Medicina
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Heart failure (HF) is characterized by a progressive clinical course marked by frequent exacerbations and repeated hospitalizations, leading to considerably high morbidity and mortality rates. Patients with HF present with a constellation of bothersome symptoms, which range from physical to psychological and mental manifestations. With the transition to more advanced HF stages, symptoms become increasingly more debilitating, interfere with activities of daily living and disrupt multiple domains of life, including physical functioning, psychological status, emotional state, cognitive function, intimate relationships, lifestyle status, usual role activities, social contact and support. ⋯ Last, but not least, differences in HRQOL have been noted depending on geographic location, with lower HRQOL levels having been recorded in Africa and Eastern Europe and higher in Western Europe in a recent large global study. Based on the observed disparities that have been invariably reported in the literature, this review article aims to provide insight into the underlying differences in HRQOL among patients with HF. Through an overview of currently existing evidence, fundamental differences in HRQOL among patients with HF are analyzed based on sex, age, NYHA functional class, ejection fraction and geographic location or ethnicity.
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Slow transit constipation (STC) has an estimated prevalence of 2-4% of the general population, and although it is the least prevalent of the chronic constipation phenotypes, it more commonly causes refractory symptoms and is associated with significant psychosocial stress, poor quality of life, and high healthcare costs. This review provides an overview of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management options in STC. STC occurs due to colonic dysmotility and is thought to be a neuromuscular disorder of the colon. ⋯ STC is a common condition associated with a significant burden of disease. It can present a clinical challenge, but a structured approach to the diagnosis and management can be of great value to the clinician. There are many therapeutic options available, with some having more benefits than others.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Addition of Vitamin C Does Not Decrease Neuron-Specific Enolase Levels in Adult Survivors of Cardiac Arrest-Results of a Randomized Trial.
Background and Objectives: Survival with favorable neurologic outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains elusive. Post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) involves myocardial and neurological injury, ischemia-reperfusion response, and underlying pathology. Neurologic injury is a crucial determinant of survival and functional outcomes, with damage caused by free radicals among the responsible mechanisms. ⋯ However, caution is warranted in interpretation of our results due to the small number of participants. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that intravenous vitamin C should not be used outside of clinical trials for OHCA survivors. Due to the small sample size and conflicting results, further research is needed to determine the potential role of vitamin C in post-cardiac arrest care.
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Clinical Trial
Prevention of Postoperative Urethral Strictures by Irrigation with 5-Fluorouracil via a Modified Urinary Catheter.
Background and Objectives: Urethral strictures are the most common complications after surgical treatments of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Despite various preventive measures, the search for medications with antiproliferative activity and the development of surgical procedures to prevent the development of urethral strictures are still relevant. We evaluated the preventive efficacy of 5-fluorouracil against urethral strictures in patients undergoing surgery for BPH. ⋯ It was found statistically significant decrease in the maximum urinary flow rate in the main group (p < 0.001). In the control group, after three months, four cases of urethral strictures and stenosis were recorded; after six months, this rate reached nine cases (7.3%), while in the main group, only one patient with infravesical obstruction was found (0.8%) (χ2 = 3.855, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of our study could indicate the effectiveness of the antiproliferative drug 5-fluorouracil in combination with use of a modified catheter in relation to the development of postoperative urethral strictures.
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Background and Objectives: This study aimed to analyze patients with rhabdomyolysis who presented to emergency departments and identify their distribution of related disease and prognostic factors. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with rhabdomyolysis who presented to emergency departments over a 10-year period. Patient data, including patients' demographic variables (sex and age), mode of arrival, final diagnosis, statin use, rhabdomyolysis trigger factors, and levels of serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK), myoglobin, creatinine, sodium, potassium, phosphate, calcium, and lactate, were analyzed. ⋯ CPK time course was found to be important in clinical prognosis, such as AKI occurrence, dialysis or not, and mortality. Conclusions: Age, statin use, elevated creatinine and lactate levels, and initial serum CPK level emerged as significant predictors of AKI. CPK time course was also found to be an important factor in predicting the clinical outcomes of patients with rhabdomyolysis.