Medicine
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Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a devastating diagnosis which carries a high mortality risk. Echocardiography is often performed to risk stratify patients diagnosed with PE, and guide management strategies. Trends in the performance of echocardiography among patients with PE and its role in influencing outcomes is unknown. ⋯ Before matching, patients who received an echocardiogram were more likely to be younger, African American, admitted to a large, urban teaching institute, and had higher rates of concurrent acute deep vein thrombosis, and acute respiratory failure. Post-PSM, patients who received echocardiography during hospitalization had lower in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 0.75, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.68-0.83; P < 0.001), longer length of stay (median 6 days vs 5 days; P < .001) and higher mean hospitalization costs ($34,379 vs $27,803; P < .001) compared to those without echocardiography. Performance of echocardiography among patients with a PE is increasing and is associated with lower in-hospital mortality.
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The diabetes dusk phenomenon (spontaneous and transient pre-dinner hyperglycemia) anecdotally exists but has not been investigated. A total of 80 diabetic patients that received continuous subcutaneous insulin infusions were retrospectively studied. They were grouped into a routine group (R) (consecutive δDG [dusk blood glucose difference] <0 mmol/L) and a classic dusk phenomenon group (CDP, consecutive δDG≥0 mmol/L). δDG represents differences in blood glucose measurements between pre-dinner and post-lunch (δDG: dusk blood glucose difference). ⋯ A consecutive δDG≥0 or a once only δDG < 0 could be diagnosed as falling into the CLDP group. The CLDP could be excluded when a consecutive δDG < 0 or a once only δDG≥0 was found. Patients falling into other categories were placed into the SDP group.
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Women with Asherman syndrome (AS) have damaged endometrium and reduced blood flow to the uterus and placenta which may lead to low birth weight and several obstetric complications. The objective is to determine the association between low birth weight and obstetrical complications in women with AS compared to women with normal intrauterine cavity. A retrospective case-control study was conducted in Women's Specialized Hospital, King Fahad Medical City, from December 2008 to December 2015. ⋯ Complications of delivery including retained placenta, placenta previa, and fetal death were significantly higher in patients with AS compared with controls 28.6% 7.1%, and 7.1% compared to 4.8%, 0%, and 0%, respectively. This was statistically significant (P < .001). Pregnant women with AS delivered low birth weight newborns and had more obstetrical complications as compared with pregnant women with normal cavity.
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This study aimed to introduce this surgical technique laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy combined with single-anastomosis duodenal-jejunal bypass (LDJB-LSG), and to confirm this new surgical technique was safe in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) of patients with body mass index (BMI) higher than 27.5 kg/m but lower than 32.5 kg/m. A total of 34 T2DM patients with (BMI) higher than 27.5 kg/m but lower than 32.5 kg/m were admitted to our department between January 2014 and October 2016, of whom 25 received laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery (LRYGB) and 9 received LDJB-LSG. The efficacy and safety were compared between the 2 groups. ⋯ Patients received regular follow-up after surgery and none were lost to follow-up. Our study indicates LDJB-LSG is similar to LRYGB in the improvements of the body weight, blood glucose, insulin resistance, islet β cell function, blood lipid profile and serum uric acid, and thus LDJB-LSG is applicable in T2DM patients with 27.5 kg/m ≤ BMI ≤ 32.5 kg/m and risk for gastric cancer. However, long-term therapeutic effects need to be evaluated by studies with multicenter, large sample size, and long-term follow-ups.
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Mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I deficiency is one of common mitochondrial disorders. However, the information is relatively little about the features of Chinese patients. In this study, the clinical, biological, and genetic analyses were performed in the children with respiratory chain complex I deficiency, in order to further understand the characteristics of the disease. ⋯ The prevalence of isolated complex I deficiency was higher in the patients with mtDNA mutations (79.4%) than in the patients without mtDNA mutations (54.5%). Patients with nuclear DNA mutations are more likely to develop early onset in mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I deficiency. The patients with complex I deficiency of peripheral leukocytes may be more likely to be caused by mtDNA mutation.