Hyperpigmentation is a common dermatological condition characterized by the darkening of patches of skin compared to the surrounding areas. It can occur in individuals of all skin types and ethnicities, and is caused by an overproduction or accumulation of melanin, the pigment responsible for the color of our skin, hair, and eyes. This comprehensive overview aims to delve into the various types, causes, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment options for hyperpigmentation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfluenza A, which belongs to the Orthomyxoviridae viral family, is a known causative agent of respiratory illness and systemic inflammation. Annual influenza immunizations are crucial in reducing the incidence and severity of the flu. Intravenous (IV) N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a pharmaceutical agent indicated for hepatic injury, particularly to address oxidative stress and inflammation secondary to acetaminophen toxicity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has many treatment capabilities, one of which includes long term management of chronic headache. As a result, it has been increasingly used, especially in cases of refractory headache pain. Headaches can be classified as primary and secondary and can result from a variety of serious conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a treatment modality that has been increasingly used for the management of chronic shoulder pain. Serious conditions that can identified as the cause of chronic shoulder pain include rotator cuff disorders, adhesive capsulitis, osteoarthritis, glenohumeral instability, and acromioclavicular joint disorders. Treatment of chronic shoulder pain typically consists of physical therapy, oral and topical medications, intra-articular corticosteroid injections, and even surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition marked by abnormal pain processing, impacts a significant part of the population, leading to reduced quality of life and function. Hallmark symptoms include widespread persistent pain, sleep disturbances, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and mood changes. Through this updated review, we aim to contribute to the evolving understanding and management of fibromyalgia, offering insights into the diverse tools available to improve the lives of those affected by this challenging condition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Heavy alcohol and drug use is reported by a substantial number of Canadians; yet, only a minority of those experiencing substance use difficulties access specialized services. Computer-Based Training for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT4CBT) offers a low-cost method to deliver accessible and high-quality CBT for substance use difficulties. To date, CBT4CBT has primarily been evaluated in terms of quantitative outcomes within substance use disorder (SUD) samples in the United States.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Pain Headache Rep
July 2024
The landscape of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) resistance is still being elucidated and the optimal subsequent therapy to overcome resistance remains uncertain. Here we present the final results of a phase Ib/IIa, open-label trial (NCT02871791) of exemestane plus everolimus and palbociclib for CDK4/6i-resistant metastatic breast cancer. The primary objective of phase Ib was to evaluate safety and tolerability and determine the maximum tolerated dose/recommended phase II dose (100 mg palbociclib, 5 mg everolimus, 25 mg exemestane).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe report an unusual case presentation of a patient with necrotic tissue changes of the right second and third fingers, found to have myeloid sarcoma with -positive tenosynovitis and underlying acute myeloid leukemia, to highlight the importance of comprehensive evaluation in patients with atypical wounds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its prevention is more cost-effective than the treatment of its complications. Although cardiovascular (CV) risk assessment based on conventional risk factors is the general recommendation, a significant percentage of the population, irrespective of these risk factors, present with subclinical atherosclerosis during carotid Doppler ultrasound (US) imaging. Subclinical atherosclerotic lesions at the carotid bifurcations may be related to the incidence of future CV events and occult atherosclerotic coronary disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: A urachal mass is a relatively rare presentation to the urologists' practice, often requiring radical surgical excision for a definitive diagnosis. Xanthogranulomatous inflammation of the urachus is an extremely rare entity with few cases reported worldwide, and to the best of our knowledge, no cases reported in the western world.
Case Presentation: In this case, a 55-year-old male patient presented with bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms and computed tomography findings demonstrating a urachal mass that was worrisome for urachal carcinoma.
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) are a heterogenous group of diseases affecting the hematopoietic stem cell that are curable only by stem cell transplantation. Both hematopoietic cell intrinsic changes and extrinsic signals from the bone marrow (BM) niche seem to ultimately lead to MDS. Animal models of MDS indicate that alterations in specific mesenchymal progenitor subsets in the BM microenvironment can induce or select for abnormal hematopoietic cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 ()-positive breast cancer (BC) is particularly common in young women. Genomic features of -positive tumors before and after chemotherapy and trastuzumab (chemo + H) have not been described in young women and are important for guiding study of therapeutic resistance in this population.
Methods: From a large prospective cohort of women age 40 years or younger with BC, we identified patients with -positive BC and tumor tissue available before and after chemo + H.
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a type of eating disorder that has been increasing in incidence and has been encountered more commonly by physicians in their daily practice. Both environmental and genetic risk factors paired along with a more susceptible neurobiology are at play in the emerging resistance to treatment in AN. Preoccupations with intense fear of weight gain, dietary restrictions, excessive exercise, and how the individual is perceived by society mixed with underlying psychopathology all further add to the issue.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose Of Review: Cannabis has been used since ancient times for medical and recreational research. This review article will document the validity of how medical cannabis can be utilized for chronic nonmalignant pain management.
Recent Findings: Current cannabis research has shown that medical cannabis is indicated for symptom management for many conditions not limited to cancer, chronic pain, headaches, migraines, and psychological disorders (anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder).
The use of Edaravone, given orally, for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was officially approved by the Federal Drug Association (FDA) in 2017. ALS is a rare and progressive degenerative disease that worsens over time. It attacks and destroys the nerve cells that control voluntary muscles, thus leading to weakness, eventual paralysis, and, ultimately death.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPostural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a variant of autonomic cardiovascular disorder characterized by an excessive increase in heart rate upon standing associated with light-headedness, headaches, chest pain, shortness of breath, and brain fog. The etiology of POTS is largely unknown and often debilitating. The 3 major hypotheses about the pathophysiology of POTS are autoimmunity, abnormally increased sympathetic activity, and sympathetic denervation leading to central hypovolemia and reflex tachycardia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Ureteroscopy (URS) is commonly performed under general anesthesia (GA) to maximize patient tolerability and minimize surgical complications; however, given the improvements in endoscopic technology and risks associated with GA, alternate forms of anesthesia have been postulated. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of URS under conscious sedation.
Methods: We completed a retrospective cohort study from November 2019 to June 2020 at a tertiary-level hospital.
Purpose: Young age at breast cancer diagnosis correlates with unfavorable clinicopathologic features and worse outcomes compared with older women. Understanding biological differences between breast tumors in young versus older women may lead to better therapeutic approaches for younger patients.
Experimental Design: We identified 100 patients ≤35 years old at nonmetastatic breast cancer diagnosis who participated in the prospective Young Women's Breast Cancer Study cohort.
Eur J Case Rep Intern Med
December 2021
Unlabelled: Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) typically presents similarly to an infectious etiology, thus awareness of its atypical presentations is essential. We present a case of an adult woman who was found to have HL after presenting with a dry, non-productive cough and showing cavitary lesions on chest computed tomography (CT). We also describe the clinical, laboratory, and radiological workup done leading to the diagnosis and management of HL in a critical care setting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPediatric cancers are a common cause of childhood morbidity. As a result, chemotherapeutic regimens have been designed to target childhood cancers. These medications are necessary to treat pediatric cancers, however, oncology management options are accompanied by multiple negative and potentially fatal adverse effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndia and the United States have both witnessed a high burden of COVID-19 infections since the pandemic was declared in early 2020. However, the COVID-19 restrictions have met with mixed responses in India and the US. Despite recommendations to continue social isolation and personal hygiene measures, India has not been able to curb the rise in daily cases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Case Rep Intern Med
November 2021
Unlabelled: Rhabdomyosarcoma is an uncommon soft tissue sarcoma that rarely presents in adults. Clinical presentation is dependent on site and size. We present the case of a woman who presented with acute-onset dyspnoea and whose pathology report confirmed embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) seen as an incidental finding on chest computed tomography.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPediatric glioma treatment can be confounded by eloquent anatomical location and pathologic and genetic characteristics. Current literature suggests that the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor bevacizumab has been linked to enhancing disease control; however, its safety and effectiveness are unknown. Bevacizumab has been linked with an increased incidence of intratumoral hemorrhage as well as arterial and venous thromboembolism.
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