Internal medicine
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The Importance of Stabilizing PaCO2 during Long-term Non-invasive Ventilation in Subjects with COPD.
In subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the effect of partial pressure of CO2 (PaCO2) alterations during long-term non-invasive ventilation (NIV) on continuance remains uncertain. We herein investigated the utility of PaCO2 stability during long-term NIV as a prognostic outcome. ⋯ A lower 6 m-PaCO2 and a lower annual alteration of PaCO2 during long-term NIV are significant predictive variables for patients with COPD.
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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.
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Case Reports
Two Case Reports of Group B Streptococcal Infective Endocarditis Complicated by Embolism.
Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B streptococcus, GBS) is the major pathogen encountered in the perinatal period, although the incidence of GBS infection has recently increased among non-pregnant adults. Nevertheless, GBS infective endocarditis (IE) is uncommon and often accompanies aortic embolism. We experienced two cases of GBS IE. ⋯ Generally, early surgery for large mobile sites of vegetation is recommended as a class IIb therapy in the guidelines. GBS IE often exhibits a severe clinical course and specificity of vegetation. Therefore, early surgery should be considered in such cases.
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This retrospective study evaluated the long-term efficacy of sitagliptin and the factors contributing to its glucose-lowering effect. ⋯ Sitagliptin has a long-term hypoglycemic effect in type 2 diabetes patients. A patient's ΔHbA1c at 3 months may be a predictor of their ΔHbA1c at 24 months.