Correspondence on 'Role of AMPK/mTOR-independent autophagy in clear cell renal cell carcinoma by Radovanovic et al
(Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine)
Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine - November 25, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Lorzadeh, S., Ghavami, S. Tags: Letter to the editor Source Type: research

Variation in clinical characteristics, outcomes, and mortality of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 during the second wave of the pandemic: a single-center experience
As of February 2, 2021, the USA has 26,431,799 reported COVID-19 cases with 446,744 deaths. A high mortality rate (15%–40%) was reported among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic. However, data regarding variation in COVID-19-related mortality and severity of illness among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 are heterogeneous. In this retrospective single-center study, we aimed to investigate the demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, disease severity, clinical outcomes, and in-hospital mortality of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 during the second wave of the p...
Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine - November 25, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Mughal, M. S., Kaur, I. P., Wang, C., Alhashemi, R., Buemio, A., Patton, C. D., Granet, K. M. Tags: COVID-19 Brief report Source Type: research

Predictors of misperceptions, risk perceptions, and personal risk perceptions about COVID-19 by country, education and income
Government interventions, such as mandating the use of masks and social distancing, play crucial roles in controlling the spread of pandemic infection. Adherence depends on public perceptions about pandemic risk. The goal was to explore the roles of education, income, and country on misperceptions, risk perceptions and personal risk perceptions about COVID-19. Data were extracted from 3 preregistered surveys. Binary logistic regressions were conducted to investigate the roles country, education, and income had on outcome variables. Across the USA, Canada, and UK, individuals in the highest income quartile were significantl...
Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine - November 25, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Bhuiya, T., Klares III, R., Conte, M. A., Cervia, J. S. Tags: COVID-19 Original research Source Type: research

A randomized controlled trial on the effect of dietary guidance on the treatment of Henoch-Schonlein purpura in children
The amino acid-based formulae were extensively added to diet of children for the treatment of Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP), and the nutrition and growth situation of children were evaluated after giving new dietary intervention. Patients were randomly divided into restricted diet group (n=30) and dietary guidance group (n=30). Besides, 30 cases with bronchiolitis who had normal diet were selected as the control group. The dietary questionnaire was designed to record the types and intakes of various foods taken by children every day, and the intake levels of nutrients were analyzed. Physical examination, biochemical analy...
Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine - November 25, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Wang, L., Yin, C., Zhang, M., Mao, H., Hao, H., Hu, X., Xue, W. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Biomarker-based score for predicting in-hospital mortality of children admitted to the intensive care unit
This study aims to establish a new scoring system based on biomarkers for predicting in-hospital mortality of children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The biomarkers were chosen using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-logistic regression in this observational case-control study. The performance of the new predictive model was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Calibration plot was established to validate the new score accompanied by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. There were 8818 patients included in this study. Finally, six predictors we...
Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine - November 25, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Zhang, Y., Shi, Q., Zhong, G., Lei, X., Lin, J., Fu, Z., Dai, J. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Allergic diseases influence symptom severity and T lymphocyte subgroups of children with tic disorders
In this study, the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale was taken as a global measure of tic severity. Compared with the control group, the group of children with TD plus allergic diseases displayed significantly increased Yale total scores (p<0.05), which suggests that children with TD plus allergic diseases have heavier tic symptoms. Both motor and vocal tic scores are higher in the group of children with TD plus allergy compared with the control group. We counted immune cell subpopulations using FACS. T lymphocyte subset comparison of CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD4:CD8 expression ratios revealed that the level of CD3, CD4, and CD4...
Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine - November 25, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Liu, X., Wang, X., Zhang, X., Cao, A. h. Tags: Open access Original research Source Type: research

Sonographic septation: a useful diagnostic predictor of complicated parapneumonic effusion
Sonographic septation is associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased mortality in patients diagnosed with empyema. However, it is unknown whether sonographic septation is associated with complicated parapneumonic effusion (CPPE) or the need for invasive procedures among patients with pneumonia. In this retrospective study, we included 180 patients with non-purulent neutrophilic exudative pleural effusion secondary to pulmonary infections such as pneumonia and lung abscess. We performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, including baseline clinical characteristics, values from blood sample...
Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine - November 25, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Chang, S.-Y., Chen, Y.-C., Tsai, C.-L., Wu, S.-W., Peng, C.-K., Shen, C.-H., Chou, Y.-C., Chian, C.-F. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Low-dose thrombolysis for submassive pulmonary embolism
This study aimed to evaluate the role of half-dose tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in preventing death/hemodynamic decompensation in submassive (intermediate-risk) PE without increasing the risk of bleeding. In a prospective, non-randomized, open-label, single-center trial, we compared 50 mg rt-PA plus low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) with LMWH in submassive (intermediate-risk) PE. Eligible cases had confirmed pulmonary hypertension on echocardiography, and/or right ventricular cavity expansion and/or interventricular septal deviation on echocardiography, and/or right to left ventricular ratio equal to or grea...
Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine - November 25, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Yilmaz, E. S., Uzun, O. Tags: Open access Original research Source Type: research

Physician adherence to acute rhinosinusitis antibiotic treatment guidelines
This study aimed to investigate whether community physicians and emergency department (ED) physicians diagnose and treat acute rhinosinusitis according to accepted guidelines. This was a retrospective study of medical records and referrer letters of patients admitted to the medical center between 2014 and 2015. Physician adherence to antibiotic guidelines regarding indication, type and duration of treatment was assessed. Overall, the study included 84 patients diagnosed with acute rhinosinusitis and admitted to the ED. Fewer than 20% of doctors treating patients with rhinosinusitis at our institution followed the current r...
Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine - November 25, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Levi, E., Ronen, O. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Behaviors, symptoms, and outcomes of North American patients with autoimmune hepatitis during the COVID-19 pandemic
The management of patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in the era of SARS-CoV-2 is challenging given minimal published clinical data. We used a large cohort of patients with AIH across the USA to investigate the differences in known risk factors for severe SARS-CoV-2 and AIH characteristics among patients who experienced symptoms consistent with COVID-19 illness versus those who did not. Additionally, we explored the effect of living through the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the extrahepatic symptoms and behaviors of patients with AIH. An invitation to complete a COVID-19-specific questionnaire was publicized in well-establis...
Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine - November 25, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Vuppalanchi, V., Gelow, K., Green, K., Vuppalanchi, R., Lammert, C. Tags: COVID-19 Original research Source Type: research

Clinical and serological associations of autoantibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the formation of antigen–antibody complexes which trigger an immune response. We investigate certain autoantibodies including nucleosome, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), Smith, ribonucleoprotein, and Sjögren’s syndrome-related antigens, and examine their associations with disease activity, damage accrual, and SLE-related clinical and serological manifestations in patients with SLE. We conducted a cross-sectional study with a total 293 patients (90.4% female, mean age 46.87±12.94 years) and used the Systemic Lupus Erythemat...
Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine - November 25, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Correa-Rodriguez, M., Pocovi-Gerardino, G., Callejas-Rubio, J. L., Rios-Fernandez, R., Martin-Amada, M., Cruz-Caparros, M.-G., Rueda-Medina, B., Ortego-Centeno, N. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Nephrosclerosis impacts time trajectory of renal function and outcomes in elderly individuals with chronic kidney disease
Despite hypertension ranks among the leading causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD), the impact of chronic hypertensive nephropathy, the so-called ‘nephrosclerosis’ (NS), on CKD progression is often unpredictable, particularly in elderly population. We have conducted a prospective, observational study to define renal function patterns and outcomes in elderly CKD individuals with or without NS. Three hundred four individuals with an already established CKD were categorized according to the etiology of CKD. NS was defined as the presence of CKD associated with long-term essential hypertension, hypertensive retino...
Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine - November 25, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Zicarelli, M. T., Patella, G., Bolignano, D., Comi, A., Cianfrone, P., Comi, N., Presta, P., Fuiano, G., Castagna, A., Ruotolo, G., Andreucci, M., Coppolino, G. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Risk of stroke and other thromboembolic complications after interruption of DOAC therapy compared with warfarin therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation: a retrospective cohort analysis
This study did not find a significant difference in the complication rate after interruption of DOAC therapy compared with interruption of warfarin therapy in hospitalized patients with a high risk of thromboembolism. (Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine)
Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine - November 25, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Hellerman Itzhaki, M., Greenberg, N., Margalit, I., Shochat, T., Krause, I., Goldberg, E. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Complications of nasal SARS-CoV-2 testing: a review
Transnasal swab testing for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 is well established. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advocates swabbing either of the anterior nares, middle turbinate, or nasopharynx for specimen collection depending on available local resources. The purpose of this review is to investigate complications related to transnasal SARS-CoV-2 testing with specific attention to specimen collection site and swab approach. The literature demonstrates that while nasopharyngeal swabbing is associated with an increased risk of complications, it should remain the gold-standard test due to greater diagnostic accur...
Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine - November 25, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Clark, J. H., Pang, S., Naclerio, R. M., Kashima, M. Tags: COVID-19 Review Source Type: research

Efficacy and cardiovascular safety of LAMA in patients with COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is at present the third leading cause of death in the world. Long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) is widely used as a bronchodilator in patients with COPD. However, there is controversy concerning their cardiovascular safety. This meta-analysis aims to assess the efficacy and cardiovascular safety of LAMAs versus placebo in patients with COPD. We searched Pub Med, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to identify studies that compared LAMA with placebo in patients with COPD. Twenty-one studies involving 24,987 participants were finally included in the analysis. There ...
Source: Journal of Investigative Medicine - November 25, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Zhang, C., Zhang, M., Wang, Y., Xiong, H., Huang, Q., Shuai, T., Liu, J. Tags: Open access, Editor's choice Review Source Type: research