Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma disguised as asthma.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with laryngeal involvement can lead to significant airway obstruction and compromise. This case report details a female patient in her 60s with a history of asthma who presented with refractory dyspnoea and persistent hoarseness, initially attributed to asthma. After multiple emergency room visits and treatment with bronchodilators and steroids, further investigation revealed an exophytic mass in the larynx, diagnosed as SCC.

Testosterone Therapy for the Treatment of Unexplained Anemia in Men With Hypogonadism.

Decreased testosterone levels are often under-recognized as a cause of anemia in males with hypogonadism. Men, as a subset, are less likely to seek medical care, especially those who struggle with complex psychiatric and social conditions, where they may lack full autonomy. Increasing testosterone levels leads to erythrocytosis by elevating erythropoietin and soluble transferrin receptor levels and suppressing hepcidin and ferritin levels.

Prostate cancer screening: Is it time for a new approach? A review article.

Prostate cancer screening has presented a challenge to clinicians. Although the implementation of screening tests such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal exam (DRE) has had a significant impact on prostate-cancer-specific mortality, these traditional screening tests have a relatively poor positive predictive value of clinically significant prostate cancer (CSPC), leading to unnecessary biopsies and treatment with a host of potential complications. Fortunately, much research has been done to optimize prostate cancer screening.

Immunotactoid Glomerulopathy Masquerading as Heart Failure.

Immunotactoid glomerulopathy (ITG) is a rare form of glomerular disease. It is characterized by organized, dense immunoglobulin deposits in the glomerulus, impairing glomerular function and filtration. The prognosis tends to be poor, and the majority of patients develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

A Case of Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a 26-Year-Old Pregnant Woman.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is an uncommon and rapidly progressing blood cancer originating in the bone marrow, characterized by the abnormal proliferation of immature lymphocytes. Although most cases of ALL are observed in children, the disease pattern shows two peaks: one in early childhood and another around the age of 50. Approximately a fifth to a third of adults diagnosed with ALL exhibit cytogenetic abnormalities involving the Philadelphia chromosome.

Severe Lymphoma-Associated Hemophagocytic Syndrome in a Young Woman.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome characterized by profound immune system activation. In adults, most cases of HLH are due to an underlying pathology- such as infection, malignancy, or autoimmune disease. It is a disease that can progress to rapid clinical deterioration and be difficult to diagnose.

Sodium-Glucose Co-transporter-2 Inhibitor-Induced Pruritus: Itching for Answers.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-I) have revolutionized the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus during the last decade. It has not only proven to be very effective for glycemic control but also has adjunctive effects in the management of heart failure, hypertension, and diabetic nephropathy, and even contributes to weight loss. Another benefit is the apparent lack of major side effects, particularly hypoglycemia, apart from euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis.

The Effect of Dapagliflozin on Platelet Function Testing Profiles in Diabetic Patients: The EDGE Pilot Study.

Introduction: This prospective pharmacodynamic (PD) study assessed the effect of the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i), dapagliflozin, on platelet reactivity.

Methods: Patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (n = 27) who were on maintenance dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) of aspirin 81 mg daily, and clopidogrel 75 mg daily were recruited. Platelet function was evaluated with the VerifyNow™ P2Y assay (Werfen, Bedford, MA, USA) and assessed prior to initiation of and after 10 days of treatment with dapagliflozin 10 mg once-daily dose regimen.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome: Tips for Diagnosis and Treatment.

Often described as a clinico-radiological entity, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is being increasingly diagnosed nowadays. However, mystery still surrounds its exact etiology. Though there are no standardized diagnostic criteria for this syndrome, there is a consistent feature associated with it: brain vasogenic edema in combination with neurotoxicity.

The Effect of Empagliflozin on Platelet Function Profiles in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease in Trinidad: The EFFECT Pilot Study.

Introduction: This prospective pharmacodynamic (PD) study aimed to assess the effect of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) empagliflozin on platelet reactivity.

Methods: Patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (n = 20) who were actively treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) of aspirin 81 mg daily and clopidogrel 75 mg daily were recruited. Platelet function was measured with the VerifyNow™ P2Y assay (Instrumentation Laboratory, Massachusetts, USA) and assessed before the initiation of and after 10 days of treatment with empagliflozin 25 mg once daily maintenance dose regimen.

COVID-19 and ethnicity: Does reduced responsiveness to glucocorticoids explain the more aggressive nature of disease among minorities?

Marked ethnic variations in complications and mortality have been noted following infection with COVID-19, with Black, Asian, and minority ethnic groups (BAME) being particularly hard hit. We hypothesise that glucocorticoid resistance stemming from several intrinsic reasons such as chronic social stress and lower circulating levels of Vitamin D may contribute to the exaggerated inflammatory response, more severe disease and poorer outcomes observed in BAME.

The impact of air pollution on the incidence and mortality of COVID-19.

Air pollution is the most significant environmental risk factor for all-cause mortality, and it has caused substantial disability-adjusted life-years and economic loss. Air pollution intensified the mortality during past pandemics, Spanish flu in 1918 and SARS-CoV-1 in 2003. It increases host susceptibility and virulence of respiratory infections and reduces viral clearance.