Irish journal of medical science
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Antidepressant medication can be associated with weight gain. Consideration should be given to the specific agent prescribed to optimize bariatric surgery outcomes. ⋯ Many patients undergoing bariatric surgery have concurrent psychiatric conditions. Given the complex relationship between bariatric surgery and mental health, psychotropic medications may be best managed by a specialist in the field such as a bariatric psychiatrist in order to optimize patient outcomes.
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Patient information leaflets (PILs) are documents that are standardized in nature and provide guidance for patients or caregivers on the safe and effective use of medicines. Previous evidence suggests that written information is linked to enhancing the amount of information remembered. Currently, patients have become more involved in digital searches for information. However, there is variability in the quality and reliability of information obtained from the web. According to Saudi Food and Drug Authority regulations, pharmaceutical manufacturers are required to supplement each pharmaceutical product entering the Saudi market with a digital leaflet in addition to a paper leaflet. This research aimed to evaluate patients' attitudes and practices towards PILs. ⋯ Although patients had positive perceptions towards PILs, physicians were the top-consulted source for medicine information. Pharmacists should educate patients about the importance of referring to PILs which can also be accessed electronically in the case of a preference for a digital format, as the quality and reliability of the information obtained from the web cannot be confirmed.
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Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by persistent antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) with arterial and venous thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity. In recent years, several studies have highlighted the potential role of non-criteria aPL in diagnosing APS patients. ⋯ Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most commonly associated disease with APS, being present in approximately 35% of cases [1]. Since the majority of the patient group in our study had APS that was secondary to SLE, non-criteria antibody positivity may be linked to the immunological activity of SLE. Large multicenter studies are necessary to investigate the clinical significance of isolated/combined positivity for criterion/non-criteria aPLs.
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Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is still difficult to diagnose. Quantitative culture of small intestine aspirate is recommended to be the gold standard. The methane and hydrogen breath tests are easily repeatable, sufficiently sensitive and highly specific for SIBO diagnosis. Our goal is to contrast the diagnostic value of the breath tests with jejunal aspiration cultures. ⋯ 35% of patients with suspected SIBO are identified using jejunal aspirate cultures. For the identification of SIBO, GBT is more specific than LBT, but has a lower sensitivity. In individuals with suspected SIBO, the breath test should be initially due to its good agreement with the jejunal aspirate culture.
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Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a type of peripheral entrapment neuropathy and common for the patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a new ultrasonography technique that can be used for diagnosing CTS, but not studied in PsA patients. ⋯ We found that SWE has a good diagnostic value for CTS with PsA patients; hence, we can conclude that SWE could diagnose CTS in PsA patients.