Buongiorno! My name is Aldo and I am an Internal Medicine Doctor. This is my Medical News Blog and I'm sure you'll find it useful and informative. All the articles can be searched by Category, Tag or Text. Just click on a post or on the Search link above.
Parabens exposure in systemic lupus erythematosus: insights from network toxicology and molecular docking
Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease driven by immune dysregulation. Parabens, commonly used preservatives, are potential environmental factors that may influence immune function and contribute to autoimmune diseases like SLE, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.Methods: A network toxicology approach was used to investigate potential associations between parabens and SLE-related genes. Paraben… Continue reading Parabens exposure in systemic lupus erythematosus: insights from network toxicology and molecular docking
Targeted Treatment for Hyperuricemia: The Drug Pipeline
Gout is the most prevalent inflammatory arthritis worldwide and disproportionately affects older adults, who frequently have comorbid conditions such as chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease that lead to polypharmacy and complicate both urate-lowering therapy (ULT) and management of acute flares. Although treat-to-target ULT (lowering and maintaining serum uric acid levels below 6 mg/dL) remains… Continue reading Targeted Treatment for Hyperuricemia: The Drug Pipeline
Elobixibat Versus Prucalopride in Functional Constipation: A Prospective Comparative Effectiveness Study
Background and aims: The choice of second-line therapy in functional constipation (FC) is often empirical, owing to the lack of direct comparisons between agents with distinct mechanisms of action. Elobixibat, an ileal bile acid transporter inhibitor, and prucalopride, a selective 5-HT4 receptor agonist, represent two different therapeutic approaches targeting intestinal secretion and colonic motility. This… Continue reading Elobixibat Versus Prucalopride in Functional Constipation: A Prospective Comparative Effectiveness Study
Plasma GDF15 affects long-term dementia risk and alters neuroimmune signaling
Growth/differentiation factor–15 (GDF15) is a secreted cytokine strongly associated with dementia risk. However, the extent to which GDF15 represents a biomarker and driver of dementia risk remains unclear. Across multiple cohorts, we demonstrated that plasma GDF15 is associated with greater dementia risk over 15- to 25-year follow-up periods when measured in midlife, with stronger associations… Continue reading Plasma GDF15 affects long-term dementia risk and alters neuroimmune signaling
Full- vs Reduced-Dose Direct Oral Anticoagulants for Extended Treatment of Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
Extended anticoagulation is recommended in subjects with cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT). The API-CAT trial showed that reduced-dose apixaban is noninferior to full-dose for preventing recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), but the generalizability of these findings to real-world populations remains to be determined. We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study including patients with CAT receiving extended direct oral… Continue reading Full- vs Reduced-Dose Direct Oral Anticoagulants for Extended Treatment of Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
Prenatal exposure to particulate matter and risk of autism spectrum disorder in children: a population-based cohort study in South Korea
Background: Prenatal exposure to particulate matter has been investigated as a potential environmental factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but evidence remains heterogeneous, and nationwide data from non-Western populations are limited.Methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective birth cohort study using the Big CHildren's ENvironmental health Study (Big-CHENS) database in South Korea, including 698,907 mother-father-child pairs… Continue reading Prenatal exposure to particulate matter and risk of autism spectrum disorder in children: a population-based cohort study in South Korea
Efficacy and Long-Term Outcomes of Direct-Acting Antivirals in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Background/aims: The role of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains uncertain due to conflicting data on virologic efficacy and long-term outcomes.Methods: This meta-analysis investigated studies reporting the sustained virologic response (SVR), recurrence, and overall survival in patients with HCC treated with DAAs.Results: Eighty-eight studies were included, comprising 8,839 patients with HCC… Continue reading Efficacy and Long-Term Outcomes of Direct-Acting Antivirals in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Development and Validation of a Multidimensional Psychometric Scale for Assessing Pain Perception and Coping Strategies Among Adolescents
Objectives: Pain is a common experience during childhood and adolescence influencing emotional well-being, social functioning, and academic performance. Currently, there is a lack of rigorously validated multidimensional tools specifically designed for adolescents that can simultaneously assess pain sensitivity, its social-emotional impact, and pain acceptance.Methods: A sample of 836 adolescents completed the Adolescent Pain Sensitivity, Impact,… Continue reading Development and Validation of a Multidimensional Psychometric Scale for Assessing Pain Perception and Coping Strategies Among Adolescents
Unraveling physical performance over time in hospitalized older patients with walking limitation: the role of ultrasound-derived vastus lateralis muscle thickness
Acute hospitalization is a critical stressor that often leads to functional decline in older patients, highlighting the need for simple markers to identify at-risk individuals. Ultrasound is a feasible bedside tool for muscle mass assessment and has been proposed as a marker of physical function, but its prognostic value remains unclear. This study aimed to… Continue reading Unraveling physical performance over time in hospitalized older patients with walking limitation: the role of ultrasound-derived vastus lateralis muscle thickness
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