The American journal of the medical sciences
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Meta Analysis
Angiotensin receptor blockers reduce left ventricular hypertrophy in dialysis patients: a meta-analysis.
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a major cardiovascular complication and an important predictor of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease. Angiotensin II blockades have been widely used in the treatment of hypertension; however, the influence of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) on LVH in dialysis patients has not been thoroughly studied. In this meta-analysis, the authors analyzed the effect of ARBs on LVH and left ventricular function in patients on maintenance dialysis. ⋯ ARBs are associated with a greater reduction in LVH in patients on dialysis. The ARB therapy tends to have a similar favorable effectiveness as ACEI; however, the combination of ARBs with ACEIs did not show additional benefit to LVH in patients on hemodialysis.
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Review Case Reports
Cutaneous vasculopathy and neutropenia associated with levamisole-adulterated cocaine.
Levamisole has recently been implicated as a cause of cutaneous vasculopathy in cocaine abusers. The objective of this study was to describe this relatively new entity by reviewing published cases identified through a literature search. ⋯ Levamisole-induced cutaneous vasculopathy in cocaine users is characterized by a female predominance, a retiform purpuric rash with a predilection for lower extremities, autoantibody production, leukopenia and/or neutropenia and recurrences with future cocaine use.
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A decade ago, hepcidin, an antimicrobial peptide with iron-regulatory properties, was discovered and proposed as playing a significant role in the pathogenesis of anemia of chronic disease. Subsequent studies have demonstrated that hepcidin is the keystone of the linked systems of iron balance and iron transport in health and in disease. The definition of the role of hepcidin and its regulation has permitted the mechanisms of disorders of iron homeostasis to be understood at a molecular level. Future studies may identify roles for hepcidin or hepcidin-related molecules in diagnosis and therapy.
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Review Case Reports
Capnocytophaga canimorsus sepsis with associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
Capnocytophaga canimorsus, a bacterium commonly transmitted via dog bites, is known to cause sepsis in immunocompromised patients. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome are rare complications of infection. The authors present a case of C canimorsus sepsis and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in an asplenic patient and review the relevant literature.
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This study was performed to investigate the impact of a family history of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) on insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction in populations with varying glucose tolerance. ⋯ This study showed that the pathophysiological changes were different between individuals with and without a family history of T2DM during the glucose tolerance aggravation.