The Journal of international medical research
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Senile patients often experience neurocognitive disturbance after non-cardiac surgery. Several clinical trials have investigated if the perioperative intravenous use of dexmedetomidine has a positive effect on the prevention of neurocognitive dysfunction, but the results have been inconsistent. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on neurocognitive disturbance after elective non-cardiac surgery in senile patients. ⋯ Dexmedetomidine has a positive effect on the prevention of neurocognitive disturbance in senile patients after elective non-cardiac surgery.
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Review Case Reports
Application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to treatment of serious tracheal stenosis caused by relapsing polychondritis: a case report and literature review.
Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a multisystemic rheumatic disease characterized by widespread and potentially destructive inflammatory lesions of the cartilage. The rarity of this disease and the lack of pathological diagnostic laboratory tests can occasionally lead to delayed diagnosis. We herein describe a 51-year-old woman with RP. ⋯ Airway involvement of RP may be life-threatening. In this case, endotracheal intubation would have undoubtedly been very dangerous. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can be performed in an awake state to maintain oxygenation and improve the chance of survival.
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Meta Analysis
Analgesic effects of erector spinae plane block for patients after breast surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This meta-analysis investigated the analgesic effects of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in patients undergoing breast surgery. ⋯ ESPB significantly alleviated pain and reduced opioid consumption after breast surgery. Further research is needed to expand its clinical application.PROSPERO registration number CRD42020167900.
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The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in December 2019 has resulted in over 20 million cases and 741,808 deaths globally, affecting more than 200 countries. COVID-19 was declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020 by the World Health Organization. The disease is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). ⋯ Promising strategies to combat SARS-CoV-2 include discovery of therapeutic targets/drugs and vaccines. In this review, we summarize the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of COVID-19. We also address the mechanisms of action of approved repurposed drugs for therapeutic management of the disease.
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Review Case Reports
Hypocalcemic cardiomyopathy after parathyroidectomy in a patient with uremia: A case report and literature review.
Hypocalcemia is a rare, but reversible, cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. Although cardiomyopathy may cause severe heart failure, calcium supplementation can reverse heart failure. We report here a patient with uremia and secondary hyperparathyroidism, who was complicated by persistent hypocalcemia and refractory heart failure. ⋯ To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of this disease to be reported in a patient with uremia. Findings from our case may help clinicians to better understand hypocalcemic cardiomyopathy. Our case might also provide new insight into long-term cardiac complications and prognoses of patients undergoing parathyroidectomy due to secondary hyperparathyroidism.