Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration: A Rare Reaction.

Awareness of shoulder injury related to vaccine administration and a high index of suspicion are necessary to evaluate patients with shoulder concerns postvaccination.

The Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome.

Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) has a higher disease burden than either condition alone. Patients with ACOS have frequent exacerbations, poor quality of life, a more rapid decline in lung function, and high mortality.

Randomized placebo controlled assessment of airway inflammation due to racemic albuterol and levalbuterol via exhaled nitric oxide testing.

Study Objectives: The S-stereoisomer found in racemic albuterol may have associated proinflammatory properties. We tested the hypothesis that airway inflammation as assessed by exhaled nitric oxide is no different in patients with COPD when using racemic albuterol relative to levalbuterol or placebo.

Measurements: Twelve mild to moderate COPD patients were assigned to five days each of nebulized racemic albuterol, levalbuterol, and saline placebo.

Plasma resistin levels in asthmatics as a marker of disease state.

Background: Resistin is a protein produced by adipocytes and circulating macrophages that has been found to be associated with inflammatory states.

Objective: To determine the levels of resistin in relation to asthma disease state and severity, we investigated a cohort of adult patients with asthma.

Methods: A cohort of moderate to severe persistent asthma patients and control patients were recruited and underwent fasting labs to evaluate levels of serum glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP), and resistin.

Intraoperative anaphylaxis to bacitracin during pacemaker change and laser lead extraction.

Background: Bacitracin is widely used in operating rooms to soak implants, irrigate compound fractures, and apply to surgical incisions. However, bacitracin is a known sensitizer and causes not only allergic contact dermatitis but also anaphylaxis.

Objective: To describe a 72-year-old woman with anaphylaxis after irrigation and packing of an infected pacemaker pocket with a bacitracin solution.