Central Nervous System Sarcoidosis: A National-Based registry study.

Background And Aim: Sarcoidosis of the central nervous system (CNS) often presents deleterious effects on affected patients. Data and available literature discussing the diagnosis and treatment of this condition are scarce and inconsistent. In this study, we aim to shed light on demographics, management, diagnostics, and clinical complications of CNS sarcoidosis patients within the United States (US) based on a nation-wide registry questionnaire.

Impact of breast cancer on in-hospital mortality and health care utilization in female heart failure patients: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Heart failure (HF) and breast cancer are major health concerns with overlapping risk factors. This study investigated the impact of breast cancer on in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and health care charges in patients with HF.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the National Inpatient Sample, focusing on female patients diagnosed with both breast cancer and HF.

Effectiveness of Gabapentin as a Benzodiazepine-Sparing Agent in Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome.

Gabapentin has shown promise as a potential agent for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of gabapentin as a benzodiazepine-sparing agent in patients undergoing alcohol withdrawal treatment in all the hospitals of a large tertiary healthcare system. Medical records of patients admitted to the hospital for alcohol withdrawal management between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022 were reviewed.

Impact of Virtual Interviews on Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship Match: An Analysis of National Data.

Background: Internal Medicine residents have historically expressed hesitancy in pursuing a career in pulmonary and critical care medicine (PCCM). However, recent studies have demonstrated newfound competitiveness. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global outbreak prompted the implementation of a virtual interviewing model for PCCM fellowship match.

Paraneoplastic NMDA encephalitis, a case report and an extensive review of available literature.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) encephalitis is a prevalent autoimmune condition marked by diverse neuropsychiatric symptoms, primarily impacting young females. The exact mechanisms underlying the development of NMDAr encephalitis have not been fully elucidated. Nonetheless, studies have demonstrated that auto-antibodies targeting the NR1-NR2 subunits of the NMDAr can trigger receptor dysfunction within the central nervous system, thus giving rise to the associated symptoms.

Echocardiography and pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing lung transplantation evaluation.

Background: The use of echocardiography in pulmonary hypertension (PH) in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is understudied. We aimed to compare the performance of echocardiography with right heart catheterization (RHC) in the diagnosis of PH in COPD patients undergoing lung transplant evaluation.

Methods: We included 111 patients with severe COPD who underwent RHC in a single center as part of lung transplantation evaluation.

Effect of Obesity on Mortality in Pulmonary Hypertension-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Obesity is reported to have a protective effect on mortality in pulmonary hypertension (PH), a phenomenon known as obesity paradox. However, the data are conflicting, with some studies showing decreased mortality while other studies found no effect of obesity on mortality. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine whether there is an association between obesity and mortality in PH.

Diagnostic and therapeutic practices of cardiac sarcoidosis in the United States: a nationwide questionnaire based study.

Background And Aim: Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is the second most common cause of death in patients with sarcoidosis and data pertaining to its diagnosis and management is limited. We sought to describe diagnostic modalities and management of patients with CS in the United States, based on a national registry questionnaire.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study based on a national registry investigating 3,835 respondents to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research Questionnaire.

Fatal venous air embolism in the setting of hemodialysis and pulmonary hypertension: A point of care ultrasound diagnosis.

Air emboli are rare and often difficult to diagnose. Transesophageal echocardiography remains the most definitive method of diagnosis, but this is not feasible in emergencies. We present a case of fatal air embolism in the setting of hemodialysis with recent evidence of pulmonary hypertension.

The Effects of Financial Stress and Household Socio-Economic Deprivation on the Malnutrition Statuses of Children under Five during the COVID-19 Lockdown in a Marginalized Region of South Punjab, Pakistan.

The lockdown after the COVID-19 pandemic not only caused public health crises and income stress but also put millions at risk of food insecurity and malnutrition across the globe, especially in low and middle-income countries [LMICs]. This study evaluated the effects of financial stress and household socio-economic deprivation on the nutritional status of 1551 children under the age of five during COVID-19 in Pakistan. A self-administered questionnaire was used between November 2020 and April 2021 to collect information on age, height, children's weight, and socio-economic status from 1152 rural households from underdeveloped regions in Punjab, Pakistan.

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis With and Without Autoimmune Features: A Clinical Comparative Analysis.

Background: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease (ILD) caused by an immunological reaction to repeated inhalational exposure to antigens. The etiology and exact immunopathology are poorly understood. Autoimmunity overlapping with HP has been described but the role of concomitant autoimmunity in the clinical course and outcome of the HP is not clearly established.

Role of Transbronchial Lung Cryobiopsy in the Diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease: A Meta-analysis of 68 Studies and 6300 Patients.

Background: Diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is based on multidisciplinary team discussion (MDD) with the incorporation of clinical, radiographical, and histopathologic information if available. We aim to evaluate the diagnostic yield and safety outcomes of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) in the diagnosis of ILD.

Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis by comprehensive literature search to include all studies that evaluated the diagnostic yields and/or adverse events with TBLC in patients with ILD.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Hyperthyroidism Among Patients With Sarcoidosis in the United States.

Objective: We aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of self-reported hyperthyroidism in patients with sarcoidosis.

Methods: A national registry-based study investigating 3836 respondents to the Sarcoidosis Advanced Registry for Cures questionnaire in the period between June 2014 and August 2019 was conducted. This registry is generated from a web-based questionnaire that is self-reported by patients with sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis among US Hispanics in a Nationwide Registry.

Background: Sarcoidosis has been well studied in multiple races and ethnic groups. However, there is a paucity of data that describes sarcoidosis in Hispanics. We aimed to determine the prevalence of Hispanic ethnicity, clinical characteristics and impact of sarcoidosis among Hispanics from a US based national registry.

Clinical Characteristics of Sarcoidosis Patients with Self-Reported Lymphoma: A US Nationwide Registry Study.

Purpose: Little is known about the association between sarcoidosis and lymphoma. We aim to determine the prevalence of lymphoma in US sarcoidosis patients and compare the clinical characteristics of patients with and without lymphoma.

Methods: Using a national registry-based study investigating 3560 respondents to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research Sarcoidosis Advanced Registry for Cures Questionnaire (FSR-SARC) completed between June 2014 and August 2019, we identified patients who reported the diagnosis of lymphoma following sarcoidosis and randomly selected a computer-generated control sample of sarcoidosis patients with no reported lymphoma with a 2:1 ratio.

Preparation of Soluble Complex of Curcumin for the Potential Antagonistic Effects on Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of curcumin (CMN) soluble complex (SC) prepared by melt casting (HM) and hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology. Phase solubility (PS) study, in silico molecular modeling, aqueous solubility, drug release, and physicochemical investigation including a novel dyeing test was performed to obtain an optimized complex by a central composite design (CCD). The results show that the HME-SC produces better improvements towards solubility (0.

Utility of bronchoscopic intra-tumoral alcohol injection to restore airway patency.

Background: In cases of malignant airway obstruction, achieving airway patency using conventional bronchoscopic modalities can be challenging and may not be satisfactory. We aim to present our experience of using intra-tumoral alcohol injection (ITAI) to help achieve airway patency in malignant airway obstruction.

Methods: A retrospective study of adult patients presenting with malignant airway obstruction who underwent bronchoscopy with ITAI at a university center between 2015 and 2020 was conducted.

Lung transplantation for acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease.

Background: Acute exacerbations of interstitial lung diseases (AE-ILD) have a high mortality rate with no effective medical therapies. Lung transplantation is a potentially life-saving option for patients with AE-ILD, but its role is not well established. The aim of this study is to determine if this therapy during AE-ILD significantly affects post-transplant outcomes in comparison to those transplanted with stable disease.

COVID-19 infection and severe rhabdomyolysis.

Although patients with COVID-19 can have mild nonspecific myalgia and mild elevation of creatinine kinase levels, severe myalgia along with elevation of creatinine kinase levels >10 times the upper normal limit and dark-colored urine indicate an underlying severe rhabdomyolysis. This report describes a 60-year-old morbidly obese man who was found to have severe rhabdomyolysis, along with acute kidney injury, dark-colored urine, and a positive COVID-19 test. He had a prolonged hospital course requiring continuous renal replacement therapy, mechanical ventilation, and multiple vasopressors and eventually died of multiorgan failure.

A 57-Year-Old Man With Stridor and Critical Tracheal Narrowing.

A 57-year-old man with a history of polysubstance use presented with shortness of breath, wheezing, productive cough, subjective fever, and chills of 3-day duration. Additionally, he reported worsening shortness of breath for the last 3 months. Of note, the patient was reported to have had, in the previous 6 months, two episodes of pneumonia that was treated with antibiotics and steroids.

Pre-Existing Psychiatric Illness Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Delirium in Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Background: Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are highly susceptible to developing delirium for a multitude of reasons. Previous studies have linked pre-existing depression with an increased risk of postoperative delirium in patients undergoing cardiac and non-cardiac surgery. However, the evidence regarding the association between pre-existing psychiatric illnesses and delirium in ARDS patients is unknown.

Cyclophosphamide for the treatment of Acute Exacerbation of Interstitial Lung Disease: A Review of the Literature.

Acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease is a serious and life-threatening event but little is known about its treatment. Cyclophosphamide has been proposed in randomized clinic trials as a treatment option in progressive cases of systemic sclerosis related interstitial lung disease. However, in acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease, we found only small case series, and retrospective studies, mostly with no comparative groups which described the role of cyclophosphamide.