenia associated with levamisole-adulterated cocaine.
Levamisole has recently been implicated as a cause of cutaneous vasculopathy in cocaine abusers. The objective of this study was to describe this relatively new entity by reviewing published cases identified through a literature search. ⋯ Levamisole-induced cutaneous vasculopathy in cocaine users is characterized by a female predominance, a retiform purpuric rash with a predilection for lower extremities, autoantibody production, leukopenia and/or neutropenia and recurrences with future cocaine use.
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Review Case Reports
Capnocytophaga canimorsus sepsis with associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
Capnocytophaga canimorsus, a bacterium commonly transmitted via dog bites, is known to cause sepsis in immunocompromised patients. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome are rare complications of infection. The authors present a case of C canimorsus sepsis and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in an asplenic patient and review the relevant literature.
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This study was performed to investigate the impact of a family history of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) on insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction in populations with varying glucose tolerance. ⋯ This study showed that the pathophysiological changes were different between individuals with and without a family history of T2DM during the glucose tolerance aggravation.