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Darier disease is an uncommon hereditary skin disorder characterized by the presence of hyperkeratotic papules and plaques affecting seborrheic areas. The uniqueness of this case lies in the exceptionally late-onset pattern of Darier disease, involving an 82-year-old female patient, and its correlation with COVID-19 infection. The patient had a history of a scaly and itchy rash limited to her arms, initially misdiagnosed as dermatitis, which persisted and worsened over three months. The manifestation of classical features of Darier disease coincided with her recent contraction of COVID-19. This instance emphasizes the varying manifestations of Darier disease that appear very late in life, which could result from new mutations or partial penetrance. Additionally, this case points out the potential worsening of Darier disease when combined with a COVID-19 infection. It highlights the need to be aware of atypical clinical progressions and the potential for increased severity of skin disorders during COVID-19. More studies are essential to grasp the relationship between COVID-19 and inherited skin conditions, aiming to improve patient treatment and care approaches.
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The aim of this study is to determine the predictors of mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH). This systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) Statement guidelines. We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases from January 2010 to April 2023 using the following keywords: "systemic sclerosis," "pulmonary arterial hypertension," "death," and "predictors," along with medical subject headings (MeSH), to identify relevant studies. A total of eight studies with a total of 530 patients were included in the present systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled one-year, three-year, and five-year survival was 90% (95% CI: 86-93%), 66% (95% CI: 59-72%), and 44% (95% CI: 23-65%), respectively. Factors associated with mortality in SSc-PAH included age (p-value: 0.02), male gender (p-value: 0.008), pericardial effusion (p-value: 0.003), cardiac index (p-value: 0.0001), six-minute walking distance (p-value: 0.04), pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) (p-value: 0.01), and New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification (p-value: 0.0002). The findings of this study have important clinical implications. Assessing and managing the identified predictors, such as age, gender, pericardial effusion, PAP, cardiac index, and NYHA class, could help identify individuals at higher risk of mortality and guide treatment strategies.
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Background Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a medical emergency requiring immediate diagnosis. While endoscopy is a commonly employed procedure in the evaluation of UGIB, its timing, outcomes, and the range of identified causes vary widely across different medical settings and regions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use endoscopy to investigate the cause of UGIB. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Gastroenterology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, over a period of one year, from July 1st, 2021 to June 28th, 2022. The study enrolled all patients who were 18 years of age or older and exhibited symptoms of UGIB, including hematemesis and/or melena, within 48 hours of onset. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy procedure was conducted in order to identify the underlying cause of UGIB and to apply appropriate therapeutic interventions. In patients where the endoscopic examination revealed bleeding ulcers, a specimen for biopsy was excised to test for Helicobacter pylori. Similarly, in cases where a malignancy was suspected during the endoscopy, a biopsy was performed for confirmatory diagnosis. A pre-designed proforma was utilized to collect data including the demographic variables such as age, gender, ethnicity, family history; clinical variables such as clinical presentation, comorbidities, medical history, medication use, vital signs, biochemical evaluation, and imaging results; endoscopic findings such as endoscopic location and severity of bleeding, endoscopic diagnosis, and the use of endoscopic interventions. Information relevant to the treatment and outcomes was also observed. Under outcomes, the rates of re-bleeding, need for repeat endoscopy, length of hospital stay, and mortality were recorded. Results The study reports that the mean age of the participants was 54.72 years with a standard deviation of 12.5 years. The mean hemoglobin level at the presentation was 7.98 ± 2.88 mg/dl. Out of the 309 patients, 215 (69.58%) were male, 202 (65.37%) presented with hematemesis, 97 (31.39%) presented with melena, and 10 patients had a mixed presentation. A total of 154 (49.84%) patients had portal hypertension. Out of these, 128 (83.12%) had esophageal varices and 21 (13.64%) had gastric varices. Five patients suffered from portal hypertensive gastropathy. In 114 (36.89%) patients, the cause of bleeding was ulcerative disease and out of these, duodenal ulcers were found in 49 (42.98%) while gastric ulcers were found in 22 (19.30%) patients. In total malignant lesions were detected in 20 (6.47%) cases. Conclusion The research indicates that hematemesis was the predominant initial symptom observed in individuals experiencing UGIB. The predominant etiology of the hemorrhage was identified as esophageal and gastric varices through endoscopic assessment. The study highlights the importance of early endoscopic evaluation in patients with UGIB as it can help identify the cause and guide appropriate management. This emphasizes the need for healthcare providers to be vigilant in identifying and managing patients with UGIB promptly to improve outcomes. Further research is needed to explore effective strategies for early detection and management of UGIB.
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The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide in patients with hypertension. The present meta-analysis was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Our search for relevant articles was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHIL databases from their inception until March 31, 2023. Keywords used to search for relevant articles included "hydrochlorothiazide," "chlortalidone," "hypertension," "cardiovascular," and "blood pressure." The outcomes assessed in this meta-analysis included changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Myocardial infarction, stroke, and all-cause mortality were also assessed. For safety analysis, we evaluated the risk of hypokalemia between the two groups. Any disagreement between the two authors in the data extraction process was resolved through discussion. Eight studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria included in the present meta-analysis. Our analysis showed that chlorthalidone was superior to hydrochlorothiazide in controlling both SBP and DBP, with no significant heterogeneity reported. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, all-cause mortality, and hospitalization due to heart failure. The hypokalemia rate was reported to be higher with chlorthalidone compared to hydrochlorothiazide.
