Effect of Masking Secondary to the COVID-19 Pandemic on Functional Capacity Improvement in Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Purpose: Given the difficulty to perform exercise training wearing a mask, we examined differences in functional capacity improvement between masking during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and non-masking prior to the pandemic for patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation (CR).

Methods: Records of 660 patients who underwent and completed ≥ 18 sessions of CR in 2018 (n = 318, non-masking) and in 2022 (n = 342, masking) at an academic health system were analyzed. The primary outcome was post-CR change in functional capacity in metabolic equivalents (MET) measured by exercise stress test.

Clinical Risk Factors for Infective Endocarditis in Bacteremia.

Crucial to the management of staphylococcal bacteremia is an accurate evaluation of associated endocarditis, which has both therapeutic and prognostic implications. Because the clinical presentation of endocarditis can be nonspecific, the judicious use of echocardiography is important in distinguishing patients at high risk of developing endocarditis. In the presence of high-risk clinical features, an early transesophageal echocardiogram is warranted without prior transthoracic echocardiography.

Rheumatoid arthritis-associated corneal ulceration with superimposed infection by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a complicated type of corneal melt.

Background: Severe extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis usually occur in advanced stages of the disease. In particular, ocular involvement may lead to inflammatory corneal ulceration, in which therapy is challenging owing to its association with systemic vasculitis. Close collaboration between ophthalmologists and rheumatologists is paramount in providing the best treatment approach in this sight-threatening condition.

Recurrent silent thyroiditis as a sequela of postpartum thyroiditis.

Thyroiditis encompasses a group of disorders characterized by thyroid inflammation. Though clinically indistinguishable from silent thyroiditis, postpartum thyroiditis occurs in women within 12 months after delivery. Recurrent postpartum thyroiditis in subsequent pregnancies is common, but recurrent silent thyroiditis is rare.

Finding the missing link in neuromyelitis optica presenting with recurrent transverse myelitis flares.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a distinct clinical entity from multiple sclerosis with its own clinical, laboratory and pathological characteristics. Definitive diagnosis of NMO is challenging at times as there can be a long interval between the occurrence of the index event and other neurological deficits which would fulfill the diagnostic criteria. Detection of NMO antibody could serve as an early marker in the disease progression.

Atypical presentation of an advanced obstructive biliary cancer without jaundice.

Patient: Female, 60 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Cholangiocarcinoma Symptoms: Abdominal pain • abdominal discomfort

Medication: - Clinical Procedure: - Specialty: Oncology.

Objective: Unusual natural history/clinical course.

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma remains to be a challenging case to diagnose and manage as it usually presents in advanced stage and survival rate remains dismal despite the medical breakthroughs.

Microbiology and antibiotic susceptibility of organisms in bile cultures from patients with and without cholangitis at an Asian academic medical center.

Purpose: To review the epidemiology of microbial isolates from bile cultures taken from patients with and without cholangitis admitted to an Asian academic medical center in order to compare antimicrobial sensitivities and to make recommendations for empiric antimicrobial therapy of patients with cholangitis in the Philippines.

Methods: Routine aerobic bile culture results and corresponding clinical abstracts of surgical patients admitted to an academic medical center over a three-year period were analyzed.

Results: The series consisted of 125 patients, 77 with cholangitis (62%) and 48 (38%) without, which was determined according to the Tokyo Guidelines.

Clinical and microbiological spectrum of necrotizing fasciitis in surgical patients at a Philippine university medical centre.

Objective: The study describes the clinical characteristics, bacteriology and risk factors for mortality of patients with necrotizing fasciitis (NF), seen in a university medical centre.

Methods: The medical charts of NF patients admitted to the institution from January 2004 to July 2007 were retrieved and reviewed retrospectively.

Results: The majority of the 67 patients included in the study presented with localized nonspecific inflammatory manifestations: tenderness (94%), warmth (86%), oedema (76%), skin necrosis (75%), and ulceration (68%).