Articles: disease.
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Apr 2023
Accelerated Aging in LMNA Mutations Detected by Artificial Intelligence ECG-Derived Age.
To demonstrate early aging in patients with lamin A/C (LMNA) gene mutations after hypothesizing that they have a biological age older than chronological age, as such a finding impacts care. ⋯ AI-ECG predicted that LMNA patients have a biological age older than chronological age and accelerated aging even in the absence of cardiac abnormalities by traditional methods. Such a finding could translate into early medical intervention and serve as a disease biomarker.
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Lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are common in older patients assigned male sex at birth, regardless of gender identity, and treatment of these symptoms is therefore common in primary care practice. In 2021, the American Urological Association published guidelines for management of BPH. They recommend using a standardized scoring system such as the International Prostate Symptom Score to help establish a diagnosis and to monitor the efficacy of interventions, α-blockers as the first-choice pharmacotherapy option, and 5α-reductase inhibitors for patients with prostate size estimated to be at least 30 cc. ⋯ Combination therapies with α-blockers and 5α-reductase inhibitors, anticholinergic agents, or β3-agonists are effective options. A surgical referral is warranted if the BPH results in chronic kidney disease, refractory urinary retention, or recurrent urinary tract infections; if there is concern for bladder or prostate cancer; or if symptoms do not respond to medical therapy. In this article, a general internal medicine physician and a urologist discuss the treatment options and how they would apply their recommendations to a patient who wishes to learn more about his options.
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Observational Study
The Prevalence of Amblyopia and Eye Diseases among Pediatric Jewish Ethiopian Immigrants in Israel: An Observational Cross-sectional Study.
In developed countries, amblyopia has an estimated prevalence rate of 1-4%, depending on the socioeconomic gradient. Previous studies performed on pediatric populations in Ethiopia demonstrated amblyopia rates up to 16.7. ⋯ Despite originating from a country with limited resources and fewer medical facilities, the amblyopia rate in Jewish Ethiopian immigrants was not higher, and even mildly lower, compared to Israeli-born children.
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To determine differences in plasma sex hormone levels in male and female coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and healthy volunteers (HVs) because cell entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 occurs via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor which is downregulated by 17β-estradiol. ⋯ Sex hormone levels differ between patients with COVID-19 and HVs, with sex-specific patterns of hypogonadism in males and females. These alterations may be associated with disease development and severity.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2023
Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on body weight in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
A series of studies has reported weight gain in association with COVID-19 lockdowns; typically, this research has had short-term follow-up in populations that tended to gain weight. In this study, the effect of prolonged lockdowns on weight was assessed in a population of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Before lockdown subjects gained an average of 0.022 kg per month; after lockdown this trend reversed with subjects losing weight at 0.032 kg per month, a trend that was highly significant (P < 0.001).