Improving the performance of peripheral arterial tonometry-based testing for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.

Outside sleep laboratory settings, peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT, eg, WatchPat) represents a validated modality for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We have shown before that the accuracy of home sleep apnea testing by WatchPat 200 devices in diagnosing OSA is suboptimal (50%-70%). In order to improve its diagnostic performance, we built several models that predict the main functional parameter of polysomnography (PSG), Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI).

Performance of peripheral arterial tonometry-based testing for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in a large sleep clinic cohort.

Study Objectives: Peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT)-based technology represents a validated portable monitoring modality for the diagnosis of OSA. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of PAT-based technology in a large point-of-care cohort of patients studied with concurrent polysomnography (PSG).

Methods: During study enrollment, all participants suspected to have OSA and tested by in-laboratory PSG underwent concurrent PAT device recordings.

Association between peak inspiratory flow rate and hand grip muscle strength in hospitalized patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: Ineffective peak inspiratory flow rate (PIFR) generation in patients using inhalers results in insufficient drug delivery to the lungs and poor clinical outcomes. Low inspiratory muscle strength is associated with suboptimal PIFR.

Objective: To examine in a prospective study the relationship between PIFR and skeletal muscle strength using hand grip strength (HGS) as a surrogate.

Effect of Hospital Readmission Reduction Program on Hospital Readmissions and Mortality Rates.

Rationale: Although the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP) has reduced the 30-day readmission rates for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) across hospitals, the effect of HRRP on hospital mortality remains unknown. Therefore, we examined the association between hospital readmissions and mortality rates for patients discharged with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD).

Method: The all-cause hospital-specific 30-day risk-standardized mortality rate (RSMR) and the 30-day risk-standardized readmission rate (RSRR) for patients with COPD from 2010 to 2017 were obtained from the Hospital Compare website.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome preceding a diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma.

Introduction: Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a rare condition characterized by eosinophilia and organ destruction secondary to eosinophilic infiltration. The coexistence of primary B-cell lymphoma and hypereosinophilic syndrome is extremely rare. We present a case of HES that preceded the diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Eosinophilic Colitis Masquerading as Malignancy of Colon.

Eosinophilic colitis (EC) is a rare part of spectrum of diseases called eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID). It was found to have bimodal distribution involving neonates and adults in age groups of 30 - 50 with male preponderance. We present this case of a 78-year-old woman who came to the hospital with abdominal pain, hematochezia and unintentional weight loss, and was found to have EC.

A case report of mantle cell lymphoma manifesting as a foot lesion.

Introduction: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that most commonly affects men above the age of 60 years. The disease is called MCL because the tumor cells originate from the mantle zone of the lymph node. The most commonly affected sites are the lymph nodes, bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, Waldeyer's ring and rarely the skin, breast and central nervous system.