Effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis for acute esophageal variceal bleeding in patients with band ligation: A large observational study

BACKGROUND Esophageal variceal bleeding is a severe complication associated with liver cirrhosis and typically necessitates endoscopic hemostasis.The current standard treatment is endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL),and Western guidelines recom-mend antibiotic prophylaxis following hemostasis.However,given the impro-vements in prognosis for variceal bleeding due to advancements in the management of bleeding and treatments of liver cirrhosis and the global concerns regarding the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria,there is a need to reassess the use of routine antibiotic prophylaxis after hemostasis.AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis in patients treated for EVL.METHODS We conducted a 13-year observational study using the Tokushukai medical database across 46 hospitals.Patients were divided into the prophylaxis group(received antibiotics on admission or the next day)and the non-prophylaxis group(did not receive antibiotics within one day of admission).The primary outcome was composed of 6-wk mortality,4-wk rebleeding,and 4-wk spontaneous bacterial peritonitis(SBP).The secondary outcomes were each individual result and in-hospital mortality.A logistic regression with inverse probability of treatment weighting was used.A subgroup analysis was conducted based on the Child-Pugh classification to determine its influence on the primary outcome measures,while sensitivity analyses for antibiotic type and duration were also performed.RESULTS Among 980 patients,790 were included(prophylaxis:232,non-prophylaxis:558).Most patients were males under the age of 65 years with a median Child-Pugh score of 8.The composite primary outcomes occurred in 11.2%of patients in the prophylaxis group and 9.5%in the non-prophylaxis group.No significant differences in outcomes were observed between the groups(adjusted odds ratio,1.11;95%confidence interval,0.61-1.99;P=0.74).Individual outcomes such as 6-wk mortality,4-wk rebleeding,4-wk onset of SBP,and in-hospital mortality were not significantly different between the groups.The primary outcome did not differ between the Child-Pugh subgroups.Similar results were observed in the sensitivity analyses.CONCLUSION No significant benefit to antibiotic prophylaxis for esophageal variceal bleeding treated with EVL was detected in this study.Global reassessment of routine antibiotic prophylaxis is imperative.

Real-world utility of serological tests in patients with suspected scrub typhus in the Republic of Korea:A single-center,retrospective,observational study

Objective:Serological tests are widely used for scrub typhus diagnosis;however,their limitations are evident.This study aims to assess their practical value in clinical settings.Methods:We analyzed the data of adult patients with suspected scrub typhus who visited a tertiary care hospital in the Republic of Korea from September to December from 2019 to 2021.The included patients had an acute fever and at least one of the following ten secondary findings:myalgia,skin rash,eschar,headache,thrombocytopenia,increased liver enzyme levels,lymphadenopathy,hepatomegaly,splenomegaly,and pleural effusion.The diagnoses were grouped as scrub typhus or other diseases by two infectious disease physicians.Results:Among 136 patients who met the eligibility criteria,109 had scrub typhus and 27 had different diseases.Single and paired total antibodies using immunofluorescence assay(IFA),and total antibodies using immunochromatography-based rapid diagnostic testing(ICT)were measured in 98%,22%,and 75%of all patients,respectively.Confirmation using paired samples for scrub typhus was established at a median of 11[interquartile range(IQR)10-16]days following the first visit.Among the 82 admitted patients,the median admission time was 9(IQR 7-13)days.According to IFA,58(55%)patients with scrub typhus had total immunoglobulin titers≥1:320,while 23(85%)patients with other disease had titers<1:320.Positive ICT results were observed in 64(74%)patients with scrub typhus and 10(67%)patients with other diseases showed negative ICT results.Conclusions:Serological testing for scrub typhus is currently insufficient for decision-making in clinical practice.

Antibodies Targeting a Conserved Surface Polysaccharide Are Protective Against a Wide Range of Microbial Pathogens Producing β-1-6-Linked Poly-N-Acetylglucosamine(PNAG)

The b-1-6-linked poly-N-acetylglucosamine(PNAG)polymer is a conserved surface polysaccharide produced by many bacteria,fungi,and protozoan(and even filarial)parasites.This wide-ranging expression makes PNAG an attractive target for vaccine development,as it potentially encompasses a broad range of microorganisms.Significant progress has been made in discovering important properties of the biology of PNAG expression in recent years.The molecular characterization and regulation of operons for the production of PNAG biosynthetic proteins and enzymes have been studied in many bacteria.In addition,the physiological function of PNAG has been further elucidated.PNAG-based vaccines and PNAG-targeting antibodies have shown great efficacy in preclinical research.Furthermore,clinical tests for both vaccines and antibodies have been carried out in humans and economically important animals,and the results are promising.Although it is not destined to be a smooth road,we are optimistic about new vaccines and immunotherapeutics targeting PNAG becoming validated and eventually licensed for clinical use against multiple infectious agents.

Trends in the management of infectious disease under SARS-CoV-2 era: From pathophysiological comparison of COVID-19 and influenza

Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),which causes coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),has become a historic pandemic,and dealing with it is one of the most important aspects of infectious disease treatment today.SARS-CoV-2 has been found to have characteristic and powerful infectivity(ability to propagate)and lethality(severity).With influenza,primary influenza pneumonia from the virus itself is known to exist in addition to secondary bacterial pneumonia.With COVID-19,on the other hand,it is important to provide diagnosis and treatment while keeping acute respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary edema(alveolar flood)from a similar cytokine storm,as well as severe angiopathy,in mind.The importance of complying with hand hygiene and masks in infection control remains the same as in previous general infection control measures and responses to influenza virus infections and others,but in the future,vaccination will likely be the key to infection control in the community.

Management of cytomegalovirus infection and disease in liver transplant recipients

Cytomegalovirus(CMV) is one of the most common viral pathogens causing clinical disease in liver transplant recipients, and contributing to substantial morbidity and occasional mortality. CMV causes febrile illness often accompanied by bone marrow suppression, and in some cases, invades tissues including the transplanted liver allograft. In addition, CMV has been significantly associated with an increased predisposition to acute and chronic allograft rejection, accelerated hepatitis C recurrence, and other opportunistic infections, as well as reduced overall patient and allograft survival. To negate the adverse effects of CMV infection on transplant outcome, its prevention, whether through antiviral prophylaxis or preemptive therapy, is an essential component to the management of liver transplant recipients. Two recently updated guidelines have suggested that antiviral prophylaxis or preemptive therapy are similarly effective in preventing CMV disease in modest-risk CMV-seropositive liver transplant recipients, while antiviral prophylaxis is the preferredstrategy over preemptive therapy for the prevention of CMV disease in high-risk recipients [CMV-seronegative recipients of liver allografts from CMV-seropositive donors(D+/R-)]. However, antiviral prophylaxis has only delayed the onset of CMV disease in many CMV D+/Rliver transplant recipients, and such occurrence of lateonset CMV disease was significantly associated with increased all-cause and infection-related mortality after liver transplantation. Therefore, a search for better strategies for prevention, such as prolonged duration of antiviral prophylaxis, a hybrid approach(antiviral prophylaxis followed by preemptive therapy), or the use of immunologic measures to guide antiviral prophylaxis has been suggested to prevent late-onset CMV disease. The standard treatment of CMV disease consists of intravenous ganciclovir or oral valganciclovir, and if feasible, reduction in pharmacologic immunosuppression. In one clinical trial, oral valganciclovir was as effective as intravenous ganciclovir for the treatment of mild to moderate CMV disease in solid organ(including liver) transplant recipients. The aim of this article is to provide a state-of-the art review of the epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of CMV infection and disease after liver transplantation.

New insight of vitamin D in chronic liver diseases

BACKGROUND： Vitamin D is a fat-soluble sterol derivative that is predominantly synthesized in the liver and has multiple functions. The accumulative data showed that the clinical manifestations and prognosis of chronic liver diseases are associated with serum vitamin D levels. DATA SOURCES： A PubMed and Google Scholar search using terms： ＂vitamin D＂, ＂25 （OH）D＂, ＂liver disease＂, ＂viral hepatitis＂, ＂non-alcoholic fatty liver disease＂, ＂liver fibrosis＂, ＂cirrhosis＂, ＂hepatocellular carcinoma＂ and ＂autoimmune liver disease＂ was performed, and relevant articles published in English between January 2000 and March 2014 were reviewed. Fulb text publications relevant to the field were selected and relevant articles from reference lists were also included. RESULTS： The insufficiency or deficiency of vitamin D is common in various kinds of chronic liver diseases including viral hepatitis B and C. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vitamin D receptors are possibly interrelated with the incidence, treatment and prognosis of diseases. Though the evidence of vitamin D supplementation in viral hepatitis and associated liver diseases is still limited, there is great potential to apply this adjuvant therapy to improve the treatments. CONCLUSIONS： Although the exact role and mechanisms of vitamin D have not been fully elucidated in chronic liver diseases, it is potentially beneficial in the treatment of chronic liver diseases. Further mechanistic studies are needed to validate its clinical application.

Novel virulence factor dupA of Helicobacter pylori as an important risk determinant for disease manifestation:An overview

Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)is a microaerophilic,Gram-negative,human gastric pathogen found usually in the mucous lining of stomach.It infects more than 50%of the world’s population and leads to gastroduodenal diseases.The outcome of disease depends on mainly three factors:Host genetics,environment and bacterial factors.Among these,bacterial virulence factors such as cagA,vacA are well known for their role in disease outcomes.However,based on the global epidemiological results,none of the bacterial virulence(gene)factors was found to be associated with particular diseases like duodenal ulcer(DU)in all populations.Hence,substantial importance has been provided for research in strain-specific genes outside the cag pathogenicity island,especially genes located within the plasticity regions.dupA found within the plasticity regions was first demonstrated in 2005 and was proposed for duodenal ulcer development and reduced risk of gastric cancer in certain geographical regions.Due to the discrepancies in report from different parts of the world in DU development related to H.pylori virulence factor,dupA became an interesting area of research in elucidating the role of this gene in the disease progression.In this review,we shed light on the detailed information available on the polymorphisms in dupA and their clinical relevance.We have critically appraised several pertinent studies on dupA and discussed their merits and shortcomings.This review also highlights dupA gene as an important biomarker for DU in certain populations.

Dynamics of Rodent and Rodent-borne Disease during Construction of the Three Gorges Reservoir from 1997 to 2012

Objective To investigate the impact of impoundment and active public health interventions on rodent populations and rodent-borne diseases in the Three Gorges reservoir region from 1997 to 2012. Methods Surveillance data from 1997 to 2012 were extracted from the Public Health Surveillance System of The Three Gorges established in 1997. Temporal changes in the incidences of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome （HFRS） and leptospirosis, rodent density, pathogen-carrying rates, and their correlations were analyzed. Results The average indoor and outdoor rodent densities decreased overall from 1997 to 2012. The average densities decreased by 47.72% （from 4.38% to 2.29%） and 39.68% （from 4.41% to 2.66%）, respectively, after impoundment （2003-2012） compared with before impoundment （1997-2002）. The average annual incidence rates of HFRS and leptospirosis were 0.29/100,000 and 0.52/100,000, respectively, and decreased by 85.74% （from 0.68/100,000 to 0.10/100,000） and 95.73% （from 1.47/100,000 to 0.06S/100,000）, respectively, after impoundment compared with before impoundment. Incidences of HFRS and leptospirosis appear to be positively correlated with rodent density in the reservoir area. Conclusion This study demonstrated that rodent density and incidences of rodent-borne diseases decreased and were maintained at low levels during construction of the Three Gorges dam. Measures that reduce rodent population densities could be effective in controlling rodent-borne diseases during large-scale hydraulic engineering construction.

Epidemiology,clinical characteristics,and management of chronic kidney disease in human immunodeficiency virusinfected patients

Antiretroviral therapy has markedly reduced acquired immune deficiency syndrome-related deaths and opportunistic infectious diseases. This has resulted in prolonged survival of individuals infected with the human immunodefciency virus （HIV）. However, this improvement in survival has been accompanied by an increase in the incidence of chronic kidney disease （CKD） and end-stage renal disease. CKD is now epidemic among HIV-infected populations in both Western and Eastern countries. Risk factors associated with CKD in HIV-infected populations include aging, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, co-infection with hepatitis C virus, a low CD4 cell count, and a high HIV viral load. Clinical experience has shown that HIV-infected individuals often have one or more concurrent risk factors for CKD. The cumulative effect of multiple risk factors on the development of CKD should be noted in this population. Glomerular disease directly related to HIV infection, so-called HIV-associated nephropathy, remains an important cause of CKD among a limited HIV population of African descent, but is less likely to be common among other urban HIV populations. The impact of exposure to nephrotoxic antiretroviral agents on the development of kidney disease is both an old and a new concern. In particular, the association of tenofovir with kidney tubular injury has been an area of great interest. The fndings regarding tenofovir’s adverse effect on long-term kidney function vary among studies. The early identifcation and treatment of CKD is recommended for reducing the burden of patients requiring dialysis in HIV-infected populations. Periodic monitoring of urinary concentrations of albumin, protein, and tubular injury markers such as low-molecular-weight proteins may be useful for the early diagnosis of patients at risk for incident CKD. This review focuses on recent epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and management of CKD in a contemporary HIV-infected population.

Epidemiological Characteristics and Spatiotemporal Distribution Patterns of Human Norovirus Outbreaks in China, 2012–2018

Objective To clarify the epidemiological characteristics and spatial distribution patterns of human norovirus outbreaks in China, identify high-risk areas, and provide guidance for epidemic prevention and control.Methods This study analyzed 964 human norovirus outbreaks involving 50,548 cases in 26 provinces reported from 2012 to 2018. Epidemiological analysis and spatiotemporal scanning analysis were conducted to analyze the distribution of norovirus outbreaks in China.Results The outbreaks showed typical seasonality, with more outbreaks in winter and fewer in summer, and the total number of infected cases increased over time. Schools, especially middle schools and primary schools, are the most common settings of norovirus outbreaks, with the major transmission route being life contact. More outbreaks occurred in southeast coastal areas in China and showed significant spatial aggregation. The highly clustered areas of norovirus outbreaks have expanded northeast over time.Conclusion By identifying the epidemiological characteristics and high-risk areas of norovirus outbreaks, this study provides important scientific support for the development of preventive and control measures for norovirus outbreaks, which is conducive to the administrative management of high-risk settings and reduction of disease burden in susceptible areas.

Burden of severe infections due to carbapenem-resistant pathogens in intensive care unit

Intensive care units(ICU)for various reasons,including the increasing age of admitted patients,comorbidities,and increasingly complex surgical procedures(e.g.,transplants),have become"the epicenter"of nosocomial infections,these are characterized by the presence of multidrug-resistant organisms(MDROs)as the cause of infection.Therefore,the perfect match of fragile patients and MDROs,as the cause of infection,makes ICU mortality very high.Furthermore,carbapenems were considered for years as last-resort antibiotics for the treatment of infections caused by MDROs;unfortunately,nowadays carbapenem resistance,mainly among Gram-negative pathogens,is a matter of the highest concern for worldwide public health.This comprehensive review aims to outline the problem from the intensivist's perspective,focusing on the new definition and epidemiology of the most common carbapenem-resistant MDROs(Acinetobacter baumannii,Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacterales)to emphasize the importance of the problem that must be permeating clinicians dealing with these diseases.

Safe and effective sofosbuvir-based therapy in patients with mental health disease on hepatitis C virus treatment

AIMTo study impact of baseline mental health disease on hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment; and Beck&rsquo;s Depression Inventory (BDI) changes with sofosbuvir- and interferon-based therapy. METHODSThis is a retrospective cohort study of participants from 5 studies enrolled from single center trials conducted at the Clinical Research Center of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States. All participants were adults with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection and na&iuml;ve to HCV therapy. Two of the studies included HCV mono-infected participants only (SPARE, SYNERGY-A), and 3 included human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV co-infected participants only (ERADICATE, PFINPK, and ALBIN). Patients were treated for HCV with 3 different regimens: Sofosbuvir and ribavirin in the SPARE trial, ledipasvir and sofosbuvir in SYNERGY-A and ERADICATE trials, and pegylated interferon (IFN) and ribavirin for 48 wk in the PIFNPK and ALBIN trials. Participants with baseline mental health disease (MHD) were identified (defined as either a DSM IV diagnosis of major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, generalized anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder or requiring anti-depressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers or psychotropics prescribed by a psychiatrist). For our first aim, we compared sustained virologic response (SVR) and adherence (pill counts, study visits, and in 25 patients, blood levels of the sofosbuvir metabolite, GS-331007) within each study. For our second aim, only patients with HIV coinfection were evaluated. BDI scores were obtained pre-treatment, during treatment, and post-treatment among participants treated with sofosbuvir-based therapy, and compared to scores from participants treated with interferon-based therapy. Statistical differences for both aims were analyzed by Fisher&rsquo;s Exact, and t-test with significance defined as a P value less than 0.05. RESULTSBaseline characteristics did not differ significantly between all participants with and without MHD groups treated with sofosbuvir-based therapy. Among patients treated with sofosbuvir-based therapy, the percentage of patients with MHD who achieved SVR was the same as those without (SPARE: 60.9% of those MHD compared to 67.6% in those without, P = 0.78; SYNERGY-A: 100% of both groups; ERADICATE: 100% compared to 97.1%). There was no statistically significant difference in pill counts, adherence to study visits between groups, nor mean serum concentrations of GS-331007 for each group at week 2 of treatment (P = 0.72). Among patients with HIV co-infection, pre-treatment BDI scores were similar among patients treated with sofosbuvir, and those treated with interferon (sofosbuvir-based 5.24, IFN-based 6.96; P = 0.14); however, a dichotomous effect on was observed during treatment. Among participants treated with directly acting antiviral (DAA)-based therapy, mean BDI scores decreased from 5.24 (pre-treatment) to 3.28 during treatment (1.96 decrease, P = 0.0034) and 2.82 post-treatment. The decrease in mean score from pre- to post-treatment was statistically significant (-2.42, P = 0.0012). Among participants treated with IFN-based therapy, mean BDI score increased from 6.96 at pre-treatment to 9.19 during treatment (an increase of 2.46 points, P = 0.1), and then decreased back to baseline post-treatment (mean BDI score 6.3, P = 0.54). Overall change in mean BDI scores from pre-treatment to during treatment among participants treated with DAA-based and IFN-therapy was statistically significant (-1.96 and +2.23, respectively; P = 0.0032). This change remained statistically significant when analysis was restricted to participants who achieved SVR (-2.0 and +4.36, respectively; P = 0.0004). CONCLUSIONSofosbuvir-based therapy is safe and well tolerated in patients with MHD. A decline in BDI associated with sofosbuvir-based HCV treatment suggests additional MHD benefits, although the duration of these effects is unknown.

Presentation, patterns and predictive value of baseline liver tests on outcomes in COVID-19 patients without chronic liver disease

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)infection is known to cause abnormal hepatic enzymes.The long term consequences of such elevations are uncertain.AIM To assessed the prevalence and prognostic value of initial liver enzymes in a large cohort of COVID-19 patients.METHODS We reviewed electronic medical records of 10614 COVID-19 patients without known chronic liver disease who were admitted to our health system from March 1,2020,to April 30,2020.We analyzed baseline demographics and liver chemistries.The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality,and the secondary outcome was a composite of in-hospital mortality or need for mechanical ventilation.RESULTS Subjects with abnormal liver tests had increased risks of mortality and composite outcome when compared to patients with normal measurements on unadjusted analysis and after adjustment for demographic factors.CONCLUSION In our diverse patient population,liver enzyme abnormalities are associated with increased mortality and the need for mechanical ventilation in subjects without chronic liver disease.Cholestasis patients are at the greatest risk for poor outcomes.

Detection of colorectal adenomas using artificial intelligence models in patients with chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus is known for its oncogenic potential,especially in hepatocellular carcinoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.Several studies have shown that chronic hepatitis C(CHC)has an increased risk of the development of colorectal cancer(CRC).AIM To analyze this positive relationship and develop an artificial intelligence(AI)-based tool using machine learning(ML)algorithms to stratify these patient populations into risk groups for CRC/adenoma detection.METHODS To develop the AI automated calculator,we applied ML to train models to predict the probability and the number of adenomas detected on colonoscopy.Data sets were split into 70:30 ratios for training and internal validation.The Scikit-learn standard scaler was used to scale values of continuous variables.Colonoscopy findings were used as the gold standard and deep learning architecture was used to train six ML models for prediction.A Flask(customizable Python framework)application programming interface(API)was used to deploy the trained ML model with the highest accuracy as a web application.Finally,Heroku was used for the deployment of the web-based API to https://adenomadetection.herokuapp.com.RESULTS Of 415 patients,206 had colonoscopy results.On internal validation,the Bernoulli naive Bayes model predicted the probability of adenoma detection with the highest accuracy of 56%,precision of 55%,recall of 55%,and F1 measure of 54%.Support vector regressor predicted the number of adenomas with the least mean absolute error of 0.905.CONCLUSION Our AI-based tool can help providers stratify patients with CHC for early referral for screening colonoscopy.Along with providing a numerical percentage,the calculator can also comment on the number of adenomatous polyps a gastroenterologist can expect,prompting a higher adenoma detection rate.

Hematologic diseases: High risk of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea

AIM: To investigate the incidence and clinical outcome of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) associated diarrhea (CDAD) in patients with hematologic disease.

Mucormycosis: A Review on Environmental Fungal Spores and Seasonal Variation of Human Disease

Mucormycosis is on the rise especially among patients with immunosuppressive conditions. There seems to be more cases seen at the end of summer and towards early autumn. Several studies have attempted to look at the seasonal variations of fungal pathogens in variou indoor and outdoor settings. Only two reports, both from the Middle East, have addressed the relationship of mucormycosis in human disease with climate conditions. In this paper we review, the relationship of indoor and outdoor fungal particulates to the weather conditions and the reported seasonal variation of human cases.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease prevalence in an Italian cohort of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa: A multi-center retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) includes two distinct conditions, with different histologic features and prognosis: non-alcoholic fatty liver(NAFL) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH). Furthermore, NASH is the more aggressive necro-inflammatory form, which may accumulate fibrosis and result in End stage liver disease(ESLD). NAFLD is also linked to systemic inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis. NAFLD is currently the most common cause of ESLD in Western countries, becoming a serious public health concern.Hidradenitis suppurativa(HS) is a systemic inflammatory/autoinflammatory disease of the terminal follicular epithelium of the apocrine gland with a prevalence of 0.05% to 4.10%. Due to its systemic inflammatory behavior several comorbidities were recently associated, however liver ones were scarcely assessed.AIM To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of NASH/NAFL in HS patients.METHODS This retrospective study is a sub-analysis of a larger study carried out in 4 Italian dermatological centers. In this cohort, there were 83 patients: 51 patients with HS only, 20 patients with HS/NAFL and 12 with HS/NASH.RESULTS Inflammatory comorbidities were present in 3.9% of HS only patients, 25% of HS/NAFL patients and 58.3% of HS/NASH patients(P < 0.001). Similarly, mean Autoinflammatory Disease Damage Index(ADDI) was significantly higher among patients with HS/NASH(5.3 ± 2.2, P < 0.001) compared to patients with HS/NAFL or HS only(2.8 ± 1.6 and 2.6 ± 1.4 respectively). Furthermore, ADDI correlates with IHS4 in HS, HS/NAFL and HS/NASH. Diabetic patients have higher Hurley score than not diabetic ones. Ultrasound examination was significantly different in the three groups.CONCLUSION HS patients displayed a high prevalence of NASH/NAFLD and ultrasound examination should be particularly addressed to patients that display high ADDI scores.

Application of Van der Pol oscillator screening for peripheral arterial disease in patients with diabetes mellitus

This paper proposes a Van der Pol (VDP) oscillator screening for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in patients with diabetes mellitus. The long-term elevated blood sugar levels produce a high risk of peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease, especially in the foot of a diabetic. Early detection is important, in order to prevent foot problems for diabetic patients with PAD. Photoplethysmography (PPG) is a non-invasive method for the detection of blood volume changes in peripheral arteries. Because of changes in the resistance-compliance, the rise time and transit time for the PPG signals increase and change in their shape are highly correlated with PAD severity. In this study, the Burg autoregressive (AR) method is used to determine the characteristic frequencies of the right-and left-side PPG signals. For bilateral frequency spectra, the VDP oscillator uses asynchronous signals. This produces damped sinusoidal responses and the oscillation overshoot (OS) is an approximating function only of the damped factor. This index is used to estimate the degree of PAD, including normal the condition and diabetic patients with PAD. The results show that the proposed method is efficient and more accurate in the estimation of PAD.

Potential role of intermittent fasting on decreasing cardiovascular disease in human immunodeficiency virus patients receiving antiretroviral therapy

Cardiovascular disease(CVD)has become one of the commonest causes of comorbidity and mortality among People living with human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)(PLWH)on antiretroviral therapy(ART).Nearly 50%of PLWH are likely to have an increased risk of developing CVD,including coronary heart disease,cerebrovascular disease,peripheral artery disease and aortic atherosclerosis.Aside from the common risk factors,HIV infection itself and side effects of antiretroviral therapy contribute to the pathophysiology of this entity.Potential non-pharmacological therapies are currently being tested worldwide for this purpose,including eating patterns such as Intermittent fasting(IF).IF is a widespread practice gaining high level of interest in the scientific community due to its potential benefits such as improvement in serum lipids and lipoproteins,blood pressure(BP),platelet-derived growth factor AB,systemic inflammation,and carotid artery intima-media thickness among others cardiovascular benefits.This review will focus on exploring the potential role of intermittent fasting as a non-pharmacological and cost-effective strategy in decreasing the burden of cardiovascular diseases among HIV patients on ART due to its intrinsic properties improving the main cardiovascular risk factors and modulating inflammatory pathways related to endothelial dysfunction,lipid peroxidation and aging.Intermittent fasting regimens need to be tested in clinical trials as an important,cost-effective,and revolutionary coadjutant of ART in the fight against the increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease in PLWH.

Coexistence of urinary tuberculosis and urothelial carcinoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Taiwan has a high prevalence of tuberculosis and urothelial carcinoma.However,the simultaneous occurrence of both disorders in one patient is uncommon.Tuberculosis and urothelial carcinoma share some common risk factors and could demonstrate overlapping clinical manifestations.CASE SUMMARY Herein,we report the case of a patient who presented with fever,persistent hematuria,and pyuria.Chest computed tomography scans revealed a bilateral upper lobes cavitary lesion with fibrosis.Severe hydronephrosis of the right kidney and renal stones and cysts in the left kidney were observed.Initial microbiological testing was negative;however,a polymerase chain reaction assay of the urine confirmed a urinary tuberculosis infection.The patient was started on an anti-tuberculosis regimen.Ureteroscopy performed to resolve obstructive nephropathy revealed the incidental finding of a left middle-third ureteral tumor.Examination after biopsy and transurethral resection of the bladder tumor indicated urothelial carcinoma.The patient underwent laparoscopic nephroureterectomy,with bladder cuff excision for the right kidney and ureter,and holmium laser ablation of the ureteral lesion to preserve the left kidney and ureter.He has remained stable after the procedures.CONCLUSION Although establishing a causal relationship between tuberculosis and cancer is difficult,medical personnel should consider their correlation.