COVID-19 Infections and Inflammatory Markers in Patients Hospitalized During the First Year of the Pandemic.

Background: The clinical presentations in patients with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infections range from asymptomatic upper respiratory infections to acute respiratory failure with bilateral pulmonary infiltrates requiring mechanical ventilation. Clinicians often measured inflammatory markers in hospitalized patients to characterize the severity of the infection. Multiple studies published in 2020 reported information on the frequency of elevated inflammatory markers in hospitalized patients in various categories of disease severity.

Periodic generalized edema following COVID-19 infection.

The unprecedented impact and sequelae of COVID-19 infection are not yet fully understood, and better understanding of the pathophysiology of these infections is needed. Endothelial dysfunction might be common sequelae associated with COVID-19, and increased inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokines, and impaired mitochondrial function also contribute to the pathophysiology of post COVID-19 medical disorders. Systemic capillary leak syndrome following COVID-19 infection, both new onset and exacerbation of a prior disorder, has been reported.

A Focused Review of the Initial Management of Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

At present, the management of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) largely focuses on ventilator settings to limit intrathoracic pressures by using low tidal volumes and on FiO/PEEP relationships to maintain optimal gas exchange. Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a complex medical disorder that can develop in several primary acute disorders, has a rapid time course, and has several classifications that can reflect either the degree of hypoxemia, the extent of radiographic involvement, or the underlying pathogenesis. The identification of subtypes of patients with ARDS would potentially make precision medicine possible in these patients.

Mitochondrial Myopathy in a 21-Year-Old Man Presenting With Bilateral Lower Extremity Weakness and Swelling.

Bilateral lower extremity weakness and swelling can have several causes. Although often underdiagnosed, mitochondrial myopathy is more prevalent in the general population than more commonly suspected diseases, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome. The clinical manifestations of mitochondrial disease can be broadly classified into 3 categories: chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, skeletal muscle-central nervous system syndromes, or pure myopathy.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with sepsis who had cortisol level measurements or received hydrocortisone during their intensive care unit management: A retrospective single center study.

Objectives: The current guidelines for managing patients with sepsis include the early cultures, administration of antibiotics, and fluid resuscitation. Several clinical trials have tried to determine whether or not the administration of corticosteroids improves outcomes in these patients. This study analyzed the characteristics of a large group of critically ill patients who either had cortisol levels drawn during their intensive care unit management or had hydrocortisone administered during their management.

Myocarditis following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination.

Messenger RNA vaccines are the main COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States. Side effects are typically minor and transient. We report a case series of four subjects with an acute myocarditis-like illness following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination who were hospitalized at our hospital in Lubbock, Texas.

Marijuana use-induced spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

The presence of air in the mediastinum is a rare finding called pneumomediastinum. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is typically benign. Marijuana use has been rarely reported to cause pneumomediastinum.

Impact of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/Angiotensin Receptor Blockers on Renal Function in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography.

Background: Cardiac catheterizations and coronary angiography are minimally invasive methods for studying the heart and the coronary arteries, using iodinated radiocontrast agents which can cause acute kidney injury (AKI). Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) are widely used due to their well-established benefit in coronary artery disease and renal protection in diabetes mellitus. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors can induce AKI in some patients.

Intracranial Mycotic Aneurysm in a Left Ventricular Assist Device Patient: A Complication to Avoid.

In the current era of the increasing use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) as a bridge to transplant or destination therapy, early diagnosis and therapy of complications are imperative to provide a better quality of life and improve outcomes. This case illustrates how superficial infections can lead to drastic complications in the setting of LVADs. The lack of signs and symptoms of systemic inflammatory response could be explained by cellular immunity impairment in patients on LVAD support.

Optimal sequences of same-visit bidirectional endoscopy: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aim: Same-visit colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) have become common. Recent studies showed conflicting results regarding the performance, safety, and efficacy of different sequences. We conducted this meta-analysis to determine the most favorable performance and discomfort between an EGD followed by colonoscopy (E-C) and colonoscopy followed by EGD (C-E).

Atypical presentation of a forgotten disease: refractory hypotension in beriberi.

Background/objectives: Thiamine deficiency is a treatable disease with an excellent prognosis. However, it is often unrecognized because of the diversity of its clinical presentations.

Subjects/methods: Herein, we report two atypical cases of nonalcoholic thiamine deficiency that presented with refractory hypotension in the absence of lactic acidosis.