Functional and psychosocial impact of COVID-19 pandemic on rheumatic patients’ quality of life in Saudi Arabia

Quality of Life Research - The COVID-19 pandemic might add to the stressors experienced by people living with rheumatic diseases. This study aimed to examine rheumatic patients’ functional...     

Treatment of multiple adjacent RT 1 gingival recessions with the modified coronally advanced tunnel (MCAT) technique and a collagen matrix or palatal connective tissue graft: 9-year results of a split-mouth randomized clinical trial

Clinical Oral Investigations - To evaluate t he long-term outcomes following treatment of RT 1 multiple adjacent gingival recessions (MAGR) using the modified coronally advanced tunnel (MCAT) with...     

右美托咪定联合综合体温保护对腔镜手术治疗老年恶性肿瘤患者苏醒期质量及免疫功能的影响

目的 探讨右美托咪定联合综合体温保护对腔镜手术治疗老年恶性肿瘤患者苏醒期质量及免疫功能的影响。方法 选择择期行腔镜手术治疗的老年恶性肿瘤患者90例，随机均分为3组：对照组（C组）、体温保护组（T组）和体温保护联合右美托咪定组（T-D组），每组30例。C组常规体温保护，T组和T-D组综合体温保护；T-D组麻醉诱导前10 min泵注右美托咪定0.5 μg/kg。记录3组患者麻醉诱导开始时（T₀）、手术开始30 min（T₁）、60 min（T₂）、90 min（T₃）、120 min（T₄）以及手术结束时（T₅）的鼻咽温度；于T₀、术后2 h（T₆）、24 h（T₇）和48 h（T₈）时抽取静脉血标本，测定T淋巴细胞亚群（CD3⁺、CD4⁺和CD8⁺）和自然杀伤细胞（NK cell）水平；记录患者术中麻醉药物用量及苏醒期质量指标。结果 与T₀比较，C组T₂～T₅时点鼻咽温度均明显降低（P < 0.05）；与C组比较，T组和T-D组T₂～T₅时点鼻咽温度明显升高（P < 0.05）。与T₀时点比较，C组、T组和T-D组T₆、T₇和T₈时点CD3⁺和NK cell活性均明显降低（P < 0.05）；C组在T₆、T₇和T₈时点，T组和T-D组在T₆和T₇时点，CD4⁺活性均明显降低（P < 0.05）。与C组比较，T组和T-D组T₆和T₇时点CD3⁺细胞活性均明显升高（P < 0.05）；T组在T₇时点，T-D组在T₆和T₇时点，CD4⁺细胞活性均明显升高（P < 0.05）；T组在T₇时点，T-D组在T₆、T₇和T₈时点，NK cell活性均明显升高（P < 0.05）。结论 采用体温保护措施联合右美托咪定能够维持老年恶性肿瘤患者的体温稳定，减少围手术期意外低体温（IPH）的发生，并有效提高患者苏醒期质量，减轻免疫抑制程度，加速患者早期恢复。     

The exercise pressor reflex: An update

The exercise pressor reflex is a feedback mechanism engaged upon stimulation of mechano- and metabosensitive skeletal muscle afferents. Activation of these afferents elicits a reflex increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and ventilation in an intensity-dependent manner. Consequently, the exercise pressor reflex has been postulated to be one of the principal mediators of the cardiorespiratory responses to exercise. In this updated review, we will discuss classical and recent advancements in our understating of the exercise pressor reflex function in both human and animal models. Particular attention will be paid to the afferent mechanisms and pathways involved during its activation, its effects on different target organs, its potential role in the abnormal cardiovascular response to exercise in diseased states, and the impact of age and biological sex on these responses. Finally, we will highlight some unanswered questions in the literature that may inspire future investigations in the field.

     

COVID-19 Gender Disparities and Mitigation Recommendations: A Narrative Review

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has rapidly created widespread impacts on global health and the economy. Data suggest that women are less susceptible to severe illness. However, sex-disaggregated data are incomplete, leaving room for misinterpretation, and focusing only on biologic sex underestimates the gendered impact of the pandemic on women. This narrative review summarizes what is known about gender disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic, domestic, and health burdens along with overlapping vulnerabilities related to the pandemic. In addition, this review outlines recommended strategies that advocacy groups, community leaders, and policymakers should implement to mitigate the widening gender disparities related to COVID-19.