Annals of medicine
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Review
Hydroxychloroquine: A comprehensive review and its controversial role in coronavirus disease 2019.
Hydroxychloroquine, initially used as an antimalarial, is used as an immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory agent for the management of autoimmune and rheumatic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. Lately, there has been interest in its potential efficacy against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, with several speculated mechanisms. The purpose of this review is to elaborate on the mechanisms surrounding hydroxychloroquine. ⋯ KEY MESSAGES HCQ, initially an antimalarial agent, is used as an immunomodulatory agent for managing several autoimmune diseases, for which its efficacy is linked to inhibiting lysosomal antigen processing, MHC-II antigen presentation, and TLR functions. HCQ is generally well-tolerated although severe life-threatening adverse effects including cardiomyopathy and conduction defects have been reported. HCQ use in COVID-19 should be discouraged outside clinical trials under strict medical supervision.
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This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of serum LDH to pleural ADA ratio (cancer ratio, CR)for malignant pleural effusion (MPE) through an original study and meta-analysis. ⋯ CR has a high diagnostic accuracy for predicting MPE, especially when used in combination with pleural CEA.
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Meta Analysis
Estimating the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Nigeria in 2020: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Targeted public health response to obesity in Nigeria is relatively low due to limited epidemiologic understanding. We aimed to estimate nationwide and sub-national prevalence of overweight and obesity in the adult Nigerian population. ⋯ Our findings suggest a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in Nigeria. This is marked in urban Nigeria and among women, which may in part be due to widespread sedentary lifestyles and a surge in processed food outlets, largely reflective of a trend across many African settings.KEY MESSAGESAbout 12 million persons in Nigeria were estimated to be obese in 2020, with prevalence considerably higher among women. Nutritional and epidemiological transitions driven by demographic changes, rising income, urbanization, unhealthy lifestyles, and consumption of highly processed diets appear to be driving an obesity epidemic in the country.
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Meta Analysis
Association between apnea-hypopnea index and coronary artery calcification: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The present study aimed to evaluate the association between presence and severity of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and the presence of subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD) as assessed by coronary calcium score. ⋯ In participants without symptomatic coronary disease, the presence of OSA was associated with the presence and extent of CAC. However, potential confounders such as age, gender, and BMI and the diversity of CAC scores may affect the association.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
A randomized, active-controlled, multicentre clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral sitafloxacin versus levofloxacin in Chinese adults with acute uncomplicated or complicated urinary tract infection.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral sitafloxacin versus levofloxacin in Chinese adults with acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) or complicated UTI. ⋯ Oral sitafloxacin is as effective and safe as levofloxacin in treating acute uncomplicated and complicated UTI. KEY MESSAGE: Oral sitafloxacin showed similar clinical cure rate and bacterial eradication rate as levofloxacin for treatment of complicated and uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a randomized, active-controlled, multicentre clinical trial. Oral sitafloxacin is safe and well-tolerated in treating acute uncomplicated and complicated UTIs in Chinese adults. Sitafloxacin is a promising alternative treatment option for UTIs in adults.