Brit J Hosp Med
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An 80-year-old lady had a history of progressive swallowing difficulty over several years with significant weight loss, but prior investigations in several medical departments proved negative. Neurological assessment noted her complaint of impaired feeling for food in her mouth and examination showed impaired corneal reflexes and facial sensory function. Blink reflex electrodiagnostic testing was consistent with a diagnosis of facial onset sensory and motor neuronopathy (FOSMN). This article raises awareness of the diagnosis, investigation and treatment of FOSMN.
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Aims/Background Patients receiving kidney transplant experience immunosuppression, which increases the risk of bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections. Q fever is a potentially fatal infectious disease that affects immunocompromised renal transplant recipients and has implications in terms of severe consequences for the donor's kidney. Case Presentation A patient with acute Q fever infection following kidney transplantation was admitted to the Tsinghua Changgung Hospital in Beijing, China, in March 2021. ⋯ Comprehensive data on clinical symptoms, blood tests, chest computed tomography (CT), NGS, Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titer, and therapeutic efficacy associated with Q fever infection following renal transplantation in this patient were gathered. Conclusion This is the first reported case of acute Q fever occurring in a Chinese renal transplant recipient detected using metagenomic NGS. This case underscores the need to consider acute Q fever as a possible differential diagnosis in kidney transplant recipients with fever of unknown origin.
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Aims/Background The prevalence of postpartum fatigue among primipara is high in China, which seriously affects women's subsequent physical and mental recovery. In order to deeply understand this phenomenon, domestic scholars began to conduct research on postpartum fatigue from the aspects of assessment tools and intervention measures. This study aims to investigate postpartum fatigue in primiparous women and its association with family functioning and social support, providing valuable insights for improving the condition in this population. ⋯ Poor newborn health, artificial feeding, and nighttime feeding frequency ≥4 times per night can exacerbate postpartum fatigue. Good social support and role adaptation are beneficial in alleviating postpartum fatigue. Strengthening social support and role adaptation can help reduce postpartum fatigue levels in primiparous women.
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Comparative Study
Effectiveness and Safety of Gabapentin versus Pregabalin in the Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
Aims/Background Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common chronic pain disease that persists after the rash (clusters of clear blisters on the surface of the skin) has healed, adversely affecting the quality of life of affected patients. Gabapentin (GPT) and pregabalin (PGB) are two commonly used drugs for the treatment of PHN, but there have been broad concerns regarding their efficacy and safety. Thus, this retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness and safety of GPT versus PGB in the treatment of PHN. ⋯ In addition, significantly lower VAS, SQS, PSQI, SAS, and SDS scores were observed in the observation group after treatment, compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The observation group showed evidently shorter time to pain relief than the other group (p < 0.05). Conclusion PGB is an effective and safe medication for the treatment of PHN, by improving the analgesic effect and sleep quality, and alleviating negative emotions.
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Sjögren disease (SjD) is a systemic autoimmune disorder affecting both children and adults, with a wide range of clinical phenotypes. It remains a challenging condition to recognise and diagnose early and manage effectively. The heterogeneous nature of the presentation, variable disease course and overlapping symptoms with other autoimmune conditions often result in delayed diagnosis. ⋯ They can help ensure that clinical trials are accurately capturing the impact of potential therapies on the disease and the quality of life of people with SjD. Further developments are needed in the areas of age and developmentally appropriate disease and patient-reported outcome measures, with adequate sensitivity to evaluate treatment efficacy, as well as predictor biomarkers for both treatment response and poor prognostic outcomes associated with SjD. Advancing these areas will help ensure that clinical trials adequately select the most suitable SjD cohorts to treat with a certain therapy, as well as accurately reflect the impact of a certain intervention on disease activity, progression, and quality of life, ultimately leading to better care for people with SjD.