Isr Med Assoc J
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory and destructive joint disease with the presence of autoantibodies, rheumatoid factor (RF), and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA). The presence of RF or ACPA predicts RA severity. Data on the influence of ACPA titer on RA course are limited. ⋯ Titer of ACPA was not identified as a predictive factor for RA severity.
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Oral anticoagulants (OAC) reduce the risk for stroke and death from all causes in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). ⋯ Adherence rates to OAC in chronic use among patients with chronic NAVF are high. Investing in OAC adherence may have a wider health impact than expected.
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Comparative Study
Ultra-Low Dose Chest CT with Denoising for Lung Nodule Detection.
Medical imaging and the resultant ionizing radiation exposure is a public concern due to the possible risk of cancer induction. ⋯ When assessing asymptomatic patients for pulmonary nodules, finding a negative screen using ULD CT with denoising makes it highly unlikely for a patient to have a pulmonary nodule that requires aggressive investigation. Future studies of this technique should include larger cohorts and be considered for lung cancer screening as radiation exposure is radically reduced.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Safety of Femoral Nerve Blockade for Hip Fractures inAdult Patients Treated with Anti-Xa Direct Oral Anticoagulants: A Pilot Study.
Limited data exist regarding the safety of ultrasound-guided femoral nerve blockade (US-FNB) in patients with hip fractures treated with anti-Xa direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC). ⋯ Regarding patients treated with Anti-Xa DOAC, US-FNB was not associated with an increase in major bleeding events compared to conventional analgesia, although it was an effective means of pain alleviation. Larger scale randomized controlled trials are required to determine long-term safety and efficacy.