scholarly journals Cercarial Dermatitis at Public Bathing Sites (Region Zealand, Denmark): A Case Series and Literature Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 360-365
Author(s):  
Azmi Al-Jubury ◽  
Anette Bygum ◽  
Eva SusannaTracz ◽  
Charlotte Näslund Koch ◽  
Kurt Buchmann

During recent years, we have observed an increasing occurrence of cercarial dermatitis in Denmark. We here describe 5 new cases from 2019 to 2020 associated with bathing in lakes Esrum sø, Furesø, and Ringen with emphasis on clinical symptoms and their relation to previous exposure to bird schistosome cercariae. In 2020, 2 patients from Furesø suffered from different severity of clinical symptoms after morning bathing in the same lake. We suggest that the differential symptoms may be explained by primary versus secondary exposure to the immunogenic pathogen.

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 148-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren M. Brown ◽  
Nicole Cupples ◽  
Troy A. Moore

Abstract Introduction: Hyperammonemia is a potential adverse effect of valproic acid (VPA) therapy, which is often asymptomatic but can lead to severe, life-threatening encephalopathy. Carnitine deficiency due to VPA is the proposed mechanism for hyperammonemia and the development of VPA-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy (VHE). Levocarnitine, the active form of carnitine, has been suggested for treatment and prevention of VHE. Methods: Data was collected by chart review of 3 patients who received oral levocarnitine supplementation in the psychiatric setting for VPA-induced hyperammonemia. Review of the literature was performed through June 2017 using the following PubMed search terms: valproate, valproic acid, hyperammonemia, altered mental status, encephalopathy, and levocarnitine. Articles were included if they described use of levocarnitine in VPA-treated patients with psychiatric disorders. Results: One patient developed encephalopathy with resolution of symptoms after VPA discontinuation. Valproic acid was restarted with the addition of levocarnitine to prevent VHE reoccurrence. In the other 2 cases, levocarnitine was started prophylactically in patients who developed hyperammonemia without emergence of any clinical symptoms. Ammonia levels were reduced to normal in all cases, and no symptoms consistent with encephalopathy were reported. The literature search identified 6 additional cases with 5 of 6 reports supporting use of levocarnitine for decreased ammonia levels as well as an observational trial. Discussion: This literature review and case series illustrates successful use of levocarnitine supplementation for reduction of ammonia levels in the setting of VPA-induced hyperammonemia among patients with psychiatric disorders. However, clinical significance of ammonia reduction in asymptomatic patients is difficult to determine.


2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-374
Author(s):  
Matthew T. Chrencik ◽  
Brian Caraballo ◽  
John Yokemick ◽  
Peter J. Pappas ◽  
Brajesh K. Lal ◽  
...  

Objectives: Infrapopliteal arterial pseudoaneurysms (IAP) following blunt trauma with associated orthopedic injuries are uncommon, often present in a delayed fashion, and encompass a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. Herein, we present a series of IAPs that were diagnosed following blunt trauma and their management. Methods: Case series consisting of 3 patients and a review of the international literature. Results: Our case series included 3 patients presenting with IAPs following blunt trauma with associated orthopedic injuries. They were all identified in a delayed manner (>3 weeks) after the orthopedic injuries were treated. All patients presented with pain and a pulsatile mass while one concurrently had neurologic deficits. The pseudoaneurysms were diagnosed by duplex ultrasound and confirmed by angiography to be originating from the tibioperoneal trunk, anterior tibial, and posterior tibial arteries respectively. Two patients were treated with surgical excision. Of these, one required an arterial bypass procedure while the other underwent direct ligation only. The third patient was treated by endovascular coiling. A literature review from 1950 to the present found 51 reported cases of IAP resulting from blunt trauma. Ninety percent of trauma-related infrapopliteal injuries occurred in men with a mean delay in diagnosis of 5.6 months (median 1.8 months) after injury. Since 1950, management has shifted from primarily ligation to incorporating minimally invasive endovascular techniques when appropriate. Conclusions: Infrapopliteal artery pseudoaneurysms are rare following blunt skeletal trauma. A delay in diagnosis often occurs and can result in major morbidity and extensive surgical intervention. We recommend a high index of suspicion and a thorough vascular examination in patients with lower extremity skeletal trauma to help identify and treat these injuries early and effectively.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuya Kato ◽  
Yoshikazu Ogawa ◽  
Teiji Tominaga

Abstract Background Pregnancy is a known risk factor for pituitary apoplexy, which is life threatening for both mother and child. However, very few clinical interventions have been proposed for managing pituitary apoplexy in pregnancy. Case presentation We describe the management of three cases of pituitary apoplexy during pregnancy and review available literature. Presenting symptoms in our case series were headache and/or visual disturbances, and the etiology in all cases was hemorrhage. Conservative therapy was followed until 34 weeks of gestation, after which babies were delivered by cesarean section with prophylactic bolus hydrocortisone supplementation. Tumor removal was only electively performed after delivery using the transsphenoidal approach. All three patients and their babies had a good clinical course, and postoperative pathological evaluation revealed that all tumors were functional and that they secreted prolactin. Conclusions Although the mechanism of pituitary apoplexy occurrence remains unknown, the most important treatment strategy for pituitary apoplexy in pregnancy remains adequate hydrocortisone supplementation and frequent hormonal investigation. Radiological follow-up should be performed only if clinical symptoms deteriorate, and optimal timing for surgical resection should be discussed by a multidisciplinary team that includes obstetricians and neonatologists.


2020 ◽  
pp. 100417
Author(s):  
Atsuko Arisaka ◽  
Mitsuko Nakashima ◽  
Satoko Kumada ◽  
Kenji Inoue ◽  
Hiroya Nishida ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Xuefeng Wei ◽  
Xu Zhang ◽  
Zimu Song ◽  
Feng Wang

Abstract Background and Study Aims Primary intraspinal primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) account for ∼0.4% of all intraspinal tumors, but information about these tumors in the medical literature is limited to single case reports. We report four cases of primary intraspinal PNETs and present a systematic literature review of the reported cases. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the clinical data of 4 patients with primary intraspinal PNETs who underwent neurosurgical treatment at our clinic between January 2013 and January 2020, and of 32 cases reported in the literature. Results The female-to-male ratio was 2.6:1. The mean patient age was 21.42 ± 15.76 years (range: 1–60 years), and patients <36 years of age accounted for 83.30% of the study cohort. Progressive limb weakness and numbness were the chief symptoms (accounting for ∼55.6%). The mean complaint duration was 0.89 ± 0.66 months for males and 2.72 ± 3.82 months for females (p = 0.028). Epidural (41.7%) was the most common site, and thoracic (47.3%) was the most frequent location. Most PNETs were peripheral, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance was isointense or mildly hypointense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. Homogeneous contrast enhancement was observed. The 1-year survival rate of patients who underwent chemoradiation after total or subtotal lesion resection was better compared with patients who did not undergo chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or total or subtotal resection. The modality of treatment was associated with survival time (p = 0.007). Conclusion Primary intraspinal PNETs mainly occur in young people with a female preponderance. In patients with a rapid loss of lower limb muscle strength and large intraspinal lesions on MRI, PNETs should be considered. Surgical resection and adjuvant radio chemotherapy are key prognostic factors.


Author(s):  
Yan Li ◽  
Florentina Berianu ◽  
Lisa Brumble ◽  
Kenneth T. Calamia

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