Minerva medica
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Olfaction is intimately involved in reproductive behaviors. However, there is limited evidence about the relationship between olfactory and sexual functioning, and whether this relationship is modulated by gender. This study aimed to investigate the correlates between olfactory and sexual functioning in a cohort of young healthy individuals; secondary outcomes were the possible correlates between disgust and perceived vulnerability to illness, with particular relation to sexual attitudes. ⋯ We herein confirm that olfactory capacities positively correlate with sexual behavior in both sexes. In males, these findings were mostly dependent upon increasing age and BMI. In females all domains of sexual function but sexual desire correlated with olfactory capacity, thus suggesting independent neural pathway activation for sexual desire. Finally, better olfactory capacities seem to determine sexual attitudes and disease avoidance behaviors irrespective of gender.
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COVID-19 patients frequently develop respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Data on long-term survival of patients who had severe COVID-19 are insufficient. We assessed and compared two-year survival, CT imaging, quality of life, and functional recovery of COVID-19 ARDS patients requiring respiratory support with invasive (IMV) versus noninvasive ventilation (NIV). ⋯ Patients who received mechanical ventilation due to COVID-19 and were discharged from hospital had a 96% survival rate at the two-year follow-up. There was no difference in overall recovery and quality of life between patients who did and did not require IMV, although respiratory morbidity remains high.
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β-thalassemia is a monogenic disorder characterized by decreased hemoglobin production, resulting in chronic anemia. There are several factors affecting the clinical presentation of patients with β-thalassemia, and several complications such as iron overload or ineffective erythropoiesis have been linked to this disease. ⋯ Other clinical trials are being conducted to develop better and safer management techniques for these patients. This review will discuss the different treatment strategies of β-thalassemia including novel therapies, besides all possible curative therapies that are being developed for this disease.