Postgraduate medicine
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Postgraduate medicine · Sep 2021
Impact of monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio on the identification of prevalent coronary heart disease: insights from a general population.
Recent studies have identified monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) as a simple, practical surrogate of atherosclerosis. Considering atherosclerosis is a major mechanism of coronary heart disease (CHD). The present study aims to evaluate the association between MHR and the prevalence of CHD. ⋯ Our work suggests the robust and linear relationship between MHR and the prevalent CHD in a general population, providing epidemiological evidence for laboratory studies. More importantly, the findings implicate the efficacy of MHR to be a potential indicator to identify the prevalent CHD.
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Postgraduate medicine · Sep 2021
Watermelon and others plant foods that trigger headache in migraine patients.
Background: Food is already recognized as a trigger for migraine, but its mechanism of action has not been fully clarified. There is evidence that they act on the pathogenesis of migraine, interfering with meningeal inflammation, vasodilation and cerebral glucose metabolism. Aim: The aim of this study was to know which plant foods are triggers for migraine and the latency time for the onset of pain. ⋯ Results: There were headaches triggered by plant foods after 90.5 ± 7.9 minutes of ingestion in 40.3% (1,584/3,935) of migraine patients and none with tension-type headache. Headaches triggered by plant foods intake are distributed in the following order of frequency: watermelon (29.5%), passion fruit (3.73%), orange (2.01%), pineapple (1.52%), grape (0.51%), banana (0.46%), cucumber (0.43%), acerola (0.25%) and papaya (0.25%). Conclusions: Many plant foods, especially watermelon, may trigger headache attacks in migraine patients within a few minutes.
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Postgraduate medicine · Sep 2021
Utility of biomarkers in predicting complicated appendicitis: can immature granulocyte percentage and c-reactive protein be used?
Acute appendicitis is the most common reason for abdominal surgery in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of biomarkers in predicting complicated appendicitis (CA). ⋯ To predict CA, the best AUC values were associated with the IG percentage and the CRP level. Because it is easy, fast to measure, does not require taking extra blood, and does not lead to additional costs, IG percentage may be preferred in the diagnosis of patients with CA.
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Postgraduate medicine · Sep 2021
Physician patient-sharing relationships and healthcare costs and utilization in China: social network analysis based on health insurance data.
Evidence on physician patient-sharing relationships from developing countries is limited. This study aimed to identify patient-sharing networks among physicians in China and explore the effect of attributes of physician networks on healthcare utilization and costs. ⋯ Primary care physicians were located in peripheral positions in China, and the links between primary care facilities and higher-grade hospitals were still weak. Characteristics of physicians' networks and the position of physicians in the network were associated with spending and utilization of services, but not all associations were in the same direction.