The American journal of the medical sciences
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Underprescription of renin-angiotensin system blockers in moderate to severe chronic kidney disease.
Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers slow the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Despite this, up to 40% of patients with CKD and an indication for RAS blockade do not receive these medications. The purpose of this study was to examine variables associated with the prescription of RAS blockers in patients with CKD and to identify opportunities to increase their use. ⋯ The authors found that a large proportion of patients with CKD and an indication for RAS blockade were not prescribed these medications. For the majority, there was no provider-documented reason explaining why these medications were not prescribed, and the findings suggest that there may be opportunities to increase RAS blocker prescribing.
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Smoking is a risk factor not only for the development of cancer and coronary heart disease but also for tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of smoking in patients with TB, identify demographic and clinical characteristics associated with smoking and to evaluate TB treatment outcomes in the smokers. ⋯ Findings from the current study proved smoking to be one of the main factors associated with the occurrence of TB and significantly reducing the outcomes of TB therapy.
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Observational Study
The relationship between baseline exhaled nitric oxide levels and acute mountain sickness.
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a common disabling condition observed in people ascending to high altitudes. However, a simple predictive test for AMS is not known. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between baseline exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) and AMS occurrence. ⋯ This prospective observational study suggests that baseline FENO levels may be positively correlated with AMS in healthy Chinese lowlanders.
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To investigate the factors predicting the onset of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. ⋯ In summary, among STEMI patients, elevated NLR, decreased HgB level on admission both predicted 1-year MACEs independently, especially for those with relatively preserved LVEF (> 48%). Besides, abnormally higher NLR on admission should attract their attention for short-term MACEs.