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Τρίτη 10 Νοεμβρίου 2020

Vitamin D, Omega-3s, and Strength-Training May Offer No Benefit in Healthy Older Adults

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Among adults aged 70 or older with no major comorbidities, treatment with vitamin D, omega-3s, or strength-training exercise does not seem to improve...
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Zebra Coloration Messes With Fly Eyes

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Horseflies misjudge landing on zebra patterns compared with solid grey or black surfaces, which provides evidence for why evolution came up with the black and white pattern.

-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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[Comment] Polymyxins resistance among Gram-negative pathogens in India

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The sharp increase in carbapenem resistance in Gram-negative pathogens during the past decade led to a resurgence in the use of polymyxin antibiotics. Despite treatment-associated acute kidney injury and varying clinical outcomes, both colistin (polymyxin E) and polymyxin B have emerged as key therapies in the management of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative infections. Use of these therapies is particularly frequent in low-income and middle-income countries where access to novel antibiotics that are active against carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, such as ceftazidime plus avibactam and ceftolozane plus tazobactam, is restricted.
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[Articles] Safety and immunogenicity of a synthetic carbohydrate conjugate vaccine against Shigella flexneri 2a in healthy adult volunteers: a phase 1, dose-escalating, single-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study

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SF2a-TT15 was safe and well tolerated and induced high titres of anti-SF2a LPS IgG antibodies. These results support further evaluation of this original synthetic oligosaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine candidate for safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy in target populations.
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New therapies for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

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Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder is an autoimmune disease of the CNS that primarily affects the optic nerves and spinal cord. Most patients have serum antibodies targeting the aquaporin-4 water channel expressed on the end-feet of astrocytes. Although the prevalence of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder is limited to around 1–2 people per 100 000, severe immune-mediated attacks can quickly lead to blindness and paralysis if undiagnosed and untreated. However, diagnosis is straightforward when the highly specific serum aquaporin-4 antibodies are detected with cell-based assays.
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Incidence, nature and causes of avoidable significant harm in primary care

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Objective

To estimate the incidence of avoidable significant harm in primary care in England; describe and classify the associated patient safety incidents and generate suggestions to mitigate risks of ameliorable factors contributing to the incidents.

Design

Retrospective case note review. Patients with significant health problems were identified and clinical judgements were made on avoidability and severity of harm. Factors contributing to avoidable harm were identified and recorded.

Setting

Primary c are.

Participants

Thirteen general practitioners (GPs) undertook a retrospective case note review of a sample of 14 407 primary care patients registered with 12 randomly selected general practices from three regions in England (total list size: 92 255 patients).

Main outcome measures

The incidence of significant harm considered at least 'probably avoidable' and the nature of the safety incidents.

Results

The rate of significant harm considered at least probably avoidable was 35.6 (95% CI 23.3 to 48.0) per 100 000 patient-years (57.9, 95% CI 42.2 to 73.7, per 100 000 based on a sensitivity analysis). Overall, 74 cases of avoidable harm were detected, involving 72 patients. Three types of incident accounted for more than 90% of the problems: problems with diagnosis accounted for 45/74 (60.8%) primary incidents, followed by medication-related problems (n=19, 25.7%) and delayed referrals (n=8, 10.8%). In 59 (79.7%) cases, the significant harm could have been identifie d sooner (n=48) or prevented (n=11) if the GP had taken actions aligned with evidence-based guidelines.

Conclusion

There is likely to be a substantial burden of avoidable significant harm attributable to primary care in England with diagnostic error accounting for most harms. Based on the contributory factors we found, improvements could be made through more effective implementation of existing information technology, enhanced team coordination and communication, and greater personal and informational continuity of care.

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Coping With Stress and Burnout Associated With Telecommunication and Online Learning

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The COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacted the field of telecommunication. It increased the use of media applications that enable teleconferencing, telecommuting, online learning, and social relations. Prolonged time facing screens, tablets, and smart devices increases stress and anxiety. Mental health stressors associated with telecommunication can add to other stressors related to quarantine time and lockdown to eventually lead to exhaustion and burnout. In this review, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemi c on communication and education are explored. In addition, the relationship between prolonged exposure to digital devices and mental health is studied. Finally, coping strategies are offered to help relieve the tele-burdens of pandemics.

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High thyroid-stimulating hormone level in down's syndrome: A mere resetting of hypothalamopituitary axis in subclinical hypothyroidism?

Alexandros G.Sfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader


Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2020 24(5):406-409

Objective: Hyperthyrotropinemia (HT) or reduced thyroid function in Down syndrome (DS) is not uncommon, causes range from glandular dysgenesis to altered hypothalamopituitary axis. In the present study, we have compared hypothyroid Indian children with and without DS (NDS), especially focusing on family history, goiter, and biochemical features. Methods: We conducted this retrospective observational study from previous medical records of children with DS (1-17 years) having an elevated TSH (≥5 mIU/L) who were consecutively referred for with HT to Endocrinology OPD of a tertiary care hospital in India. Records from hypothyroid children (1-17 years) without Down Syndrome (NDS) were evaluated as controls. Free thyroxine (FT4), anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibody were measured and congenital hypothyroidism was excluded in all subjects. Results: Thirty-four DS cases [median age 8 years (IQR: 2-14), M: F = 13:21] and 34 controls [median age 10.5 years (IQR: 7-13.25), M: F = 13:21] wer e comparable in terms of age and sex, Median age of presentation was significantly earlier in case of DS vs NDS [7 years vs. 10 years]. DS children had significantly less family history of thyroid disorders compared to NDS [14.7% vs 64.7%]. Goiter was significantly less common in patients with DS [DS - 32.25% vs. NDS - 73.5%, P = 0.001]. Anti-TPO antibody positivity was significantly less common in patients with DS [DS- 41% vs. NDS- 73.5%, P = 0.014]. Conclusion: There is a significant difference in presentation in hypothyroid children with DS compared to NDS. DS children with hypothyroidism compared to NDS, had earlier presentation, lower incidence of traceable family history, goiter, and anti-TPO-antibody positivity.
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Paget's disease of bone

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Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2020 24(5):422-427

Context: Paget's disease of bone is a common bone disease with a striking variation in its incidence and characteristics in different parts of the world. It is uncommonly reported in African patients. Aims: Given the lack of studies describing the characteristics of patients with Paget's disease of bone in North Africa, we aimed to describe demographic, clinical, biochemical, and imaging characteristics, as well as treatment outcomes of Tunisian patients with Paget's disease of bone. Subjects and Methods: This bicentric and retrospective study included patients with Paget's disease of bone. Clinical, laboratory, radiological profile, and response to treatment were analyzed. Results: Sixty-nine patients were identified. The mean age was 64.9 ± 11.6 years and 52.2% were women. One patient reported a positive family history. Seven patients were asymptomatic. Bone pain was the most common presenting symptom. Eight patients had a history of malignancy. In three patients, Paget's disease of bone was diagnosed as part of a metastatic workup. Monostotic disease was found in half of the cases. The most commonly involved sites were pelvis (43.5%), femur (21.7%), and spine (21.7%). The mean serum alkaline phosphatase level at presentation was 591 U/L (68–8380). Two patients received salmon calcitonin (2.8%) and 47 patients (68.1%) received bisphosphonates. After a mean follow-up of 55 months (2–240 months), bone pain improved in 43.1% of patients and the serum alkaline phosphate levels had normalized in 22 of them (43.1%). During follow-up, there was no malignant transformation. Conclusions: In this series of Tunisian patients, Paget's disease of bone had a female predominance and was usually monostotic. The clinical and radiological presentations were similar to the European series.
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Neurocognitive functions and brain volume in patients with endogenous cushing's syndrome before and after curative surgery

Alexandros G.Sfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader


Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2020 24(5):396-401

Introduction: Cushing's syndrome (CS) leads to various neuropsychiatric manifestations due to structural and functional changes of the brain and contributes significantly in the impairment of health-related quality of life. Aim and Objective: This study is conducted with aims to evaluate neurocognitive functions and brain volume in patients with endogenous Cushing's syndrome before and after curative surgery. Methods: The diagnosis of CS was made by clinical features, abnormal cortisol dynamics, ACTH levels, and imaging studies. Neuropsychiatric tests (Beck depression Index, Spatial span test, PGI memory scale, Color trail test, Verbal fluency test), and Brain volume (Bi-caudate and third ventricular diameter) were done before and after curative surgery. Results: Fifteen patients of CS were included for the study; all patients underwent curative surgery, neuropsychiatric assessment, and brain volume measurements. Nine patients were followed successfully till remission and repeat eval uation of these patients was done. Depression was the most common neuropsychiatric illness. Severity of depression positively correlated with 0800 h plasma cortisol and ACTH. Patients with higher severity of depression had maximum improvement after curative surgery. Significant decrease in the third ventricular, as well as bicaudate diameter, was observed after curative surgery (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Neuropsychiatric functions and structural brain changes reverse after curative surgery in patients with endogenous CS, however, long term follow-up is required to know whether these changes reverse completely or not.
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Efficacy of fluorescein green dye in assessing intra-operative parathyroid gland vascularity and predicting post-thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia- A novel prospective cohort study

Alexandros G.Sfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader


Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2020 24(5):446-451

Background: Postoperative hypocalcaemia (POH) after total thyroidectomy (TT) is a common complication. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), an accurate predictor of POH cannot assess intra-operative viability of parathyroid glands (PGs). Different dyes including indocyanine green or carbon nanoparticles have been used, but they are expensive and not widely available. Fluorescein green dye (FD) has been used as a low-cost alternative to study viability of various organs, but seldom tried in visualizing PGs. This novel study aims to assess utility of FD in determining parathyroid viability and predicting POH. Material and Method: Total 72 out of 88 patients undergoing TT between January and December 2019 were included. Two ml of 25% FD was given intravenously before wound closure and attempts were made to visualize PGs under blue light. A numerical score was given according to the number of PGs visualized. Intact-PTH and corrected calcium were measured on postoperative day 1 and patients observe d for POH. Results: No PGs were visualized in 6 patients, 1 in 13, 2 in 30, 3 in 16 & 4 in 7 patients. Mean PTH was 6, 16.9, 31.6, 33.2 and 48.5 respectively. Corrected-calcium was 7.08, 7.7, 7.9, 8.5 and 8.5 respectively. All patients with score 0 received supplementary IV calcium, while 53.8% (score-1), 30% (score-2), 0% (scores-3, 4) received the same. Sensitivity, specificity and ROC of PG score of ≥2 on FD in predicting POH were 100%, 44% and 0.83 respectively. Conclusion: FD visualization of parathyroids post TT is feasible and can be used as low cost efficacious method to predict POH.
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Endocrine involvement in COVID-19: Mechanisms

Alexandros G.Sfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader


Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2020 24(5):381-386

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID -19) has rapidly emerged as a global pandemic with multi-system involvement. Involvement of the endocrine system is expected in COVID-19 as the interplay between severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS CoV-2) and the endocrine system occurs at multiple levels. The widespread presence of ACE-2 receptors on various tissues suggests scope for direct viral infection. The interactions via the activation of inflammatory mediators and indirect immune-mediated damage are also postulated. Evidence so far suggests that COVID-19 can cause functional hypopituitarism by direct and indirect effects on the hypothalamo-pituitary axis resulting in inappropriate adrenal response to stress. Several reports highlight possible immune-mediated damage to thyroid glands resulting in subacute thyroiditis. COVID-19 is implicated in precipitating hyperglycemia in known diabetics and uncovering insulin resistance in those previously undiagnosed. COVID-19 has also been show n to trigger Type 1 Diabetes with ketosis. Various mechanisms including direct virus-induced beta cell apoptosis and immune-mediated beta-cell damage have been demonstrated. The presence of virus in semen has unclear clinical significance at present. In this mini-review summarize the endocrine manifestations reported so far in COVID-19 disease and explore mechanisms to decipher how SARS CoV-2 may affect various endocrine organs.
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