Frailty: An Underappreciated Risk Factor for IBD Complications.

Purpose Of Review: The prevalence of IBD in older adults is rapidly growing. Older adults with IBD are underrepresented in research and clinical trials and yet at great risk for adverse events. Therefore, understanding advanced aged associated constructs in older adults can be critical to improving the management of older adults with IBD.

Klippel Feil Syndrome presenting with tricuspid regurgitation and cardiopulmonary distress secondary to dysplastic thoracic cage and spine: A case report.

Background: Klippel Feil syndrome is a rare multifactorial disease that occurs due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It is a complex disease that requires lifelong treatment by multidisciplinary teams.

Case Report: We present a case of a 15-year-old girl who presented with fever and shortness of breath and was found to have Klippel Feil Syndrome with a unique presentation of tricuspid regurgitation with cardiopulmonary distress secondary to dysplastic thoracic cage and spine.

Acute pancreatitis as a rare adverse event among cannabis users: A systematic review.

Background: Cannabis use has been steadily rising in the United States and can have multiple adverse effects, including cannabis-induced acute pancreatitis. This study aims to collate and highlight the significant demographics, clinical presentation, and outcomes in patients with cannabis-induced acute pancreatitis.

Method: A systematic literature search of electronic databases for peer-reviewed articles was conducted.

Update on the applications and limitations of alpha-fetoprotein for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is an oncofetal glycoprotein that has been used as a tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in combination with ultrasound and other imaging modalities. Its utility is limited because of both low sensitivity and specificity, and discrepancies among the different methods of measurements. Moreover, its accuracy varies according to patient characteristics and the AFP cut-off values used.

Does the Route of Cocaine Use Affect the Mortality and Outcomes of Cocaine-Induced Intestinal Ischemia? A Systematic Review.

Intestinal ischemia results from diminished perfusion of the colon resulting in tissue hypoxia. Anecdotal reports suggest that cocaine-induced intestinal ischemia has the highest mortality and longer length of stay among the vasoconstrictors. The present study aimed to summarize the available studies in the literature to assess the effect of routes of consumption on the outcomes of cocaine-induced intestinal ischemia.

Familial chylomicronemia syndrome: a case report.

Background: Familial chylomicronemia is an extremely rare disease. Lipoprotein lipase deficiency, lipoprotein defect or lipoprotein receptor defect are the main genetic causes of familial chylomicronemia.

Case Presentation: We report a rare case of hypertriglyceridemia which was diagnosed at 24 days after birth.

Percutaneous Intervention or Bypass Graft for Left Main Coronary Artery Disease? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for stable left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) remains controversial.

Methods: Digital databases were searched to compare the major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and its components. A random effect model was used to compute an unadjusted odds ratio (OR).

Recurrent Pheochromocytoma in an Elderly Patient.

Pheochromocytomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors that can affect people of all ages and are commonly diagnosed in the 4th and 5th decades of life. Familial pheochromocytomas are diagnosed mostly between the 2nd and 3rd decades of life. They can be benign or metastatic and often present as isolated tumors or along with other neuroendocrine syndromes.

Diagnosis and Management of Lemierre's Syndrome Presented with Multifocal Pneumonia and Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis.

A 27-year-old female patient initially presented with fever, myalgia, sore throat that progressed to multifocal pneumonia, and cerebral sinus venous thrombosis. A combination of upper respiratory symptoms with tooth infection, positive blood culture for , computed tomography (CT) chest finding of multifocal pneumonia, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding of internal jugular vein thrombosis (IJVT) and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) suggested Lemierre syndrome. The patient was managed with fluids, antibiotics, and anticoagulants.

Comparison of Glycemic Variability Indices: Blood Glucose, Risk Index, and Coefficient of Variation in Predicting Adverse Outcomes for Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

Objectives: Fluctuations in blood glucose (glycemic variability) increase the risk of adverse outcomes. No universally accepted tool for glycemic variability exists during the perioperative period. The authors compared 2 measures of glycemic variability-(1) coefficient of variation (CV) and (2) the Blood Glucose Risk Index (BGRI)-in predicting adverse outcomes after cardiac surgery.

Use of Plasmapheresis and Immunosuppressants to Treat Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in a Patient with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a systemic granulomatous inflammatory disease characterized by small-to-medium vessel vasculitis due to Central Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (C-ANCA). GPA commonly involves the lungs and the kidneys. Among the pulmonary manifestations, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DHA) is a rare presentation of GPA that can present with hemoptysis leading to acute onset of anemia and hemodynamic instability.

Guided meditation as an adjunct to enhance postoperative recovery after cardiac surgery: study protocol for a prospective randomized controlled feasibility trial.

Background: Cardiac surgical procedures are associated with postoperative neurological complications such as cognitive decline and delirium, which can complicate recovery and impair quality of life. Perioperative depression and anxiety may be associated with increased mortality after cardiac surgeries. Surgical prehabilitation is an emerging concept that includes preoperative interventions to potentially reduce postoperative complications.

Significance of intra-operative blood pressure data resolution: A retrospective, observational study.

With evolving techniques for analysis of blood pressure (BP) variability, the importance of sampling resolution for intra-operative BP still remains to be examined. This study aims at comparing BP data with beat-by-beat vs. 15 second resolution.

Acute hepatitis E superinfection leading to chronic hepatitis B reactivation.

Reactivation of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There are many different causes of hepatitis B reactivation. This case describes an Asian woman with stable CHB presenting with significant hepatitis flare with markedly elevated serum aminotransferases and hepatitis B virus DNA level.

The use of dexmedetomidine and intravenous acetaminophen for the prevention of postoperative delirium in cardiac surgery patients over 60 years of age: a pilot study.

Delirium is associated with many negative health outcomes. Postoperative sedation and opioid administration may contribute to delirium. We hypothesize that the use of dexmedetomidine and Intravenous acetaminophen (IVA) may lead to reduced opioid consumption and decreased incidence of postoperative delirium.

Patients with common variable immunodeficiency paradoxically have increased rates of autoimmune disorders.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), characterised by disordered B cell function, is one of the most common primary immunodeficiency disorders. Patients with CVID are at lifelong risk of recurrent infections, particularly of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Paradoxically, given their immunocompromised state, patients with CVID are also at significantly increased risk of autoimmune disorders, which are seen in almost 25% of cases.

Extended-Duration Thromboprophylaxis Among Acute Medically Ill Patients: An Unmet Need.

Acute medical illnesses are associated with a prolonged elevation in inflammatory markers that predisposes patients to thrombosis beyond the duration of their hospital stay. In parallel, both observational and randomized data have demonstrated a rate of postdischarge venous thromboembolic events that often exceeds that observed in the hospital setting. Despite this significant residual risk of venous thromboembolic events following discharge among acute medically ill patients, no therapeutic strategies have been recommended to address this unmet need.