Camel-Hump T-Wave, Tee-Pee Sign, and Wavy Triple Sign (Yasser’s Sign) with Hypocalcemia and Hyperkalemia in Covid-19 Pneumonia with Lacunar Infarction

Rationale: A novel COVID-19 is a multi-systemic critical worldwide pandemic infection. Certainly, associated multiple electrolytes imbalance in COVID-19 pneumonia is a remarkable decisive event. Camel-hump T-wave, Tee-Pee sign, and Wavy triple sign (Yasser’s sign)are novel highly significant descriptive electrocardiographic signs that are seen in calcium and potassium disturbance. There is an established and strong relationship between and electrocardiographic abnormalities and electrolytes imbalance. COVID-19 pneumonia and cerebrovascular stroke are commonly seen in a patient with Coronavirus infection. Patient concerns: A 69-year-old married worker Egyptian male patient was presented to the emergency department with COVID-19 pneumonia and cerebrovascular stroke. Diagnosis: COVID-19 pneumonia with lacunar infarction, hypocalcemia, and hyperkalemia. Interventions: Chest CT scan, brain CT scan, electrocardiography, oxygenation, and echocardiography. Outcomes: Initial bad and deterioration outcome but, the dramatic outcome had happened after later management. Lessons: The understanding of electrocardiographic signs regarding metabolic disorders such as electrolytes imbalance and other associated systemic diseases is very important. Elderly male sex, heavy smoker, COVID-19 pneumonia, cerebrovascular stroke, chronic renal impairment, ischemic heart disease, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, and hypernatremia represent bad prognostic points and is indicating a high-risk condition.

Aerosol Biologics for the Treatment of Eosinophilic Asthma

Asthma is a heterogeneous chronic airway disease comprising of distinct phenotypes characterized by different immunopathophysiologic pathways, clinical features, disease severity, and response to treatment. The phenotypes of asthma include eosinophilic, neutrophilic, mixed cellularity, and paucigranulocytic asthma. Eosinophilic asthma is principally a T helper type 2 (Th2)-mediated airway disease. However, several other immune and structural cells secrete the cytokines implicated in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic asthma. Innate type 2 lymphoid cells, mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils secrete Th2 cytokines, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-13, and IL-5. Additionally, airway epithelial cells produce alarmin cytokines, including IL-25, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). Alarmins are the key initiators of allergic inflammation at the sentinel mucosal surfaces. Innovative biotherapeutic research has led to the discovery of monoclonal antibodies which target and inhibit the immunopathological effects of the cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic asthma. Parenteral biologics targeting the inciting interleukins, include mepolizumab and reslizumab (anti-IL-5), benralizumab (anti-IL-5Rα), dupilumab (anti-4Rα), and tezelizumab (anti-TSLP). They have been shown to significantly reduce annualized exacerbation rates, improve asthma control, lung function, and quality of life. Currently, there are no pulmonary delivered aerosol biologics for topical treatment of asthma. CSJ117 is a potent neutralizing antibody Fab fragment against TSLP, formulated as a PulmoSol TM engineered powder, and is delivered to the lungs by a dry powder inhaler. Phase 2 placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of CSJ117. CSJ117 delivered as an inhaler attenuated the late asthmatic response (LAR), and the early asthmatic response (EAR) after allergen inhalation challenge (AIC) at day 84 of treatment. The maximum decrease in FVE1 from pre-AIC were significantly lower in the CSJ117 group compared to placebo (P = 029), during LAR. CSJ117 also significantly reduced fractional exhaled nitric oxide before AIC at day 83; and significantly reduced the allergen-induced increase in % sputum eosinophil count. Pulmonary delivery of biologics directly to the airway mucosal surface has several advantages over parenteral routes, particularly in treating airway diseases such as asthma. Inhaler delivered biologics, such as CSJ117 are innovative and attractive methods of future precision treatment of asthma, and other respiratory diseases.

Congenital Lobar Emphysema in a 17-Day-Old Male Neonate: The Plain Radiographic Features and a Case Report

Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) is a rare respiratory disorder which allows air to enter the lungs but can’t escape causing over-inflation of the lobes of the lung. This condition (CLE) is commonly detected in the newborn or young infants but some cases are diagnosed in adulthood. Congenital lobar emphysema is a rare congenital malformation with a prevalence of 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 30, 000, and more prevalent in males, with a male to female ratio of about 3:1. This is a 17 day old male neonate that presented with respiratory difficulty and .had a supine chest radiograph that showed an overinflated left lung field more on the upper and middle zones with flattening of the left hemi diaphragm, marked shift of the heart and mediastinum to the right with some degree of loss of volume involving the right lung. We report the radiographic findings of this case due the rare nature of congenital lobar emphysema.

Severe Neutrophilic Asthma: Pathogenesis and Treatment

Asthma is a common chronic airway disease affecting about 358 million people worldwide, and an estimated 7 million children globally. Approximately 10% of patients with asthma have severe refractory disease, which is difficult to control on high doses of inhaled corticosteroids and other modifiers. Among these, are patients with severe neutrophilic asthma. Neutrophilic asthma is a severe phenotype of asthma, characterized by frequent exacerbations, persistent airway obstruction, and poor lung function. Immunopathologically, it is characterized by the presence of high levels of neutrophils in the airways and lungs. Interleukin-17 produced by Th17 cells, plays a key role in the pathogenesis of neutrophilic asthma by expressing the secretion of chemoattractant cytokines and chemokines for the recruitment, and activation of neutrophils. Interleukin-8 is a powerful chemoattractant and activator of neutrophils. Activated neutrophils produce an oxidative burst, releasing multiple reactive oxygen species, proteinases, cytokines, which cause airway epithelial cell injury, inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, and remodeling. Furthermore, exasperated neutrophils due to viral, bacterial or fungal infections, and chemical irritants can release extracellular nucleic acids (DNA), designated as NETs (neutrophil extracellular traps), which are more toxic to the airway epithelial cells, and orchestrate airway inflammation, and release alarmin cytokines. Dysregulated NETs formation is associated with severe asthma. Most patients with neutrophilic asthma are unresponsive to the standard of care, including high dose inhaled corticosteroids, and to targeted biologics, such as mepolizumab, and dupilumab, which are very effective in treating eosinophilic asthma. There is unmet need to explore for novel biologics for the treatment of neutrophilic asthma, and in refining therapies, such as bronchial thermoplasty.

Qrs-Complex Fragmentations and Right Ventricular Infarction in the Presence of Inferior Infarction with Triple-Vessels Disease; Bad Initials but a Good Outcome

Rationale: The term “fragmentation of the QRS complex” denotes the existence of high-frequency potentials (spikes) in the QRS-complex. It is either a marker for cardiac structural diseases inducing biventricular hypertrophy or any condition interfering with the normally homogeneous depolarization status inside the myocardium. An associated right ventricular infarction with inferior infarction maybe carry a risk impact and serious complications. Patient concerns: A 64-year-old married, farmer, heavy smoker, Egyptian male patient presented with acute severe chest pain and inferior with right ventricular ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and fragmentation of the QRS complex. Diagnosis: QRS-complex fragmentations and right ventricular infarction in the presence of inferior infarction with the triple-vessels disease. Interventions: Electrocardiography, oxygenation, streptokinase intravenous infusion, echocardiography, and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Outcomes: Dramatic response of acute inferior with right ventricular ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and QRS-complex fragmentations to streptokinase. Lessons: Despite the presence of inferior and right ventricular ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with QRS-complex fragmentations, but there is no correlation with the severity of the disease. Dramatic clinical and electrocardiographic response signifying the role of streptokinase and fibrinolytic. The presence of fragmentation of the QRS-complex may have a bidirectional impact from seriousness to complications.

Evaluation of the Relationship between Serum Vitamin D and Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with COVID-19

Background: The COVID-19 can cause serious life-threatening complications. Vitamin D deficiency has been proposed to mediate the disease by some studies, however, there is a lack of sufficient data. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 72 Iranian adult patients with COVID-19 were examined. At the beginning of hospitalization, serum levels of vitamin D were checked and patients were divided into four groups as vitamin D above normal, normal, insufficient, or deficient. The prognosis of patients has been evaluated based on serum levels of vitamin D and other underlying factors. Results: Only 30% of patients had normal vitamin D concentrations. Vitamin D status was associated with COVID-19 complications, but not with underlying diseases. In the multivariable logistic regression, COVID-19 prognosis was associated with being male, length of stay in an intensive care unit (ICU), need for intubation, acute respiratory disease syndrome (ARDS), and myocarditis. The serum vitamin D correlated with COVID-19 complications including ARDS, QT length, the requirement to ICU, and intubation. Conclusion: This study showed a mediating role for vitamin D in COVID-19 complications and identified the frequent complications in these patients and contributing variables exaggerating prognosis for health authorities to properly manage COVID-19 in hospitals. Further relevant examinations are highly encouraged.

Arrhythmogenic anterior myocardial infarction with QRS-complex fragmentations and Passing phenomenon or Yasser’s phenomenon; the risk and serious implications

Rationale: The arrhythmias associated with myocardial infarction may be serious. Increasing morbidity and mortality in myocardial infarction-induced arrhythmias will be expected. The term “fragmentation of the QRS complex” denotes the existence of high-frequency potentials (spikes) in the QRS-complex. It is either a marker for cardiac structural diseases inducing biventricular hypertrophy or any condition interfering with the normally homogeneous depolarization status inside the myocardium. An associated Passing phenomenon or “Yasser’s phenomenon” may have an apparent hemodynamic impact. Patient concerns: A 68-year-old married, housewife, Egyptian female patient presented to the physician outpatient clinic with acute chest pain and anterior myocardial infarction with QRS-complex fragmentations and Passing phenomenon or “Yasser’s phenomenon”. Diagnosis: Arrhythmogenic acute extensive anterior infarction with QRS-complex fragmentations and Passing phenomenon or Yasser’s phenomenon. Interventions: Electrocardiography, oxygenation, streptokinase intravenous infusion, echocardiography, and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Outcomes: Dramatic response of acute arrhythmogenic anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with QRS-complex fragmentations to streptokinase and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Lessons: The presence of runs of ventricular tachycardia, multiform frequent premature ventricular contractions, and QRS-complex fragmentations, elderly, female sex are prognostic factors for the severity of the disease. Dramatic clinical and electrocardiographic response signifying the role of streptokinase, fibrinolytic, and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The presence of fragmentation of the QRS-complex may have a bidirectional impact from seriousness to complications. Passing phenomenon or “Yasser’s phenomenon” should be directed at the disease progression.

Dextrocardia with Situs Inversus in an 18-Year-Old Nigerian Female: The Computed Tomographic Findings and a Case Report

Dextrocardia is a cardiac positional anomaly in which the heart is located in the right hemithorax with its base to apex axis directed to the right and caudad. The malposition is intrinsic to the heart and not caused by extracardiac abnormalities. Dextrocardia is a rare condition and usually found incidentally and in association with other congenital abnormalities. It has an incidence of less than 1%. This is an 18 year old Nigerian female who was referred for computed tomography (CT) of the chest on account of prolonged and recurrent cough with a suspicion of diffuse interstitial lung disease. The chest and upper abdominal CT scan showed dextrocardia with a right placed heart, displaced spleen and stomach to the right hemi-abdomen and liver displaced to the left hemi-abdomen; confirming the diagnosis of dextrocardia with situs inversus. We present this case of dextrocardia with abdominal situs inversus due to its rarity in literature.

Biologics in the Treatment of Severe Uncontrolled Asthma in Children

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children, currently affecting about 7 million children. Severe uncontrolled asthma is rare in children with a prevalence of about 2.1% to 5%, but inflicts a disproportionate health burden. Children with severe asthma have increased risk of life threatening exacerbations, frequent hospitalization, worsening health-related quality of life, and impaired physical activity. Severe asthma in childhood is associated with long-term morbidities, such as bronchiolitis obliterans, impaired airway development, and development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adulthood. Childhood asthma like adult-onset asthma, is classified into four cellular inflammatory phenotypes using induced sputum cytometry. The four phenotypes of asthma include eosinophilic asthma, neutrophilic asthma, paucigranulocytic asthma, and mixed cellularity asthma. The pathophysiological mechanisms of asthma involve airway inflammation and remodeling. Inflammatory mediators such as cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, and growth factors play a key role in orchestration airway remodeling. During airway inflammation, cytokines secreted by type 2 helper (Th2) lymphocytes, such as interleukin-5 (IL-5), IL-4, IL-13, IL-25, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) play a key role in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic asthma. Whereas, the Th17 axis cytokines, including IL-17, IL-23, and IL-8 are responsible for the pathophysiology of neutrophilic asthma. The airway structural changes due to airway remodeling lead to thickening of the airway wall, narrowing of the bronchiolar lumen, airway obstruction, and decline in pulmonary function. Most of the children with asthma respond to low and medium inhaled corticosteroids, however a significant proportion still have severe asthma uncontrolled on the standard of care. The most common asthma phenotype in children is eosinophilic asthma, which responds superbly to biologic therapy. Children with severe asthma require add-on targeted interleukin antagonists (ILA), such as mepolizumab (anti-IL-5), benralizumab (anti-IL-5Rα), and dupilumab (anti-4Rα). ILAs have been shown to ameliorate asthma symptoms, reduce moderate and severe exacerbations, and improve pulmonary function. Additionally, ILAs have been demonstrated to improve the health-related quality of life, and have steroid sparing effect.

Left bundle branch block and Wavy triple sign (Yasser’s sign) intertwining COVID-19 Pneumonia with Renal Impairment; defective Sgarbosa criteria for Thrombolytic: A Case Report in Cardiology, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology and Critical Care Medicine

Rationale: Left bundle branch block is a diagnostic utility for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction equivalent. Consequently, administration of thrombolytic is a pivotal step. Emergent Sgarbosa criteria and their modification are considered helpful guide keys. Wavy triple an electrocardiographic sign (Yasser Sign) is a novel diagnostic sign in hypocalcemia. Interestingly, the presentation of COVID-19 pneumonia with an intertwining left bundle branch block, renal impairment, and hypocalcemia has a risk impact on both morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 patients. Patient concerns: An elderly carpenter male COVID-19 patient was admitted to intensive care unit with COVID-19 pneumonia with interlacing left bundle branch block, renal impairment, and Wavy triple sign (Yasser’s sign). Diagnosis: Left bundle branch block and Wavy triple sign (Yasser’s sign) intertwining COVID-19 pneumonia with renal impairment. Interventions: Arterial blood gases, chest CT scan, electrocardiography, oxygenation, and echocardiography. Outcomes: Gradual dramatic clinical, electrocardiographic, and radiological improvement had happened. Lessons: The triage of the left bundle branch block with the COVID-19 patient is highly significant for both diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and giving thrombolytic. The combination of left bundle branch block, renal impairment, and hypocalcemia COVID-19 pneumonia signifies the risk in the current case study.