Int J Med Sci
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Background: It's reported SARS-CoV-2 could transmit via gastrointestinal tract, with or without pulmonary symptoms. However, as far as we know, there is no effective marker to predict the virus discharge in stool and initial gastrointestinal involvement of COVID-19 patients. Aims: We aimed to investigate the likely biomarker predicting virus discharge in stool and initial gastrointestinal involvement of COVID-19, which may assist the clinicians in better preventing COVID-19 spread. ⋯ Patients were divided into tertile groups by circulating lymphocyte count: lymphocyte ≤0.88*10^9/l ( n = 25 ), 0.88*10^9/l -1.2*10^9/l ( n = 28 ), and >1.2*10^9/l ( n = 23 ), respectively. When circulating lymphocyte count increased from 1st tertile to the 2nd and 3rd tertiles, the risk of initial gastrointestinal symptoms decreased by nearly 75% (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.98, p = 0.047), 83% (OR = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.63, p = 0.008), after adjusting for likely confounders. Conclusions: The circulating lymphocyte count is inversely associated with virus discharge in stool, and the risk of initial gastrointestinal involvement in COVID-19 patients.
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Observational Study
Risk factors for mortality of critically ill patients with COVID-19 receiving invasive ventilation.
Rationale: Early invasive ventilation may improve outcomes for critically ill patients with COVID-19. The objective of this study is to explore risk factors for 28-day mortality of COVID-19 patients receiving invasive ventilation. Methods: 74 consecutive adult invasively ventilated COVID-19 patients were included in this retrospective study. ⋯ High Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (hazard ratio [HR], 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-1.92; p < 0.001) and longer time from hospital admission to intubation (HR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.15-5.07; p = 0.020) were associated with 28-day mortality in invasively ventilated COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: The mortality of invasively ventilated COVID-19 patients was particularly striking. Patients with high SOFA score and receiving delayed invasive ventilation were at high risk of mortality.
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Observational Study
Morpho-structural characteristics of feet in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross sectional study.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate and classify the types and incidences of foot deformities in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Methods: A cross-sectional study with convenience sample was obtained of 220 patients with foot pain and RA classification criteria (approved by the American College of Rheumatology and the European League against Rheumatism in 2010). A series of outcomes were assessed to measure the morphological characteristics of the feet. ⋯ However, a percentage of patients with RA presents supinated foot type. The evolution of the disease shows some morphological changes in terms of patient's feet. The presence of more developed foot deformities is increased, such us Hallux Valgus or MTP joints deformity (Grade 3 in the Nijmegen classification scale).
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Observational Study
Histopathological study of JNK in venous wall of patients with chronic venous insufficiency related to osteogenesis process.
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is one of the most common vascular pathologies worldwide. One of the risk factors for the development of CVI is aging, which is why it is related to senile changes. The main trigger of the changes that occur in the venous walls in CVI is blood flow reflux, which produces increased hydrostatic pressure, leading to valve incompetence. ⋯ Histopathological techniques were used and protein expression was analysed using immunohistochemistry techniques for JNK and markers of osteogenesis (RUNX2, osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN)). Significantly increased JNK, RUNX2, OCN, OPN and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) protein expression and the presence of osseous metaplasia and amorphous calcification were observed in younger patients (<50 years) with venous reflux. This study shows for the first time the existence of an osteogenesis process related to the expression of JNK in the venous wall.
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Observational Study
Influence of CYP4F2, ApoE, and CYP2A6 gene polymorphisms on the variability of Warfarin dosage requirements and susceptibility to cardiovascular disease in Jordan.
Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death worldwide. Many of those diseases require treatment with warfarin, an anticoagulant that has a large high inter and intra-variability in the required doses. The aim of this study is to find if there are any associations between rs2108622 of CYP4F2, rs7412 and rs405509 of ApoE, and rs1801272 of CYP2A6, and CVD and warfarin dose variability. ⋯ CYP2A6 rs1801272 SNP was found to be associated with warfarin sensitivity during the initiation phase of therapy and with warfarin responsiveness and INR measurement during the stabilization phase of therapy. This study improves the current understanding of the high inter and intra-variabilities in response to warfarin, including the variety of dosing requirements and the susceptibility to cardiovascular disease in the Jordanian Arab population. Further study on a larger sample and in different ethnic groups could help in improving our understanding of warfarin's pharmacogenetics and its application in personalized medicine.