The American journal of the medical sciences
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Aortic dissection (AD) is a rare complication of Takayasu arteritis (TA). The clinical presentation and long-term management outcomes of AD in patients with TA have not been well described. ⋯ Patients with TA along with long-standing and poorly controlled hypertension are liable to develop AD. Those with extensive AD in TA should be carefully treated and intensively followed up.
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Previous studies have reported conflicting results regarding the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) in patients with hyperthyroidism. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the association between PHT and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibody, thyroid peroxidase antibody, thyroglobulin antibody, TSH, fT3, fT4 and dyspnea during daily activities in a large population of patients with hyperthyroidism. ⋯ Mild PHT is present in a significant proportion of patients with hyperthyroidism, regardless of etiology. PVR appears to be the main cause of PHT in patients with hyperthyroidism, and neither autoimmunity nor thyroid hormones are associated with PHT in these patients. Mild dyspnea during daily activities in patients with hyperthyroidism may be related to PHT; however, severe dyspnea requires further evaluation.
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Percutaneous renal biopsy is essential for diagnosis of many renal diseases. Previous studies have revealed a variety of factors associated with bleeding complications of renal biopsy; however, data are not sufficient in the Chinese population. We aimed to investigate the risk factors for severe post-biopsy bleeding events in a large cohort of Chinese patients. ⋯ Patients with worse renal function and lower platelet counts had a higher risk of developing severe bleeding events after renal biopsy.
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Review
Does Urgent Colonoscopy Improve Outcomes in the Management of Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding?
Colonoscopy continues to be an essential diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the management of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). Studies that have evaluated the role of urgent colonoscopy for treating LGIB have reached conflicting conclusions. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the role of urgent colonoscopy in several outcomes in patients with LGIB. ⋯ However, these effect sizes were limited by considerable heterogeneity, which was probably due to studies being conducted in different countries having different criteria for discharge and on variations in the type of endoscopic therapy for stigmata of recent hemorrhage. In conclusion, among patients with acute LGIB, there is no evidence that urgent colonoscopy reduces mortality, rebleeding or requirement for surgery or that it improves the rate of identification of the bleeding source. However, urgent colonoscopy does increase the rate of detection of stigmata of recent hemorrhage.
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Observational Study
Pentraxin 3, a Predicator for 28-Day Mortality in Patients With Septic Shock.
Useful biomarkers that can serve as prognostic predictors are of great value in clinical practice because of the complex individual response to sepsis. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), as a multifunctional pattern-recognition molecule, has been reported to be closely associated with the severity of infectious diseases in intensive care units (ICU). The aim of this study was to investigate whether PTX3 could serve as a potential prognostic biomarker in patients with septic shock. ⋯ The baseline PTX3 level was an independent predictor for 28-day mortality in patients with septic shock.