Comparison of 12- to 24-Hour Versus 72-Hour Intravenous Terlipressin in Patients With Acute Esophageal Variceal Bleeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

To compare the efficacy and safety of 12-24 hours versus 72 hours of intravenous terlipressin therapy in patients with acute esophageal variceal bleeding (AVB). A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Web of Science, VHL, and ClinicalTrials.gov for studies published up to February 24, 2024.

Impact of Total Body Surface Area Burn Injuries on Clinical Outcomes and Comorbidities in Elderly Patients Aged Over 65.

Introduction: Burn injuries are associated with high mortality and morbidity, especially in the elderly population. Although burns are preventable, they account for the fourth most common cause of trauma worldwide. The majority of the mortality associated with burn victims is also seen in the elderly age group.

Cutaneous Plasmacytosis: A Rare Dermatological Condition Mimicking Systemic Plasma Cell Disorders.

Cutaneous plasmacytosis (CP) is a rare condition characterized by benign proliferation of mature plasma cells in the skin. It presents as reddish-brown macules, papules, or plaques, typically located on the neck, face, and trunk. The etiology remains unknown, though it is believed to be reactive rather than malignant.

Functional Deficits in Non-elite Soccer (Football) Players: A Strength, Balance, and Movement Quality Assessment After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) is the gold standard for treating ACL injuries, particularly in soccer players who are at a high risk of knee injury. While professional athletes often return to sport (RTS) within 7-10 months after ACLR, non-elite players experience significant delays. There is a need to investigate neuromuscular deficits and functional asymmetries in the non-elite group, which may persist even after clearance for RTS.

Prosthetic Joint Infection by Streptococcus lutetiensis (Bovis) With Noncancerous Polyps and Negative Blood Cultures: A Case Report.

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI), caused by Streptococcus bovis group (SBG), is uncommon and related to colorectal cancer. We present here a case of an 84-year-old male who had a past medical history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension, iron deficiency anemia, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, gout, hypertension, bilateral knee replacement with left knee pain and swelling. We initially suspected gout and treated him with prednisolone, but it did not relieve him.

Nitrous Oxide-Induced Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Myelopathy in Whippets Abusers: A Report of Two Cases.

Whippets abuse, prevalent among recreational drug users, poses significant health risks, particularly through the inactivation of vitamin B12 by nitrous oxide (NO). This deficiency can lead to myelopathy, resulting in serious neurological complications. We present two female patients, aged 22 and 35, with a history of regular whippet use over the past three years, who exhibited clinical symptoms of myelopathy, including motor weakness, rigidity, sensory changes, and gait abnormalities.

A Case Report of Acute Pancreatitis in Food-Induced Anaphylaxis.

Food allergy-induced pancreatitis is a rare condition that presents unique diagnostic challenges. While acute pancreatitis (AP) is typically linked to factors such as gallstones, alcohol consumption, metabolic issues, medications, and autoimmune conditions, food allergies are seldom considered a potential cause. Diagnosing food allergy-induced pancreatitis often requires a high index of suspicion and the exclusion of more common causes of pancreatitis.

The Great Controversy of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment for Cardiovascular Risk Benefit: Advancing the Science Through Expert Consensus. An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report.

The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is on the rise, driven by various factors including more sensitive diagnostic criteria, increased awareness, enhanced technology through at-home testing enabling easy and cost-effective diagnosis, and a growing incidence of comorbid conditions such as obesity. Treating symptomatic patients with OSA syndrome to enhance quality of life remains a cornerstone approach. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding treatment to improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes, particularly in light of overall negative results from several randomized controlled trials (RCT) indicating no benefit of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy on primary and secondary CVD events.

A Case of Bilateral Carotid Body Tumors Requiring Surgical Resection: The Importance of Physical Exams.

We present the case of a 61-year-old man who presented to his primary care provider for a routine visit and was found to have a pulsatile mass in his right neck. This case report shows the importance of a thorough physical exam during patient visits. In this case, the physical exam resulted in the diagnosis of a carotid body tumor (CBT) prior to the patient becoming symptomatic from it.

Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis Associated With IgA Nephropathy and C3 Deposits in a Patient With Chronic Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B-associated glomerulonephritis (GN) has been recognized for decades. However, only a few cases of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in a setting of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) associated with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) have been described. Herein, we report the case of a 42-year-old Asian female with a past medical history significant for chronic HBV on entecavir, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and newly diagnosed breast cancer, who underwent elective bilateral mastectomy and breast augmentation.

Top-100 Highest Cited Articles on Posterior Communicating Artery Aneurysms: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the 100 most highly cited articles assessing posterior communicating artery aneurysms.

Methods: In May 2024, a comprehensive search was conducted in the Scopus database using the keyword "posterior communicating artery aneurysm" The top-100 most impactful articles were ranked by citation count and analyzed for relevant factors. Citations per year were calculated to minimize the risk of bias.

Mortality Risk Factors in Appalachian Burn Patients: A 13-Year Retrospective Study.

Introduction Burn injuries pose a significant public health challenge globally, with Appalachia facing unique obstacles due to its rugged terrain, economic disparities, and limited access to healthcare. Understanding mortality risk factors specific to Appalachian burn patients is crucial for optimizing treatment approaches in this underserved population. Materials and methods A retrospective analysis of burn patient data from Cabell Huntington Hospital's burn intensive care unit (BICU) over 13 years was conducted.

Isolated Trigeminal Mononeuropathy: A Possible COVID-19 Sequelae.

COVID-19 infections have been linked with multiple neurological manifestations. One of the infrequent complications of post-COVID-19 infection is trigeminal neuropathy. Despite its infrequency, few cases of trigeminal neuropathy following COVID-19 infection have been documented in the literature.

Pure Sensory Thalamic Stroke Presenting As Hemiballismus: A Case Report.

Strokes are a major cause of morbidity and mortality across the globe. An ischemic stroke of thalamic origin should be considered if a patient presents with a set of non-localizing symptoms such as speech issues, sensory abnormalities, chorea-like movements, ataxia and confusion that cannot be explained by a single lesion. A 78-year-old female with a past medical history of hypertension and smoking developed right-hand numbness and ataxia that progressively worsened to numbness of the entire right side of the body and right-arm hemiballismus.

A Unique Case of Gastric Band Tubing Eroding Into the Vaginal Cuff.

We present here the case of a woman in her 40s with a history of an adjustable gastric band placed a decade ago. After the initial procedure, she had issues with a port-site hernia, mesh placement, and explantation secondary to mesh infection. Her port was removed at the time, with the tubing left in situ with hopes of future salvage.

Intravenous Tenecteplase for Acute Ischemic Stroke During Active Menstruation.

We report a case of a 51-year-old female who presented to the emergency department with stroke symptoms within the time window for intravenous (IV) thrombolytic therapy. Her initial CT head imaging showed no evidence of acute changes and her CT perfusion demonstrated an area of ischemia in the left parieto-occipital region. While she had no absolute contraindications for IV tenecteplase (TNK), she was actively menstruating at the time, which could represent a relative contraindication due to increased bleeding risk from a site that would not be easily compressible.

Resolution of Sigmoid Esophagus After Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band Removal.

Pseudoachalasia is a known complication following a gastric band placement that is reversible with band removal. However, the development of a sigmoid esophagus is uncommon. Sigmoid esophagus is considered late-stage achalasia and is associated with worse outcomes with myotomy compared to earlier-stage achalasia.

Benzathine Penicillin G Shortage and Secondary Syphilis.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium . This disease is characterized by four different stages, each presenting with a variety of manifestations or asymptomatic disease. These stages can be further broken down into early-stage syphilis, which includes primary and secondary syphilis, and late-stage syphilis, which includes tertiary syphilis.

Enhancing Heart Failure Diagnosis Accuracy and Distinguishing It From Other Pulmonary Conditions: A Retrospective Case Series Study Leveraging the HeartLogic Parameters.

Introduction Heart failure (HF) poses a substantial and escalating medical and economic challenge, marked by significant morbidity and mortality. It stands as the primary cause of hospital admissions among the elderly, contributing significantly to healthcare expenditures in developed nations. Evaluating cardiac and pulmonary function remains challenging, necessitating careful interpretation to mitigate misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.

Neutralizing and binding antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 with hybrid immunity in pregnancy.

Hybrid immunity against SARS-CoV-2 has not been well studied in pregnancy. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of neutralizing antibodies (nAb) and binding antibodies in pregnant individuals who received mRNA vaccination, natural infection, or both. A third vaccine dose augmented nAb levels compared to the two-dose regimen or natural infection alone; this effect was more pronounced in hybrid immunity.