Postgraduate medicine
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Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2023
Are bipolar disorder, major depression, and suicidality linked with Toxoplasma gondii? A seromolecular case-control study.
The existence of predisposing effects of latent Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in bipolar disorder (BD), major depression (MD), and even suicide attempt (SA) has long been debatable. This conjecture remains unclear because there is a lack of evidence regarding how T. gondii manipulates the brain and behavior. ⋯ Our findings strongly support the burgeoning interest in the possibility that latent T. gondii infection may be relevant to the etiology of BD and SA, although this connection remains ambiguous.
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Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2023
Relationship between social determinants of health and quality of life in low income adults with diabetes in Lebanon.
Global rates of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are increasing, with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region having the second highest prevalence in the world. Populations from the MENA region, including Lebanon, are also witnessing massive waves of immigration to the western hemisphere. Limited data exist about how social determinants of health (SDOH) impact outcomes for T2DM in this population. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the relationship between SDOH and quality of life (QoL) in Lebanese adults with T2DM. ⋯ This study shows that psychosocial, socioeconomic, and neighborhood/built environment variables are differentially associated with different QoL domains, suggesting that SDOH factors are strongly associated with quality of life in low-income adults with T2DM in Lebanon.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jan 2023
ReviewUpdates in the diagnosis and management of Takayasu's arteritis.
Takayasu's arteritis is a rare, chronic, large vessel vasculitis which affects the aorta and its large branches. Early diagnosis is important to prevent serious end organ damage, including to stroke and ischemic heart disease. Studies have demonstrated treatment response with methotrexate, azathioprine, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. ⋯ We also review the 2021 ACR guidelines for Takayasu's arteritis and correlate them to the updated evidence discussed throughout the review. An extensive literature search was conducted via PUBMED, including the words 'Takayasu's diagnostic criteria,' 'Takayasu's treatment,' 'Takayasu's diagnosis,' 'Takayasu's imaging', and 'Takayasu's diagnostic criteria.' Search was filtered to include clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Articles in the English language or with English translation and published by the date of 20 December 2021 were included.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jan 2023
Comparative StudyComparison of pediatric patients with idiopathic uveitis, and uveitis due to juvenile idiopathic arthritis and Behçet's disease.
The aim of this study is to compare the demographic, clinical features, treatment results and outcomes in pediatric patients with idiopathic uveitis and uveitis due to juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and Behçet's disease (BD). ⋯ Uveitis accompanying rheumatologic diseases may have asymptomatic and insidious course but have higher ESR as an important notice.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jan 2023
Extraperitoneal versus transperitoneal cesarean section: a retrospective study.
To evaluate extraperitoneal cesarean section as a routine elective surgery. ⋯ While extraperitoneal cesarean section can be safely performed as a routine procedure in the surgical delivery of primiparas, it must be performed by well-trained surgeons. In view of its advantages, it is worth being promoted in senior general hospitals as a routine choice.Abbreviations: CS: Cesarean section; ECS: Extraperitoneal; TCS: Transperitoneal; VAS: Visual analogue scale.