The American journal of the medical sciences
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Meta Analysis
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Church-based Interventions to Improve Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors.
Church-based interventions have been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and could reduce health disparities in groups with a high burden of CVD. We aim to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effectiveness of church-based interventions for CVD risk factor improvement and to examine the types of interventions that are effective. ⋯ Church-based interventions targeting CVD risk factors are effective for reducing CVD risk factors, particularly in populations with health disparities. These findings can be used to design future church-based studies and programs to improve cardiovascular health.
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Review
Pseudohyperkalemia in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: prevalence, impact, and management challenges.
The term pseudohyperkalemia refers to a false elevation in serum potassium levels due to potassium release from cells in vitro. Falsely elevated potassium levels have been reported in patients with thrombocytosis, leukocytosis, and hematologic malignancies. This phenomenon has been particularly described in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). ⋯ The prevalence of pseudohyperkalemia is up to 40%, particularly in the presence of a high leukocyte count (>50 × 109/L). The diagnosis of pseudohyperkalemia is often overlooked, which may result in unnecessary and potentially harmful treatment. The use of whole blood testing and point-of-care blood gas analysis, along with thorough clinical evaluation, may help differentiate between true and pseudohyperkalemic episodes.