ABSTRACT
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) poses significant challenges in diagnosis and management due to its diverse clinical manifestations, including various skin abnormalities. Chronic dermatographic urticaria, although less recognized, has been suggested to have an association with SLE; however, evidence supporting this connection remains limited. We present a case of chronic dermatographic urticaria secondary to SLE in a 26-year-old female. Despite ineffective conventional treatments, the initiation of hydroxyzine resulted in notable symptom improvement without adverse effects. This case underlines the importance of recognizing and addressing less common dermatological manifestations in SLE, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to optimize patient outcomes. It highlights the potential utility of hydroxyzine in managing the refractory symptoms of chronic dermatographic urticaria in SLE patients. This report contributes to the expanding evidence regarding the complex interplay between SLE and dermatographic urticaria, necessitating further research to understand underlying mechanisms and establish optimal treatment strategies. Enhanced awareness and understanding of such associations are crucial for facilitating early diagnosis and tailored management approaches in patients with SLE, ultimately improving their quality of life and clinical outcomes.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Unhealthy dietary habits, decreased physical activity, poor sleep quality, and increasing levels of stress and burnout have all been identified as major concerns of medical students. Due to the rigorous environment of medical school, maintaining a well-balanced and nutritious diet is often replaced by more convenient and nutrient-poor options. Improper dietary habits and a sedentary lifestyle both play an essential role in the development of type II diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. These unhealthy trends commonly stem from the innate drive for medical students to achieve at the highest level, sacrificing healthy lifestyle choices to maximize studying. Unfortunately, this dynamic creates a paradox where students create an unhealthy lifestyle to increase academic achievement; however, these destructive living conditions lead to a diminished sense of well-being. As a result, greater rates of burnout, comorbidities, and other maladaptive tendencies diminish success in school. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of lifestyle habits such as nutrition, physical activity (PA), and stress on academic performance (grade point average: GPA) among first- and second-year students at Nova Southeastern University, Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (KPCOM). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on medical students (n = 161) under institutional review board (IRB) approval. The students voluntarily completed a self-reported survey containing questions about diet, exercise (frequency and type), stress, and self-reported GPA. About 800 students were invited to complete the survey between June 15, 2022, and June 28, 2022. A simple lifestyle indicator questionnaire (SLIQ) score was determined for each student based on their diet, PA, and stress responses. RESULTS: The results showed a significant positive correlation between SLIQ score and high academic achievement. A significant positive association was found between the low academic-achieving (LAA)(2.00-2.99 GPA) vs the high (3.60-4.00 GPA) academic-achieving (HAA) cohorts for physical activity (p = 0.012) as well as diet (p = 0.043). Further, the HAA cohort reported higher satisfaction with their mental and physical health (74% and 54%, respectively) as compared to the LAA cohort (29% each). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated positive correlations between diet and physical activity with high academic achievement. The HAA cohort recorded the highest rates of fruit/vegetable and home-cooked meal consumption and the greatest participation in light, moderate, and heavy exercise when compared to the middle academic-achieving (MAA) (3.00-3.59 GPA) and LAA cohorts. Interestingly, the HAA students also recorded the highest rates of satisfaction with their mental and physical health. As a result, there is a need to promote healthier lifestyle trends among medical students with a focus on diet and physical activity.
