Internal medicine
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Objective The index of microvascular resistance (IMR) is an invasive method for quantifying the coronary microvasculature independent of the presence and degree of epicardial stenosis during cardiac catheterization, whereas the Selvester QRS score, which is related to myocardial damage, is a relatively simple and non-invasive measurement procedure. We investigated the relationship between the QRS score and coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) assessed via IMR. Methods Data from 74 patients who underwent invasive coronary physiological measurements were retrospectively reviewed. ⋯ The percentage of patients with IMR ≥25 in the QRS score ≥3 group was significantly higher than that in the QRS score 0-2 group (69% vs. 34%, p=0.01). Conclusion A higher QRS score was associated with CMD, as estimated by IMR. The Selvester QRS score is noninvasive parameter that is potentially useful for predicting CMD.
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Objective Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), including reflux esophagitis (RE), is recognized as a common gastrointestinal disease, and its prevalence is reported to be increasing. While current cigarette smoking has been established as a risk factor for RE in several cross-sectional studies, most of these studies did not include details concerning the smoking status in their analyses. Smoking-related conditions, such as chronic lung disease and cough, are reportedly also related to GERD. ⋯ When former smokers were stratified according to time since smoking cessation, a significant RE risk was observed in participants who had stopped smoking less than 10 years earlier compared with never smokers (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.3). No significant associations were observed between chronic cough, FEV1.0%, and RE. Conclusion Cumulative lifetime exposure to smoking plays an important role in the risk of RE.
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Objective Flares of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can occur infrequently after vaccination for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), although the details of this phenomenon are poorly understood. To clarify the possibility of an unfavorable response in patients with IBD, we investigated IBD-related symptoms during the COVID-19 vaccination. Methods Between October 2021 and February 2022, we obtained the COVID-19 vaccination status of 411 IBD patients who were being treated at our institution. ⋯ The baseline characteristics did not significantly differ between patients with UC who experienced flares and those who did not. Conclusion IBD flares following COVID-19 vaccination are rare and vaccination should therefore be recommended for patients with IBD. However, the possibility of disease flares should be considered for approximately one week after each vaccination, especially in patients with UC.