Dysphonia and COVID-19: A Review.

Introduction: Vocal symptoms are frequent in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and may occur during or after infection.

Objective: To conduct a descriptive review on the topic "dysphonia and COVID-19" in order to alert specialists to these symptoms associated with the virus and sequelae.

Methodology: A literature review was carried out in the main databases: Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus, between April 2020 and April 2024 using descriptors that related COVID-19 or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) to voice disorders.

Pyoderma Gangrenosum - a Challenging Diagnostic Approach.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an infrequent, aseptic neutrophilic dermatosis that can be observed in patients with systemic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease or rheumatic disorders. Due to its rare entity, PG often constitutes a diagnostic enigma, as it simulates other skin disorders. Typically, it is displayed as painful, ulcerative lesions localized to the lower extremities.

Rate-related left bundle branch block and cardiac memory in a patient with bradycardia: Case report and literature review.

Rate-related left bundle branch block (LBBB) is a well-studied phenomenon. Cardiac memory is another physiologic phenomenon in which T-wave abnormalities occur in the absence of ischemia. The association between these 2 phenomena has been described in several case reports.

Native Valve Endocarditis due to Ralstonia pickettii: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Ralstonia pickettii is a rare pathogen and even more rare in healthy individuals. Here we report a case of R. pickettii bacteremia leading to aortic valve abscess and complete heart block.

Kounis syndrome: a stinging case of ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Kounis syndrome is not a rare but an infrequently diagnosed non-thrombogenic cause of angina or myocardial infarction triggered by the release of inflammatory mediators following an allergic or anaphylactic reaction. This so-called "allergic angina" is seen in the setting of anaphylactic reactions and is believed to be due to mast cell release causing coronary vasospasm. The treatment of such cases is often with epinephrine, which has also been described in the literature as another rare cause of coronary vasospasm.

Regional pericarditis status post cardiac ablation: a case report.

Context: Regional pericarditis is elusive and difficult to diagnosis. Healthcare providers should be familiar with post-cardiac ablation complications as this procedure is now widespread and frequently performed. The management of regional pericarditis differs greatly from that of acute myocardial infarction.

Massive Atenolol, Lisinopril, and Chlorthalidone Overdose Treated with Endoscopic Decontamination, Hemodialysis, Impella Percutaneous Left Ventricular Assist Device, and ECMO.

Background: Overdose of cardiovascular medications is increasingly associated with morbidity and mortality. We present a case of substantial atenolol, chlorthalidone, and lisinopril overdose treated by multiple modalities with an excellent outcome.

Conclusion: Aggressive medical intervention did not provide sufficient hemodynamic stability in this patient with refractory cardiogenic and distributive shock.

Direct Telephonic Communication in a Heart Failure Transitional Care Program: An observational study.

Background: This study investigated the trend of phone calls in the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center (BGSMC) Heart Failure Transitional Care Program (HFTCP). The primary goal of the HFTCP is to reduce 30-Day readmissions for heart failure patients by using a multi-pronged approach.

Methods: This study included 104 patients in the HFTCP discharged over a 51-week period who had around-the-clock telephone access to the Transitionalist.

Physician-directed heart failure transitional care program: a retrospective case review.

Background: Despite a variety of national efforts to improve transitions of care for patients at risk for rehospitalization, 30-day rehospitalization rates for patients with heart failure have remained largely unchanged.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of 73 patients enrolled in our hospital-based, physican-directed Heart Failure Transitional Care Program (HFTCP). This study evaluated the 30- and 90- day readmission rates before and after enrollment in the program.

Evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea in obese patients scheduled for bariactric surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the frequency of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in obese patients scheduled for bariatric surgery and their identification for risk of OSA by Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) and excessive daytime sleepiness by Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).

Methods: Fifty nine patients were evaluated by BQ and ESS. Out of these individuals, 35 performed a full-night sleep study using a type 3 portable monitoring (PM).

Sinus of Valsalva Fistula to the Right Ventricle along with Coronary Artery Fistula to the Pulmonary Artery in a Young Native American Female.

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare condition and associated with a high rate of mortality if rupture occurs. The aneurysms are rarely diagnosed until rupture occurs. This case describes a young Native American female whose only symptom was intermittent chest pain prior to the detection of the aneurysm along with a small ventricular septal defect.

Are short-term focused training courses on a phantom model using porcine gall bladder useful for trainees in acquiring basic laparoscopic skills?

The best training method in laparoscopic surgery has not been defined. We evaluated the efficacy of laparoscopic skills acquisition in a short-term focused program. Two hundred fifty-six participants undergoing training on a phantom model were divided into 2 groups.

Sequence of pNL194, a 79.3-kilobase IncN plasmid carrying the blaVIM-1 metallo-beta-lactamase gene in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The nucleotide sequence of pNL194, a VIM-1-encoding plasmid, is described in this study. pNL194 (79,307 bp) comprised an IncN-characteristic segment (38,940 bp) and a mosaic structure (40,367 bp) including bla(VIM-1), aacA7, aadA1, aadA2, dfrA1, dfrA12, aphA1, strA, strB, and sul1. Tn1000 or Tn5501 insertion within fipA probably facilitated recruitment of additional mobile elements carrying resistance genes.

SCO-1, a novel plasmid-mediated class A beta-lactamase with carbenicillinase characteristics from Escherichia coli.

A novel class A beta-lactamase (SCO-1) encoded by an 80-kb self-transferable plasmid from Escherichia coli is described. The interaction of SCO-1 with beta-lactams was similar to that of the CARB-type enzymes. Also, SCO-1 exhibited a 51% amino acid sequence identity with the RTG subgroup of chromosomal carbenicillinases (RTG-1, CARB-5, and CARB-8).

Activity of imipenem against VIM-1 metallo-beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in the murine thigh infection model.

The in-vivo activity of imipenem against VIM-1-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (VPKP) was assessed in a thigh infection model in neutropenic mice. Animals were infected with three VPKP isolates (imipenem MICs 2, 4 and 32 mg/L, respectively) and a susceptible clinical isolate (MIC 0.125 mg/L) that did not produce any beta-lactamase with broad-spectrum activity.

Sources of diversity of carbapenem resistance levels in Klebsiella pneumoniae carrying blaVIM-1.

Objectives: To elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the diversity of beta-lactam resistance phenotypes among isolates of a VIM-1-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (VPKP) strain that is endemic in Greek hospitals.

Methods: Five VPKP clinical isolates were studied. MICs of beta-lactams were determined by agar dilution.

Replicon typing of plasmids encoding resistance to newer beta-lactams.

Polymerase chain reaction-based replicon typing represents a novel method to describe the dissemination and follow the evolution of resistance plasmids. We used this approach to study 26 epidemiologically unrelated Enterobacteriaceae and demonstrate the dominance of incompatibility (Inc) A/C or Inc N-related plasmids carrying some emerging resistance determinants to extended-spectrum cephalosporins and carbapenems.

Immediate- and short-term outcome following recanalization of long chronic total occlusions (> 50 mm) of native coronary arteries with the Frontrunner catheter.

Thirty percent of diagnostic angiograms have at least 1 chronic total occlusion (CTO). The 10-year survival of patients with a CTO is improved if they have the CTO successfully recanalized. The success of recanalization with conventional wires is 50% and the impact of new technology on recanalization is unknown.