International journal of clinical practice
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jul 2021
ReviewSafety and efficacy of intravenous hydralazine and labetalol for the treatment of asymptomatic hypertension in hospitalized patients: a systematic review.
Current guidelines for the management of asymptomatic hypertension (HTN) in the inpatient setting recommend the use of oral antihypertensives. However, in clinical practice, intravenous (IV) antihypertensives are commonly utilised with little supporting evidence. The objective of this study was to evaluate literature examining the safety/efficacy of IV hydralazine and labetalol in hospitalised patients with non-emergent, asymptomatic HTN. ⋯ The studies identified in this review raise concerns regarding the safety of IV hydralazine and labetalol in non-emergent HTN. Despite relatively broad clinical experience with these drugs, experimental investigations regarding their utility are recommended.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jul 2021
The value of serum thyroglobuline alteration after ultrasonography-guided fine-needle biopsy of suspicous cervical lymph nodes in the diagnosis of metastasis in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.
It is known that serum thyroglobulin (TG) can increase after fine-needle biopsy of thyroid nodules. We aimed to determine whether TG is increased after ultrasonography (US)-guided fine needle capillary biopsy (FNC) of suspicious cervical lymph nodes (LNs) in thyroidectomised patients and investigate the possible association between change in TG and cytology results. ⋯ Serum TG increment and rate of patients with increased TG after FNC of suspicious cervical LNs were higher in patients with malignant cytology than with all other cytology results both in all study group and in sub-group of anti-TG positive patients. Increase in TG after FNC might be an additional tool for determining LN metastasis.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jul 2021
Eosinopenia is a reliable marker of severe disease and unfavorable outcome in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.
Viral pneumonia is the most relevant clinical presentation of COVID-19 which may lead to severe acute respiratory syndrome and even death. Eosinopenia was often noticed in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, but its role is poorly investigated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and eosinopenia. ⋯ Absolute eosinopenia is associated with clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and might be used as a marker to discriminate patients with unfavourable prognosis.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jul 2021
Medicolegal evaluation of the erectile function of patients referred from the Forensic Medicine Authority of the Ministry of Justice in Upper Egypt.
In Upper Egypt, the Forensic Medicine Authority of the Ministry of Justice transfers patients with marital conflicts or accusation of rape for proper sexual function evaluation, which helps in making its decisions according to the law. Therefore, our study aims to evaluate the pattern of 40 cases referred for sexual function evaluation, their clinical, laboratory, imaging characteristics and finally the decisions of these cases. ⋯ There is a great diversity in patients referred for medicolegal evaluation in Upper Egypt; with the erectile function problems are the commonest. A more meticulous well-designed approach is needed for proper evaluation of those patients as serious legal consequences result from this evaluation.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jul 2021
ReviewDiabetes in COVID-19 pandemic-prevalence, patient characteristics and adverse outcomes.
Current literature on COVID-19 pandemic has identified diabetes as a common comorbidity in patients affected. However, the evidence that diabetes increases the risk of infection, effect of diabetes on outcomes and characteristics of patients at risk is not clear. ⋯ High risk group should be identified and prioritised in future vaccination programmes. Future research is required to optimise management of patients with diabetes and develop new ways to manage them via technological developments such as telecare.