Current medical research and opinion
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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD is a spectrum of liver disease with a rising prevalence, ranging from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis and cirrhosis, where a significant minority face potential complications. Determining the predictive markers plays a crucial role. This study examined the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and NAFLD in healthy individuals and identified potential other predictors. ⋯ Our findings suggest a significant relationship between serum uric acid levels and NAFLD in healthy individuals. Elevated uric acid levels, in conjunction with other anthropometric parameters, may serve as potential predictive markers for NAFLD.
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Review Meta Analysis
The impact of psychedelics on patients with alcohol use disorder: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Critique the available systematic review and de novo assessment of the role of psychedelics in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. ⋯ The use of psychedelics to treat alcohol use disorder is promising, but the weaknesses in the literature base preclude making definitive statements about its value. Future trials with greater methodological rigor are needed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Kalium phosphoricum comp. in patients with neurasthenia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
This Phase IV placebo-controlled clinical trial was designed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the product Neurodoron (Kalium phosporicum comp., KPC) in patients with neurasthenia. ⋯ Trial treatment was well tolerated with only a few and minor AEs reported, confirming the markedly good safety of KPC. A significant improvement of neurasthenia was seen for the total study population at the end of the treatment period. Superiority of KPC vs. placebo could not be demonstrated with the pre-specified analysis with regards to a sum score of 12 typical symptoms, perceived stress, or general health status. However, the explorative post-hoc analysis revealed that KPC is superior to placebo in the characteristic symptoms irritability and nervousness. KPC could therefore be a beneficial treatment option for symptomatic relief of neurasthenia.
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Studies demonstrate that people who have been infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, have experienced cognitive dysfunction, including working memory impairment, executive dysfunction, and decreased concentration. This review aimed to explore the incidence of working memory impairment and possible concomitant symptoms in the acute phase (< 3 months) and chronic phase (> 6 months) of COVID-19. ⋯ COVID-19 can cause a decline in working memory ability, accompanied by neurological symptoms. However, there is a lack of studies to identify the structural and functional changes in specific brain regions that relate to the impaired working memory.
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Influenza is associated with significant disease burden in the US and is currently best controlled by vaccination programs. Influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) is low and may be reduced by several factors, including egg adaptations. Although non-egg-based influenza vaccines reportedly have greater VE in egg-adapted seasons, evidence for egg adaptations' reduction of VE is indirect and dissociated, apart from two previous European consensuses. ⋯ After review of extensive evidence for reduction of VE due to egg-based influenza vaccine manufacture, influenza experts in the US joined those in Europe in unanimous agreement for a mechanistic basis for the effect. Vaccine providers and administrators should consider use of non-egg-based influenza vaccine manufacture to reduce the risk of egg adaptations and likely impact on VE.