Background: The association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and arthritis has long been known, but it was not until the 1950s that IBD-associated arthritis was recognized as a distinct pathology independent from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There is evidence that RA and other autoimmune conditions exist at higher rates in patients with IBD compared to the general population. We aimed to determine if the presence of RA in IBD patients is a factor for mortality and IBD-related surgery in this population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBACKGROUND Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer that can be difficult to manage. Its treatment has been transformed by immunotherapy. Melanoma cells frequently have mutations that make them vulnerable to attack by the immune system, and this is how immunotherapy can fight this cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim The study aimed to collect retrospective data to investigate the association between elevated glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU, including in-hospital mortality and 90-day mortality. Methods This is an observational retrospective study using electronic health records of patients with diabetes admitted to the ICU with COVID-19 across the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in Central PA Hospitals. Our retrospective analysis was performed on patients admitted to the ICU between May 1, 2021, to May 1, 2022.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer and ranks sixth among all malignancies worldwide. Risk factors for HCC can be classified as infectious or behavioral. Viral hepatitis and alcohol abuse are currently the most common risk factors for HCC; however, nonalcoholic liver disease is expected to become the most common cause of HCC in upcoming years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcute liver failure (ALF) is a rare condition that can have a variable clinical course and potentially fatal outcomes. Medication toxicity is a known etiology, however liver failure induced by amiodarone is rare and has been reported mostly in the setting of intravenous (IV) infusion. We present an 84-year-old patient who developed ALF after chronic use of oral amiodarone.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare gastrointestinal tract growths associated with high rates of malignant transformation. Most cases are asymptomatic and can be identified by computed tomography scan. We present the case of a 50-year-old male with melena and fatigue.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF