Medicine
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Case Reports
Septic cardiomyopathy or myocardial infarction?: A case report of septic shock with ST-segment elevation on ECG.
Sepsis is one of the most prevalent and deadly diseases today. Sepsis involving the heart can progress to septic cardiomyopathy; however, there is a lack of uniform diagnostic criteria. A review of the literature reveals a paucity of literature on sepsis combined with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and no reports on emergency surgical treatment. ⋯ In cases of acute heart failure resulting from trauma-induced sepsis, it is crucial to consider myocardial ischemia as a potential factor. Early surgical removal of infected foci may prove beneficial in improving the patient's prognosis. However, differentiating between septic cardiomyopathy and sepsis-combined myocardial infarction can be challenging, and the appropriateness of the diagnostic criteria for sepsis at this stage is debatable.
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Previous observational studies have suggested an association between antibiotic use and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), though the causal relationship remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the causal link between antibiotic use and RA in a European population using Mendelian randomization (MR). We utilized pooled genome-wide association study (GWAS) data on 12 antibiotics and RA from European populations, extracted from the GWAS Catalog. ⋯ However, further multivariate MR analysis found no causal association between tetracycline use and RA. Our results do not support a direct causal relationship between RA and antibiotic use, which may help alleviate some concerns among clinicians. Further MR studies are needed to validate these findings as additional datasets from other cohorts and GWASs with more detailed information become available.
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Early prediction of pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer patients can help forecast prognosis and guide decisions on adjuvant therapy. This study aimed to determine whether the kinetic parameters of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) with ultrafast imaging can predict pCR following NAC in breast cancer patients and whether these parameters are correlated with histologic microvessel density (MVD). In this retrospective study, 61 breast cancer patients who underwent NAC and surgery between August 2020 and 2022 were analyzed. ⋯ Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-enriched breast cancer with low vascularity on DCE-MRI is more likely to achieve pCR, although MRI kinetic parameters were not independent predictors of pCR in all breast cancer subtypes. The maximum slope on ultrafast MRI was the only kinetic parameter that correlated with histologic MVD. Larger studies focused on molecular subtypes are warranted.
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The issue of obesity has emerged as a significant global health challenge; nevertheless, the association between Bell's palsy (BP) and obesity remains ambiguous. In this study, the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach was employed to investigate their relationship, while network pharmacology methods were utilized to unveil the underlying mechanisms. ⋯ Our study findings suggest that obesity may increase the risk of BP, and its underlying mechanism may potentially involve regulating chemical synaptic transmission through the EFGR/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
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Case Reports
Two case reports of rare Down's syndrome during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).
Despite the potential risks, assisted reproductive technology has provided hope and opportunities for individuals and couples struggling with infertility to conceive and have children. This study presents a case report that describes an occurrence where a pregnancy achieved through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer had to be ended because of the presence of trisomy 21 syndrome. ⋯ These 2 cases underscore the significance of genetic counseling and prenatal screening for couples who are undergoing assisted reproductive technologies, with the purpose of detecting and effectively addressing any possible genetic abnormalities that may arise in their progeny.