Medicina
-
Background and Objectives: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a prevalent global cardiovascular disease and leading cause of mortality, is significantly correlated with meteorological factors. This study aims to analyze the impact of short-term changes in meteorological factors on the risk of ACS, both with and without ST-segment elevation, and to identify vulnerable subgroups. Materials and Methods: Daily ACS admissions and meteorological variables were collected from October 2016 to December 2021. ⋯ Conclusions: The findings indicate that short-term changes in weather conditions are associated with an increased risk of ACS hospitalizations, particularly STEMIs. Male and older adult patients exhibit heightened susceptibility to variations in climatic factors. Developing effective preventive strategies is imperative to alleviate the adverse consequences of these environmental risk factors.
-
Background and Objectives: Data on characteristics of asthma in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) is conflicting. Recently, the L-arginine pathway has gained attention in the pathogenesis of asthma and SCD. This study aimed to determine the distinctive clinical and laboratory features and the role of arginine metabolism in asthmatic children with SCD. ⋯ Conclusions: Asthma in children with SCD was not associated with atopy or low FEV1/FVC levels. However, lower arginine bioavailability and higher FeNO levels differentiated asthma in patients with SCD. High R5% and (R5-20/R5)% values indicated increased airway resistance in SCD, with a predominance of small airway disease in asthmatics.
-
Review Case Reports
Local Oxygen-Based Therapy (blue®m) for Treatment of Peri-Implant Disease: Clinical Case Presentation and Review of Literature about Conventional Local Adjunct Therapies.
Peri-implant diseases including peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis are among the major causes of failure of implant-supported dental restorations. They are characterized by progressive inflammation of the peri-implant mucosa, extending to the surrounding connective tissues and leading to bone loss and implant failure. Although strict oral hygiene practices help in preventing peri-implant diseases, plaque buildup around the implant restoration leads to chronic inflammation, due to the adherent bacterial biofilm. ⋯ This report aims to present the clinical findings of patients with peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis, who were managed using local oxygen-based therapy as an adjunct to non-surgical therapy. In addition, a review of the literature about commonly used local adjuncts for peri-implant diseases has been included in the report to provide a means of comparison between conventional local adjunct therapy and topical oxygen-based therapy. Based on the reported findings and reviewed literature, local oxygen-based adjunct therapy was equally effective as conventionally used local adjuncts such as antibiotics, antibacterials, and probiotics, in treating patients with peri-implant diseases.
-
Background and Objectives: Degludec (Deg) and glargine U300 (Gla-300) are insulin analogs with longer and smoother pharmacodynamic action than glargine U100 (Gla-100), a long-acting insulin that has been widely used for many years in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Both improve glycemic variability (GV) and the frequency of hypoglycemia, unlike Gla-100. However, it is unclear which insulin analog affects GV and hypoglycemia better in patients with insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes. ⋯ Despite the decrease in the frequency of nocturnal hypoglycemia, the FPG and HbA1c did not worsen by the switch. The change in the SD-FBG had a negative correlation with the SD-FBG at baseline and a positive correlation with serum albumin levels. Conclusions: Switching from Deg to Gla-300 improved the SD-FBG and decreased the frequency of nocturnal hypoglycemia in insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes treated with Deg-containing BBT, especially in cases with low serum albumin levels and a high GV.
-
Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the associations between sociodemographic and health-related factors and sedentary time in middle-aged and older Taiwanese adults. Materials and Methods: A total of 1031 participants (460 men, 571 women; mean age 65.0 years ± 7.8 years; range 55 to 93 years) were randomly recruited from the National Computer Assessment Telephone Interview, Taiwan, in 2013. Sedentary time, TV viewing, physical activity, and sociodemographic factors were assessed through questionnaires. ⋯ Conclusions: Sedentary time showed significant and positive associations with both insufficient physical activity and prolonged TV viewing in both genders. Additionally, significant associations were observed between sedentary time and high education and unmarried status in women. These findings emphasize the importance of implementing gender-specific approaches in future interventions and policy initiatives aimed at reducing sedentary behavior among middle-aged and older adults.