Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Dec 2020
Meta AnalysisRenin-angiotensin system inhibition and risk of infection and mortality in COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, enters human cells by binding of its viral protein to the aminopeptidase angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). This has led to speculation whether treatment with renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors was associated with an increased likelihood of a positive test for COVID-19 and risk of mortality. ⋯ Use of ACEI or ARB was not associated with a heightened susceptibility for a positive diagnosis of COVID-19. Furthermore, they were not associated with increased illness severity or mortality due to COVID-19. Randomised controlled trials are needed to address definitively the potential benefits or harms of RAS inhibitors in patients with COVID-19.
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Internal medicine journal · Dec 2020
Randomized Controlled TrialClinical efficacy and plausibility of a smartphone-based integrated online real-time diabetes care system via glucose and diet data management: a pilot study.
Smartphones have become novel healthcare tools for patients with diabetes. However, it is uncertain whether the smartphone application support system helps in glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. ⋯ The smartphone-based integrated online real-time diabetes care system through glucose and diet data management showed clinical plausibility in glucose control in real clinical practice.
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Internal medicine journal · Dec 2020
Industry payments to hospitalist physicians: a 5-year analysis of the Open Payments programme from 2014 to 2018.
We analysed Open Payments programme data (https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov) on industry-to-physician payments to hospitalists for the years 2014 to 2018. Payments to hospitalists increased by 106.5% from 2014 to 2018 with food and beverage (38.5%) and compensation for services other than consulting (24.3%) being the highest-paid categories. ⋯ Industry seems to be spending a significant amount of money to increase awareness of medications among hospitalists. Identification of these trends and potential motives of industry spending is critical to address any potential physician bias.
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Internal medicine journal · Dec 2020
Review Case ReportsCOVID-19-associated collapsing glomerulopathy: a report of two cases and literature review.
Nephrotic range proteinuria has been reported during the course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, the pathological mechanisms underlying this manifestation are unknown. In this article, we present two cases of collapsing glomerulopathy (CG) associated with acute tubular necrosis during the course of COVID-19, and review the literature for similar reports. ⋯ The 14 patients assessed had an APOL1 high-risk genotype. At the end of the reported period, two patients had died and five patients were still requiring dialysis. The 16 cases detailed in the present report strongly argue in favour of a causal link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the occurrence of CG in patients homozygous for APOL1 high-risk genotype for which the term COVID-associated nephropathy (COVIDAN) can be put forward.
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Internal medicine journal · Dec 2020
Observational StudyAeromedical retrieval diagnostic trends during a period of Coronavirus 2019 lockdown.
Little is known on the trends of aeromedical retrieval (AR) during social isolation. ⋯ The lockdown period resulted in increased AR rates of circulatory and congenital conditions.