European journal of internal medicine
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jun 2010
Preoperative hyperglycemia predicts infected total knee replacement.
Diabetes increases the risk of surgical site infections. In many patients undergoing total knee replacement, however, diabetes has not been diagnosed. The purpose of this study was to analyze the applicability of preoperative screening for hyperglycemia in identifying patients predisposed to infected knee replacement. ⋯ Obesity and hyperglycemia associate with a higher risk of infected knee replacement. Preoperative screening of plasma glucose is an efficient way to identify patients in increased risk of infection following primary total knee replacement.
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Lupus erythematosus (LE) is a heterogeneous disease with broad clinical spectrum from cutaneous to visceral and systemic inflammation. IL-17 isoforms (IL-17A and IL-17F) are proinflammatory cytokines with unclear implications in lupus erythematosus pathogenesis. In this study we focused upon IL-17 in normal and modified lupus skin with a correlative study between local and serological expression. ⋯ IL-17 isoforms (IL-17A and IL-17F) are implicated in SLE but also in DLE and SCLE immunopathogenesis.
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Cocaine is one of the most commonly used substances of abuse. The use of beta-blockers in cocaine induced acute coronary syndrome has long been a matter of debate. While it is widely believed that beta-blockers are contraindicated in cocaine toxicity, there appears to be some recognizable role for certain beta-blockers in ameliorating the cardiovascular as well as central nervous system effects of cocaine. This article explores the role of beta-blockers in the management of cocaine toxicity.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Apr 2010
Relationship between anaemia and cognitive functions in elderly people.
The primary goal of the present study was to investigate the effects of anaemia on the cognitive functions and daily living activities in elderly people. ⋯ In the elderly anaemic group, the dependency for daily activities that require physical effort was higher compared to the nonanaemic group. The MMSE score in the elderly anaemic group was lower than subjects who had normal haemoglobin levels. We conclude that anaemia may impair cognitive functions and some daily living activities in the elderly.