COVID-19-Associated Middle Ear Myoclonus in a 10-Year-Old Male.

Middle ear myoclonus is a rare condition attributed to abnormal, repetitive contractions of the middle ear muscles including the tensor tympani and/or stapedius muscles. This condition generates objective tinnitus that is characterized by a "clicking" noise that is audible to both the patient and an outside observer. No specific pathophysiologic process has been identified as the cause of middle ear myoclonus, making its diagnosis and treatment challenging.

Bone mineral density and fracture risk with long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids in patients with asthma: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the association between long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and bone adverse effects in patients with asthma.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of fracture risk and changes in bone mineral density with long-term ICS use in asthma.

Methods: We initially searched MEDLINE and EMBASE in July 2013, and performed an updated PubMed search in December 2014.

Different doses of prophylactic platelet transfusion for preventing bleeding in people with haematological disorders after myelosuppressive chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation.

Background: Platelet transfusions are used in modern clinical practice to prevent and treat bleeding in people who are thrombocytopenic due to bone marrow failure. Although considerable advances have been made in platelet transfusion therapy in the last 40 years, some areas continue to provoke debate, especially concerning the use of prophylactic platelet transfusions for the prevention of thrombocytopenic bleeding.This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 2004, and updated in 2012 that addressed four separate questions: prophylactic versus therapeutic-only platelet transfusion policy; prophylactic platelet transfusion threshold; prophylactic platelet transfusion dose; and platelet transfusions compared to alternative treatments.

Impact of Inhaled Corticosteroids on Growth in Children with Asthma: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Long-term inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) may reduce growth velocity and final height of children with asthma. We aimed to evaluate the association between ICS use of >12 months and growth.

Methods: We initially searched MEDLINE and EMBASE in July 2013, followed by a PubMed search updated to December 2014.

Granulocyte transfusions for preventing infections in people with neutropenia or neutrophil dysfunction.

Background: Despite modern antimicrobials and supportive therapy, bacterial and fungal infections are still major complications in people with prolonged disease-related or therapy-related neutropenia. Since the late 1990s there has been increasing demand for donated granulocyte transfusions to treat or prevent severe infections in people who lack their own functional granulocytes. This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 2009.

Meta-review: adverse effects of inhaled corticosteroids relevant to older patients.

Background: In recent years, clinical trials and observational studies have raised concerns about the potential adverse effects of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) such as pneumonia, cataract, fractures and hyperglycaemia, which are of particular concern for older patients.

Methods: We conducted a meta-review by searching electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed) for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of ICS use and the adverse effects of interest. We also evaluated new primary studies that reported information beyond that available from previously published meta-analyses.

Cost effective interventions for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in low and middle income countries: a systematic review.

Background: While there is good evidence to show that behavioural and lifestyle interventions can reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors in affluent settings, less evidence exists in lower income settings.This study systematically assesses the evidence on cost-effectiveness for preventive cardiovascular interventions in low and middle-income settings.

Design: Systematic review of economic evaluations on interventions for prevention of cardiovascular disease.

The role of Decision Support System (DSS) in prevention of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The potential role of DSS in CVD prevention remains unclear as only a few studies report on patient outcomes for cardiovascular disease.

Methods And Results: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies was done using Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Amed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus databases; reference lists of relevant studies to 30 July 2011; and email contact with experts. The primary outcome was prevention of cardiovascular disorders (myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disorders and heart failure) and management of hypertension owing to decision support systems, clinical decision supports systems, computerized decision support systems, clinical decision making tools and medical decision making (interventions).

[Hyperglycemia in acute coronary syndrome: multidisciplinary scientific report].

Hyperglycemia with or without pre-existing diabetes mellitus, occurs frequently in the setting of acute coronary syndrome. Previous studies have demonstrated that hyperglycemia is highly prevalent and is associated with an increased risk of hospital complications and death. The underlying pathophysiology related an adverse clinical outcome to hyperglycemia is unclear, and it is uncertain whether increased serum glucose is simply a marker of adverse outcomes or their cause.

[Blood glucose control during cardiac surgery. Report of the Emergency Council of the Argentine Society of Cardiology].

Hyperglycemia after cardiac surgery is a common finding associated with the worse outcomes affecting both diabetic and non diabetic patients. Despite the large number of publications available, there is no universally accepted approach to this problem. In an initiative of the Emergency Council of the Argentine Society of Cardiology, local experts gathered to discuss the management of hyperglycemia after adult cardiac surgery.

A novel hybrid promoter responsive to pathophysiological and pharmacological regulation.

The aim of this study was to construct a promoter containing DNA motifs for an endogenous transcription factor associated with inflammation along with motifs for pharmacological regulation factors. We demonstrate in transfected cells that expression of a gene of interest is induced by hypoxic conditions or through pharmacological induction, and also show pharmacological repression. In vivo studies utilised electroporation of plasmid to mouse paws, a delivery method shown to be effective by bioluminescence imaging.

Glutathione depletion is involved in the inhibition of procollagen alpha1(I) mRNA levels caused by TNF-alpha on hepatic stellate cells.

TNF-alpha has been shown to inhibit procollagen alpha1(I) expression in hepatic stellate cells (HSC), although the molecular mechanisms involved have not been fully established. In the present work, we studied the possible role played by oxidative stress and NFkappaB on the antifibrogenic action of TNF-alpha on a cell line of rat HSC. Treatment of HSC with TNF-alpha did not affect either intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species or lipid peroxidation, but caused a decrease on reduced glutathione (GSH) levels.

Imbalance of antioxidant enzymes in tumor cells and inhibition of proliferation and malignant features by scavenging hydrogen peroxide.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the endogenous alterations of the antioxidant enzymes in tumor cells and to specifically compensate the resulting changes in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to control the malignant growth. We determined and compared the activities of antioxidant enzymes and the levels of superoxide anion (O2*-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in tumor cell lines with different degrees of malignancy, paired with regard to their origin (PB/CH72T4, PDV/PDVC57, and HBL-100/MCF-7). An increase in superoxide dismutase activity and a decrease in the activities of H2O2-detoxifying enzymes, as a function of malignancy, coupled with a rise in H2O2 and a decrease in O2*- were demonstrated.

Papulosquamous diseases in the elderly.

This article refers to papulosquamous diseases that are seen in the elderly. Many of these diseases are complex to diagnose due to the fact that they are difficult to identify, because they may resemble a similar disorder, which can be misleading. The problem that is frequently seen with these diseases is that they are commonly misdiagnosed.