Internal medicine
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Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease characterized by insulin resistance and insulin secretory dysfunction. In this study, we assessed the factors contributing to an insulin secretory defect in type 2 diabetes patients. ⋯ The duration of diabetes, a low BMI, genetic factors, and the presence of microangiopathy may be associated with β-cell dysfunction in diabetic patients. The observations in this study suggest that obese subjects showed a rapid decline in the β-cell function despite an initial high CPR response. Environmental factors causing insulin resistance and glucotoxicity may therefore be involved in progressive β-cell failure.
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Case Reports
Hypercalcemic crisis due to primary hyperparathyroidism occurring concomitantly with Graves' disease.
We herein describe a case of hypercalcemic crisis in a 52-year-old Japanese woman. She suffered from thirst and fatigue for one month. Her serum calcium (a) levels were 19.0 mg/dL, and she was diagnosed with hypercalcemic crisis. ⋯ Thyroparathyroidectomy was performed after circulating levels of Ca and thyroid hormones were normalized. Both of primary hyperparathyroidism and Graves' disease can contribute and accelerate hypercalcemia, resulting in a state of crisis. The possibility of their coexistence should therefore be taken into consideration in cases of hypercalcemia.
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This study was conducted to determine whether a policy of not attempting to resuscitate patients who are 80 years of age and older with cardiopulmonary arrest on arrival is justifiable. ⋯ Even patients 80 years of age and older can be resuscitated to spontaneous circulation. We do not endorse a policy that recommends not performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation based solely on the age of the patient.
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It is well known that people with Down's syndrome (DS) frequently complicate with congenital heart diseases (CHDs). Patients with heart diseases often have sleep-disordered breathing as a co-morbidity (SDB) which worsens the heart diseases. However, the relationship between SDB and CHDs in DS people has not yet been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to establish the association between SDB and CHDs in DS people using data from a large nationwide questionnaire survey in Japan. ⋯ SDB prevailed among DS people with severe CHDs, such as tetralogy of Fallot. Careful attention to the signs of SDB in such patients may lead to earlier clinical intervention removing the vicious cycle between SDB and CHDs.
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Case Reports
Isoniazid-induced acute liver failure during preventive therapy for latent tuberculosis infection.
Treating latent tuberculosis infection is a strategy for eliminating tuberculosis, and isoniazid is recommended as preventive therapy. However, concerns have been raised regarding the application of isoniazid due to its toxicity, particularly hepatotoxicity; however, biochemical monitoring is not routinely performed during treatment. ⋯ The patient died four months after hospitalization. It is essential to consider the potential toxicities of isoniazid and establish strategies to prevent acute liver failure.