The American journal of the medical sciences
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Prolonged exposure to mercury can cause membranous nephropathy. Mercury-associated membranous nephropathy (M-MN) and idiopathic membranous nephropathy (I-MN) have similar clinical manifestations, making misdiagnoses likely. We compared the clinicopathological and ultrastructural features of M-MN and I-MN. ⋯ Foot process effacement was less severe in M-MN than in I-MN. In patients with mercury toxic exposure, MN with less severe foot processes effacement suggested mercury could be the cause. Better prognosis in patients with M-MN may be associated with minor podocyte damage.
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This study aimed to explore the associations between the complement factor H (CFH) rs6677604 and clinico-pathological characteristics of lupus nephritis. ⋯ The rs6677604-A genotype in CFH was associated with milder renal pathological features in lupus nephritis, and its protective effect on the pathogenesis of the disease remained to be elucidated.
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Letter Meta Analysis
Dementia is Associated with Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection.
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We aimed to explore the biomarkers associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) with mitral regurgitation (MR). ⋯ Dysregulation of the metabolic pathway may play a critical role in AF with MR. Changes in functions related to the extracellular matrix and vitamin D response may also be associated with AF progression in patients with MR. Furthermore, APP, STC2, and SPP1 may serve as potential therapeutic targets of AF.
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Cardiac troponin (cTn) is mainly used to diagnose acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, cTn can also be elevated in critically ill patients secondary to demand ischemia or myocardial injury. The impact of cardiology consultation on the clinical outcomes of patients admitted to medical intensive care unit (ICU) with elevated cTn is unclear. ⋯ Cardiology consultation for elevated cTn in medical ICU patients was associated with increased cardiac testing and LOS, without significant impact on mortality.