Use of DECAF scoring system to facilitate early discharge in acute exacerbation of COPD patients: a quality improvement project at a district general hospital.

Introduction: DECAF is a scoring tool that can predict severity in patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Previous research has shown AECOPD patients with DECAF scores of 0-1 are candidates for early discharge.

Methods: Plan, do, study, act (PDSA) methodology was used.

Extrapulmonary Sarcoidosis: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Extrapulmonary sarcoidosis accounts for only two percent of the total sarcoid cases. Sarcoidosis affecting the musculoskeletal system alone is even rarer. Diagnosis is based on suggestive history, clinical features, imaging followed by confirmation of non-caseating granulomas on a biopsy.

Lessons of the month 2: Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP): A rare manifestation of infliximab therapy.

We present a rare and unusual case of 22-year-old man who was on infliximab therapy for his uncontrolled ulcerative colitis. Infliximab was stopped as he didn't get any benefit from it and he ended up having subtotal colectomy and ileostomy. He presented with shortness of breath and eosinophilia and underwent a number of investigations and finally a diagnosis of chronic eosinophilia secondary to infliximab was made.

Novel protein and immune response markers of human serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma of the ovary.

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death among gynecologic diseases in the USA and Europe. High-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) of the ovary, the most aggressive type of ovarian cancer, is typically diagnosed at advanced stages when the 5-year survival is dismal. Since the cure rate for stage I HGSC is high, early detection of localized initial disease may improve patient outcomes.

Bilateral miliary shadowing on chest X-ray.

A patient presented with recent onset of increasing shortness of breath, weight loss and low-grade fever. His chest X-ray revealed bilateral miliary shadowing. He was investigated with CT-scanning of thorax.