Topic Review
The Role of Magnesium in Muscle Health
Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a central role in approximately 800 biochemical reactions within the human body. Its distinctive physical and chemical attributes render it an indispensable stabilizing factor in the orchestration of diverse cellular reactions and organelle functions, thereby rendering it irreplaceable in processes directly impacting muscle health.
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  • 11 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Multimodality Imaging Diagnosis in Infective Endocarditis
Imaging is an important tool in the diagnosis and management of infective endocarditis (IE). Echocardiography is an essential examination, especially in native valve endocarditis (NVE), but its diagnostic accuracy is reduced in prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). The diagnostic ability is superior for transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE), but a negative test cannot exclude PVE. Both transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and TEE can provide normal or inconclusive findings in up to 30% of cases, especially in patients with prosthetic devices.
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Topic Review Video
Acetaminophen and Neurodevelopment
Based on available data that include approximately 20 lines of evidence from studies in laboratory animal models, observations in humans, correlations in time, and pharmacological/toxicological considerations, it has been concluded without reasonable doubt and with no evidence to the contrary that exposure of susceptible babies and children to acetaminophen (paracetamol) induces many, if not most, cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
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Topic Review
Anterior Skull Base Reconstruction Using the Nasoseptal Flap
The nasoseptal flap (NSF) has become a workhorse reconstructive option in the endonasal repair of anterior skull base defects. The flap is pedicled on the posterior septal nasal artery, which branches off the sphenopalatine artery and courses along the posterior nasal cavity and inferior sphenoid face. Due to its versatile nature and customizability, the NSF can be utilized for a range of different defects extending from the frontal recess to the low clivus in the sagittal plane. 
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Topic Review
Treatment of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Heart failure is a clinical syndrome associated with poor quality of life, substantial healthcare resource utilization, and premature mortality, in large part related to high rates of hospitalizations. The clinical manifestations of heart failure are similar regardless of the ejection fraction. Unlike heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, there are few therapeutic options for treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Molecular therapies that have shown reduced mortality and morbidity in heart failure with reduced ejection have not been proven to be effective for patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction. The study of pathophysiological processes involved in the production of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is the basis for identifying new therapeutic means.
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Topic Review
Assessment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an immune-mediated disease that manifests with dysphagia and is characterized by the predominantly eosinophilic infiltration of the esophageal mucosa. Several instruments have been developed to assess the symptoms of EoE.
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Topic Review
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Isoforms
The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is a multifunctional glycoprotein composed of large (LHB), middle (MHB), and small (SHB) subunits. HBsAg isoforms have numerous biological functions during HBV infection—from initial and specific viral attachment to the hepatocytes to initiating chronic infection with their immunomodulatory properties. Their immunogenic properties make them a major target for developing HBV vaccines, and they have been recognised as valuable targets for new therapeutic approaches. In addition, HBsAg isoform quantitation can become a useful non-invasive biomarker for assessing chronically infected patients.
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Topic Review
Congestion in Heart Failure
Annual heart failure hospitalizations exceed 1 million in both the United States and Europe, and more than 90% are due to symptoms and signs of fluid overload. Additionally, up to one in four patients (24%) are readmitted within 30 days, and one in two patients (50%) are readmitted within 6 months. Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) remains the leading cause of hospitalization in patients > 65 years old and has the highest rate of 30-day rehospitalization among all medical conditions. Recurrent fluid overload in heart failure has been associated with worse outcomes independently of age and renal function. Deranged hemodynamics, neurohormonal activation, excessive tubular sodium reabsorption, inflammation, oxidative stress, and nephrotoxic medications are important drivers of harmful cardiorenal interactions in patients with heart failure. Central venous pressure elevation is rapidly transmitted to the renal veins, causing increased interstitial and tubular hydrostatic pressure, which decreases net glomerular filtration. Venous congestion itself can produce endothelial activation, the up-regulation of inflammatory cytokines, hepatic dysfunction, and intestinal villi ischemia. Thus, the foremost goal in managing acutely decompensated heart failure is to effectively resolve fluid overload.
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  • 10 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Antiphospholipid Mediated Arteriovenous Fistula Complications
Antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-persistent positivity is frequent in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) complications such as stenosis and thrombosis are among the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. The association between aPL positivity and AVF thrombosis seems to be well established.
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  • 10 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Pathophysiological Mechanisms of the Podocytopathies
Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a clinical entity characterized by the triad of proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and edema. The main pathophysiological alteration in NS is the impairment of the glomerular filtration barrier. Therefore, its permeability becomes non-selective, and urinary protein loss occurs. Being the final barrier to protein loss in the glomerulus, alterations in podocyte structure can explain why injuries in these cells, such as the effacement of their foot processes, are typically related to proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia and, therefore, to the conditions under the NS umbrella.
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