The American journal of the medical sciences
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Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) infection remains common worldwide despite recent vaccine efforts. Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is the most severe form of Spn infection. Known individual risk factors for IPD include male gender and African American race. However, area-level socioeconomic factors have not been assessed. We examined the association of neighborhood-level disadvantages and risk of IPD in a tertiary medical center located in a socioeconomic diverse urban area in the Southeastern United States. ⋯ ADI is a risk factor for IPD in younger adults. Community-level socioeconomic risk factors should be considered when developing prevention strategies such as increasing vaccine uptake in high risk population to reduce the disease burden of IPD.
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Observational Study
Mortality of Patients Presented with Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction According to the Status of Standard Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors.
Standard modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (SMuRFs) remain well-established elements of assessing cardiovascular risk scores. However, there is growing evidence that patients presented without known SMuRFs at admission demonstrate worse post-myocardial outcomes. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of the SMuRF status on short- and long-term mortality rates in patients with first-time ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). ⋯ SMuRF-less individuals presented with STEMI are at an increased risk of all-cause mortality compared to those with at least one SMuRF. Consequently, further investigations regarding the recognition and treatment of risk factors, irrespective of SMuRF status, are indicated.
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Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and dysautonomia following a SARS-CoV-2 infection have been recently reported. The underlying mechanism of dysautonomia is not well understood. The impact of this viral illness on the underlying autonomic symptoms has not been studied in patients with a pre-existing POTS diagnosis. Our study aims to report the impact of a COVID-19 infection on patients with preexisting POTS, both during the acute phase of the disease and post-recovery. ⋯ Patients with pre-existing POTS, most experienced a worsening of their baseline autonomic symptoms after suffering the COVID-19 infection which required additional pharmacotherapy for their symptom improvement.
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Little research has been completed on the correlation between cystic fibrosis (CF) modulator therapy and its effect on respiratory cultures in CF patients. This study evaluated the effect of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) on respiratory colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. ⋯ ETI use resulted in reduced colonization with P. aeruginosa, discontinuation of mucolytic therapy, and decreased frequency of pulmonary exacerbation.