Mayo Clinic proceedings
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Apr 2021
Risk of Cardiac Morbidities and Sudden Death in Patients With Epilepsy and No History of Cardiac Disease: A Population-Based Nationwide Study.
To investigate the impact of epilepsy on secondary cardiac morbidities and sudden death in patients with epilepsy. ⋯ Our results indicate that the risks for development of MI and arrhythmia and the occurrence of sudden death were higher in patients with epilepsy. These findings support the hypothesis that epilepsy may lead to secondary cardiac dysfunction and increases the risk of sudden death.
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Apr 2021
Review Comparative StudySex- and Gender-Related Differences in Common Functional Gastroenterologic Disorders.
Functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders (FGIDs) result from central and peripheral mechanisms, cause chronic remitting-relapsing symptoms, and are associated with comorbid conditions and impaired quality of life. This article reviews sex- and gender-based differences in the prevalence, pathophysiologic factors, clinical characteristics, and management of functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that together affect approximately 1 in 4 people in the United States. These conditions are more common in women. ⋯ Slow gastric emptying and colon transit are more common in healthy women than in men, but effects of gonadal hormones on colon transit are less important than in rodents. Although increased visceral sensation partly explains symptoms, the effects of sex on visceral sensation, colonic permeability, and the gut microbiome are less prominent in humans than rodents. Whether sex or gender affects response to medications or behavioral therapy in FD or IBS is unclear because most patients in these studies are women.
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Apr 2021
Review Comparative StudyThe Oxygen Cascade During Exercise in Health and Disease.
The oxygen transport cascade describes the physiological steps that bring atmospheric oxygen into the body where it is delivered and consumed by metabolically active tissue. As such, the oxygen cascade is fundamental to our understanding of exercise in health and disease. ⋯ We will focus on how different steps interact along with principles of homeostasis, physiological redundancies, and adaptation. In particular, we highlight some of the parallels between elite athletes and clinical conditions in terms of the oxygen cascade.
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Apr 2021
ReviewPernio (Chilblains), SARS-CoV-2, and COVID Toes Unified Through Cutaneous and Systemic Mechanisms.
Pernio or chilblains is characterized by erythema and swelling at acral sites (eg, toes and fingers), typically triggered by cold exposure. Clinical and histopathologic features of pernio are well described, but the pathogenesis is not entirely understood; vasospasm and a type I interferon (IFN-I) immune response are likely involved. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, dermatologists have observed an increase in pernio-like acral eruptions. ⋯ However, a form of COVID-19‒associated pernio (also called COVID toes) is probable because of increased occurrence, frequently in young patients with no cold exposure or a history of pernio, and reports of skin biopsies with positive SARS-CoV-2 immunohistochemistry. PubMed was searched between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020 for publications using the following keywords: pernio, chilblain, and acral COVID-19. On the basis of our review of the published literature, we speculate that several unifying cutaneous and systemic mechanisms may explain COVID-19‒associated pernio: (1) SARS-CoV-2 cell infection occurs through the cellular receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 mediated by transmembrane protease serine 2, subsequently affecting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system with an increase in the vasoconstricting, pro-inflammatory, and prothrombotic angiotensin II pathway. (2) Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 cell infection triggers an immune response with robust IFN-I release in patients predisposed to COVID-19‒associated pernio. (3) Age and sex discrepancies correlated with COVID-19 severity and manifestations, including pernio as a sign of mild disease, are likely explained by age-related immune and vascular differences influenced by sex hormones and genetics, which affect susceptibility to viral cellular infection, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system balance, and the IFN-I response.
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Apr 2021
Multicenter Study Observational StudyPain Manifestations of COVID-19 and Their Association With Mortality: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study.
To determine the prevalence and breakdown of pain symptoms among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection admitted for nonpain symptoms and the association between the presence of pain and intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death. ⋯ Acute pain is common during active COVID-19 infection with the most common manifestations being headache, chest pain and spine pain. Individuals without pain were more likely to require intensive care and expire than those with pain. Reasons why pain may be associated with reduced mortality include that an intense systemic stimulus (eg, respiratory distress) might distract pain perception or that the catecholamine surge associated with severe respiratory distress might attenuate nociceptive signaling.