scholarly journals Traditional medicine: a rare cause of lead poisoning in Western countries

F1000Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Halima Muller ◽  
Simon Regard ◽  
Nicole Petriccioli ◽  
Omar Kherad

A 42-year-old man from Bhutan was admitted to the emergency department with a 5-day history of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Enhanced abdominal CT scan was found negative, however laboratory tests showed hemolytic anemia and basophilic stippling which are often seen in lead and heavy metal poisoning. Additional tests revealed a high level of lead in blood and urine. The patient was administered a chelator treatment with rapid improvement of the symptoms. A detailed interview revealed that the patient had been taking daily Bhutanese traditional medicines to treat a Bell’s palsy from which he had been suffering for a few months. The analysis of these medicines confirmed the presence of a high level of lead.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Jinping Xu ◽  
Jinping Xu ◽  
Ruth Wei ◽  
Salieha Zaheer

Obturator hernias are rare but pose a diagnostic challenge with relatively high morbidity and mortality. Our patient is an elderly, thin female with an initial evaluation concerning for gastroenteritis, and further evaluation revealed bilateral incarcerated obturator hernias, which confirmed postoperatively as well as a right femoral hernia. An 83-year-old female presented to the outpatient office initially with one-day history of diarrhea and one-week history of episodic colicky abdominal pain. She returned 4 weeks later with diarrhea resolved but worsening abdominal pain and left inner thigh pain while ambulating, without changes in appetite or nausea and vomiting. Abdominal CT scan then revealed bilateral obturator hernias. Patient then presented to the emergency department (ED) due to worsening pain, and subsequently underwent hernia repair. Intraoperatively, it was revealed that the patient had bilateral incarcerated obturator hernias and a right femoral hernia. All three hernias were repaired, and patient was discharged two days later. Patient remained well postoperatively, and 15-month CT of abdomen showed no hernia recurrence.


2019 ◽  
Vol 07 (02) ◽  
pp. E308-E309
Author(s):  
Thomas Walter

AbstractFor the management of diminutive duodenal neuroendocrine tumors (d-NETs), Harshit et al. have proposed – in the work accompanying this editorial – an interesting approach, the endoscopic banding without resection (BWR) technique. Given the risks associated with classic endoscopic resections and surgical procedures, and the likely favorable natural history of diminutive d-NETs, BWR may be an option for these selected patients with a very low risk of LN + and recurrence. However, a close follow-up (endoscopic, EUS and thoraco-abdominal CT scan) is then required to guarantee the safety of this policy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. e235064
Author(s):  
Faranak Rafiee ◽  
Sara Haseli ◽  
Seyed Hamed Jafari ◽  
Pooya Iranpour

Extramedullary haematopoiesis (EMH) is defined as haematopoiesis occurring in organs outside the bone marrow. The liver is one of the rare sites of EMH, and to the best of our knowledge, a few cases of adult EMH of the liver have been reported in the last 20 years. Here, we reported the case of a 68-year-old man with a known history of myelofibrosis presented with vague abdominal pain. An abdominal CT scan showed a hypoattenuating periportal mass encasing the portal vein. The final diagnosis of EMH was made through the histopathological examination. This is a rare presentation of EMH, which may be easily mistaken for other pathologies such as metastases. Familiarity with this type of presentation aids in correctly diagnosing it in an appropriate clinical setting.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abuzakouk ◽  
Nada AlMahmeed ◽  
Esat Memisoglu ◽  
Martine McManus ◽  
Aydamir Alrakawi

A 27-year-old Emirate man presented to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi emergency department with a 4 year history of recurrent episodes of severe swellings affecting different parts of his body. He used to get 2 swelling episodes every week affecting either his face, hands, feet or scrotum and severe abdominal pain twice a week. Abdominal CT scan and a colonoscopy showed bowel wall oedema. There was no family history of similar complaint or of hereditary angioedema (HAE). Complement studies confirmed the diagnosis of HAE type II. He was commenced on danazol 100 mg twice daily and his symptoms resolved. This case report highlights the importance of considering HAE in patients with recurrent unexplained abdominal pain even in the absence of positive family history of HAE.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Daryl Graham ◽  
Megan Gooch ◽  
Zhan Ye ◽  
Edward Richer ◽  
Aftab Chishti ◽  
...  

A twelve-year-old girl presented with a history of several weeks of worsening headaches accompanied by flushing and diaphoresis. The discovery of markedly elevated blood pressure and tachycardia led the child’s pediatrician to consider the diagnosis of a catecholamine-secreting tumor, and an abdominal CT scan confirmed the presence of a pheochromocytoma. The patient was found to have a mutation in the succinyl dehydrogenase B (SDHB) gene, which is causative for SDHB-related hereditary paraganglioma-pheochromocytoma syndrome. Herein, we describe her presentation and medical management and discuss the clinical implications of SDHB deficiency.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Pini ◽  
Paolo Malerba ◽  
Jordan Giordani ◽  
Deborah Stassaldi ◽  
Carlo Aggiusti ◽  
...  

We describe the case of a 64 years-old woman admitted to the Emergency Department of the ASST-Spedali Civili of Brescia with fever and gastrointestinal symptoms 10 days after the first dose of ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccine. Laboratory investigations showed severe thrombocytopenia and high D-dimer, while an abdominal CT scan reported a partially occluding thrombosis of the superior mesenteric artery. Following treatment with fondaparinux, immunoglobulins and high dosage steroid therapy, we observed a rapid improvement of patient’s conditions. An ELISA assay showed the presence of antibodies against heparin PF4-complex. Subsequent abdominal CT-scan showed the superior mesenteric artery thrombosis resolution, and the patient was finally discharged after 12 days of hospitalization. Several reports pointed to the venous system as the main district affected by Vaccine-Induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT), while a peculiar feature of this report is the involvement of the mesenteric arterial system. Further investigation of VITT’s pathophysiological mechanisms is mandatory to develop preventive strategies and effective treatments.


2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul I. Dargan ◽  
Indika B. Gawarammana ◽  
John R.H. Archer ◽  
Ivan M. House ◽  
Debbie Shaw ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
pp. bcr-2018-226440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Fordham ◽  
Helen Marie Sims ◽  
Terence Farrant

Pancreatitis, panniculitis and polyarthritis syndrome (PPP syndrome) is a rare and complex manifestation of pancreatitis that is currently reported in few cases. We present this case regarding a 77-year-old man who presented unusually with a 6-week history of bilateral lesions on his lower limbs. During this time, he experienced increasing fatigue, joint pain, and reported fevers and significant weight loss. An incidental serum amylase was found to be significantly elevated and remained elevated throughout his 2-month hospital stay. He never complained of abdominal pain or other typical symptoms of pancreatitis. Histological examination of the leg lesions reported evidence of fat necrosis and changes consistent with pancreatic panniculitis. An abdominal CT scan revealed a well-defined lesion posterior to the neck of the pancreas. Further examination by endoscopic ultrasound revealed chronic inflammatory changes. The patient experienced a long admission and was managed supportively until he was well enough to be discharged home.


Author(s):  
Raul Yao Utiyama ◽  
Fernando Viamont Guerra ◽  
Virginia de Paula Barbosa ◽  
Thiago Da Silveira Manzione ◽  
Fang Chia Bin

Objetivo: Apresentar um caso de melanoma de pele com metástase para o cólon expondo a evolução incomum da doença e os possíveis caminhos terapêuticos disponíveis. Descrição: Relato de caso de um paciente do sexo masculino, de 57 anos, que buscou o serviço da Santa Casa de São Paulo em 2015 com uma história prévia de melanoma em quirodactilo e antebraço ipsilaterais, foi então indicada e realizada a exérese da lesão e a biopsia identificou um melanoma acral, com margens livres. Foi então iniciado tratamento com Interferon. Nos dois anos seguintes, uma metástase pulmonar e uma recidiva na mão esquerda foram diagnosticados e ambas as biopsia confirmaram ser do melanoma.    Em 2018 uma tomografia de abdome evidenciou uma tumoração no cólon e a biopsia e imunohistoquímica confirmaram se tratar de melanoma. Foi então realizada uma cirurgia para retirada da parte afetada. Além disso, nesse mesmo ano, o paciente teve que ser submetido a amputação do braço esquerdo devido a nova recidiva local.  Em junho do ano seguinte, uma colonoscopia e uma tomografia de abdome apresentaram imagens compatível com recidiva em cólon, além de invasão gástrica e em contato com a cauda pancreática. Após reunião com a equipe de coloproctologia, foi contraindicado o procedimento cirúrgico. O paciente está recebendo cuidados paliativos da equipe da oncologia com tratamento medicamentoso.Comentários: o melanoma metastático em cólon é raro, sendo linfonodos, pulmões, fígado e cérebro os sítios mais comumente atingidos. Inúmeros trabalhos mostram o aumento da incidência mundial do melanoma. Cerca de 70% dos casos se originam de nevos melanocíticos pré-existentes, e os 30% restantes surgem de novo. Dada a agressividade do melanoma, a sobrevida depende de um diagnóstico e tratamento precoces. No entanto, em alguns casos, mesmo com o tratamento cirúrgico, quimioterápico e radioterápico adequados, a agressividade do câncer impede que tais tratamentos tenham resultados satisfatórios.Descritores: Melanoma, Neoplasias do colo, Neoplasias cutâneas, Metástase neoplásicaAbstract Objective: To present a case of metastatic skin melanoma in colon, exposing the unusual evolution of the disease and the therapeutic possibilities. Description: A report of a 57-year-old male patient that in 2015 came to Santa Casa with a previous history of ipsilateral chirodactyl and forearm melanoma. At the time it was indicated the excisional biopsy that identified acral melanoma with free margins. Interferon treatment was then started. Over the next two years, a pulmonary metastasis and a recurrence in the left hand were diagnosed and both biopsies confirmed to be melanoma. In 2018 an abdominal CT scan showed a tumor in the colon and biopsy and immunohistochemistry confirmed that it was melanoma. Surgery was then performed to remove the affected part. In addition, that same year, the patient had to undergo amputation of the left arm due to new local recurrence. In June of the following year, a colonoscopy and a CT scan showed images compatible with colon recurrence, as well as gastric invasion and contact with the pancreatic tail. After discussion with the coloproctology team, the surgical procedure was contraindicated. The patient is receiving palliative care from the oncology team using drug treatment. Comments: Metastatic melanoma in colon is quite rare, with lymph nodes, lungs, liver and brain being the most common sites of metastasis. Numerous studies show the increasing incidence of melanoma worldwide. About 70% originate from pre-existing melanocytic nevi, and the remaining 30% arise again. Given the aggressiveness of melanoma, survival depends on early diagnosis and treatment.Keywords: Melanoma, Colonic neoplasms, Skin neoplasm, Neoplasm Metastasis 


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Poggiali ◽  
Fabio Tansini ◽  
Konstantinos Christodoulakis ◽  
Manuela Giovini ◽  
Andrea Magnacavallo ◽  
...  

We describe the case of a 68-year-old man with a known history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus presented to our Emergency Department, complaining of hematuria and vomiting in the last 12 hours, stypsis and urinary incontinence in the last week, and worsening hyporexia in the last 6 months. Bedside ultrasound documented a slight right pleural effusion with B lines in the middle and basal right field, gastrectasis, dilated fluid-filled bowel loops, potential signs of gas in the upper right quadrant, grade 3 bilateral hydronephrosis, and bladder globe. Abdominal CT scan confirmed the bilateral hydroureteronephrosis and showed the right kidney with Emphysematous Pyelonephritis (EPN) with extension into the perinephric and muscular planes for 24 cm, and initial EPN in the left kidney. A RT-PCR nasopharyngeal swab for SARS CoV-2 was negative. A diagnosis of ileum paretic, acute renal failure and urosepsis due to EPN was made.


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