Cardiovascular Risk Factor and Atherosclerosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

Purpose Of Review: To highlight advancements in managing traditional and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) specific risk factors and the impact of RA treatments on cardiovascular outcomes.

Recent Findings: Advancements in rheumatoid arthritis management have paralleled declining trends in cardiovascular disease risks. Biomarkers like CRP, Lipoprotein(a), Apolipoprotein B 100, and imaging tools such as coronary artery calcium scoring enhance cardiovascular risk stratification, particularly in intermediate-risk RA patients.

Mercury toxicity resulting from enzyme alterations- minireview.

Mercury is widely known for its detrimental effects on living organisms, whether in its elemental or bonded states. Recent comparative studies have shed light on the biochemical implications of mercury ingestion, both in low, persistent concentrations and in elevated acute dosages. Studies have presented models that elucidate how mercury disrupts healthy cells.

Exploring the Complex Relationship Between Psychosocial Stress and the Gut Microbiome: Implications for Inflammation and Immune Modulation.

There is growing interest in understanding the complex relationship between psychosocial stress and the human gastrointestinal microbiome (GIM). This review explores the potential physiological pathways connecting these two and how they contribute to a pro-inflammatory environment that can lead to the development and progression of the disease. Exposure to psychosocial stress triggers the activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA), leading to various physiological responses essential for survival and coping with the stressor.

Birds of a feather? Mis- and dis-information on the social media platform X related to avian influenza.

Objective: Social media has become an important tool in monitoring infectious disease outbreaks such as coronavirus disease 2019 and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Influenced by the recent announcement of a possible human death from H5N2 avian influenza, we analyzed tweets collected from X (formerly Twitter) to describe the messaging regarding the HPAI outbreak, including mis- and dis-information, concerns, and health education.

Methods: We collected tweets involving keywords relating to HPAI for 5 days (June 04 to June 08, 2024).

The Impact of Surgical Prehabilitation on Postoperative Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Prehabilitation (preoperative rehabilitation) encompasses a range of patient health driven interventions with the potential to enhance surgical outcomes. This systematic review aims to assess the efficacy of prehabilitation on postoperative outcomes across surgical specialties, focusing on physical functionality and postoperative length of stay (LOS).

Methods: Medline, Embase, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Clinicaltrials.

Improving Advanced Care Planning Discussions at an Internal Medicine Clinic.

Objective: The project aimed to standardize advanced care planning (ACP) at an internal medicine clinic by initiating physician-patient communication regarding the patient's knowledge, understanding, and openness to pursuing advanced medical directives.

Methods: Data collection was conducted from February 1 to April 1, 2024, with the study concluding on April 24, 2024. ACP was facilitated through an initial standardized six-question pre-intervention survey in both English and Spanish.

Cetyltrimethylammonium Chloride (CTAC) and Its Formulated Mouthwash Reduce the Infectivity of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans in Mono and Dual State.

Early childhood caries (ECC), a severe form of dental caries, is exacerbated by the synergistic interaction between Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans, leading to greater disease severity than their individual effects. This underscores the need for more targeted and potent therapeutic alternatives. Given the promising anti-infective properties of quaternary ammonium surfactants (QAS), this study explores the microbicidal properties of one such QAS, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), against both individual- and dual-species cultures of S.

Antibiofilm Activity of Epinecidin-1 and Its Variants Against Drug-Resistant and Isolates from Vaginal Candidiasis Patients.

Indwelling intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) have surfaces that facilitate the attachment of spp., creating a suitable environment for biofilm formation. Due to this, vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is frequently linked to IUD usage, necessitating the prompt removal of these devices for effective treatment.

The Enigma of Retroperitoneal Fibrosis: Clinical Implications and Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare disease with a nonspecific presentation. RPF can be classified into Idiopathic, the most common, or secondary due to malignancy and various medications resulting in chronic inflammation and fibrosis in the retroperitoneum. The complications arise due to the compression of structures in the retroperitoneum.

A holistic approach to sustain and support lifelong practices of wellness among healthcare professionals: generating preliminary solid steps towards a culture of wellness.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has served as a catalyst for recognizing the challenging environments in which healthcare workers operate, underscoring the urgent need to enhance their wellness to better support themselves and others. The implementation of a culture of wellness within the context of healthcare education, with a particular emphasis on individual-level strategies, allows for the realization of its intrinsic value and significance as a foundation for broader organizational strategies. This approach facilitates the establishment of a sustainable culture of wellness that benefits both current and subsequent generations of healthcare professionals.

Wernicke Encephalopathy Presenting With Hearing Loss and Vision Loss in a Nonalcoholic Patient.

Wernicke encephalopathy is an acute neuropsychiatry syndrome resulting from thiamine deficiency associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We reported a case of a 25-year-old woman with a history of abdomen pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and sore throat who presented with acute neurological symptoms, including binocular diplopia, hearing loss, vision loss, and difficulty ambulating. Examination revealed bilateral vision loss with perception only to light, ophthalmoplegia, hearing loss, gait ataxia, and areflexia.

Linear Psoriasis in a Pediatric Patient Successfully Treated With Ixekizumab.

Linear psoriasis is a rare clinical presentation of psoriasis characterized by erythematous scaly plaques distributed along Blaschko's lines. We describe an 8-year-old male with a linear Blaschkoid plaque in which biopsy findings and clinical history were consistent with linear psoriasis. The lesion showed only mild improvement with topical steroid therapy but exhibited significant clearance with the biologic agent ixekizumab, an IL-17A inhibitor.

Association of exposure to nonpersistent endocrine disruptors with sex hormones and metabolic health in US females.

Endocrine disruptive chemicals (EDCs) are considered as the potential attributes for the increasing trend in obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) through disruption of sex hormones, particularly in women. We evaluated the association of understudied EDC compounds with total testosterone (TT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), obesity, and MS. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey datasets collected during the years 2013-2016.