Predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients treated with convalescent plasma therapy.

Several options to treat hospitalized severe COVID-19 patients have been suggested. The study aimed to describe survival in patients treated with convalescent COVID plasma (CCP) and to identify in-hospital mortality predictors. This prospective cohort study examined data from 112 severe COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the Corona Departments in an acute care hospital who received two units of CCP (at least one of them high-titer).

Decreased nocturnal glucose variability in non-diabetic patients with sleep apnea: a pilot study.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea has been sho be associated with impaired glucose metabolism and overt diabetes mellitus. However, the effect of hypoxic episodes on nocturnal glucose regulation in non-diabetic patients is unknown.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of hypoxemia and nocturnal glucose homeosatsis in non-diabetic patients with sleep apnea.

[Recurrent hospitalizations due to false positive troponin in a patient presenting with chest pain].

A 58 year old male patient was hospitalized numerous times due to an elevated troponin I level in spite of the absence of specific chest pain and ischemic changes on ECG. The patient had undergone two coronary angiography procedures and numerous cardiac studies without evidence of ischemic heart disease. The elevated troponin level remained unchanged in between hospitalizations while the patient was asymptomatic.

Feasibility and safety of multiple daily insulin injections in general medicine wards.

Aim: Intravenous insulin improves clinical outcome in patients hospitalized in intensive care units. Whether glucose control with multiple daily subcutaneous insulin injections (MDI) is beneficial in patients hospitalized in general medical wards is unknown. We tested the feasibility, safety and efficacy of glucose control with MDI in diabetic patients hospitalized in a general medicine ward.

Acute psychotic stress is associated with decreased adiponectin serum levels.

Objective: To determine the effect of acute psychotic stress on adipokine secretion in non-diabetic subjects.

Research Design And Methods: Adiponectin, leptin, and cortisol serum levels were determined in 39 non-diabetic patients with acute psychotic stress reaction admitted to a psychiatric ward. The clinical global impression (CGI) score was used to evaluate the level of psychotic stress.

Successful treatment of prolonged agranulocytosis caused by acute parvovirus B19 infection with intravenous immunoglobulins.

A 21-year-old previously healthy male presented with prolonged fever of 3 weeks duration and profound agranulocytosis that did not respond to treatment with granulocyte-stimulating factors. A bone marrow biopsy demonstrated an absence of myeloid lineage. Acute parvovirus B19 infection was diagnosed by the presence of both IgM and IgG anti-parvovirus antibodies.

Psychological stress and new onset diabetes.

The precise role of psychological stress in mediating the development of various forms of diabetes is controversial. Recent data from animal studies and large epidemiological studies in humans provide strong linkage between psychological stress and diabetes. This review focuses on the current evidence linking T1DM and T2DM and psychological stress and illustrates the inherent difficulty in overcoming this controversial issue.

Effect of acute psychotic stress in nondiabetic subjects on beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity.

Objective: To determine the effect of acute psychotic stress on glucose homeostasis in nondiabetic subjects.

Research Design And Methods: Beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity were determined by the homeostasis model assessment in 39 nondiabetic patients with acute psychotic stress reaction admitted to a psychiatric ward. The clinical global impression (CGI) score was used to evaluate the level of psychological stress.

[Anticoagulant treatment in pericardial effusion--a therapeutic dilemma].

Anticoagulant treatment for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and pericardial effusion is controversial, since the treatment might cause hemopericardium and tamponade. On the other hand, anticoagulants are strongly indicated in many situations in AMI, including: left ventricular thrombus, unstable angina, severe heart failure, deep vein thrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation, as part of thrombolytic treatment, and during cardiac catheterization. We describe a 70-year-old man who presented with both pericardial effusion and a left ventricular thrombus 3 weeks after an extensive, anterior wall AMI.

[Terbinafine-induced cholestatic liver injury].

A 43-year-old man presented with weakness, pruritus, skin rash and jaundice 2 weeks after treatment for onychomycosis with terbinafine (Lamisil) was started. Liver function tests showed combined hepatocellular and cholestatic injury. Ultrasound examination, computerized tomography and ERCP excluded extrahepatic obstruction.

Effect of exercise training on glomerular filtration rate of mice with various degrees of renal mass reduction.

We studied the effect of repeated heavy physical activity on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in healthy, uninephrectomized and experimentally uremic mice. Exercise consisted of running uphill in the inner surface of a rotating cylinder in ideal environmental temperature. In the control groups, no extra physical activity was imposed.