Peculiar Periprosthetic Fracture Involving Trochanteric Region Along With Shaft of Femur in a 68-Year Male Treated With Locking Plate Fixation and Additional Augmentation with Cable – A Case Report and Review of Literature

Tubercle bacilli has been known to live in symbiosis with mankind since centuries. Tubercle bacilli mainly causes pulmonary disease but extra pulmonary manifestations are fairly common with spine being the most common site

Extra-Pulmonary Complications in SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Comprehensive Multi Organ-System Review

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, is typically presented with acute symptoms affecting upper and lower respiratory systems. As the current pandemic progresses, COVID-19 patients are experiencing a series of nonspecific or atypical extra-pulmonary complications such as systemic inflammation, hypercoagulability state, and dysregulation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS). These manifestations often delay testing, diagnosis, and the urge to seek effective treatment. Although the pathophysiology of these complications is not clearly understood, the incidence of COVID-19 increases with age and the presence of pre-existing conditions. This review article outlines the pathophysiology and clinical impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on extra-pulmonary systems. Understanding the broad spectrum of atypical extra-pulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 should increase disease surveillance, restrict transmission, and most importantly prevent multiple organ-system complications.

Incidence and predictors of death among adult patients treated for tuberculosis in two regions of Cameroon: 2010 to 2015

Objectives: Mortality during tuberculosis (TB) remains high in Africa. The purpose of our study was to determine the incidence and predictors of death during TB treatment in Cameroon. Materials and Methods: Data of subjects aged ≥15 years were retrospectively extracted from registers in all TB diagnostic and treatment centers in the Western and Northern regions of Cameroon from 2010 to 2015. Cox regression models were used to determine predictors of death during TB treatment. Results: Of the 19,681 patients included, 12,541 (63.7%) were male and their median age (25th-75th percentile) was 34 (26–45) years. The cumulative incidence (95% confidence interval [CI]) of death during TB treatment was 8.0% (7.5–8.5%). The predictors (hazard ratios [95% CI]) of death were: Age >34 years (1.479 [1.295–1.688], P < 0.001), female sex (1.471 [1.286–1.683], P < 0.001), extra-pulmonary TB (1.723 [1.466–2.026], P < 0.001), human immunodeficiency virus infection (3.739 [3.269–4.276], P < 001]), TB treatment in the Western region (2.241 [1.815–2.768], P < 0.001), treatment before 2012 (1.215 [1.073–1.376], P = 0.002)and low body weight (1st quartile and 2nd quartile) (2.568 [2.133–3.092], [P < 0.001]) and (1.569 [1.298–1.896], P < 0.001) respectively. Conclusion: The incidence of death during TB was relatively high in the Western and Northern regions of Cameroon. Recognition of these persons at greatest risk may improve care and reduce death durinng TB treatment.

Association of ZFHX3 Genetic Polymorphisms and Extra-Pulmonary Vein Triggers in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Who Underwent Catheter Ablation

Background: The ZFHX3 gene (16q22) is the second most highly associated gene with atrial fibrillation (AF) and is related to inflammation and fibrosis. We hypothesized that ZFHX3 is associated with extra-pulmonary vein (PV) triggers, left atrial (LA) structural remodeling, and poor rhythm outcomes of AF catheter ablation (AFCA).Methods: We included 1,782 patients who underwent a de novo AFCA (73.5% male, 59.4 ± 10.8 years old, 65.9% paroxysmal AF) and genome-wide association study and divided them into discovery (n = 891) and replication cohorts (n = 891). All included patients underwent isoproterenol provocation tests and LA voltage mapping. We analyzed the ZFHX3, extra-PV trigger-related factors, and rhythm outcomes.Result: Among 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ZFHX3, rs13336412, rs61208973, rs2106259, rs12927436, and rs1858801 were associated with extra-PV triggers. In the overall patient group, extra-PV triggers were independently associated with the ZFHX3 polygenic risk score (PRS) (OR 1.65 [1.22–2.22], p = 0.001, model 1) and a low LA voltage (OR 0.74 [0.56–0.97], p = 0.029, model 2). During 49.9 ± 40.3 months of follow-up, clinical recurrence of AF was significantly higher in patients with extra-PV triggers (Log-rank p &lt; 0.001, HR 1.89 [1.49–2.39], p &lt; 0.001, model 1), large LA dimensions (Log-rank p &lt; 0.001, HR 1.03 [1.01–1.05], p = 0.002, model 2), and low LA voltages (Log-rank p &lt; 0.001, HR 0.73 [0.61–0.86], p &lt; 0.001, model 2) but not the ZFHX3 PRS (Log-rank p = 0.819).Conclusion: The extra-PV triggers had significant associations with both ZFHX3 genetic polymorphisms and acquired LA remodeling. Although extra-PV triggers were an independent predictor of AF recurrence after AFCA, the studied AF risk SNPs intronic in ZFHX3 were not associated with AF recurrence.

Warty cutaneous tuberculosis of the nose: A rare localization

Cutaneous tuberculosis is a rare, extra-pulmonary form of tuberculosis caused by mycobacteria of the tuberculosis complex. It is characterized by clinical polymorphism often posing a difficult diagnostic challenge. Herein, we report a case of cutaneous tuberculosis in its warty form located on the nose. This was a 57-year-old patient who was infected in the classroom three months previously while taking lessons from a woman with pulmonary tuberculosis. A facial examination revealed a blackish, papillomatous patch invading almost the entire nose, with a keratotic surface spreading over the wings of the nose. The diagnosis of verrucous tuberculosis was reached on the basis of epidemiological, clinical, and paraclinical arguments. Under anti-tuberculosis treatment for six months, the lesion had healed without sequelae. The diagnosis of verrucous cutaneous tuberculosis must be established in the presence of any chronic and crusty lesion. The management responds to the treatment protocol for all forms of tuberculosis.

Development of DNA Aptamers to Visualize Release of Mycobacterial Membrane-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Infected Macrophages

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged into a novel vaccine platform, a biomarker and a nano-carrier for approved drugs. Their accurate detection and visualization are central to their utility in varied biomedical fields. Owing to the limitations of fluorescent dyes and antibodies, here, we describe DNA aptamer as a promising tool for visualizing mycobacterial EVs in vitro. Employing SELEX from a large DNA aptamer library, we identified a best-performing aptamer that is highly specific and binds at nanomolar affinity to EVs derived from three diverse mycobacterial strains (pathogenic, attenuated and avirulent). Confocal microscopy revealed that this aptamer was not only bound to in vitro-enriched mycobacterial EVs but also detected EVs that were internalized by THP-1 macrophages and released by infecting mycobacteria. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that detects EVs released by mycobacteria during infection in host macrophages. Within 4 h, most released mycobacterial EVs spread to other parts of the host cell. We predict that this tool will soon hold huge potential in not only delineating mycobacterial EVs-driven pathogenic functions but also in harboring immense propensity to act as a non-invasive diagnostic tool against tuberculosis in general, and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in particular.

Accurate Integrated System to detect Pulmonary and Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis using Machine Learning Algorithms

Several studies have been reported the use of machine learning algorithms in the detection of Tuberculosis, but studies that discuss the detection of both types of TB, i.e., Pulmonary and Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis, using machine learning algorithms are lacking. Therefore, an integrated system based on machine learning models has been proposed in this paper to assist doctors and radiologists in interpreting patients’ data to detect of PTB and EPTB. Three basic machine learning algorithms, Decision Tree, Naïve Bayes, SVM, have been used to predict and compare their performance. The clinical data and the image data are used as input to the models and these datasets have been collected from various hospitals of Jalandhar, Punjab, India. The dataset used to train the model comprises 200 patients’ data containing 90 PTB patients, 67 EPTB patients, and 43 patients having NO TB. The validation dataset contains 49 patients, which exhibited the best accuracy of 95% for classifying PTB and EPTB using Decision Tree, a machine learning algorithm.

Outcomes of Pediatric Patients with metastatic Ewing sarcoma treated with interval compression

Background: Interval compression (IC), defined as 2 week-long cycles of alternating vincristine/doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide/etoposide, improves survival for localized Ewing sarcoma. The outcomes of patients with metastatic disease treated with IC are uncertain. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of pediatric patients with metastatic Ewing sarcoma treated with IC at our center between January-2013 and March-2020. We calculated event-free survival and overall survival and used log rank tests for univariate comparisons. Results: We identified 34 patients aged 2.7–17.1 years (median,11.6 years). Twenty-six patients (76%) had pulmonary metastases, and 14 (41%) had extra-pulmonary metastases in the bone (n = 11), lymph nodes (n = 2), and intraspinal tissue (n = 1). All patients received local control therapy: surgery only (n = 7, 21%), radiotherapy only (n = 18, 53%), or both (n = 9, 26%). The estimated 3-year OS and EFS were 62%±9% and 39%±9%, respectively. Patients with pulmonary only metastasis had a 3-year OS of 88%±8% in comparison to those with extra-pulmonary metastasis of 27%±13% (P=0.0074). Survival did not differ according to age group (> vs < 12 years), metastasis site, or primary tumor site, but 3-year event-free survival significantly differed according to local control therapy (surgery only, 83% ± 15%; combined surgery and radiation, 30% ± 18%; radiation only, 15% ± 10%; P = .048). Conclusion: IC yielded similar outcomes for patients with metastatic Ewing sarcoma to that reported in the literature using other regimens. We suggest including this approach to other blocks of therapy

Risk Factor for Retreatment Episode on Admission Among TB Patients With Schizophrenia

Background: The clinical characteristics of patients with tuberculosis (TB) and schizophrenia remain largely unknown. Furthermore, TB retreatment is associated with a poor outcome. Hence, we aimed to address the risk factors of TB retreatment in schizophrenia patients in this retrospective cohort.Methods: Between March 2005 and August 2020, patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and TB were included in the study. Patient characteristics, such as demographics, medical history, underlying diseases, symptoms, outcome, and lab examinations, were collected from medical records using a structured questionnaire. TB retreatment was defined as treatment failures and relapses. Subsequently, multivariate logistic regression was performed using variables selected based on prior findings as well as factors found to be associated with a retreatment episode in univariate analyses (p &lt; 0.1).Results: A total of 113 TB patients with schizophrenia were included. Of them, 94 (83.2%) patients were classified as initial treatment group, and 19 (16.8%) were classified as retreatment group. The mean age was 53.0 ± 23.2 years, and males accounted for 61.9% of all cases. Multivariate analysis revealed that continuous antipsychotics treatment (OR = 0.226, 95% CI: 0.074, 0.693; p = 0.009) and extra-pulmonary TB (OR = 0.249, 95% CI: 0.080, 0.783; p = 0.017) were associated with the retreatment in TB patients with schizophrenia.Conclusion: Retreatment is a significant concern for TB patients with schizophrenia. To improve the current dilemma, continuous antipsychotics treatment is required, and increasing awareness of schizophrenia would reduce the disease burden.

Friend or Foe? The Roles of Antioxidants in Acute Lung Injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an acute hypoxic respiratory insufficiency caused by various intra- and extra-pulmonary injury factors. The oxidative stress caused by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in the lungs plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ALI. ROS is a “double-edged sword”, which is widely involved in signal transduction and the life process of cells at a physiological concentration. However, excessive ROS can cause mitochondrial oxidative stress, leading to the occurrence of various diseases. It is well-known that antioxidants can alleviate ALI by scavenging ROS. Nevertheless, more and more studies found that antioxidants have no significant effect on severe organ injury, and may even aggravate organ injury and reduce the survival rate of patients. Our study introduces the application of antioxidants in ALI, and explore the mechanisms of antioxidants failure in various diseases including it.