Cardiovascular Manifestations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a group of long-term systemic inflammatory disorders affecting the gastrointestinal tract, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which may be associated with an increased risk of developing extraintestinal manifestations, including cardiovascular disease, thereby decreasing the quality of life. Pathophysiological changes associated with inflammatory bowel disease include alterations of the microbiome, endotoxemia, and changes to glucose and lipid metabolism. Inflammatory bowel disease patients have higher carotid intima-media thickness, lower flow-mediated dilatation, and increased carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, which are markers of elevated cardiovascular risk. In addition, inflammatory bowel disease patients are at an increased risk for developing venous and arterial thrombotic events due to a hypercoagulable state caused by thrombocytosis and coagulation system activation. To reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, lifestyle modifications, such as smoking cessation, dietary changes, and increased physical activity alongside management with appropriate medication, should be considered. This research paper examines how inflammatory bowel disease can influence the risk of cardiovascular complications and the involvement of drug therapy. Methods: PubMed was searched using keywords, such as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, cardiovascular disease, pericarditis, thromboembolism, and many more. Relevant literature up to March 2023 has been examined and summarized, which consisted of data from various clinical trials, meta-analyses, retrospective/prospective cohort studies, and current guidelines.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Literature Review Comparing Current Therapeutic Modalities.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a disease with a poor prognosis, often misinterpreted as an infection, with the highest impact on the patient's quality of life among all the assessed dermatological diseases. The main aim of this study was to compare various therapeutic interventions that are currently available for the treatment of HS. The pathogenesis of HS is not well understood, but it is mostly multifactorial involving a number of factors like genetic factors, androgens, local immunity, microflora, smoking, and obesity. Despite limited evidence on their effectiveness, topical antibiotics and antiseptics are commonly employed. Due to the colonization of bacteria and the presence of biofilms in the sinus tracts formed by HS lesions, systemic antibiotics are commonly employed as the primary form of therapy. In females with HS who experience menstrual flares or display symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, hormonal agents are often considered to be a viable and effective therapeutic option. At present, the sole treatment approved by both the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for addressing moderate to severe HS is adalimumab, an antibody that targets tumor necrosis factor alpha. Many surgical procedures in the management of HS aim to address inflammation by eliminating the affected folliculo-pilosebaceous unit, sinus tracts, and associated debris to impede further progression and scarring. HS continues to pose a considerable treatment challenge, necessitating a comprehensive approach for patients. However, the available evidence for most of these treatments is limited, indicating the need for more extensive research to identify the most effective interventions for managing HS.

Quality and Reliability of YouTube Videos on Myocardial Infarction: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to assess the quality and reliability of the disease information available on YouTube (www.youtube.com) about "heart attacks" or myocardial infarctions, using a Global Quality Score (GQS) for quality, a DISCERN score for reliability, and a Video Power Index (VPI) for popularity. METHODOLOGY: In this cross-sectional observational study, the YouTube videos were analyzed in terms of the type of uploader, content, and other factors. The GQS, DISCERN score, and Video Power Index (VPI) were utilized to assess the quality, reliability, and popularity of the information, respectively. RESULTS: The majority of the videos (78.44%) were uploaded over a year ago. Only 33.34% and 7.84% were uploaded by doctors and healthcare organizations, respectively. Around 72.55% of the videos contained information about symptoms, 66.67% discussed the causes, 52.94% covered treatment, and 47.06% focused on prevention. Additionally, 41.18% provided details on investigations, while only 19.61% touched upon mortality. Patient-created videos accounted for 19.61% of the content, and 15.69% of the videos included promotional material. CONCLUSION: The main outcome of our study indicates that the YouTube videos examined regarding myocardial infarctions exhibit high-quality content, as supported by a higher average GQS score. The consistent quality of information discovered in our study suggests that YouTube can serve as an additional platform for sharing knowledge and educating individuals about this important health condition. By raising awareness and delivering accurate information, these videos can help in early detection, prevention, and better outcomes for individuals who are at risk of experiencing a myocardial infarction.