Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health problem which is increasing throughout the world and a major cause of death. However, current therapies fail to prevent disease progression or mortality. The mainstay of current drug therapy are long-acting bronchodilators; several longer-acting inhaled beta(2)-agonists and muscarinic antagonists (and combinations) are now in development. ⋯ Broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory drugs may be more effective, and include inhibitors of the enzymes phosphodiesterase-4, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, NF-kappaB kinase and phosphoinositide 3 kinase-gamma and -delta, but side effects will be a major limitation so that inhaled delivery may be necessary. Perhaps the most promising approach is reversal of corticosteroid resistance through increasing histone deacetylase-2 activity. This might be achieved by theophylline-like drugs, phosphoinositide 3 kinase-delta inhibitors, more effective antioxidants and non-antibiotic macrolides.
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To evaluate the accuracy of urine sample collection methods among children suspected of having urinary tract infections. ⋯ Suprapubic aspiration showed the lowest contamination rate and sterile urine bag showed the highest contamination rate among 4 methods of urine sample collection. Contaminated specimens, needed to be repeated and this procedure increased the cost of urine culture. In conclusion, measures should be taken to reduce the contamination rate in our center. This is an area where further investigation is required.
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The objective of the present study was to investigate smoking habits of Iranian dental students in relation to their background characteristics and oral self-care (OSC). ⋯ Smoking among Iranian dental students is similar to their socioeconomic group, and is associated with the characteristics of their background, such as gender and father's level of education, as well as the quality of OSC. The results indicate a need to include smoking cessation education and public health activities in the dental curriculum to provide future health care professionals and role models for patients with adequate training in up-to-date patient management to control smoking.
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To assess the influence of smoking on glycated albumin (GA) to hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ratio among type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. ⋯ The data suggest that smoking might affect the GA/HbA1c ratio among T1DM patients.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between two genetic polymorphisms (PvuII and XbaI restriction fragment length polymorphisms, RFLPs) of the estrogen receptor-alpha (ER1) gene and the quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters at the calcaneus. ⋯ The results suggest that the PvuII and XbaI RFLPs of the ER1 gene may be genetic factors that affect QUS at the calcaneus.