Carbohydrate Antigen (CA 19-9) Surge: Unraveling the Enigma of Elevated Levels in the Setting of Benign Etiologies.

Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) is widely recognized as a tumor marker primarily associated with pancreatic cancer. However, its elevation in benign pancreaticobiliary conditions complicates its diagnostic utility. We present the case of a 39-year-old male with no significant medical history who presented with symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

An Interesting Case of Asymptomatic Cholera in the Setting of Large Bowel Obstruction.

Vibrio cholerae is the culprit behind many endemics globally. Classically characterized by profuse diarrhea with a "rice water" description, cholera can be fatal if not treated promptly. However, infected individuals can present with little to no symptoms.

Emotional distress, stress, anxiety, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early- to mid-career women in healthcare sciences research.

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to report stress and anxiety levels during the COVID-19 pandemic on early- to mid-career women researchers in healthcare sciences research and determine the associated factors.

Methods: A 50-item self-administered internet questionnaire was developed using a mix of Likert-type scales and open-ended response questions. The survey was distributed June 10-August 3, 2020.

Clinical and epidemiology evaluation of Aids-infected patients hospitalized between 2011 and 2016 in the Santos region of Brazil.

Introduction: We assessed the clinical-epidemiological profile of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients in the Santos region (São Paulo state) with the highest AIDS prevalence in Brazil.

Methods: Information was extracted from records of 409 AIDS-infected patients hospitalized between 2011 and 2016.

Results: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was diagnosed in 24.

Randomized trial of red cell washing for the prevention of transfusion-associated organ injury in cardiac surgery.

Background: Experimental studies suggest that mechanical cell washing to remove pro-inflammatory components that accumulate in the supernatant of stored donor red blood cells (RBCs) might reduce inflammation and organ injury in transfused patients.

Methods: Cardiac surgery patients at increased risk of large-volume RBC transfusion were eligible. Participants were randomized to receive either mechanically washed allogenic RBCs or standard care RBCs.

Trial protocol for a randomised controlled trial of red cell washing for the attenuation of transfusion-associated organ injury in cardiac surgery: the REDWASH trial.

Introduction: It has been suggested that removal of proinflammatory substances that accumulate in stored donor red cells by mechanical cell washing may attenuate inflammation and organ injury in transfused cardiac surgery patients. This trial will test the hypotheses that the severity of the postoperative inflammatory response will be less and postoperative recovery faster if patients undergoing cardiac surgery receive washed red cells compared with standard care (unwashed red cells).

Methods And Analysis: Adult (≥16 years) cardiac surgery patients identified at being at increased risk for receiving large volume red cell transfusions at 1 of 3 UK cardiac centres will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either red cell washing or standard care.

Ghrelin and GHS-R in the rat gastric mucosa: Are they involved in regulation of growth during early weaning?

Objectives: Based on previous evidence showing that early weaning disturbs the ontogenesis of rat gastric glands, which are the major site of ghrelin synthesis, we investigated the distribution of ghrelin and its receptor (GHS-R) in the rat gastric epithelium during postnatal development and evaluated the effects of early weaning on their levels. Additionally, we studied the contribution of ghrelin to gastric growth during the abrupt nutrient transition.

Methods: Wistar rats were submitted to early weaning at 15 d and suckling counterparts were taken as controls.

A randomized, placebo-controlled study of the effects of telcagepant on exercise time in patients with stable angina.

Telcagepant is a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist being evaluated for acute migraine treatment. CGRP is a potent vasodilator that is elevated after myocardial infarction, and it delays ischemia during treadmill exercise. We tested the hypothesis that CGRP receptor antagonism does not reduce treadmill exercise time (TET).

Blood pressure effects of naproxcinod in hypertensive patients.

The blood pressure (BP) effects of naproxcinod and naproxen were assessed in an 8-week, double-blind, crossover study in 131 hypertensive patients aged 50 to 74 years. Patients received naproxcinod 750 mg twice daily or naproxen 500 mg twice daily, then the alternate treatment, each for 14 days, with placebo run-in/washout before each active treatment period and 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring conducted before and after each active treatment period. Mean change from baseline in average 24-hour systolic BP (SBP) after 2 weeks of treatment numerically favored naproxcinod 750 mg twice daily (least-squares [LS] mean for naproxcinod minus naproxen: -1.

Efficacy and safety of fasudil in patients with stable angina: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fasudil, an orally available rho kinase inhibitor, in patients with stable angina.

Background: Several small, non-placebo-controlled trials suggest that fasudil reduces myocardial ischemia in patients with stable or vasospastic angina.

Methods: In a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, the efficacy and safety of fasudil were evaluated in stable angina patients.

Comparison of effects of nisoldipine-extended release and amlodipine in patients with systemic hypertension and chronic stable angina pectoris.

The efficacy and safety of nisoldipine-extended release (ER) and amlodipine were compared in a 6-week multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel group, titration-to-effect trial in patients with stage 1 to 2 systemic hypertension (90 to 109 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure [BP]) and chronic stable angina pectoris. After a 3-week placebo run-in period, patients (n = 120) were randomly assigned to active treatment with either nisoldipine-ER (20 to 40 mg) or amlodipine (5 to 10 mg) once daily, titrated as necessary after 2 weeks to achieve diastolic BP <90 mm Hg. After 6 weeks, the mean reduction in systolic/diastolic BP from baseline was 15/13 mm Hg with nisoldipine-ER and 13/11 mm Hg with amlodipine (p = NS/p = NS).

The effect of vardenafil, a potent and highly selective phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, on the cardiovascular response to exercise in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objectives: The effect of vardenafil, a potent and highly selective phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor, on symptom-limited exercise time, time to first awareness of angina, and time to ischemic threshold (ST-segment depression > or =1 mm from baseline) during exercise tolerance testing (ETT) was examined in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common among men with CAD. PDE5 inhibition is increasingly the preferred treatment option for ED.

Additional antianginal and anti-ischemic efficacy of mibefradil in patients concomitantly treated with long-acting nitrates for chronic stable angina pectoris.

Background: Mibefradil, a newly approved antihypertensive and antianginal drug, is the first member of a new class of calcium antagonists (CAs), the tetralol derivatives, that selectively blocks T-type Ca2+ channels in contrast to classical CAs which, at therapeutic concentrations, block only L-type Ca2+ channels. Since patients with chronic stable angina pectoris typically may be treated with the combination of a long-acting nitrate and a CA, the additive efficacy and safety of mibefradil in combination with nitrate therapy needs to be determined.

Hypothesis: This study was designed to assess the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of mibefradil when added to long-acting nitrate therapy in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris.

Comparative antihypertensive effectiveness of once-daily mibefradil and diltiazem CD. Mibefradil Hypertension Study Group.

This multicenter, double-masked, randomized, forced-titration, parallel-group trial was designed to determine whether we could confirm the results of a previous trial that demonstrated a significantly greater antihypertensive effect for mibefradil compared with diltiazem CD. Two hundred thirty-nine patients with uncomplicated mild-to-moderate essential hypertension and a baseline sitting diastolic blood pressure (SDBP) between 95 and 114 mm Hg were randomized to receive once-daily treatment with mibefradil 50 mg (n = 119) or diltiazem CD 180 mg (n = 120). After 4 weeks of treatment, all patients underwent forced titration to mibefradil 100 mg or diltiazem CD 360 mg for an additional 8 weeks.

Clinical characteristics and management of acute stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation admitted to US university hospitals.

Unlabelled: The optimal evaluation and management of patients with atrial fibrillation who suffer an acute ischemic stroke remains controversial.

Methods: Medical records of 171 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation and acute stroke at six U.S.

Status of antithrombotic therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation in university hospitals.

Background: The risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation can be significantly reduced with antithrombotic therapy. Despite this, many physicians remain hesitant to prescribe warfarin sodium or aspirin therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation.

Objective: To assess the use of antithrombotic therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation at 6 academic hospitals in the United States.

Pharmacologic profile of survivors of acute myocardial infarction at United States academic hospitals.

Optimal drug therapy for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is well described in the medical literature. However, data on the actual pharmacologic management of patients surviving AMI at academic hospitals is unavailable. The purpose of this study was to document treatment profiles in 500 patients surviving AMI at 12 academic hospitals in the United States.

Antianginal and antiischemic efficacy of monotherapy extended-release nisoldipine (Coat Core) in chronic stable angina.

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted to test the peak and trough antianginal and antiischemic monotherapy efficacy and safety of a new extended-release formulation of nisoldipine (nisoldipine Coat Core [Bayer Corporation], 20 mg, 40 mg, and 60 mg once daily compared to placebo). Study patients had a history of chronic, stable angina pectoris, exercise-induced angina in association with ST segment depression, and exercise test reproducibility. Of the 483 patients enrolled in the study, results were valid for safety analysis for 312 and for efficacy analysis for 284.

Maintaining long-term control of blood pressure: the role of improved compliance.

Mild-to-moderate essential hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Morbidity can be reduced significantly by lowering high blood pressure, and with the effective antihypertensive drugs now available, it is ever more important to identify and treat the estimated 50 to 60 million hypertensive persons in the United States. Yet a high percentage of persons being treated stop taking their medication and refuse to comply with their therapeutic regimen.

Dose-response evaluation of once-daily therapy with a new formulation of diltiazem for stable angina pectoris. Diltiazem CD Study Group.

Diltiazem hydrochloride in a once-daily capsule formulation (DCD) has recently been approved in the United States for the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension and chronic stable angina pectoris. This trial evaluated the dose response of DCD in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris. In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-design trial, the effects and tolerability of once-daily therapy with placebo or DCD (60, 120, 240, 360, or 480 mg) were evaluated 24 hours after dosing, following 3 weeks of therapy in 227 patients with reproducible stable exertional angina pectoris.

Antianginal and anti-ischemic efficacy of immediate-release nisoldipine in chronic stable angina pectoris.

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study tested peak and trough efficacy of immediate-release nisoldipine (20 mg twice daily) added to existent beta-adrenergic blocking therapy. Patients were randomized with a history of chronic stable angina, while receiving a stable regimen of a beta-blocking agent, with exercise test-induced angina in association with 1 mm horizontal or downsloping ST-segment depression and exercise test reproducibility of +/- 15%. Ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring (48-hour) was performed at 3 of 5 centers (44 patients).

Betaxolol in the treatment of stable angina pectoris.

Betaxolol, a long-acting cardioselective beta-blocker, was tested alone and in combination with long-acting nitrates in a multicenter, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled study of 3 weeks duration in patients with stable angina pectoris. All patients underwent exercise tolerance tests (ETTs) using Bruce's protocol. During the 3- to 4-week single-blind placebo baseline phase, all other drugs except sublingual nitroglycerin and long-acting nitrates were withdrawn.

Efficacy and safety of extended-release isosorbide mononitrate for stable effort angina pectoris.

The efficacy and safety of extended-release isosorbide mononitrate tablets were evaluated in patients with stable effort angina. In a double-blind study, 313 patients with stable effort-induced angina were randomized to receive placebo or extended-release isosorbide mononitrate: 30, 60, 120 or 240 mg once daily in the morning. Serial exercise testing was performed using the standard Bruce treadmill protocol on days 1, 7, 14, 28 and 42 immediately before morning drug administration, and 4 and 12 hours after administration.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of sustained-release diltiazem in patients with angina. Sustained-Release Diltiazem Study Group.

The efficacy of a new sustained-release formulation of diltiazem was examined in a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial in patients with stable angina. Doses of 60 mg BID, 90 mg BID, 180 mg BID and 240 mg BID were compared with placebo in 208 patients at 3 hours and 12 hours after dosing. Diltiazem, in doses of 90 mg BID and 180 mg BID, was statistically superior to placebo with respect to increasing total exercise time.