QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians
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Annual foot checks are recommended in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) to identify those at risk of foot ulceration. Systematic reviews have found few studies evaluating the predictive value of tests in community-based diabetic populations. ⋯ Recommendations for annual diabetic foot check in low-risk, community-based patients should be reviewed as absolute events of ulceration are low. The accuracy of foot risk assessment tools to predict ulceration requires evaluation in randomized controlled trials with concurrent economic evaluations.
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This review considers the therapeutic choices currently faced by people with type 2 diabetes and those caring for them when glucose levels initially controlled with lifestyle management and metformin start to rise. While sulphonylureas are familiar agents and cheaper than other alternatives, they cause hypoglycaemia and modest weight gain, and robust outcome data are still lacking. ⋯ Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists will not be acceptable as initial second-line agents for many people as they are injectable rather than oral. Well-powered 'head-to-head' clinical trials of adequate duration are therefore required to allow evidence-based decisions on second-line therapy.
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Until recently, there was a lack of a uniform definition for acute kidney injury (AKI). The 'acute renal injury/acute renal failure syndrome/severe acute renal failure syndrome' criteria, the Risk - Injury - Failure - Loss of kidney function - End stage renal disease (RIFLE) criteria and the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) classification were the most recent proposals. ⋯ The three most recent definitions of AKI confirmed a correlation between severity of AKI and outcome but have limitations and the potential to miss patients with definite AKI. These limitations need to be considered when using the criteria in clinical practice.
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The aims of this study were to analyse the characteristics of patients with internal jugular venous thrombosis. We compared the characteristics of patients with internal jugular venous thrombosis with those of patients exhibiting upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT) without internal jugular vein involvement. ⋯ Our study underscores that the most common causes of internal jugular vein thrombosis are cancer, central venous catheter and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome; it also underlines that bilateral internal jugular vein thrombosis is a significant risk indicator of malignancy Thrombosis led to high morbidity related to pulmonary embolism and post-thrombotic syndrome, principally in patients with secondary DVT. The knowledge of predictive factors of internal jugular vein thrombosis seems to be of utmost importance to improve patients' management.