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Journal of the American Heart... Aug 2020Compared with the extensive data on left-sided infective endocarditis (IE), there is much less published information on the features and management of right-sided IE.... (Review)
Review
Compared with the extensive data on left-sided infective endocarditis (IE), there is much less published information on the features and management of right-sided IE. Right-sided IE accounts for 5% to 10% of all IE cases, and compared with left-sided IE, it is more often associated with intravenous drug use, intracardiac devices, and central venous catheters, all of which has become more prevalent over the past 20 years. In this manuscript on right-sided IE we provide an up-to-date overview on the epidemiology, etiology, microbiology, potential locations of infection in the right heart, diagnosis, imaging, common complications, management, and prognosis. We present updated information on the treatment of pacemaker and device infections, infected fibrin sheaths that appear to be an easily missed source of infection after central line as well as pacemaker removal. We review current data on the AngioVac percutaneous aspiration device, which can obviate the need for surgery in patients with infected pacemaker leads and fibrin sheaths. We also focused on advanced diagnostic modalities, such as positron emission tomography/computed tomography. All of these are supported by specific case examples with detailed echocardiographic imaging from our experience.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Echocardiography; Electrodes, Implanted; Endocarditis; Female; Humans; Male; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Substance Abuse, Intravenous
PubMed: 32700630
DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.120.017293 -
Critical Reviews in Food Science and... 2022Food additives refer to all kinds of trace substances used in food or food processing to preserve flavor or enhance food taste, appearance, or other qualities. At... (Review)
Review
Food additives refer to all kinds of trace substances used in food or food processing to preserve flavor or enhance food taste, appearance, or other qualities. At present, artificial synthetic food additives have gradually replaced the natural food additives and many problems related to food additives, involving the abuse of food additives, excessive additives or even toxic additives. Obviously, food additives can bring people great sensory enjoyment and commercial convenience, but they may also cause potential risks to human health. So, it is of high significance to conduct quantitative analysis on the content of food additives. According to their functions and the regulatory requirements of food additives, this review starts from the classification and structures of various food additives involving colorants, preservatives, antioxidants, sweeteners, emulsifiers, stabilizers, thickeners, gelling agents. It then summarizes and discusses analytical methods for quantification of food additives including modern immunoassays and other biotechnological methods. The proposed review aspires to fill in the knowledge gap of food additives between academia and industry by covering all kinds of analytical methods for quantifying food additives.
Topics: Humans; Food Additives; Sweetening Agents; Antioxidants; Emulsifying Agents; Taste
PubMed: 34058921
DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2021.1929823 -
Journal of the American College of... May 2022The incidence of injection drug use-associated infective endocarditis has been increasing rapidly over the last decade. Patients with drug use-associated infective... (Review)
Review
The incidence of injection drug use-associated infective endocarditis has been increasing rapidly over the last decade. Patients with drug use-associated infective endocarditis present an increasingly common clinical challenge with poor long-term outcomes and high reinfection and readmission rates. Their care raises issues unique to this population, including antibiotic selection and administration, indications for and ethical issues surrounding surgical intervention, and importantly management of the underlying substance use disorder to minimize the risk of reinfection. Successful treatment of these patients requires a broad understanding of these concerns. A multidisciplinary, collaborative approach providing a holistic approach to treating both the acute infection along with effectively addressing substance use disorder is needed to improve short-term and longer-term outcomes.
Topics: Drug Users; Endocarditis; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Humans; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Reinfection; Retrospective Studies; Substance Abuse, Intravenous
PubMed: 35589166
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2022.03.349 -
Cureus Oct 2023Orthodontic treatment signifies a transformative journey for individuals seeking not only enhanced oral health but also a boost in aesthetics and self-confidence.... (Review)
Review
Orthodontic treatment signifies a transformative journey for individuals seeking not only enhanced oral health but also a boost in aesthetics and self-confidence. Nonetheless, the protracted timeline associated with conventional orthodontic care has been a persistent concern for both patients and practitioners. In this comprehensive review, we embark on an exploration of innovative strategies aimed at expediting orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). By doing so, we aspire to curtail treatment duration and mitigate potential risks, ultimately culminating in an elevated and more fulfilling patient experience. Traditionally, orthodontists heavily leaned on surgical techniques to hasten tooth movement. However, the recent landscape of orthodontics has been profoundly shaped by technological advancements and groundbreaking research findings, ushering in an era characterized by the embrace of minimally invasive approaches. These progressive methodologies encompass procedures like Piezocision, Discision, and Microosteoperforation (Alveocentesis). Beyond the obvious benefits of reduced patient discomfort, these techniques significantly truncate treatment periods, a development that addresses a primary concern of many patients. Moreover, this review delves into non-invasive alternatives, including cyclic vibrations, photobiomodulation, direct light electric current, and static or pulsed magnetic fields, as well as systemic and local administration of biological substances and hormones, all of which hold substantial promise in optimizing OTM. Furthermore, our exploration extends to a diverse spectrum of medications that have demonstrated their efficacy in expediting OTM. These encompass NSAIDs, acetaminophen, corticosteroids, bisphosphonates, herbal medicine biomaterials, and synthetic biomaterials like graphene dioxide. Every technique and medication is subjected to meticulous evaluation, taking into account its indications, contraindications, advantages, disadvantages, clinical implications, and limitations. Through this review, we endeavor to equip orthodontic professionals with a profound understanding of these innovative strategies. By doing so, we enable them to make informed decisions, tailored meticulously to meet the unique needs of each patient. In an ever-evolving field like orthodontics, staying abreast of these advancements becomes paramount, ultimately contributing to heightened treatment efficacy and enhanced patient satisfaction. The adoption of these innovative strategies not only holds the potential for improved clinical outcomes but also champions a patient-centric approach that could fundamentally reshape the landscape of orthodontic care.
PubMed: 37954770
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46824 -
AIDS (London, England) Jul 2019: Tremendous biomedical advancements in HIV prevention and treatment have led to aspirational efforts to end the HIV epidemic. However, this goal will not be achieved... (Review)
Review
: Tremendous biomedical advancements in HIV prevention and treatment have led to aspirational efforts to end the HIV epidemic. However, this goal will not be achieved without addressing the significant mental health and substance use problems among people living with HIV (PLWH) and people vulnerable to acquiring HIV. These problems exacerbate the many social and economic barriers to accessing adequate and sustained healthcare, and are among the most challenging barriers to achieving the end of the HIV epidemic. Rates of mental health problems are higher among both people vulnerable to acquiring HIV and PLWH, compared with the general population. Mental health impairments increase risk for HIV acquisition and for negative health outcomes among PLWH at each step in the HIV care continuum. We have the necessary screening tools and efficacious treatments to treat mental health problems among people living with and at risk for HIV. However, we need to prioritize mental health treatment with appropriate resources to address the current mental health screening and treatment gaps. Integration of mental health screening and care into all HIV testing and treatment settings would not only strengthen HIV prevention and care outcomes, but it would additionally improve global access to mental healthcare.
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Disease Management; Humans; Mental Disorders; Mental Health Services
PubMed: 30950883
DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000002227 -
Cancer Management and Research 2020With the gradual increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer, people's attention to thyroid cancer has also gradually increased. Although the prognosis of thyroid cancer... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
With the gradual increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer, people's attention to thyroid cancer has also gradually increased. Although the prognosis of thyroid cancer is rather mild compared to other cancers, it will still bring a heavy psychological burden on people who have been diagnosed. At present, the diagnosis of thyroid cancer mainly depends on ultrasound and percutaneous fine needle aspiration (pFNA). Due to the unsatisfactory accuracy of the diagnosis methods we use now, there are still some thyroid nodules that cannot be clearly diagnosed before surgery.
METHODS
In this article, we have searched for relevant research on blood markers of thyroid cancer in the past five years and categoried them into four groups.
DISCUSSION
Though we have not found a biomarker which can diagnose thyroid cancer both sensitively and specifically, we do found many substances that are related to it, and have the potential to recognize it and help the diagnosis. And perhaps combined models can do it better.
PubMed: 32753960
DOI: 10.2147/CMAR.S261170 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jun 2023Routine monitoring of gastric residuals in preterm infants on tube feeds is a common practice in neonatal intensive care units used to guide initiation and advancement... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Routine monitoring of gastric residuals in preterm infants on tube feeds is a common practice in neonatal intensive care units used to guide initiation and advancement of enteral feeding. There is a paucity of consensus on whether to re-feed or discard the aspirated gastric residuals. While re-feeding gastric residuals may aid in digestion and promote gastrointestinal motility and maturation by replacing partially digested milk, gastrointestinal enzymes, hormones, and trophic substances, abnormal residuals may result in vomiting, necrotising enterocolitis, or sepsis.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the efficacy and safety of re-feeding when compared to discarding gastric residuals in preterm infants. SEARCH METHODS: Searches were conducted in February 2022 in Cochrane CENTRAL via CRS, Ovid MEDLINE and Embase, and CINAHL. We also searched clinical trial databases, conference proceedings, and the reference lists of retrieved articles for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We selected RCTs that compared re-feeding versus discarding gastric residuals in preterm infants.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Review authors assessed trial eligibility and risk of bias and extracted data, in duplicate. We analysed treatment effects in individual trials and reported the risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous data and the mean difference (MD) for continuous data, with respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We used the GRADE approach to assess the certainty of evidence.
MAIN RESULTS
We found one eligible trial that included 72 preterm infants. The trial was unmasked but was otherwise of good methodological quality. Re-feeding gastric residual may have little or no effect on time to regain birth weight (MD 0.40 days, 95% CI -2.89 to 3.69; 59 infants; low-certainty evidence), risk of necrotising enterocolitis stage ≥ 2 or spontaneous intestinal perforation (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.25 to 2.04; 72 infants; low-certainty evidence), all-cause mortality before hospital discharge (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.14 to 1.85; 72 infants; low-certainty evidence), time to establish enteral feeds ≥ 120 mL/kg/d (MD -1.30 days, 95% CI -2.93 to 0.33; 59 infants; low-certainty evidence), number of total parenteral nutrition days (MD -0.30 days, 95% CI -2.07 to 1.47; 59 infants; low-certainty evidence), and risk of extrauterine growth restriction at discharge (RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.38 to 4.34; 59 infants; low-certainty evidence). We are uncertain as to the effect of re-feeding gastric residual on number of episodes of feed interruption lasting for ≥ 12 hours (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.52; 59 infants; very low-certainty evidence).
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
We found only limited data from one small unmasked trial on the efficacy and safety of re-feeding gastric residuals in preterm infants. Low-certainty evidence suggests re-feeding gastric residual may have little or no effect on important clinical outcomes such as necrotising enterocolitis, all-cause mortality before hospital discharge, time to establish enteral feeds, number of total parenteral nutrition days, and in-hospital weight gain. A large RCT is needed to assess the efficacy and safety of re-feeding of gastric residuals in preterm infants with adequate certainty of evidence to inform policy and practice.
Topics: Infant; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing; Infant, Premature; Stomach; Birth Weight; Cognition
PubMed: 37387544
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012940.pub3 -
The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery Jul 2022Orthobiologics are organic and synthetic materials that help in the cure of musculo-skeletal problems and are utilized in Orthopaedic Surgery, both in and out of the... (Review)
Review
Orthobiologics are organic and synthetic materials that help in the cure of musculo-skeletal problems and are utilized in Orthopaedic Surgery, both in and out of the surgical theater, to augment the possibilities of curing bone and soft tissue lesions. Taking into account that their effect is frequently multifactorial and, in some occasions not entirely comprehended, together with the insufficient clinical information, orthobiologics should be scrupulously assessed against other secure and clinically accepted options. The fundamental orthobiologics today ready for use in Orthopedic Surgery are the following: osseous hollow fillers, extracellular matrix (ECM) substances, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), bone marrow aspirate (BMA), bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). It is predictable that in the time to come we will have more secure and more efficacious orthobiologics. Meanwhile, it is paramount that orthopedic surgeons have appropriate information of contemporary orthobiologics (biological adjuvants) so that they can utilize them correctly.
PubMed: 36032640
DOI: 10.22038/ABJS.2021.52770.2614 -
Environmental Research Mar 2024A good old gateway theory that electronic-cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are widely recognized as safer tobacco substitutes. In actuality, demographics also show that vaping... (Review)
Review
A good old gateway theory that electronic-cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are widely recognized as safer tobacco substitutes. In actuality, demographics also show that vaping cannibalizes smoking, the best explanation of the data is the "common liability". However, the utilization of e-cigarette products remains a controversial topic at present. Currently, there has been a widespread and substantial growth in e-cigarette use worldwide owing to their endless new flavors and customizable characteristics. Furthermore, e-cigarette has grown widespread among smokers as well as non-smokers, including adolescents and young adults. And some studies have shown that e-cigarette users are at greater risk to start using combustible cigarettes while e-cigarettes use was also observed the potential benefits to people who want to quit smoking or not. Although it is true that e-cigarettes generally contain fewer toxic substances than combustible cigarettes, this does not mean that the chemical composition in e-cigarettes aerosols poses absolutely no risks. While concerns about toxic substances in e-cigarettes and their widespread use in the population are reasonable, it is also crucial to consider that e-cigarettes have been associated with the potential for promoting smoking cessation and the clinically relevant improvements in users with smoking-related pathologies. Meanwhile, there is still short of understanding of the health impacts associated with e-cigarette use. Therefore, in this review, we discussed the health impacts of e-cigarette exposure on oral, nasal, pulmonary, cardiovascular systems and brain. We aspire for this review to change people's previous perceptions of e-cigarettes and provide them with a more balanced perspective. Additionally, we suggest appropriate adjustments on regulation and policy for e-cigarette to gain greater public health benefits.
Topics: Adolescent; Young Adult; Humans; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Smoking; Tobacco Smoking; Tobacco Products; Electronics
PubMed: 38157958
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.118056