The American journal of the medical sciences
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Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is the retrovirus responsible for the development of AIDS. Its profound impact on the immune system leaves the host vulnerable to a wide range of opportunistic infections not seen in individuals with a competent immune system. ⋯ Diseases of the airways, lung parenchyma and the pulmonary vasculature, as well as pulmonary malignancies, are either more frequent in persons living with HIV or have atypical presentations. As the pulmonary infectious complications of HIV are generally well known and have been reviewed extensively, this review will focus on the breadth of noninfectious pulmonary diseases that occur in HIV-infected individuals as these may be more difficult to recognize by general medical physicians and subspecialists caring for this large and uniquely vulnerable population.
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Asthma affects 5% to 10% of the population and its severity is assessed using 4 parameters: lung function, symptom frequency, rescue inhaler use, and number of asthma exacerbations. Asthma is increasingly recognized as a clinical syndrome rather than a single disease. However, the current classification system fails to reflect the heterogeneous characteristics of the disease. ⋯ The SARP algorithm may be used to classify diverse asthmatic populations into a clinically reproducible phenotypic cluster.
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Despite the availability of predictive tools and treatment guidelines, anticoagulant therapies are underprescribed and many patients are undertreated for conditions that predispose to thromboembolic complications, including stroke. This review explores reasons for which physicians fear that the risks of anticoagulation may be greater than the potential benefit. ⋯ Adoption of newer anticoagulants with simpler regimens may help physicians allay their fears of anticoagulant use in patients with atrial fibrillation. These fears, although not groundless, should not overtake caution and hinder the delivery of appropriate evidence-based care.
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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with uncertain pathogenesis. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has close correlations with inflammation and/or immune diseases. However, it is unknown whether aberrant ER stress is involved in SLE pathogenesis. ⋯ SLEDAI was negatively related with C3 level. SLEDAI and anti-dsDNA antibody showed modestly positive correlation with urine protein. These findings suggest that the abnormal unfolded protein responses, especially IRE1/XBP1 and PERK/CHOP axes, may contribute to SLE pathogenesis, which may be potential diagnosis indicators or treatment targets.
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Some sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients suffer significantly worse phenotypes than others. Causes of such disparities are incompletely understood. Comorbid chronic inflammation likely is a factor. ⋯ Presented here are 32 poor-phenotype SCA patients who met MCAS diagnostic criteria; all improved with MCAS-targeted therapy. As hydroxyurea benefits some MCAS patients (particularly SCA-like pain), its benefit in SCA may be partly attributable to treatment of unrecognized MCAS. Further study will better characterize MCAS in SCA and identify optimal therapy.