Articles: disease.
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Review Case Reports
Adrenomyeloneuropathy manifesting as adrenal insufficiency and bilateral lower extremity spastic paraplegia: A case report and literature review.
Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) is a variant type of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, and it is a genetic metabolic disease with strong clinical heterogeneity so that it is easily misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed. Moreover, most patients with AMN have an insidious clinical onset and slow progression. Familiarity with the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of AMN can help identify the disease at an early stage. ⋯ The clinical manifestations of AMN are diverse. When patients with adrenocortical dysfunction complicated with progressive spastic paraplegia of lower limbs are involved, AMN should be highly suspected, and the determination of very long-chain fatty acids and genetic testing should be performed as soon as possible to confirm the diagnosis because early treatment can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Biodegradable microneedle acupuncture has equivalent efficacy to traditional intradermal acupuncture for dry eye disease: A pilot single-blinded, randomized controlled trial.
Dry eye disease (DED) is a common ocular disorder in which the tear film cannot maintain homeostasis. Acupuncture has been used to treat DED in Korean medicine. Particularly, intradermal acupuncture (IDA) is less painful and enables free movement after treatment. However, it can also provoke allergic reactions to metal. To overcome this, biodegradable microneedle acupuncture (BMA) has been developed. This study compared BMA with traditional IDA in terms of efficacy and safety in patients with DED. ⋯ BMA and IDA had the same therapeutic effect for improving DED and both were safe. BMA can be used in patients with DED as an alternative to traditional IDA.
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Observational Study
Effect of frailty on medication deviation during the hospital-family transition period in older patients with cardiovascular disease: An observational study.
Studies have shown that frailty increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence in older patients and is associated with poor patient prognosis. However, the relationship between medication deviation (MD) and frailty remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the influence of frailty on MD during the hospital-family transition period among older patients with CVD. ⋯ After propensity score matching, the risk of MD in frail patients with CVD was 4.978 times higher than that in non-frail patients with CVD (95% CI: [1.616, 15.340]; P = .005). Incidences of frailty and MD during the hospital-family transition period are high in older patients with CVD, and frailty has an impact on MD. Medical staff in the ward should comprehensively examine older patients with CVD for frailty and actively promote quality medication management during the hospital-family transition period to reduce MD occurrence and delay disease progression.
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To explore the mechanism of action of Polygonum cuspidatum in intervening in coronavirus disease 2019 using a network pharmacology approach and to preliminarily elucidate its mechanism. The active ingredients and action targets of P cuspidatum were classified and summarized using computer virtual technology and molecular informatics methods. The active ingredients and relevant target information of P cuspidatum were identified using the TCM Systematic Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform, the TCM Integrated Pharmacology Research Platform v2.0, and the SwissTarget database. ⋯ In vitro assays showed no effect of 0.1 to 10 μM polydatin on cell viability, but an inhibitory effect on the transcriptional activity of NF-κB-RE. Molecular docking showed stable covalent bonding of polydatin molecules with Il-1β protein at residue leu-26, TNF protein ser-60, residue gly-121, and residue ile-258 of ICAM-1 protein, indicating a stable docking result. The treatment of COVID-19 with P cuspidatum is characterized by multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway, which can exert a complex network of regulatory effects through the interaction between different targets, providing a new idea and basis for further exploration of the mechanism of action of P cuspidatum in the treatment of COVID-19.
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Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a hereditary blood disorder characterized by the presence of abnormal hemoglobin, leading to the formation of sickle-shaped red blood cells. While much research has focused on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of SCA, recent attention has turned to the role of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in the disease progression. This review aims to elucidate the intricate mechanisms of apoptosis in SCA patients and explore its implications in disease severity, complications, and potential therapeutic interventions. ⋯ Various factors, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and altered cell signaling pathways, converge to modulate the apoptotic response in SCA. Furthermore, the interaction between apoptotic cells and the vascular endothelium contributes to endothelial dysfunction, promoting the pathogenesis of vasculopathy and organ damage seen in SCA patients. In conclusion, unraveling the complexities of apoptosis in SCA provides valuable insights into the disease pathophysiology and offers novel avenues for therapeutic interventions.