International journal of clinical practice
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jul 2021
Development and application of a new framework for infectious disease management at early stage of new epidemics: taking COVID-19 outbreak in China as an example.
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapidly spread across worldwide, posing a significant challenge to public health. Several shortcomings in the existing infectious disease management system were exposed during the pandemic, which hindered the control of the disease globally. To cope with this issue, we propose a window-period framework to reveal the general rule of the progression of management of infectious diseases and to help with decision making at the early stage of epidemics with a focus on healthcare provisions. ⋯ It was recommended that when possible healthcare provisions should upgrade to the highest level of alert for the control of an unknown epidemic in the dark-window period, while countermeasures in the bright-window period could be accordingly adjusted with full exploration and considerations. The framework may provide some insights into how to accelerate the control of future epidemics promptly and effectively.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jul 2021
Correlation of osteoprotegerin, sRANKL, inflammatory factors and epicardial adipose tissue volume with coronary heart disease.
To observe the correlation of osteoprotegerin, soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (sRANKL), inflammatory factors and epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV) with the severity of coronary heart disease (CHD). ⋯ Osteoprotegerin, sRANKL, inflammatory factors and EATV were positively correlated with the severity of CHD, which had certain value for the diagnosis of CHD.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jul 2021
Oral anticoagulation and outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Anticoagulation reduces the risk of stroke and embolization and is recommended in most patients with atrial fibrillation. Patients after coronary intervention and acute coronary syndromes require antiplatelet treatment. Although oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy may interfere with the outcome of patients after coronary intervention, its exact impact remains unclear. Importantly, risk-benefit relations may be considerably different after myocardial infarction. ⋯ In patients with acute myocardial infarction, the prognosis of OAC-treated patients was comparable to the PS matched control; however, the omission of aspirin therapy was associated with unfavorable outcomes.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jul 2021
Rational drug use habits of patients with chronic diseases: a cross-sectional examination focusing on the use of technological devices.
The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting rational drug use habits and the use of technological devices in patients with chronic diseases. ⋯ The patients with chronic diseases demonstrate crucial deficiencies regarding rational drug use. The widespread use of technological devices may be an opportunity for preventive and remedial projects to be developed through these devices. Smartphone-based self-management tools should be developed and introduced to chronic patients.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jul 2021
Urinary Microbiota; Which Non-Invasive Urine Collection Method Should We Use?
The aim of this study is to establish the optimal non-invasive urine sample collection method for the microbiota studies. ⋯ Either first voided or midstream urine samples can be used in urinary microbiota studies as we determined that there is no statistically significant difference between them regarding the results of 16s ribosomal RNA analysis.