Arch Med Sci
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Understanding the effect of statins on epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is important as it may help reduce the negative impact of EAT-derived molecules on the cardiovascular system and consequently on coronary artery disease. Thus, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the impact of statin therapy on EAT. ⋯ Statins appear to exert an additional cardiovascular therapeutic effect by reducing EAT.
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The latest evidence revealed that dupilumab, an interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) blocker, significantly reduces the exacerbation risk in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The efficacy of dupilumab compared with conventional inhaled drugs remains incompletely determined. This study aimed to investigate the comparative efficacy of dupilumab and conventional inhaled drugs in patients with stable COPD. ⋯ The incremental use of combinations of conventional and novel drugs contributed to the long-term benefits in acute exacerbation but not death in COPD. The optimal drug combination in terms of acute COPD exacerbation was ICS/LABA/LAMA/dupilumab.
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The use of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in newly diagnosed breast cancer has been increasing. However, the value of MRI applied to women with newly diagnosed breast cancer remains controversial. Therefore, this study focused on the association between preoperative MRI and surgical outcomes, which include mastectomy rate, breast conservation rate, and re-excision rate. ⋯ There was no significant association between preoperative MRI and surgical outcomes. This study suggested that the use of preoperative MRI should be selective. The results showed that the application of preoperative MRI did not improve the prognosis of breast cancer patients. More randomized trials are needed for further study due to limited randomized trials.
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Polypharmacy is commonly defined as the simultaneous use of five or more medications; however, there is a lack of consensus regarding the most appropriate definition. It is a significant predictor of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of polypharmacy in the population of older adults attending primary care in Portugal and to identify associated sociodemographic and clinical factors. ⋯ Polypharmacy was a very common occurrence in Portugal. Future primary healthcare policies should address polypharmacy.
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To explore the relationship between the tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and their distribution characteristics as well as the prognostic value in gastric cancer (GC). ⋯ We provide evidence that TLSs were positively associated with lymphocyte infiltration in GC. Thus, the formation of TLSs predicts advantageous immune system function and can be considered as a novel biomarker to stratify the overall survival risk of untreated GC patients.