International journal of clinical practice
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Mar 2020
Elevated triglycerides on admission positively correlate with the severity of hypertriglyceridaemic pancreatitis.
Hypertriglycaeridemia has been positively associated with the risk of acute pancreatitis, but whether increased triglyceride (TG) levels are related to the severity of pancreatitis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between hyperlipidaemia and disease severity of hypertriglycaeridemic pancreatitis. ⋯ Elevated serum TG levels at the time of admission seem to correlate positively with the severity of hypertriglyceridaemia-induced acute pancreatitis.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Mar 2020
Emerging risk factors associated with prevalence of hepatitis c virus infection among Nigerians: Findings from blood donors in an academic hospital, Enugu South-Eastern Nigeria.
In Nigeria, reports on the prevalence of Hepatitis C risk factors have not been clearly elucidated, we investigate the risk factors that influence the prevalence and how the difference in awareness level of risk factors screening across age groups contributes to the disease. ⋯ Injecting drug use, multiple sex and sacrification are independent predictors of prevalence of Hepatitis C infection. The early onset of the risk factors among the younger adult clearly underlines the need for early screening and interventions.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Mar 2020
Factors that predict recurrent spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients.
The recurrence rate of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is increasing in cirrhotic patients. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be prescribed in all cirrhotic patients after the first episode of SBP. However, antibiotics promote the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. ⋯ SBP frequently recurs in cirrhotic patients. Serum potassium ≥4 mEq/L, serum albumin ≤2g/dL at SBP diagnosis and platelet count ≤100 000/microliter before discharge were identified as factors that may predict the recurrence of SBP after the first episode.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Mar 2020
ReviewTramadol for management of fibromyalgia pain and symptoms: Systematic review.
Fibromyalgia is a heterogeneous condition that appears to be associated with physiological and biochemical disturbances of pain modulation, and that consequently affects numerous other facets of life. Tramadol is currently being explored as an option to manage fibromyalgia pain and other symptoms because of its inhibitory activity of reuptake of neurotransmitters, but its safety and efficacy have not yet been established in these patients. ⋯ This systematic review found a dearth of clinical trials on tramadol in patients with fibromyalgia. Although the combination of monoamine and opioid mechanism of tramadol has shown positive effects for fibromyalgia, the available evidence is not sufficient to support or refute the use of tramadol in clinical practice for pain or symptom management. Protocol registration number in the PROSPERO database: CRD42017062139.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Mar 2020
Peer-pressure and overuse: The effect of a multimodal approach on variation in benzodiazepine prescriptions in a network of public hospitals.
The epidemic phenomenon leading to a progressive increase in benzodiazepine prescriptions represents a challenge for healthcare systems. In the hospital setting, indicators of prescription variation and potential of overuse are lacking and are rarely monitored. Inter-hospital monitoring/benchmarking, via peer-pressure, can foster the motivation to change. The aim of this investigation was to analyse whether, the reduction in new benzodiazepine prescriptions obtained thanks to a Choosing Wisely campaign, also contributed to reducing inter-hospital variation. ⋯ Thanks to a multimodal approach based on monitoring-benchmarking, a significant reduction in inter-hospital benzodiazepine prescription variation was obtained. Aligning to peer strategy is a spontaneous consequence of open benchmarking that can be used to convert a variation-based suspicion of overuse, into an occasion to actively review prescription habits.