Postgraduate medicine
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The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has triggered great interest in the search for the pathophysiological mechanisms of COVID-19 and its associated hyperinflammatory state. The presence of prognostic factors such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, and age influence the expression of the disease's clinical severity. Other elements, such as 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D3) concentrations, are currently being studied. ⋯ Thus, there are biological factors linking vitamin D to the cytokine storm, which can herald some of the most severe consequences of COVID-19, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome. Hypovitaminosis D is widespread worldwide, so the prevention of COVID-19 through vitamin D supplementation is being considered as a possible therapeutic strategy easy to implement. However, more-quality studies and well-designed randomized clinical trials are needed to address this relevant question.
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Postgraduate medicine · Apr 2023
ReviewThe debate over the optimal blood pressure treatment target of less than 130/80 mmHg.
The objective of this study was to analyze the controversy regarding the optimal blood pressure (BP) target of <130/80 mmHg as proposed by the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) across all age groups. Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, and chronic kidney disease (CKD), and its optimal control is associated with lessening or preventing these complications. A recent study has argued that this BP level is universally accepted as an optimal and safe BP level. However, this argument is not accepted by other investigators, arguing that higher BP levels are as effective and safe. ⋯ Based on the current evidence, the current proposed by the 2017 ACC/AHA treatment guidelines are effective in lowering the BP and decreasing its cardiovascular complications and should followed, till perhaps, new data come out to the contrary.
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Postgraduate medicine · Apr 2023
Randomized Controlled TrialPredictive value of arterial blood lactate to serum albumin ratio for in-hospital mortality of patients with community-acquired pneumonia admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
To investigate the predictive value of the arterial blood lactate to serum albumin ratio (LAR) on in-hospital mortality of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). ⋯ LAR could predict in-hospital mortality of patients with CAP admitted to ICU independently as a readily accessible biomarker. The nomogram that included LAR with other independent factors performed well in predicting in-hospital mortality.
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Postgraduate medicine · Apr 2023
Observational StudyUndergraduate health sciences students' response regarding COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia: an observational study.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic represents a major health problem, and its influences may persist with emerging viral variants. The current work was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and learning satisfaction of health sciences students (HSS) regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ Overall, participants show high knowledge level and positive attitude toward COVID-19 but fair learning satisfaction during the pandemic. Further studies are needed to improve the learning satisfaction and attitude of HSS in the future.
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Postgraduate medicine · Apr 2023
Treatment characteristics among patients with binge-eating disorder: an electronic health records analysis.
Treatment for adults diagnosed with binge-eating disorder (BED) includes psychotherapy and/or pharmacotherapy and aims to reduce the frequency of binge-eating episodes and disordered eating, improve metabolic-related issues and reduce weight, and address mood symptoms. Data describing real-world treatment patterns are lacking; therefore, this study aims to characterize real-world treatment patterns among patients with BED. ⋯ This cohort of patients with BED was treated more frequently with pharmacotherapy than psychotherapy. These data may help inform strategies for reducing differences between real-world treatment patterns and evidence-based recommendations.