Investigating the Effects of Nosocomial Infection Among Acute Leukemia Patients: Insights From the 2020 National Inpatient Sample.

Background: Rising nosocomial infections pose high risks, especially for immunocompromised leukemia patients, necessitating targeted research to enhance patient care and outcomes.The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of nosocomial infections (CDI) on patients hospitalized with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Methods: Our study was a retrospective analysis of adult patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of ALL or AML, using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for 2020.

Functionally unicuspid aortic valve in an adult: Case report and literature review.

Aortic stenosis is one of the most prevalent cardiac valvular diseases throughout the world and has a significant impact on quality of life. While there are several etiologies, we will be discussing the case of a male in his mid-thirties of southeast Asian descent with a bicuspid aortic valve which was found to be functionally unicuspid and complicated by aortic dilation. Following a comprehensive review of literature, it appears this subset of aortic stenosis is not commonly encountered.

Social Risk Factors That Increase Cardiovascular and Breast Cancer Risk.

Purpose Of Review: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and breast cancer (BC) are significant causes of mortality globally, imposing a substantial health burden. This review article aims to examine the shared risk factors and social determinants that contribute to the high prevalence of both diseases, with a focus on social risk factors.

Recent Findings: The common risk factors for CVD and BC, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, aging, and physical inactivity, are discussed, emphasizing their modifiability.

A Rare Case of Bartonella henselae Infective Endocarditis Causing an Embolic Cerebrovascular Accident.

 is a facultative intracellular Gram-negative aerobic rod that is an important cause of culture-negative endocarditis that only accounts for 3% of all infective endocarditis (IE) cases. Throughout the literature, there have been very few documented cases of an embolic stroke caused by   () IE. Following a comprehensive review of the literature, it appears that only a small number of articles have reported on the correlation between cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) and  IE.

Anti-Factor Xa Level Monitoring for Enoxaparin Prophylaxis and Treatment in High-Risk Patient Groups.

Description Monitoring anti-factor Xa levels is a controversial topic in the inpatient setting due to resource utilization and unclear conditional guideline recommendations regarding this practice. Enoxaparin dosing in certain high-risk patient populations such as those with low body weight, obesity, renal insufficiency, and pregnancy has not been determined. The objective of this review was to assess the safety and efficacy of enoxaparin monitoring via anti-factor Xa levels in high-risk patient populations.

An Interesting Case of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy With Biventricular Thrombi.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a cause of heart failure that develops within five months postpartum. Biventricular thrombosis is a rare complication of PPCM with only a few cases reported in the literature. Here, we report a case of PPCM with biventricular thrombosis that was successfully treated with medical management.

COVID-19-Induced Complete Heart Block: Case Series and Literature Review.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has led to the emergence of a wide range of complications, including those affecting the cardiovascular system. In this case series, we present four patients who developed complete atrioventricular block, a serious and potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorder, during the course of their coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness. The mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 may lead to arrhythmias are not fully understood but may involve direct infection and damage to heart tissue, as well as inflammation and cytokine storms.

Rapidly Progressive Emphysematous Pancreatitis With Massive Hemorrhage and Multi-Organ Failure: A Severe Sequela of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 global pandemic continues to wreak havoc on a number of affected patients and poses a significant burden on the healthcare system. Even though it has been over two years since the pandemic emerged, clinical presentations in affected patients continue to appall clinicians. Emphysematous pancreatitis is a rare, fatal complication of acute necrotizing pancreatitis presenting with a high mortality rate.

An Unusual Case of Non-traumatic Chylothorax.

Chylothorax refers to the presence of chyle in the paraaortic space. This entity most commonly occurs from injury to the thoracic duct, which carries chyle from the gastrointestinal tract to the bloodstream. Common etiologies around traumatic chylothorax include iatrogenic causes, such as surgical procedures near the thoracic duct and penetrating and blunt injuries to the chest.

Approach to Cefepime-Induced Neurotoxicity in the Setting of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Cefepime-induced neurotoxicity is well-known, but an under-recognized event that can present with a myriad of neurological findings ranging from myoclonus to seizures to comatose state. It is more prevalent in patients with impaired renal clearance as it is mainly cleared by the kidneys. We present a case of a 52-year-old female who was managed in the intensive care unit with severe encephalopathy following empiric antibiotic therapy with cefepime.

A Rare Case of Purpura Fulminans in the Setting of Klebsiella pneumoniae Bacteremia.

A 23-year-old man with circulatory shock associated with severe sepsis and congestive heart failure with an ejection fraction of 10% resulting in anasarca and multiorgan failure was admitted to our hospital's intensive care unit. Hours after admission, he developed a rash on his left inner thigh, which was later diagnosed as purpura fulminans (PF). Blood cultures were consistent with bacteremia, with community-acquired pneumonia being the possible source.

COVID-19 and the cardiovascular system: an update.

As COVID-19 continues to cause an increasing number of deaths worldwide, it is important that providers stay abreast with new research related to the pathophysiology of COVID-19 disease presentation states and clinical management. It is now well recognized that COVID-19 affects extrapulmonary organs, particularly the cardiovascular system. For example, cardiogenic shock has been increasingly observed in patients with COVID-19, owing to the various mechanisms involved and the affinity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to cells comprising the cardiovascular system.

Marked Elevation of Carcinoembryonic Antigen Without an Identified Primary Gastrointestinal Tumor.

Whether profound carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) elevations, such as > 20 times the upper limit of normal, are of diagnostic use remain unknown. Herein, we present a case of a 55-year-old female with profound serum CEA elevation and multiple pelvic masses but with no evidence of a primary gastrointestinal tumor following upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. Subsequent immunostaining of resected pelvic masses confirmed adenocarcinoma of colorectal origin.