Medicine
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Observational Study
Adult patients with severe respiratory syncytial virus infections in the emergency department.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a seasonal virus known to cause significant morbidity in pediatric patients; however, morbidity in adult patients has not been well investigated. We aimed to characterize adult patients with RSV infection in the emergency department (ED) and their clinical course. During the winter term 2022/23, all adult ED patients were screened for RSV, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2, and influenza infection using point-of-care polymerase chain reaction tests. ⋯ Our data show that RSV is a medically relevant pathogen among adult ED patients, often requiring inpatient treatment. In particular, elderly patients with some medical preconditions seem to be more prone to a severe course of infection requiring inpatient treatment. Lower respiratory tract involvement, proven by pulmonary infiltrates, seems to be crucial for a more severe disease course.
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Antituberculosis drugs (ATDs) could cause severe and rare reactions, such as Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome. Recovering ATDs might guarantee a higher cure rate for tuberculosis patients. Our aim was to evaluate the results of desensitization and re-desensitization to recover ATDs in a case series of patients with DRESS syndrome. ⋯ The study introduced a desensitization and re-desensitization algorithm for the treatment of DRESS syndrome, notable for its safety, adaptability, and high success rate. This advancement provided healthcare professionals with safer and more effective therapeutic approaches for managing this complex condition.
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Otitis media and allergic rhinitis are prevalent conditions. Some data posit a significant association between the 2 ailments, proposing mechanisms such as allergic rhinitis-induced Eustachian tube dysfunction or concurrent allergic pathophysiology affecting both the nasal and aural cavities. Observational studies hint at an association between allergic rhinitis (AR) and nonsuppurative otitis media, yet definitive causality remains elusive. ⋯ However, no causal effect of AR on chronic suppurative otitis media was discerned. Our findings delineate a measurable causal link between AR and nonsuppurative otitis media (OR = 12.22) and suggest an association with acute suppurative otitis media (OR = 6.95), though lacking evidence for a causal effect on chronic suppurative otitis media. These results underscore the propensity of AR to correlate with diverse forms of otitis media and furnish high-quality causal evidence pertinent to clinical management.
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Endocrine disruptors are considered estrogenic disruptors, and recent researches suggested that they may have a link to the severity of asthma. We aim to validate the correlation between endocrine disruptors and various clinical measurements of asthma, depending on the menopausal status. A pilot case-control study was performed in female asthmatic patients who visited allergy clinic in SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center. ⋯ Using the Spearman rank correlation test in premenopausal asthmatic patients (n = 7), we found negative correlations between urinary concentration of mono-n-butyl phthalate and asthma control test score, as well as postbronchodilator forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% of forced vital capacity (P-value = .007 and .04, respectively). In contrast, it did not show any correlation with asthma control test or postbronchodilator forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% of forced vital capacity (P-value = 1.00 and .74, respectively) in postmenopausal group (n = 13). Endocrine disruptors might have an impact on the decline of small airway function and asthma management among premenopausal, but not postmenopausal, female asthmatic patients.
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Hemodialysis (HD)-related nursing research has been growing over the past 2 decades, providing critical insights into improving patient care and outcomes. This study aimed to visualize the hotspots and emerging frontiers in HD-related nursing research, offering valuable references for future studies. ⋯ This study reveals productive authors, countries and institutions, research hotspots, and trends of HD-related nursing research over the past 2 decades, offering a comprehensive overview of this field worldwide.