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Clin Chem Lab Med 2021 May 13. Epub 2021 May 13.

Dentofacial Deformities Research Center, Research Institute of Dental Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.

More than 2 million people have died as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a counter-regulatory enzyme that converts angiotensin-2 to Ang-(1-7) form in the renin-angiotensin system. Several studies have been analyzed the correlation between ACE2 and COVID-19. Read More

Endocr Connect 2021 May 1. Epub 2021 May 1.

A Ichihara, Department of Endocrinology and Hypertension, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Japan.

Objective: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is divided into two major subtypes, aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and bilateral idiopathic hyperplasia (IHA), and is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events. However, the nature of vascular function in PA patients remains to be determined. The aim of this study was to determine vascular function and investigate the implications of vascular function assessments in these patients. Read More

Diabetes Metab Syndr 2021 May 10;15(3):993-999. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Geography, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.

Background And Aims: In India, COVID-19 case fatality rates (CFRs) have consistently been very high in states like Punjab and Maharashtra and very low in Kerala and Assam. To investigate the discrepancy in state-wise CFRs, datasets on various factors related to demography, socio-economy, public health, and healthcare capacity have been collected to study their association with CFR.

Methods: State-wise COVID-19 data was collected till April 22, 2021. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2021 May 4;262:45-56. Epub 2021 May 4.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), the Netherlands.

Introduction: An antepartum screening method to determine normal and abnormal placental function is desirable in the prevention of maternal and fetal pregnancy complications. Placental appearance can easily be obtained and evaluated using 2D ultrasonography, but surprisingly little is known about the change in placental appearance during gestation. Aim of this systematic review was to describe the antepartum placental appearance in placenta syndrome (PS) pregnancies, and to compare this to the appearance in healthy pregnancies. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2021 Apr 18;262:13-20. Epub 2021 Apr 18.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Gynecologic Cancer Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of adding bevacizumab to dose-dense adjuvant chemotherapy with bevacizumab maintenance after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and interval debulking surgery (IDS) for stage III/IV ovarian, tubal, and primary peritoneal cancer.

Study Design: This phase II clinical trial using Simon's minimax two-stage design was conducted. At the first stage, 13 subjects were enrolled, and the trial would proceed to second stage if ≤3 subjects discontinued treatment for study-defined significant adverse events (AEs). Read More

J Neurol Sci 2021 May 5;426:117480. Epub 2021 May 5.

PO Box 4545, Rashid Hospital, Umm Hurair, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Background And Purpose: Blood pressure (BP) control is an integral part in the management of spontaneous nontraumatic intracerebral haemorrhage. The aim of this study is to propose a novel concept of blood pressure control measured as 'Time in Range'(TiR) and assess its relationship to neurological deterioration.

Method: Retrospective study of 120 patients with Intracerebral haemorrhage who were admitted within 6 h of the symptom onset. Read More

Growth Horm IGF Res 2021 Apr 30;59:101394. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

Department of Endocrinology, Bai Yamunabai Laxman (BYL) Nair Charitable Hospital and Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Aims The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of abnormal glucose tolerance (Diabetes + Prediabetes) and its resolution in Acromegaly.

Settings And Design: Retrospective observational study.

Methods And Material: Ninety patients with acromegaly and followed up post operatively for 1 year were included. Read More

Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2021 May 10. Epub 2021 May 10.

Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada. Electronic address:

Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the main treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Postoperative unfractionated heparin dosing can be monitored by activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) or by anti-factor Xa activity (anti-Xa). In pseudo heparin resistance, APTT response to heparin is blunted due to elevated Factor VIII (FVIII) which can underestimate anticoagulation. Read More

Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021 May 10. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Medicine and Health Sciences "Vincenzo Tiberio", University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy; Interdepartmental Center for Nanotechnology Research-NanoBem, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy. Electronic address:

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by typical symptoms and signs caused by a structural and/or functional cardiac abnormality, resulting in a reduced cardiac output and/or elevated intracardiac pressures at rest or during stress. Due to increasing incidence, prevalence and, most importantly mortality, HF is a healthcare burden worldwide, despite the improvement of treatment options and effectiveness. Acute and chronic cardiac injuries trigger the activation of neurohormonal, inflammatory, and mechanical pathways ultimately leading to fibrosis, which plays a key role in the development of cardiac dysfunction and HF. Read More

Am J Kidney Dis 2021 May 10. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston MA,; Departments of Public Health Science and Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL and Edward Hines VA Medical Center, Hines, IL. Electronic address:

Kidney disease is an important U.S. public health problem because it affects over 37 million Americans, and Medicare expenditures for patients with chronic kidney disease now alone exceed 130 billion dollars annually. Read More

Urology 2021 May 10. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and MRI compared to computed tomography (CT) as the current gold standard for the characterization of cystic renal lesions using the Bosniak classification.

Methods: Between July 2014 and October 2017 we prospectively enrolled patients with cystic renal lesions. Based on the Bosniak classification of complex renal lesions (≥BII-F) we evaluated the accuracy of observed agreement by Cohen's Kappa coefficient and calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV/NPV) between the three imaging modalities CT, MRI and CEUS. Read More

Microvasc Res 2021 May 10:104177. Epub 2021 May 10.

Samsun Education and Research Hospital, Department of Dermatology, TR-55000 İlkadim, Samsun (Turkey).

Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) have frequent association with comorbidities and this makes it an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Not only endothelial dysfunction, but also arterial stiffening, increased inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress after hypoxemia that develops due to OSAS, cause vascular pathologies in all diameters of vessels. Nail bed capillaroscopy is a simple, noninvasive, useful method to examine microcirculation and evaluate nail bed capillary abnormalities in diseases that cause vascular damage. Read More

Kidney Int 2021 May 10. Epub 2021 May 10.

Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Over the past few years, clinical renal imaging has seen great advances, allowing assessments of kidney structure and morphology, perfusion, function and metabolism, oxygenation, as well as microstructure and interstitium. Medical imaging is becoming increasingly important in the evaluation of kidney physiology and pathophysiology, showing promise in management of patients with renal disease, in particular with regard to diagnosis, classification, and prediction of disease development and progression, monitoring response to therapy, detection of drug toxicity, and patient selection for clinical trials. A variety of imaging modalities, ranging from routine to advanced tools, are currently available to probe the kidney both spatially and temporally, particularly ultrasonography, computed tomography, positron emission tomography, renal scintigraphy, and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging. Read More

Am Heart J 2021 May 10:100540. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville.

Background: Hypertension is frequently linked with depression in adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet the underlying mechanism and successful management remain elusive. We approached this knowledge gap through the lens that humans are eukaryote-prokaryote "meta-organisms", such that CVD dysregulation is a mosaic disorder involving dysbiosis of the gut. We hypothesized that patients diagnosed with hypertension plus depression harbor a unique gut microbial ecology with attending functional genomics engaged with their hosts' gut/brain axis physiology. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2021 May 10. Epub 2021 May 10.

Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel, affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Background: Data on the optimal gestational weight gain (GWG) in twin pregnancies are limited. As a result, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) currently provides only provisional recommendations on GWG in this population.

Objective: To identify the optimal range of GWG in twin pregnancies and to estimate the association between inappropriate GWG and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Read More

J Med Cases 2020 Oct 28;11(10):299-302. Epub 2020 Aug 28.

Department of Internal Medicine, WSU/Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital, Rochester, MI, USA.

The rapid outbreak of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to infection with variable clinical presentations and a wide clinical spectrum. The disease was first reported in Wuhan, China in 2019 and has rapidly spread worldwide. Despite reports of dynamic changes in disease progression, clinical predictors of disease severity have been difficult to identify. Read More

PLoS One 2021 13;16(5):e0251428. Epub 2021 May 13.

Fukushima Regional Center for the Japan Environmental and Children's Study, Fukushima, Japan.

Objective: Placental abruption is a significant obstetric complication that affects both maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. The present study examined the effect of maternal age on the incidence of placental abruption.

Methods: We used data of singleton pregnancies from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, which was a prospective birth cohort study conducted between January 2011 and March 2014 across 15 regional centers in Japan. Read More

PLoS One 2021 13;16(5):e0251498. Epub 2021 May 13.

University of Tartu, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia.

Background: Liver cirrhosis and ascites are risk factors for intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS); however, data is scarce. We aimed to determine the prevalence of IAH/ACS in a population of critically ill cirrhotic patients with acute medical illness in intensive care and to assess for risk factors and clinical outcomes.

Methods: This was a multicentric retrospective cohort study including two general ICUs and pooled data from a multicentric study between January 2009 and October 2019. Read More

PLoS One 2021 13;16(5):e0251486. Epub 2021 May 13.

Child Health Big Data Research Center, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.

The aim of the present study was to classify the latent body fat trajectories of Chinese adults and their relationships with cardiometabolic risk factors. Data were obtained from the China Health Nutrition Survey for 3,013 participants, who underwent six follow-up visits between 1993 and 2009. Skinfold thickness and other anthropometric indicators were used to estimate body composition. Read More

J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2021 May 13. Epub 2021 May 13.

Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Medical Center/Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

To analyze the efficacy, safety, and accessibility of netarsudil 0.02% in patients with glaucoma (suspect, open or closed) at a safety-net academic medical center, Boston Medical Center (BMC). Retrospective chart review of patients prescribed netarsudil 0. Read More

Circ Res 2021 May 13;128(10):1487-1513. Epub 2021 May 13.

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City (E.D.A.).

Alterations in cardiac energy metabolism contribute to the severity of heart failure. However, the energy metabolic changes that occur in heart failure are complex and are dependent not only on the severity and type of heart failure present but also on the co-existence of common comorbidities such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. The failing heart faces an energy deficit, primarily because of a decrease in mitochondrial oxidative capacity. Read More

Circ Res 2021 May 13;128(10):1451-1467. Epub 2021 May 13.

RHJ Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (M.R.Z.).

In accordance with the comorbidity-inflammation paradigm, comorbidities and especially metabolic comorbidities are presumed to drive development and severity of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction through a cascade of events ranging from systemic inflammation to myocardial fibrosis. Recently, novel experimental and clinical evidence emerged, which strengthens the validity of the inflammatory/profibrotic paradigm. This evidence consists among others of (1) myocardial infiltration by immunocompetent cells not only because of an obesity-induced metabolic load but also because of an arterial hypertension-induced hemodynamic load. Read More

Eur J Neurol 2021 May 13. Epub 2021 May 13.

Cognitive neurology center, Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias, Lima, Perú.

Background: There is a debate about whether there is an increased risk of COVID-19 infection in people with Parkinson's disease (PD), possibly due to associated factors. This study aimed to systematically review the factors associated with COVID-19 in people with PD.

Methods: The search was carried out in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science until November 2020 (updated until April 1, 2021). Read More

Pediatr Pulmonol 2021 May 13. Epub 2021 May 13.

Department of Neonatology and Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.

Objectives: To provide an updated review and meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of sildenafil for treating persistent pulmonary hypertension in neonates (PPHN).

Methods: PubMed/Medline, SCOPUS, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science were searched from the inception of publication to January 2021. The principal outcomes include oxygenation parameters, hemodynamic metrics and echocardiographic measurements, as well as adverse outcomes. Read More

Sleep Breath 2021 May 13. Epub 2021 May 13.

Department of Public Health, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.

Purpose: With a rapidly aging society, there is increasing interest in the health of female workers in the field of care services for older adults due to increasing demands to maintain 24-h care and to support older adults without errors or accidents. Therefore, the purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and sustained attention in women caring for older adults in Japan.

Methods: The study was conducted in women aged 18-67 years old working in care service facilities for older adults in Japan. Read More

Pediatr Radiol 2021 May 13. Epub 2021 May 13.

Department of Pediatric Radiology, University Children's Hospital Geneva, 6 rue Willy Donzé, CH 1211, Genéve 14, Suisse.

Background: Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging is a noninvasive ultrasound elastography technique for evaluating tissue stiffness. The association of liver and spleen stiffness provides additional information in the assessment of portal hypertension. The technique and normal values of spleen stiffness by point shear wave elastography (p-SWE) in pediatrics have not been well documented. Read More

Interact J Med Res 2021 May 13;10(2):e27784. Epub 2021 May 13.

Mohammad Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, and the Middle East is not an exception to this increasing trend. Obesity increases the risk of multiple metabolic complications, such as diabetes mellitus. Measurement of obesity has primarily relied on the BMI to identify risk; however, both bedside and office-based anthropometric measures of obesity can provide more detailed information on risk. Read More

Rev Esp Quimioter 2021 May 13. Epub 2021 May 13.

Objective: The study aims to describe characteristics and clinical outcome of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection that received siltuximab according to a protocol that aimed to early block the activity of IL-6 to avoid the progression of the inflammatory flare.

Methods: Retrospective review of the first 31 patients with SARS-CoV-2 treated with siltuximab, in Hospital Clinic of Barcelona or Hospital Universitario Salamanca, from March to April 2020 with positive polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) from a nasopharyngeal swab.

Results: The cohort included 31 cases that received siltuximab with a median (IQR) age of 62 (56-71) and 71% were males. Read More

Am J Gastroenterol 2021 Apr;116(4):723-732

1Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; 2Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; 3Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; 4Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; 5Service d'Hépatologie CHU Toulouse Rangueil, Institut Cardiomet et Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; 6UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health and Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre, Royal Free Hospital and UCL, London, United Kingdom; 7Swiss Liver Center, UVCM, Inselspital, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; 8Liver Unit, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Octavian Fodor," University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hatieganu," Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 9Division of Gastroenterology (Liver Unit), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; 10Division of Internal Medicine II, Krankenhaus Barmherzige Brüder, Vienna, Austria; 11Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Introduction: We aimed to explore the prevalence of portal hypertension in the most common etiologies of patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) and develop classification rules, based on liver stiffness measurement (LSM), that could be readily used to diagnose or exclude clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) in clinical practice.

Methods: This is an international cohort study including patients with paired LSM/hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), LSM ≥10 kPa, and no previous decompensation. Portal hypertension was defined by an HVPG >5 mm Hg. Read More

J Diabetes Investig 2021 May 13. Epub 2021 May 13.

Shanghai Heart Failure Research Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China.

Objective: To compare the association of hypertension plus hyperuricemia with four insulin resistance surrogates, including glucose and triglycerides (TyG index), TyG index with BMI (TyG-BMI), the ratio of triglycerides divided by HDL-C (TG/HDL-C), and a novel non-insulin-based fasting score (METS-IR).

Methods: Data from a cross-sectional epidemiological study enrolling a representative population sample aged ≥65 years were used to calculate the four indexes. The association with hypertension plus hyperuricemia and insulin resistance surrogates was examined with multinomial logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic. Read More