Randomized controlled trial transfusing convalescent plasma as post-exposure prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: The efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 convalescent plasma (CCP) for preventing infection in exposed, uninfected individuals is unknown. We hypothesized that CCP might prevent infection when administered before symptoms or laboratory evidence of infection.

Methods: This double-blinded, phase 2 randomized, controlled trial (RCT) compared the efficacy and safety of prophylactic high titer (≥1:320) CCP with standard plasma.

Ventricular fibrillation arrest due to Brugada syndrome in a coronavirus disease 2019 patient with negative procainamide challenge: a case report.

Background: Pharmacologic challenge test is often used to diagnose Brugada syndrome (BrS) when spontaneous electrocardiograms (ECG) do not show type I Brugada pattern but reported sensitivity varies. The role of the exercise stress test in diagnosing Brugada syndrome is not well-established.

Case Summary: A patient had a type I Brugada pattern ECG during the recovery phase of exercise stress test but had a negative procainamide challenge test.

Thrombolytic Therapy in the Oldest Old: Successful Alteplase Administration in a 105-Year-Old Female With Ischemic Stroke.

The elderly have a higher incidence of ischemic stroke along with higher mortality and morbidity compared to their younger counterparts. However, though studies have included people >85 or 90 years of age, there haven't been reports of many individuals above 100 years of age. Among the oldest old, the oldest age studied for alteplase administration is possibly 101 years.

A focused review on Lyme disease diagnostic testing: An update on serology algorithms, current ordering practices, and practical considerations for laboratory implementation of a new testing algorithm.

Lyme borreliosis or Lyme disease (LD) is the most prevalent tick-borne illness in the United States. Diagnosing LD can be challenging as symptoms can be nonspecific and the ability of laboratory tests to detect infection varies based on the duration of infection and the methodology used. To date, serology testing is the primary laboratory tool employed to aid in diagnosing LD.

Cervical cancer screening and treatment capacity: A survey of members of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC).

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Africa, and in half of the sub-Saharan African countries, it is the most common cancer. Currently, there are scarce resources and limited infrastructure to support cervical cancer screening and treatment in many African countries.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the capacity of cervical cancer screening and treatment among members of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC).

A Pilot Study Of Aspirin Resistance In Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients.

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) leads to endothelial dysfunction and platelet hyperactivity, which are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and implicated in the development of aspirin resistance. We hypothesized that aspirin resistance is prevalent among OSA patients and aimed to explore effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on aspirin responsiveness. Methods: In Phase 1, prevalence of aspirin resistance was determined cross-sectionally in a group of OSA patients (n=59) on daily low-dose aspirin (81 mg) taken before entering the study, for primary or secondary prevention.

The Rise and Fall of Percutaneous Cholecystostomy in a Community Hospital: Is It Possible to Turn the Tide of History?

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard for treatment of acute cholecystitis. Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) drains are alternatives to cholecystectomy in critically ill patients in whom surgery carries an unacceptably high risk. Recently, several studies demonstrated a significant increase in complications in patients undergoing PC in comparison to laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Racial Disparities and Upward Trend in Bowel Preparation for Elective Colectomy in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Procedure Targeted Dataset: 2012 to 2018.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to assess trends in bowel preparation among patients who had elective colectomy between 2012 and 2018. The secondary objective was to assess patient and procedure-related factors predictive of bowel preparation use or lack thereof.

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated that bowel preparation before elective colorectal surgery can reduce the risk of postoperative complications.

Parasitic leiomyoma causing small bowel perforation: A case report.

Background: Parasitic leiomyomas are rare extra-uterine tumors that can be seen in patients after myomectomy or morcellation of leiomyomas.

Case: A 63-year-old woman with a history of abdominal myomectomy 20 years prior presented with worsening abdominal distension and pain for the past eight months. The patient delayed care due to fear of the COVID-19 pandemic and was found to have a 42 cm parasitic leiomyoma attached to the small bowel causing obstruction and perforation.

Bleeding in Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancer Compared With Nongastrointestinal Cancer Treated With Apixaban, Rivaroxaban, or Enoxaparin for Acute Venous Thromboembolism.

Objective: To compare the bleeding risk in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer with that in patients with non-GI cancer treated with anticoagulation for acute cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (Ca-VTE).

Patients And Methods: Consecutive patients with Ca-VTE seen at the Mayo Thrombophilia Clinic between March 1, 2013, and April 20, 2020, were observed prospectively to assess major bleeding and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding (CRNMB).

Results: In the group of 1392 patients with Ca-VTE, 499 (35.

Invasive Fungal Infection Complicating Treatment With Ibrutinib.

Ibrutinib is a selective Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) approved for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other B-cell malignancies. Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) have recently been reported in patients on BTKis despite the absence of significant immunocompromise raising great interest among oncologists regarding the mechanism by which BTKi's permit fungal infections. Here, we describe a fatal case of cerebral aspergillosis in a patient with relapsed CLL while on treatment with ibrutinib.

Early versus Late Surgical Decompression for Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury on Neurological Recovery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study aimed to investigate whether early surgical decompression was associated with favorable neurological recovery in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI). We searched PubMed and Embase from the database inception through December 2020 and selected studies comparing the impact of early versus late surgical decompression on neurological recovery as assessed by American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) for adult patients sustaining tSCI. We pooled the effect estimates in random-effects models and quantified the heterogeneity by the statistics.

Comparative immunogenicity of decellularized wild type and alpha 1,3 galactosyltransferase knockout pig lungs.

Decellularized pig lungs recellularized with human lung cells offer a novel approach for organ transplantation. However, the potential immunogenicity of decellularized pig lungs following exposure to human tissues has not been assessed. We found that exposure of native lungs from wildtype and transgenic pigs lacking alpha (1,3)-galactosyltransferase (α-gal KO) to sera from normal healthy human volunteers demonstrated similar robust IgM and IgG immunoreactivity, comparably decreased in decellularized lungs.

Gastrointestinal bleeding is associated with higher in-hospital mortality, longer length of stay and higher cost in patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) carries a high mortality and significant morbidity in survivors. Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) can complicate cardiac arrests. We aim to study the association between GIB and the in-hospital outcomes of patients with IHCA.

Operating-Room Procedures Do Not Increase Risk of COVID-19 Infection.

Background And Objectives: Operating-room procedures canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic depleted hospital revenue and potentially worsened patient outcomes through disease progression. Despite safeguards to resume elective procedures, patients remain apprehensive of contracting COVID-19 during hospitalization and recovery. We investigated symptomatic COVID-19 infection in patients undergoing operating-room procedures during the spring 2020 outbreak in Fairfield County, CT, a heavily affected New York Metropolitan area.

Case Report: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in a patient with COVID-19.

With the spread of the novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide and associated high incidence of thromboembolic complications, the use of heparin is on the rise. It therefore is crucial to identify patients with contraindications for heparin. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a life-threatening complication of exposure to heparin.

Repeated Endovascular Interventions Are Worthwhile, Even After Thrombosis, to Maintain Long-Term Use of Autogenous Dialysis Fistulas.

Objectives: Patients often require multiple access re-interventions to improve fistula patency and the overall usable lifespan of autogenous arteriovenous fistula (aAVF). There is no consensus on the appropriate number of re-interventions after which an access should be abandoned and new access placed. We evaluated whether repeated endovascular interventions for failing/failed aAVF are worthwhile or futile.

Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors on Glycemic Control and Incident Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Context: Whether proton pump inhibitors (PPI) can improve glycemic control among individuals with diabetes or decrease the risk of incident diabetes in the general population is unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of PPI therapy on glycemic control among individuals with diabetes and the risk of diabetes among those without diabetes.

Results: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.

Remote Electrical Neuromodulation (REN) for the Acute Treatment of Menstrual Migraine: a Retrospective Survey Study of Effectiveness and Tolerability.

Introduction: Migraine is one of the most prevalent neurological disorders worldwide, and estimations are that 60% of women who suffer from migraines experience attacks that are associated with menstruation. Menstrual migraines are typically more debilitating and less responsive to pharmacological treatment. Remote electrical neuromodulation (REN) is a non-pharmacological abortive treatment of migraine headache.

Undifferentiated Pancreatic Carcinoma With Osteoclast-Like Giant Cells and Associated Ductal Adenocarcinoma With Focal Signet-Ring Features.

Undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (UPC-OGC) is a unique and rare tumor characterized by the presence of highly atypical carcinoma cells and non-neoplastic osteoclast-like giant cells. The histogenesis of this tumor is unclear and data on its prognosis remain controversial. Some data show poor clinical outcomes in affected patients while other more recent studies report a better outcome especially for cases with pure UPC-OGC.

A retrospective study on the therapeutic effects of sodium bicarbonate for adult in-hospital cardiac arrest.

To investigate whether the effects of sodium bicarbonate (SB) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) would be influenced by blood pH and administration timing. Adult patients experiencing in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) from 2006 to 2015 were retrospectively screened. Early intra-arrest blood gas data were obtained within 10 min of CPR.

An Update on Survivorship Issues in Lung Cancer Patients.

Recent advances in lung cancer therapeutics and screening have led to increased numbers of lung cancer survivors. Most survivors have undergone invasive treatment (surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy) and carry a high comorbidity burden. Overall quality of life suffers during the evaluation, treatment and follow-up phase, with the potential for long-term decline.

A case report of COVID-19 infection and management during pregnancy.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which started in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and progressed to a pandemic affecting over 210 countries and territories including the United States. The severity of symptoms range from mild to critical disease involving multi-organ failure; however, many pregnant COVID-19 patients have mild symptoms. The understanding of COVID-19 is evolving and there is limited data about its effects in pregnancy.

Delayed anticoagulation in venous thromboembolism: Reasons and associated outcomes.

Objective: We assessed the number of cases with delayed anticoagulation initiation, explored the reasons for the delay, and its impact on outcome in patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) treated in an organized setting of treatment initiation and continuous, prospective follow-up.

Methods: Patients with anticoagulation initiation delay >24 hours were identified within the cohort of patients with acute VTE enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Venous Thromboembolism Registry between 2013 and 2020. The reasons for treatment delay were explored by reviewing the electronic database.