Medicina clinica
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A considerable improvement in the knowledge of gout has taken place in the 2decades of the XXIth century. Definitions of disease, estate, and clinical situations, along with a new nomenclature, have been agreed. More importantly, the concept of gout as a "curable" or "controllable" disease has been settled. ⋯ Different primary therapeutic targets have been defined depending on the burden of disease, and targets for secondary prevention considered. We know how to best prescribe available medications and prevent the risk of adverse events. Finally, we have understood the importance of adherence, education, and empower patients during treatment instead of blaming them.
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Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a progressive meta-inflammatory disorder, which induce micro and macrovascular complications. Resveratrol is a nutraceutical known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It improves insulin resistance; however, no clear evidence regarding its effects in patients with T2DM. ⋯ We concluded that resveratrol beneficially modulates glycemic control as well as cardiometabolic parameters in patients with T2DM.
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Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease characterized by adverse remodeling of the arterial tree leading to increased vascular resistance with subsequent increase in right ventricular afterload and eventual development of heart failure. The nonspecific clinical manifestations and lack of knowledge of pathology lead to a poor prognosis associated with delay in diagnosis and initiation of treatment. The most recent recommendations focus on optimizing the early differential diagnosis with other causes of pulmonary hypertension to initiate appropriate treatment based on the mortality risk estimation. In the last years, with the improvement in the diagnostic process, the emergence of new specific treatments, and the creation of specialized referral units for this pathology, the prognosis, and quality of life of patients with PAH have improved significantly.
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Acute pancreatitis is nowadays one of the most common diseases among gastroenterology disorders, being gallstones and alcohol the main etiologies. Diagnostic criteria and indications of different imaging techniques are well defined, so that abdominal ultrasound is useful for etiological diagnosis whereas computarized tomography is better for risk stratification and local complications assessment. ⋯ Antibiotics are useful when infected necrosis or extra pancreatic infections are documented or suspected but no as prophylaxis in sterile necrotizing pancreatitis. Minimally invasive approaches have emerged in the last decade for walled off necrosis management, improving complication rates, quality of life and length of hospital stay when compared with open surgery.
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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic disease that may lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma; its close relationship with obesity and the metabolic syndrome involves an increasing prevalence. Invasive liver biopsy is the gold standard diagnosis technique for NAFLD but entails risks. Therefore, transient elastography, a non-invasive technique with high reliability, is frequently used in clinical practice. ⋯ Although studies report encouraging results of bariatric surgery as a valuable therapy for NAFLD, guidelines for its use in NAFLD are ambiguous. Indeed, the mechanisms driving this improvement are largely unknown, but likely involve weight loss-dependent and independent factors including anatomic and hormonal changes. This review aims to update the relationship between NAFLD and bariatric surgery, focusing on the indications for surgery and the mechanisms implied in NAFLD improvement.