The American journal of the medical sciences
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The review underlines that advanced heart failure (AHF) patients who experience sustained cardiac recovery in the current left ventricular assist device (LVAD) era have similar clinical characteristics to those who experienced myocardial recovery in the pre-LVAD era. They are young, do not have coronary artery disease and were treated for idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy within weeks to months of experiencing symptoms. ⋯ Mechanical circulatory support can be life saving in patients with low-cardiac output and end-organ dysfunction. However, the underlying condition and not mechanical circulatory support appears to be the primary determinant of sustained myocardial recovery.
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Clinical Trial
Association Between Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 Glu504Lys Polymorphism and Alcoholic Liver Disease.
Only a subset of patients with excessive alcohol use develop alcoholic liver disease (ALD), though the exact mechanism is not completely understood. Once ingested, alcohol is metabolized by 2 key oxidative enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). There are 2 major ALDH isoforms, cytosolic and mitochondrial, encoded by the aldehyde ALDH1 and ALDH2 genes, respectively. The ALDH2 gene was hypothesized to alter genetic susceptibility to alcohol dependence and alcohol-induced liver diseases. The aim of this study is to determine the association between aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (rs671) glu504lys polymorphism and ALD. ⋯ Patients with ALDH2 504lys variant were less associated with ALD compared to those with ALDH2 504glu using both genotypic and allelic analyses.
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The majority of patients with acute stroke requiring mechanical ventilation have a poor prognosis and often present difficult decisions regarding extubation. The best criteria for planned extubation in these patients are uncertain. ⋯ The in-hospital mortality rate of patients with acute stroke who require mechanical ventilation is quite high. The success rate with planned extubation is relatively good and comparable to rates in previous studies which largely involved patients with respiratory failure. There is no single weaning parameter or Glasgow coma scale score which identifies patients with high success rates.
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Apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) plays an important role in the progression of Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP). In the present study, we explored the function of miR-218-5p in HUVEC apoptosis and HSP development. ⋯ MiR-218-5p attenuated HSP at least partly through regulating HMGB1 expression and affecting the function of HUVECs.
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Joint hypermobility is a common, primarily benign finding in the general population. However, in a subset of individuals joint hypermobility causes a range of clinical problems mainly affecting the musculoskeletal system and, to a lesser extent, extra-articular disorders. Joint hypermobility often appears as a familial trait and is shared by several inherited connective tissue disorders, including the hypermobility subtype of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS/JHS). ⋯ This review article focuses on GI disorders associated with both hEDS and BJHS. The aim of this review is to evaluate existing research and literature regarding associations between JHS (hEDS/BJHS) and GI disorders. Our goal is to raise awareness of BJHS/JHS and hEDS as an explanation for chronic unexplained symptoms and functional GI disorders as well as to review the current standard tests available for proper evaluation of GI symptoms in these patients.