Prolonged cough and dyspnea following a single episode of intense silica exposure.

Long term exposure to silica at worksites can cause silicosis. This typically has two radiographic forms, simple silicosis and complicated or conglomerate silicosis. Patients with acute silicosis have rapid progression of disease with fulminant respiratory failure over months rather than years.

Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Secondary to Concomitant Influenza A and Rhinovirus Infection Complicated by Methicillin-resistant Pneumonia in an Early Pregnancy Patient With Vaping-induced Lung Injury.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening lung injury characterized by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs. Multiple risk factors, including pneumonia, non-pulmonary sepsis, aspiration of gastric contents or inhalation injury, have been reported, to cause ARDS. We present a case of a healthy young woman in her first trimester with vaping-induced lung injury who presented with spontaneous pneumothorax and acute respiratory distress syndrome with concomitant influenza A and rhinovirus infection followed by methicillin-resistant pneumonia.

The effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on physical performance and health related quality of life in patients with chronic lung disease.

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a multidisciplinary approach that improves exercise capacity and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic lung disease. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients with chronic lung disease who participated in the PR program at University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas, between 2014 and 2019. Clinical information, 6-min walk test (6 MW T) results, the number of emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations, and psychosocial questionnaires (CAT score, PHQ9 and mMRC dyspnea score) were recorded before and after the completion of the program.

Usefulness of plasmapheresis in patients with severe complicated thyrotoxicosis.

The standard treatment of complicated thyrotoxicosis and thyroid storm with the concomitant use of antithyroid medication, iodine, beta-blockers, and corticosteroids is successful in most cases. However, treatment options are limited when antithyroidal drugs cannot be used or in cases that are refractory to standard treatment. Plasmapheresis provides a safe and effective strategy when initial treatment fails, facilitating the transition to definitive treatments such as thyroidectomy.

Evaluation of Factors Associated With Fracture and Loss of Bone Mineral Density Within 1 Year After Liver Transplantation.

Objective: Orthotopic liver transplant recipients are at high risk of fragility fractures both in pre-liver transplant (pre-LT) and in the immediate posttransplant (post-LT) period. The aims of this study were to identify risk factors associated with post-LT fracture and identify factors that contribute to changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in post-LT as they relate to the risk of fracture in the immediate post-LT period.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of first-time LT recipients who had BMD testing within 2-year pre-LT and 1-year post-LT.

Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis and Complicated Thyrotoxicosis, Two Presentations of Hyperthyroidism with Notable Differences in their Clinical Manifestations: An Experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital in the United States.

Objective: Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is a muscular disorder characterized by sudden episodes of muscle weakness and hypokalemia in the setting of thyrotoxicosis. We aimed to report our experience with TPP in West Texas and compare its clinical presentation to that of patients admitted for complicated thyrotoxicosis.

Methods: Retrospective review of records of adult patients with admission diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, and/or discharge diagnosis of periodic paralysis seen at our institution in a 6-year period.

A lymphoproliferative pericardial mass.

Castleman disease (CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder with variable presentation and prognosis. Most CD cases are unicentric and correspond to the hyaline-vascular variant, a histopathological classification associated with better outcomes, which commonly presents as an enhancing hypervascular mediastinal mass. CD is often asymptomatic and surgically resectable.

Air embolism following peripheral intravenous access.

Air embolism is a rare, often misdiagnosed, potentially fatal condition. It is most frequently associated with invasive vascular procedures and mechanical ventilation. Air emboli developing from peripheral intravenous lines are uncommon.

Bariatric Surgery in the Elderly Patient: Safety and Short-time Outcome. A Case Match Analysis.

Background: Indications and outcomes of bariatric surgery in the elderly remain controversial. We aimed to evaluate and compare safety and early outcomes of bariatric procedures in this age group.

Study Design: We performed a retrospective case-control study of Mayo Clinic bariatric surgery patients from January 1, 2016, to January 31, 2018.

HYPOPHOSPHATASIA: CLINICAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT IN THE ADULT PATIENT-A NARRATIVE REVIEW.

Objective: To review literature and present a schematic approach to hypophosphatasia (HPP) evaluation and management applicable to practicing physicians to ease its recognition and diagnosis.

Methods: Studies were obtained from online databases PubMed and MEDLINE using keyword 'hypophosphatasia.'

Results: HPP is a rare disease characterized by low serum alkaline phosphatase along with diverse musculoskeletal symptoms that mimic different disorders.

Outcome and predictive factors in post-stroke seizures: A retrospective case-control study.

Purpose: To evaluate clinical, radiographic, and electrophysiological features in the development and prognosis of ischemic post-stroke seizures (PSS).

Method: A retrospective study of 1119 patient records was performed between January 2006 and December 2016. After selection, 42 patients with seizures due to ischemic stroke were matched to a control group of 60 patients where seizures were absent.