Articles: disease.
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Review Case Reports
Primary clostridium difficile infection in patients with ulcerative colitis: Case report and literature review.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic immune-mediated disorder characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Patients with IBD are susceptible to various complications, including the coexistence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). The incidence of IBD combined with difficile infection is higher in patients with compromised immune function, which can lead to increased mortality. ⋯ We illustrate the potential effectiveness of this medication by presenting an in-depth case report of a patient with early-stage UC. The report outlines the patient inclusion of infliximab to better manage UC inflammation alongside an adjunct vancomycin regimen, given the ineffectiveness of mesalazine therapy and the concurrent presence of Clostridium difficile infection. This case prompts consideration of therapeutic approaches for complex UC and contributes to advancing both research and clinical practice. Nonetheless, we should remain attentive to the variations and potential risks unique to each patient in order to formulate personalized treatment strategies.
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Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare autosomal dominant inherited disorder characterized by the development of nonmalignant tissue growths (hamartomas) in various organ systems, often located in the brain, skin, heart, lung and kidneys. The delayed diagnosis could be attributed to low expectation or exposure of physicians to this rare disease. High index of clinical suspicion is required for early diagnosis of rare diseases to prevent adverse outcomes. ⋯ The patients described had TSC using "clinical diagnostic criteria." Under the clinical diagnostic criteria of TSC, 4 of 11 major criteria and 3 of 7 minor criteria are skin features. Hence, awareness on skin features as clinical markers to suspect TSC should be emphasized in resource-limited countries.
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It has been reported that diabetes and hypertension increase the adverse outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Aside from the inherent factors of diabetes and hypertension, it remains unclear whether antidiabetic or antihypertensive medications contribute to the increased adverse outcomes of COVID-19. The effect of commonly used antidiabetic and antihypertensive medications on COVID-19 outcomes has been inconsistently concluded in existing observational studies. Conducting a systematic study on the causal relationship between these medications and COVID-19 would be beneficial in guiding their use during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ The findings from this comprehensive Mendelian randomization analysis suggest that there may be no causal relationship between the 5 commonly used antidiabetic medications (SGLT-2 inhibitors, Sulfonylureas, Insulin analogues, Thiazolidinediones, GLP-1 analogues) and the 3 commonly used antihypertensive medications (CCBs, ACE inhibitors, BBs) with COVID-19 susceptibility, hospitalization, and severity.
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Lung cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in the world. There are an estimated 2.2 million new cases and 1.79 million deaths each year. Over the past 2 decades, our understanding of disease biology, the use of predictive biomarkers, and improvements in therapeutic approaches have made significant progress and transformed the outcomes of many patients. ⋯ The use of Chinese medicines has attracted increasing attention worldwide. Chinese medicine treatment of lung cancer has few side effects, which can effectively prolong the survival expectation of patients and improve their quality of life, and has attracted increasing attention. Based on the pathophysiological mechanism of lung cancer reported in modern medical research, this article explores the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with medicine in the treatment of lung cancer.
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Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease in childhood. Methotrexate has broad immunomodulatory properties and is the most commonly used disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). This is an update of a 2001 Cochrane review. It supports a living guideline for children and young people with JIA. ⋯ Oral methotrexate (5 mg/m2/week to 15 mg/m2/week) compared with placebo may increase the number of children and young people achieving treatment response but may have little or no effect on pain or participant global assessment of well-being. Oral methotrexate plus IAGC injections compared to IAGC injections alone may have little or no effect on the likelihood of sustained clinically inactive disease among children and young people with oligoarticular JIA. Similarly, methotrexate compared with leflunomide may have little or no effect on treatment response, function, and participant global assessment of well-being. Serious adverse events due to methotrexate appear to be rare. We will update this review as new evidence becomes available to inform the living guideline.