scholarly journals The role of surgery in a case of diffuse mucormycosis with haematemesis and gastric necrosis

2014 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. e31-e33 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Bini ◽  
A Addeo ◽  
L Maganuco ◽  
D Fontana ◽  
T Viora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amphotericin B ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Gastric Necrosis ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Threatening Condition ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Disseminated Mucormycosis

Mucormycosis is a life threatening condition caused by invasion of fungi of the order Mucorales. Gastrointestinal invasion is very rare and often lethal, particularly in disseminated mucormycosis. We present the case of a 26-year-old woman from North Africa with type 2 diabetes who, after a cholecystectomy, developed unexplained septic shock and haematemesis due to gastric necrosis. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a disseminated fungal invasion of the lungs, kidney and paranasal sinuses. A gastrectomy and subsequent amphotericin B treatment resolved her condition. The number of patients with mucormycosis is increasing. Early diagnosis of high risk patients with CT and biopsies from which fungi are directly isolated must be followed by surgery and systemic amphotericin B infusion.

scholarly journals EXPRESS: Pulmonary Hypertension Associated With Neurofibromatosis Type 2

2021 ◽  
pp. 204589402110295
Author(s):  
Hirohisa Taniguchi ◽  
Tomoya Takashima ◽  
Ly Tu ◽  
Raphaël Thuillet ◽  
Asuka Furukawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Neurofibromatosis Type ◽  
Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
History Of ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
First Time

Although precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a rare but severe complication of patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), its association with NF2 remains unknown. Herein, we report a case of a 44-year-old woman who was initially diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and treated with PAH-specific combination therapy. However, a careful assessment for a relevant family history of the disease and genetic testing reveal that this patient had a mutation in the NF2 gene. Using immunofluorescence and Western blotting, we demonstrated a decrease in endothelial NF2 protein in lungs from IPAH patients compared to control lungs, suggesting a potential role of NF2 in PAH development. To our knowledge, this is the first time that precapillary PH has been described in a patient with NF2. The altered endothelial NF2 expression pattern in PAH lungs should stimulate work to better understand how NF2 is contributing to the pulmonary vascular remodeling associated to these severe life-threatening conditions.

scholarly journals A Rare Case of Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 2 in a Child With Persistent Fatigue

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 2333794X1984507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Kenneth Smith ◽  
Peter M. Gerrits
Keyword(s):  
Adrenal Insufficiency ◽  
Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome ◽  
Threatening Condition ◽  
Viral Illness ◽  
Persistent Fatigue ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Local Emergency Department ◽  
Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type ◽  
High Index Of Suspicion

Adrenal insufficiency is a rare, potentially life-threatening condition whose diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. Adrenal insufficiency may be primary, secondary, or tertiary with varied etiologies. Primary insufficiency may be part of a cluster of autoimmune diseases, referred to as autoimmune polyglandular syndrome(s) (APS). We describe a case of a 15-year-old male who presents to a local emergency department complaining of fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting for a few days with a preceding viral illness. The patient was hyponatremic and hyperkalemic with skin hyperpigmentation, raising concern for adrenal insufficiency. Laboratory workup confirmed autoimmune primary adrenal insufficiency, with subsequent laboratory studies revealing autoimmune thyroiditis and celiac disease. Concomitant Addison’s and Hashimoto’s diseases led to a diagnosis of APS type 2. The patient was started on steroid replacement with rapid clinical improvement.

scholarly journals Role of SatO2, PaO2/FiO2 Ratio and PaO2 to Predict Adverse Outcome in COVID-19: A Retrospective, Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 11534
Author(s):  
Stefano Sartini ◽  
Laura Massobrio ◽  
Ombretta Cutuli ◽  
Paola Campodonico ◽  
Cristina Bernini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Adverse Outcome ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Threatening Condition ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B ◽  
The University

COVID-19 respiratory failure is a life-threatening condition. Oxygenation targets were evaluated in a non-ICU setting. In this retrospective, observational study, we enrolled all patients admitted to the University Hospital of Genoa, Italy, between 1 February and 31 May 2020 with an RT-PCR positive for SARS-CoV-2. PaO2, PaO2/FiO2 and SatO2% were collected and analyzed at time 0 and in case of admission, patients who required or not C-PAP (groups A and B) were categorized. Each measurement was correlated to adverse outcome. A total of 483 patients were enrolled, and 369 were admitted to hospital. Of these, 153 required C-PAP and 266 had an adverse outcome. Patients with PaO2 <60 and >100 had a higher rate of adverse outcome at time 0, in groups A and B (OR 2.52, 3.45, 2.01, respectively). About the PaO2/FiO2 ratio, the OR for < 300 was 3.10 at time 0, 4.01 in group A and 4.79 in group B. Similar odds were found for < 200 in any groups and < 100 except for group B (OR 11.57). SatO2 < 94% showed OR 1.34, 3.52 and 19.12 at time 0, in groups A and B, respectively. PaO2 < 60 and >100, SatO2 < 94% and PaO2/FiO2 ratio < 300 showed at least two- to three-fold correlation to adverse outcome. This may provide simple but clear targets for clinicians facing COVID-19 respiratory failure in a non ICU-setting.

Sudden death due to ruptured oesophageal varices – autopsy-based case report

2020 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 189-191
Author(s):  
Nagendra Singh Sonwani ◽  
Navneet Ateriya ◽  
Arvind Kumar ◽  
Anil Kohli ◽  
Kalyan Kumar Banerjee
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Alcoholism ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
Oesophageal Varices ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Forensic Pathologist ◽  
Threatening Condition ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Cirrhotic Patients ◽  
Acute Haemorrhage

Acute haemorrhage from ruptured oesophageal varices is a serious consequence of portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients. It represents a medical emergency with a high morbidity and mortality rate. Studies over the years have shown a direct link with chronic alcoholism in the development of such complications. Although the gastrointestinal system accounts for a few numbers of sudden deaths, bleeding through ruptured varices represent a life-threatening condition. The role of forensic pathologist is vital in dealing with sudden deaths. Here, we report a case of a 46-year-old man who died suddenly following the rupture of oesophageal varices.

scholarly journals Reduced Parasite Burden in Children with Falciparum Malaria and Bacteremia Coinfections: Role of Mediators of Inflammation

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory C. Davenport ◽  
James B. Hittner ◽  
Vincent Otieno ◽  
Zachary Karim ◽  
Harshini Mukundan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Parasite Burden ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Multiple Mediation ◽  
Mediators Of Inflammation ◽  
Threatening Condition ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Sub Saharan

Bacteremia and malaria coinfection is a common and life-threatening condition in children residing in sub-Saharan Africa. We previously showed that coinfection with Gram negative (G[−]) enteric Bacilli andPlasmodium falciparum(Pf[+]) was associated with reduced high-density parasitemia (HDP, >10,000 parasites/μL), enhanced respiratory distress, and severe anemia. Since inflammatory mediators are largely unexplored in such coinfections, circulating cytokines were determined in four groups of children (n=206, aged <3 yrs): healthy;Pf[+] alone; G[−] coinfected; and G[+] coinfected.Staphylococcus aureusand non-TyphiSalmonellawere the most frequently isolated G[+] and G[−] organisms, respectively. Coinfected children, particularly those with G[−] pathogens, had lower parasite burden (peripheral and geometric mean parasitemia and HDP). In addition, both coinfected groups had increased IL-4, IL-5, IL-7, IL-12, IL-15, IL-17, IFN-γ, and IFN-αand decreased TNF-αrelative to malaria alone. Children with G[−] coinfection had higher IL-1βand IL-1Ra and lower IL-10 than thePf[+] group and higher IFN-γthan the G[+] group. To determine how the immune response to malaria regulates parasitemia, cytokine production was investigated with a multiple mediation model. Cytokines with the greatest mediational impact on parasitemia were IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, and IFN-γ. Results here suggest that enhanced immune activation, especially in G[−] coinfected children, acts to reduce malaria parasite burden.

PS02.056: TIMELY LIGATION OF THORACIC DUCT IN POST ESOPHAGECTOMY CHYLE LEAK: KEY TO SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 136-136
Author(s):  
Sanjeev Parshad ◽  
Parvinder Sandu ◽  
Shekar Gogna ◽  
Abhijeet Beniwal ◽  
Rajendra Karwasra
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Thoracic Duct ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Surrounding Tissue ◽  
Chyle Leak ◽  
Threatening Condition ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Carcinoma Esophagus ◽  
Esophagectomy For Cancer

Abstract Background Chyle leak after esophagectomy for carcinoma esophagus is a rare but life threatening condition with reported an incidence of 1–6%. Mortality rate of up to 50% have been reported. Management of chyle leak is controversial. We reviewed our experience with iatrogenic chylothorax after esophagectomy for carcinoma esophagus. Methods From 2003 to 2017, 560 patients underwent esophagectomy for cancer at our department of oncosurgery. Eight patients developed post operative chyle leak. Transthoracic or transabdominal ligation of duct was done in six patients with in first week. 100 ml of cream was given 30 min before induction to visualize the leak intraoperatively. We used 4–0 prolene pledgeted suture to ligate the duct. Results Six patients who underwent early ligation could be salvaged and the two who were managed conservatively succumbed. Oringer et al. pointed towards conservative treatment having little place in the management of chylothorax in nutritionally depleted patients. Hence, prompt ligation of thoracic duct decreases morbidity and mortality of chylothorax. Thus the role of early surgery needs to stressed. There is a wide difference of mortality rate of conservative management of 82% with respect to the mortality rate of surgery of 10–16%. Though no conclusion data are available regarding the indication and time point of surgical ligation of the thoracic duct, it is important not to procrastinate while the condition deteriorates to a level at which surgery would be detrimental.Administration of cream to the patient (through feeding jejunostomy) around half an hour before surgery makes identification of site of leak simpler.The importance of pledgeted sutures cannot be denied as the thoracic duct is paper thin and chyle contains no fibrin. Thus non pledgeted sutures will tear it further. Infact, stitching should not be done through the duct but into the surrounding tissue around the duct and should allow the pledgets to close the duct. Conclusion Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

scholarly journals Severe Ketoacidosis Associated with Canagliflozin (Invokana): A Safety Concern

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alehegn Gelaye ◽  
Abdallah Haidar ◽  
Christina Kassab ◽  
Syed Kazmi ◽  
Prabhat Sinha
Keyword(s):  
Safety Concern ◽  
Causal Association ◽  
Sodium Glucose Cotransporter ◽  
Threatening Condition ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Appropriate Therapy ◽  
Type 1 Dm ◽  
Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Canagliflozin (Invokana) is a selective sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor that was first introduced in 2013 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Though not FDA approved yet, its use in type 1 DM has been justified by the fact that its mechanism of action is independent of insulin secretion or action. However, some serious side effects, including severe anion gap metabolic acidosis and euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), have been reported. Prompt identification of the causal association and initiation of appropriate therapy should be instituted for this life threatening condition.

scholarly journals Critical Care COVID-19 Patient with a Picture of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rehab AL-Ansari ◽  
Mohanad Bakkar ◽  
Leena Abdalla ◽  
Khaled Sewify
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Plasma Exchange ◽  
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange ◽  
Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Threatening Condition ◽  
Life Threatening

Background: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an uncommon haematological disease which can occur at any age and may present with COVID-19. This case describes a COVID-19 complication associated with a presentation resembling TTP. Case description: A 51-year-old man who had received a kidney transplant and was on immunosuppressant medication, was admitted to a critical care unit with severe COVID-19 pneumonia/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) which required intubation, mechanical ventilation and inotropic support. The course was complicated by the classic pentad of thrombocytopenia, intravascular haemolysis, acute kidney injury, neurological symptoms and fever, which prompted the diagnosis of probable TTP. After five sessions of therapeutic plasma exchange, the patient’s general status improved, he was weaned off mechanical ventilation and his renal panel and haemolytic markers normalized. Conclusion: TTP is a life-threatening condition which requires urgent management with therapeutic plasma exchange. This case highlights some possible complications of COVID-19 generally and in immunocompromised patients specifically. The potential role of plasma exchange in COVID-19 patients without a positive diagnosis of TTP (the so-called ‘TTP resembling presentation’) is an area of further research.

scholarly journals Up-regulation of BTLA expression in myeloid dendritic cells in neonatal sepsis associated with the treatment outcome and down-regulation of DC function

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wandang Wang ◽  
Xuran Yang ◽  
Mingfa Guo ◽  
Zhifeng Pan ◽  
Mingjin Qiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neonatal Sepsis ◽  
Myeloid Dendritic Cells ◽  
Hla Dr ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Threatening Condition ◽  
Duration Of Hospitalization ◽  
Inflammatory Phenotype ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Antigen Presenting

Abstract Background: Neonatal sepsis is an acute life-threatening condition in neonates, and a proper innate inflammatory is essential for prevention of the systemic inflammation associated with sepsis. As the most potential antigen-presenting innate immune cells, dentritic cells (DCs) dysfunction has been verified detrimental for sepsis. B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) is an immune-regulatory receptor shown to be associated with DCs dysfunction. However, the role of BTLA expression in myeloid DCs (mDCs) in neonatal sepsis is unknown. Methods: 61 of neonates with sepsis and 32 of neonates having no suspicion of sepsis as control were enrolled into this study. BTLA and HLA-DR expression in mDCs was measured by flow cytometry. To further study the role of BTLA in regulating mDCs function, BTLA+mDCs and BTLA-mDCs from septic neonates were sorted and utilized to evaluate the phagacytosis capacity, bactericidal ability as well as cytokine secretion of mDCs.Results: A higher percentage of BTLA+mDCs were observed in neonatal septic patients and the percentage was positively correlated to the duration of hospitalization of neonates as well as the severity of sepsis. Moreover, a decrease MFI expression of HLA-DR was found in mDCs in neonatal sepsis, which expression was negatively correlated with the percentage of BTLA+mDCs. When compared to BTLA-mDCs, sorted BTLA+mDCs exhibited lower FITC-dextran uptake capacity but more CFU E.coli number after cells challenged by E.coli. In addition, BTLA+mDCs comparatively secreted lower level of TNF-α and IL-12, but higher IL-10. Conclusions: A higher level of BTLA in mDCs in the observed septic neonates was associated to the severity of neonatal sepsis; therefore, BTLA expression in mDCs could be a useful biomarker help to determine the neonatal sepsis development. Additionally, BTLA negatively regulated the phagocytosis capacity and bactericidal ability of mDCs and lowered their antigen-presenting ability as well as altered cells into an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Thus, targeting BTLA in mDCs may be a new therapeutic strategy for neonatal sepsis.

scholarly journals Managing Common Co-morbidities in Heart Failure

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (SP1) ◽  
pp. 14-21
Author(s):  
Phyllis Sin ◽  
Rohan Sanjanwala ◽  
Shelley Zieroth
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Clinical Trial Data ◽  
Heart Failure Patients ◽  
Iron Deficient ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
The Impact

Heart failure increases in prevalence with age and is usually associated with various cardiac and non-cardiac comorbidities.  For common coexisting conditions such as renal dysfunction, anemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus, important pathophysiologic links have been implicated between cardiac dysfunction and the underlying condition.  Indeed, the number and severity of comorbidities in the setting of heart failure is an important driver of prognosis.  By targeting the management of coexisting diseases, it may be possible to improve functional capacity, quality of life and perhaps even overall mortality in heart failure patients.  Recent clinical trial data has provided insights into cardio-renal interactions in acute heart failure, the impact of iron replacement therapy in iron deficient heart failure patients, and the role of pharmacologic therapies to prevent heart failure related events in high risk patients with type 2 diabetes. 

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