Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research
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Erythropoietin (EPO) resistance is frequently reported in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a common biochemical condition that comprises central obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia. The present study aimed to assess the relation between MetS and EPO resistance in HD patients. ⋯ Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified lower albumin levels (OR (95% CI): 0.072 (0.016-0.313), p < 0.001), higher ferritin levels (OR (95% CI): 1.05 (1.033-1.066), p< 0.001), higher hsCRP levels (OR (95% CI): 1.041 (1.007-1.077), p = 0.018), and MetS (OR (95% CI): 36.68 (2.893-465.05), p = 0.005) as predictors of EPO resistance in the studied patients. The present study identified MetS as a predictor of EPO resistance in HD patients. Other predictors include serum ferritin, hsCRP, and albumin levels.
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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease that affects several organs and causes variable clinical symptoms. Early diagnosis is currently the most effective way to save the lives of patients with SLE. But it is very difficult to detect in the early stages of the disease. ⋯ It should be noted that the proposed system showed a higher area under the curve (90%) and a balanced accuracy (90%) than the other machine learning methods. This study shows the usefulness of ML techniques for identifying and predicting SLE patients. These results demonstrate the possibility of developing automatic diagnostic support systems for SLE patients based on machine learning techniques.
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This study aimed to develop and validate a simple-to-use nomogram for predicting the delayed radiographic recovery in children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) complicated with atelectasis. A retrospective study of 306 children with MPP complicated with atelectasis was performed at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from February 2017 to March 2020. The patients were divided into recovery group and delayed recovery group based on chest CT scan 1 month after discharge. ⋯ The calibration curve demonstrated that the nomogram was well-fitted, and decision curve analysis (DCA) showed that the nomogram was clinically beneficial. This study developed and validated a simple-to-use nomogram for predicting delayed radiographic recovery in children with MPP complicated with atelectasis. This might be generally applied in clinical practice.
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Asthma affects 7% of children and 8% of adults in the United States. There is a paucity of studies examining the association between passive smoking and an increased risk of asthma exacerbations that led the authors to examine the association between various modes of smoking and rates of asthma exacerbations. A retrospective cross-sectional/case-control study was conducted using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dataset (2013-2018). ⋯ In multivariate regression analysis, we found regular cigarette smoking (OR 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.009-1.260, p = 0.0252), e-cigarette (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.92-2.36, p = 0.0043), cigar use (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.1-1.33, p < 0.001), ultra-long cigarette length (OR 4.85, 95% CI 3.33-7.06, p < 0.0001), and passive smoking (OR 5.25, 95% CI 3.43-8.06, p < 0.0001) were associated with increased rates of asthma exacerbations over last 12 months. The study shows increased odds of asthma exacerbations among those using ultra-long cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and cigars. Consequently, passive inhalation from even a single smoker in the home, workplace, bars and cars is associated with worsening outcomes in asthma patients.
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Since the beginning of the wide-scale anti-Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program, sporadic cases of thyroid disease following vaccination have been reported. We describe 19 consecutive cases of COVID vaccine-related thyroid disease. Medical records were reviewed for 9 patients with Graves' disease (GD) and 10 with Thyroiditis, all of whom were diagnosed following COVID-19 vaccination. ⋯ Six patients were diagnosed in the hypothyroid phase at 2.5 months from vaccination. Four resolved spontaneously at 3, 6, 4, and 8 months; the other two were treated with thyroxine at 1.5 and 2 months from vaccination and remained on treatment at their last visit, at 11.5 and 8.5 months, respectively. Thyroid disease should be included among possible complications of COVID-19 vaccine and either a late onset or delayed diagnosis should be considered.