Reviewing the use and quality of machine learning in developing clinical prediction models for cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death across the world. CVD can lead to angina, heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, and eventually, death; among many other serious conditions. The early intervention with those at a higher risk of developing CVD, typically with statin treatment, leads to better health outcomes. For this reason, clinical prediction models (CPMs) have been developed to identify those at a high risk of developing CVD so that treatment can begin at an earlier stage. Currently, CPMs are built around statistical analysis of factors linked to developing CVD, such as body mass index ...
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - June 22, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Allan, S., Olaiya, R., Burhan, R. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Using Twitter for sentiment analysis towards AstraZeneca/Oxford, Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines
Conclusion
Lexicon-based Twitter sentiment analysis is a valuable and easily implemented tool to track the sentiment regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. It is worrisome that the sentiment regarding the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine appears to be turning negative over time, as this may boost hesitancy rates towards this specific SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. (Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal)
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - June 22, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Marcec, R., Likic, R. Tags: COVID-19 Original research Source Type: research
Healthcare distrust among hospitalised black patients during the COVID-19 pandemic
Conclusion
Healthcare distrustful hospitalised black patients were doubtful of COVID-19 risk and hesitant about vaccination. Hospitalisations are concentrated exposures to the people and processes within healthcare systems; at these times, seizing the opportunity to establish meaningful relationships with patients may serve to gain their trust. (Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal)
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - June 22, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Nguyen, T. C., Gathecha, E., Kauffman, R., Wright, S., Harris, C. M. Tags: COVID-19 Original research Source Type: research
Clinician and patient experience of neurology telephone consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Conclusion
Telephone consultations appear effective, convenient and popular in prespecified subgroups of neurological outpatients. Further work comparing telephone, video and face-to-face consultations across multiple centres is now needed. (Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal)
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - June 22, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Nakornchai, T., Conci, E., Hensiek, A., Brown, J. W. L. Tags: COVID-19 Original research Source Type: research
SARS-CoV-2 serological assay and viral testing: a report of professional football setting
Conclusion
Our study revealed an inconsistency of results between the two tests; therefore, although application of serological assays alone seems insufficient in diagnosing COVID-19 disease, the findings are beneficial in the comprehension and the management of the disease. (Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal)
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - June 22, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Hassanmirzaei, B., Haratian, Z., Ahmadzadeh Amiri, A., Ahmadzadeh Amiri, A., Moghadam, N. Tags: COVID-19 Original research Source Type: research
Vitamin D levels and mortality with SARS-COV-2 infection: a retrospective two-centre cohort study
Conclusion
Our findings suggest similar mortality risk from COVID-19 irrespective of the levels of vitamin D. Larger prospective studies will be needed to confirm these findings. (Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal)
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - June 22, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Zafar, M., Karkhanis, M., Shahbaz, M., Khanna, A., Barry, L., Alam, S., Lawrence, K., Pun, B., Eldebri, R., Makanjuola, O., Safarova, D., Farooq, M., Nooredinavand, H., Cuison, F., Subba, K., Singh Randhawa, R., Hegner, J., Oluwamayowa, O., Elyasaky, A., Tags: COVID-19 Original research Source Type: research
Hypertension as an independent risk factor for severity and mortality in patients with COVID-19: a retrospective study
Conclusion
Hypertension was an independent risk factor for the severity and mortality of patients with COVID-19. ARBs/ACE inhibitors should not be discontinued in hypertensive patients with COVID-19. (Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal)
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - June 22, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Chen, J., Liu, Y., Qin, J., Ruan, C., Zeng, X., Xu, A., Yang, R., Li, J., Cai, H., Zhang, Z. Tags: COVID-19 Original research Source Type: research
Sofosbuvir with daclatasvir and the outcomes of patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis with GRADE assessment
Conclusion
SOF/DCV may reduce mortality rate and need for ICU/IMV in patients with COVID-19 while increasing the chance for clinical recovery.
Protocol registration
PROSPERO: CRD42021247510. (Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal)
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - June 22, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Zein, A. F. M. Z., Sulistiyana, C. S., Raffaello, W. M., Wibowo, A., Pranata, R. Tags: COVID-19 Original research Source Type: research
Statin and mortality in COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of pooled adjusted effect estimates from propensity-matched cohorts
Conclusion
In this meta-analysis of PSM-matched cohorts with adjusted analysis, statin was shown to decrease the risk of mortality in patients with COVID-19.
PROSPERO registration number
CRD42021240137. (Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal)
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - June 22, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Zein, A. F. M. Z., Sulistiyana, C. S., Khasanah, U., Wibowo, A., Lim, M. A., Pranata, R. Tags: COVID-19 Original research Source Type: research
Bradycardia during remdesivir treatment might be associated with improved survival in patients with COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study on 473 patients from a tertiary centre
Remdesivir is the only antiviral drug currently approved for the treatment of severe COVID-19. It was recently observed that use of remdesivir might be associated with higher frequency of transitory bradycardia,1–4 a phenomenon that was reported in 19%–47% of remdesivir-treated patients without clear clinical significance. Since a number of other potentially detrimental cardiovascular adverse events were reported with remdesivir use,5 understanding clinical consequences of these phenomena is of outmost importance in everyday clinical practice. We have retrospectively investigated a cohort of 473 patients with C...
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - June 22, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Bistrovic, P., Manola, S., Lucijanic, M. Tags: COVID-19 Adverse drug reactions Source Type: research
Pholcodine-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome in a patient with COVID-19
We present the case of drug-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome in a patient with COVID-19. A 23-year-old Caucasian female patient was admitted to our hospital due to oral and genital erosions accompanied by erythematous macules with central dusky violaceous region on her thorax, face, lower extremities, palms and soles. Prior to development of skin lesions, the patient reported symptoms of high... (Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal)
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - June 22, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Bulat, V., Likic, R., Pondeljak, N., Azdajic, M. D. Tags: COVID-19 Adverse drug reactions Source Type: research
Changing face of medical education during a pandemic: tragedy or opportunity?
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed forever the way we do certain things. Although the race for a cure and vaccine has taken centre stage, traditional face-to-face medical education has slowly metamorphosised in the background to a virtual world with innumerable webinars, virtual tutorials and lectures in the World Wide Web. Despite this seemingly ‘perfect’ solution, there remains a hidden cost. Educators are forced to learn new skills to engage students as well as manipulate the electronic platform. Impact on learning for students, both undergraduate and postgraduate from a lack of social interactions, remains u...
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - June 22, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Leong, J. M. C., Lam, W. L., Tan, S. Z., Ng, C. Y. Tags: Education and learning Source Type: research
Implementing a telemedicine curriculum for internal medicine residents during a pandemic: the Cleveland Clinic experience
This study was started in April 2020 when we implemented a resident-led curriculum and training programme for providing ambulatory telemedicine care. The curriculum was finalised in less than 5 weeks. It entailed introducing a formal training programme for residents, creating a resource guide for different video communication tools and training preceptors to safely supervise care in this new paradigm. Residents were surveyed before the curriculum to assess prior experience with telemedicine, and then afterward to assess the curriculum’s effectiveness. We also created a mini-CEX assessment for residents to solicit fee...
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - June 22, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Savage, D. J., Gutierrez, O., Montane, B. E., Singh, A. D., Yudelevich, E., Mahar, J., Brateanu, A., Khatri, L., Fleisher, C., Jolly, S. E. Tags: COVID-19 Education and learning Source Type: research
Friendship in the age of COVID-19
Professor RIM Dunbar of the Oxford Department of Experimental Psychology made a startling and important statement in 2018 based on studies of the brain1: ‘Friendship is the single most important factor influencing our health, well being, and happiness.’ Friendship can be added to a range or spectrum of much discussed emotions: sympathy, empathy, compassion, the provision of dignity, kindness and bringing cheer/joy. These are outputs of the mind dependent on the brain, but they differ in exactly what they express. Some, like compassion, have been discussed in this journal2 and of course in many others,3–5 ...
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - June 22, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Ryan, T. Tags: COVID-19 Editorials Source Type: research
Sharing is caring: FOAMed, Twitter and more?
We would like to thank Rashid et al for the original research. In an age of accessible education, this clearly formulated and comprehensive study highlights the relevance of doctors’ astute stewardship of media even in times of a pandemic.1 While commendable that the authors have acknowledged the limitation of the cross-sectional nature of their efforts, it seems to be an arbitrary selection of a data collection window of a mere 24 hours. This snapshot timing may not be representative of the true spread of themes and users. Even in the case that the authors have analysed the 14 days prior to and after this window, th...
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - June 22, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Lim Man Lin, S., Ta Anyu, A. Tags: Letter Source Type: research
