Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
-
The aim of this systematic review was to investigate whether sickle cell disease (SCD) protects against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection by determining the association between SCD and the incidence and virulence of HIV infection. ⋯ SCD appears to protect against HIV infection and slows HIV progression.
-
Arterial hypertension (HTN) is important due to its high prevalence, morbidity, and mortality rates. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are the first-line antihypertensive drugs. HTN can lead to heart failure (HF) by causing hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (HTN LVH). ⋯ CCBs are inferior to renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers but still very effective in bringing about regression of HTN LVH; consequently, CCBs are expected to protect from HF. On the contrary, CCBs protect from HF less effectively than other first-line antihypertensive drugs. This discrepancy needs to be investigated further to improve clinical practice.
-
Multicenter Study
Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index Predicts One-Year Mortality in Patients with Heart Failure: An Analysis of the SELFIE-TR Study.
Predicting outcomes is an essential part of evaluation of patients with heart failure (HF). While there are multiple individual laboratory and imaging variables as well as risk scores available for this purpose, they are seldom useful during the initial evaluation. In this analysis, we aimed to elucidate the predictive usefulness of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index (TIMI-RI), a simple index calculated at the bedside with three commonly available variables, using data from a multicenter HF registry. ⋯ TIMI-RI is a simple index that predicts 1-year mortality in patients with HF; it could be useful for rapid evaluation and triage of HF patients at the time of initial contact.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of Phentermine on Hepatic Steatosis in Bariatric Surgery: A Pilot Study.
Hepatic steatosis is associated with increased surgical complications in bariatric surgery patients. We aimed to evaluate the effect of phentermine in reducing hepatic steatosis, adipose tissue, and surgical complications in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. ⋯ Phentermine decreased the proportion of individuals with hepatic steatosis by 19% and promoted a more significant fat mass loss in kilograms among candidates for bariatric surgery.
-
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematological malignancy that arises from the clonal proliferation of immature myeloid cells. Although the number of AML cases has dramatically increased worldwide, information on its prevalence and incidence in Kuwait is lacking. This study reports the incidence of AML and patient demographics in the country from 2014 to 2020, based on the 2016 WHO classification of AML. ⋯ Our study may help predict the future trends of AML in Kuwait to help improve clinical management and patient outcomes.