Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnętrznej
-
Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Oct 2022
The serum concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor is lower in ambulatory and clinically stable patients with more advanced systolic heart failure.
Brain‑derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is decreased in heart failure (HF), but whether serum BDNF concentration is related to the severity of HF with reduced left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) below 50% is uncertain. ⋯ HF patients with LVEF below 50% and lower serum BDNF concentration present more advanced cardiac remodeling and dysfunction than individuals with higher BDNF. Potential mechanisms and clinical consequences of these findings require further investigation.
-
Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Oct 2022
Dynamic change of sST2 predicts major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
Introduction:The predictive value of soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) for the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with ST‑segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains unclear. ⋯ The increase in plasma sST2 levels from admission to 24 hours post pPCI has a potential value for independently predicting the incidence of coronary revascularization and cardiac rehospitalization at 1 year in patients with STEMI.
-
Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Oct 2022
Comparison between COVID-19 outcomes in the first three waves of pandemic: a reference hospital report.
The course of consecutive COVID‑19 waves was influenced by medical and organizational factors. ⋯ We identified differences in patients' clinical characteristics and outcomes between consecutive pandemic waves, which probably reflect changes in terms of COVID‑19 isolation policy, hospitalization and treatment indications, and treatment strategies.
-
Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Oct 2022
Patient-centered care and the "people first" principle as a tool to prevent stigmatization of patients with obesity.
Obesity is a global health problem with serious consequences, such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, infertility, and certain cancers. Excess body weight, mainly due to its manifestation in an individual's appearance, also affects the psychological condition. Therefore, health care providers need to make an effort to diagnose and comprehensively treat obesity. ⋯ This phenomenon is associated with reduced compassion and willingness to help, and a feeling of dislike or even anger toward this group of patients. The consequences of stigmatization are worse mental health, poorer physical health, avoidance of health care, and the maintenance or increase of excess body weight. Therefore, talking about obesity using the principles of "people-first language," as well as implementing a patient‑centered care model are important.
-
Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Oct 2022
SGLT-2 inhibitors in obesity and its associated cardiometabolic disorders: where do we stand?
As the tide of obesity and its complications are on the rise, there is an urgent need for new drugs with weight‑lowering and beneficial metabolic properties. Obesity‑related disorders, such as metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) make this need more than mandatory. Sodium‑glucose cotransporter‑2 (SGLT‑2) inhibitors (empagliflozin, canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and ertugliflozin) are the latest class of agents to receive approval for the treatment of T2D. ⋯ Very few reviews in the literature have holistically appraised the therapeutic potential of SGLT‑2 inhibitors in obesity and its associated complications. Herein, we summarize the currently available evidence regarding the effects of drugs of this class on body adiposity, together with considerations on their potential use as weight loss agents. Furthermore, we attempt to overview their actions and future perspectives of their use with respect to a range of obesity‑related disorders, which include cardiovascular, renal, and ovarian dysfunctions, as well as NAFLD and malignancy.