16 results match your criteria: "University Center of Internal Medicine[Affiliation]"

Paradoxical Deterioration During Treatment of Tuberculous Meningitis Responded to Infliximab But Not to Steroids.

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med

November 2024

Department of Internal Medicine, University Center of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital Baselland, Liestal, Switzerland.

Unlabelled: Paradoxical deterioration in patients with tuberculous meningitis is a significant diagnostic and treatment challenge. We present the case of a 55-year-old previously healthy male, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative, presenting with headache, fever, agitation and slurred speech, who was ultimately diagnosed with tuberculous meningoencephalitis confirmed by cerebrospinal fluid polymerase chain reaction positive for complex. After initiation of a standard antitubercular therapy combined with glucocorticoids, the patient experienced an initial neurological improvement.

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Purpose: Childhood and adolescent cancer survivors (CACS) experience medical and psychosocial adverse effects. Attention widens to include issues such as socio-bureaucratic hardships. This systematic review synthesized the available evidence on insurance, legal, and financial hardships to better understand the broader picture of socio-bureaucratic hardships as distinct but interrelated types of hardships.

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Article Synopsis
  • Metamizole is a pain reliever that can rarely cause a serious condition called agranulocytosis, which is a dangerous drop in white blood cells.
  • The study aimed to identify risk factors for developing leukopenia related to metamizole by comparing patients who experienced this issue during treatment to those who did not.
  • Key findings revealed that having previous leukopenia and a penicillin allergy significantly increased the risk of developing this condition when using metamizole, suggesting it should be avoided in affected patients.
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  • The study analyzes urinary iodine levels and thyroid hormone concentrations in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared to healthy pregnant women, focusing on iodine status and its impact on thyroid function.
  • Results show that women with GDM have significantly lower urinary iodine concentrations and a higher prevalence of iodine deficiency compared to controls, with only a small percentage meeting optimal iodine intake.
  • Additionally, while there were no differences in serum TSH levels, hypothyroxinaemia was more common in GDM patients, and taking dietary iodine supplements was linked to fewer perinatal complications.
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Diagnostic and prognostic value of mannan-binding lectin associated protein (MAp19) for functionally relevant coronary artery disease.

Clin Chim Acta

May 2024

Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (CRIB), University Heart Center, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic potential of MAp19, a regulating component of the lectin pathway of the complement system, in patients with suspected functionally relevant coronary artery disease (fCAD) as well as the determinants of MAp19 levels.

Methods: The presence of fCAD was adjudicated using myocardial perfusion imaging with single-photon emission tomography and, where available, coronary angiography. MAp19 levels were measured in participants at rest, at peak stress tests, and two hours after the stress.

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Cellular debris resulting from large trauma might overwhelm the scavenger mechanisms and lead to autoimmune reactions. We analysed whether a major well-defined trauma in humans induces laboratory signs of transient autoimmunity in the months after the insult. We included 50 patients with pertrochanteric femur fracture undergoing intramedullary nail osteosynthesis in a prospective cohort study and followed them at 3-4 days, 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 12 months postoperatively.

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Background: The simplified HOSPITAL score is an easy-to-use prediction model to identify patients at high risk of 30-day readmission before hospital discharge. An earlier stratification of this risk would allow more preparation time for transitional care interventions.

Objective: To assess whether the simplified HOSPITAL score would perform similarly by using hemoglobin and sodium level at the time of admission instead of discharge.

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Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a widespread chronic disease characterised by irreversible airway obstruction [1]. Features of clinical practice and healthcare systems for COPD patients can vary widely, even within similar healthcare structures. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) strategy is considered the most reliable guidance for the management of COPD and aims to provide treating physicians with appropriate insight into the disease.

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(1) Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its associated morbidity and mortality are a global burden on both affected patients and healthcare systems. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) issues guidelines with the aim of improving COPD management. Previous studies reported significant variability in adherence to these recommendations.

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Article Synopsis
  • Asthma affects over 300 million people globally, with 5-10% experiencing severe asthma and contributing significantly to healthcare costs.
  • This study focused on characterizing 278 severe asthma patients in Switzerland through the Swiss Severe Asthma Registry, evaluating various health factors and asthma control statistics.
  • Results showed that biologic treatments are linked to better asthma control, while factors like higher BMI and use of oral steroids negatively impact management, highlighting the need for further research in this area.
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Objective: Discussing sensitive topics (eg, medical uncertainty, social issues, non-adherence) during ward rounds is challenging and may negatively impact patient satisfaction with the healthcare they are receiving. In the previous multicentre randomised BEDSIDE-OUTSIDE trial focusing on communication during ward rounds, we investigated the interplay between sensitive topics and low reported satisfaction with care.

Design: Pre-planned secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

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(1) Background: SARS-COV2 infection has a clinical spectrum ranging from asymptomatic infection to COVID-19 with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Although vitamin D deficiency is often found in patients with ARDS, its role in COVID-19 is not clear. The aim of this study was to explore a possible association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the severity of COVID-19 in hospitalised patients.

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a highly prevalent chronic lung disease that has a significant impact on individuals and healthcare systems worldwide. This study aimed to identify factors that predict the length of a hospital stay (LOHS), one-year mortality, and rehospitalization within 6 months in patients admitted for acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from 170 patients admitted to a district general hospital in Switzerland between January 2019 and February 2020.

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Vitamin D and its role in the coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) pandemic has been controversially discussed, with inconclusive evidence about vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplementation in COVID-19 patients. Vitamin D metabolites play an important role in the initiation of the immune response and can be an easily modifiable risk factor in 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D)-deficient patients. This is a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind trial to compare the effect of a single high dose of vitamin D followed by treatment as usual (TAU) of daily vitamin D daily until discharge versus placebo plus TAU in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and 25(OH)D-deficiency on length hospital stay.

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Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is not only a life-threatening disease but also a public health issue with significant economic burden. The aim of the study was to identify factors-including the role of primary care-that predict length of hospital stay (LOHS), mortality and re-hospitalization within 6 months of patients admitted for PE.

Method: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with patients presenting to a Swiss public hospital with PE diagnosed at the hospital between November 2018 and October 2020.

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Emergency care for asthma is provided by general practitioners, pulmonologists, and emergency departments (EDs). Although it is known that patients presenting to EDs with acute asthma exacerbations are a vulnerable population and that this mode of presentation is a risk marker for more severe complications, research on this population is scarce. We conducted a retrospective study on patients with asthma exacerbations who presented to the ED of the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, during 2017-2020.

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