Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research
-
Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common recurrent ulcerative disease of the oral mucosa which is closely related to oral microbial composition. However, the specific effect and the mechanism of smoking in RAS are unclear. In this study, 16S rRNA sequencing technology was used to compare the differences in saliva microbial community between 28 non-smoking healthy controls (NSctrl), 31 non-smoking RAS patients (NSras), and 19 smoking RAS patients (Sras). ⋯ Among patients with RAS, smoking aggravated the pathways of respiration and human pathogens. Our results suggest that smoking is closely related to changes in the oral microbiota, which may contribute an opposite effect to the pathogenesis of RAS. This study provides new insight and theoretical basis for the cause and pathogenesis of RAS and better prevention and treatment.
-
The appropriateness of intensive care unit (ICU) admission of patients with metastatic cancer remains debated. We aimed to examine the short-term outcomes and their temporal pattern in critically ill patients with metastatic disease. We used state-wide data to identify hospitalizations aged ≥18 years with metastatic cancer admitted to ICU in Texas during 2010-2014. ⋯ Most ICU admissions with metastatic cancer survived hospitalization, although short-term mortality was very high among those undergoing mechanical ventilation. Short-term mortality decreased over time and was lower among those receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These findings support consideration of critical care in patients with metastatic cancer, but underscore the need to address patient-centered goals of care ahead of ICU admission.
-
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is more common in patients with hypertension and is associated with an increased risk of target organ damage and/or cardiovascular disease (CVD). Omentin-1 is a beneficial adipokine considered to play a role in MetS and MetS-related states such as obesity, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between circulating omentin-1 levels and MetS uncomplicated by diabetes or CVD (nascent MetS) in patients with hypertension. ⋯ In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, omentin-1, TyG index, and body mass index were independent predictors of MetS. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis determined that the best cut-off value for omentin-1 in predicting MetS was 62.20 ng/mL and the area under the curve was 0.880 (95% CI 0.817 to 0.942, p<0.001). The findings of this study suggest that circulating omentin-1 levels are inversely related to the presence of MetS and may be a reliable marker to predict the development of MetS in patients with hypertension.
-
Hypertension is found frequently in patients with COVID-19 and is often treated with ACE inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen of COVID-19, binds to the receptors of ACE2 to enter the alveolar cells, raising questions on whether these drugs are salutary or harmful with respect to any propensity for COVID-19 or to disease prognosis. We investigated the impact of ACEI/ARB and the clinical prognosis of patients with hypertension with COVID-19. ⋯ During hospital stay, there was no significant difference in terms of length of hospital stay, medication for COVID-19, left ventricular ejection fraction on echocardiography and metabolic equivalents in the treadmill stress test between patients treated with and without ACEI/ARB. During treatment of COVID-19, there was no significant difference in clinical adverse event, effort capacity and clinical course between patients with and without ACEI/ARB. It appears that patients with COVID-19 may continue to use ACEI/ARB or that ACEI/ARB may be added safely to their antihypertensive treatment.