Medical Specialties Commons^™

Longitudinally Extensive Transverse Myelitis: A Sub-Saharan Conundrum, Antonina Obayo, Sylvia Mbugua, Sayed Karar

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Spinal cord schistosomiasis is a rare, underdiagnosed manifestation of schistosomiasis. We present the case of a 36-year-old male who presented to our institution with a one-week history of low back pain with rapidly progressive lower limb weakness, loss of sensation, and flaccid paraparesis. An MRI of the spine showed a longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis from T6 to L1, with enhancement at the cauda equina region. Further review of the images and serological tests eventually led to diagnosis of spinal schistosomiasis. He was treated with praziquantel and high-dose steroids, with minimal improvement in his symptoms.

Tracheostomy While On Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Comparison Of Percutaneous And Open Procedures, Ismael A Salas De Armas, Kha Dinh, Bindu Akkanti, Pushan Jani, Reshma Hussain, Lisa Janowiak, Kayla Kutilek, Manish K Patel, Mehmet H Akay, Rahat Hussain, Jayeshkumar Patel, Chandni Patel, Yafen Liang, John Zaki, Biswajit Kar, Igor D Gregoric

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Although the ideal timing of tracheostomy for critically ill patients is controversial, transitioning from an endotracheal tube can be beneficial. Concerns arise for patients under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Studies have described percutaneous and open tracheostomy approaches for critically ill patients but, to our knowledge, have not compared the two specifically in ECMO patients. This study analyzed safety and aimed to identify if there was a difference in major bleeding or other tracheostomy-associated complications. A single-center retrospective cohort study of all patients who received tracheostomy while on ECMO from July 2013 to May 2019 was completed. The primary endpoint …

Acute Ischemic Stroke As The Presenting Feature Of Covid-19 In The Young And Pregnant, Nermila A. Ballmick, Jiri F. Kubac, Hossein Akhondi

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an emerging and rapidly evolving public health issue that has become globally widespread and an overwhelming pandemic. Clinical manifestations of the disease include asymptomatic carrier states, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and even multiorgan dysfunction. Here, we present a unique and rare case of an acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in an asymptomatic pregnant woman with no predisposing medical illnesses.

Discussion: An 18-year-old G2P1 African American woman at 7 weeks gestational age with no significant medical or family history presenting to the Emergency Department during the initial phases of the pandemic with complaints of new onset left …

Development, Implementation And Outcomes Of A Quality Assurance System For The Provision Of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy In The Intensive Care Unit, Eloy F. Ruiz, Victor M. Ortiz-Soriano, Monica Talbott, Bryan A. Klein, Melissa L. Thompson Bastin, Kirby P. Mayer, Emily B. Price, Robert Dorfman, Brandi N. Adams, Lisa J. Fryman, Javier A. Neyra, The University Of Kentucky Crrt Quality Assurance Group

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Critically ill patients with requirement of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) represent a growing intensive care unit (ICU) population. Optimal CRRT delivery demands continuous communication between stakeholders, iterative adjustment of therapy, and quality assurance systems. This Quality Improvement (QI) study reports the development, implementation and outcomes of a quality assurance system to support the provision of CRRT in the ICU. This study was carried out at the University of Kentucky Medical Center between September 2016 and June 2019. We implemented a quality assurance system using a step-wise approach based on the (a) assembly of a multidisciplinary team, (b) standardization of …

Effects Of Left Ventricular Assist Device On Pulmonary Functions And Pulmonary Hemodynamics: A Meta-Analysis, Waqas Ullah, Casey Meizinger, Zain Ali, Ankur Panchal, Rehan Saeed, Donald C. Haas, Eduardo Rame

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

BACKGROUND: Given current evidence, the effect of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation on pulmonary function tests remains controversial.

AIM: To better understand the factors contributing to the changes seen on pulmonary function testing and the correlation with pulmonary hemodynamics after LVAD implantation.

METHODS: Electronic databases were queried to identify relevant articles. The summary effect size was estimated as a difference of overall means and standard deviation on a random-effects model.

RESULTS: A total of four studies comprising 219 patients were included. The overall mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusion lung capacity …

Medical Therapy Vs Early Revascularization In Diabetics With Chronic Total Occlusions: A Meta-Analysis And Systematic Review, Muhammad Shayan Khan, Farhad Sami, Hemindermeet Singh, Waqas Ullah, Ma'en Al-Dabbas, Khalid Hamid Changal, Tanveer Mir, Zain Ali, Ameer Kabour

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

BACKGROUND: Management of chronic total occlusions (CTO) in diabetics is challenging, with a recent trend towards early revascularization [ER: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and bypass grafting] instead of optimal medical therapy (OMT). We hypothesize that ER improves morbidity and mortality outcomes in diabetic patients with CTOs as compared to OMT.

AIM: To determine the long term clinical outcomes and to compare morbidity and mortality between OMT and ER in diabetic patients with CTOs.

METHODS: Potentially relevant published clinical trials were identified in Medline, Embase, chemical abstracts and Biosis (from start of the databases till date) and pooled hazard ratios (HR) …

The Effect Of Mock Code Blue Simulations And Dedicated Advanced Cardiac Life Support Didactics On Resident Perceived Competency., Dallis Q Ngo, Christina Vu, Thien Nguyen, Patricia Sotolongo, Manika Talati, Nikki Zahabi, Katrina Platt

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

In-hospital cardiac or pulmonary arrest is associated with high mortality. In the USA, approximately 200,000 of these events occur and are associated with overall survival rates of 18%-20%. Despite advances in resuscitative methods, the probability of intact survival also remains unfavorable. Though many factors play a role, we believe a large portion of a patient's survival is dependent on the competency of the leader of the code blue or resuscitative team's efforts. Newly minted physicians who enter medical training in their respective residencies are equipped with a wide range of clinical competency in regards to hands-on experience and aptitude with …

Impact Of Diabetes On The Gut And Salivary Iga Microbiomes, Eric L Brown, Heather T Essigmann, Kristi L Hoffman, Noah W Palm, Sarah M Gunter, Joel M Sederstrom, Joseph F Petrosino, Goo Jun, David Aguilar, William B Perkison, Craig L Hanis, Herbert L Dupont

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mucosal surfaces like those present in the lung, gut, and mouth interface with distinct external environments. These mucosal gateways are not only portals of entry for potential pathogens but also homes to microbial communities that impact host health. Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) is the single most abundant acquired immune component secreted onto mucosal surfaces and, via the process of immune exclusion, shapes the architecture of these microbiomes. Not all microorganisms at mucosal surfaces are targeted by SIgA; therefore, a better understanding of the SIgA-coated fraction may identify the microbial constituents that stimulate host immune responses in the context of health …

Lung Nodule In A Patient With Multiple Myeloma, William C Harding, Mathieu Marcoux, Roberto F Casal, Lara Bashoura, John Stewart, Hans C Lee, Saadia A Faiz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Patient Experience Rounds (Per): Real-Time Feedback To Improve The Patient Experience And Quality Of Care, Amber Moore, Caroline Moore, Lydia Bunker, Barbara Sarnoff

Patient Experience Journal

While patient feedback is critical to improving the patient experience and clinical care, we are currently limited in our ability to collect feedback in real-time from hospitalized patients. This paper describes our experience and outcomes implementing Patient Experience Rounds (PER). Our model uses trained former patients or family members as volunteers to collect feedback in real-time. Through this feedback, we were able to identify areas for improvement, make adjustments in the moment, and provide targeted feedback to providers. A total of 321 patient encounters were recorded by eight PER advisors. Nursing staff received the highest percentage of positive comments. 49% …

Risk Factors For Intensive Care Unit Admission And Mortality In Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients, Ahmed Ayaz, Ainan Arshad, Hajra Malik, Haris Ali, Erfan Hussain, Bushra Jamil

Medical College Documents

Background: This study investigated the clinical features and outcome of hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients admitted to our quaternary care hospital.
Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we included all adult patients with COVID-19 infection admitted to a quaternary care hospital in Pakistan from March 1 to April 15, 2020. The extracted variables included demographics, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, laboratory tests and radiological findings during admission. Outcome measures included in-hospital mortality and length of stay.
Results: Sixty-six COVID-19 patients were hospitalized during the study period. Sixty-one percent were male and 39% female; mean age was 50.6±19.1 years. Fever and cough …

Vasopressin In Conjunction With Norepinephrine In Septic Shock: A Retrospective Cohort Study From A Low Middle-Income Country, Hussain Ahmed Raza, Ainan Arshad, Ahmed Ayaz, Mohummad H R. Raja, Fatima Gohar, Maria Khan, Bushra Jamil

Medical College Documents

Objectives: Guidelines recommend use of norepinephrine as the first-line treatment for fluid-refractory septic shock and if septic shock persists vasopressin may be initiated. Since there are limited data from low middle-income countries with high disease burden of sepsis, we aimed to compare the outcomes of using vasopressin adjunct to norepinephrine in comparison with norepinephrine alone.
Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Setting: Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
Patients: Six-hundred fifty-three patients diagnosed with septic shock from January 2019 to December 2019, with 498 given norepinephrine only and 155 given norepinephrine-vasopressin combination.
Interventions: None.
Measurements and main results: Primary outcome was in-hospital …

Can Charcoal Improve Outcomes In Covid-19 Infections?, Zeid J. Khitan, Imran Khawaja, Maurice A. Mufson, Juan R. Sanabria, Nader G. Abraham, Stephen J. Peterson, Uma Sundaram, Joseph I. Shapiro

Internal Medicine

COVID-19 infection causes considerable morbidity and mortality, especially to those who are aged, have impaired renal function and are obese. We propose to examine the potential utility of oral activated charcoal with the hypothesis that such treatment would lower absorption of microbiome derived toxins and ameliorate systemic oxidant stress and inflammation.

Semiautomated Glasgow-Blatchford Bleeding Score Helps Direct Bed Placement For Patients With Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding., Drew B Schembre, Robson E Ely, Janice M Connolly, Kunjali T Padhya, Rohit Sharda, John J Brandabur

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

OBJECTIVE: The Glasgow-Blatchford Bleeding Score (GBS) was designed to identify patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) who do not require hospitalisation. It may also help stratify patients unlikely to benefit from intensive care.

DESIGN: We reviewed patients assigned a GBS in the emergency room (ER) via a semiautomated calculator. Patients with a score ≤7 (low risk) were directed to an unmonitored bed (UMB), while those with a score of ≥8 (high risk) were considered for MB placement. Conformity with guidelines and subsequent transfers to MB were reviewed, along with transfusion requirement, rebleeding, length of stay, need for intervention and death. …

Allogeneic Mesenchymal Cell Therapy In Anthracycline-Induced Cardiomyopathy Heart Failure Patients: The Cctrn Seneca Trial, Roberto Bolli, Emerson C Perin, James T Willerson, Phillip C Yang, Jay H Traverse, Timothy D Henry, Carl J Pepine, Raul D Mitrani, Joshua M Hare, Michael P Murphy, Keith L March, Sohail Ikram, David P Lee, Connor O'Brien, Jean-Bernard Durand, Kathy Miller, Joao A Lima, Mohammad R Ostovaneh, Bharath Ambale-Venkatesh, Adrian P Gee, Sara Richman, Doris A Taylor, Shelly L Sayre, Judy Bettencourt, Rachel W Vojvodic, Michelle L Cohen, Lara M Simpson, Dejian Lai, David Aguilar, Catalin Loghin, Lem Moyé, Ray F Ebert, Barry R Davis, Robert D Simari

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy (AIC) may be irreversible with a poor prognosis, disproportionately affecting women and young adults. Administration of allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (allo-MSCs) is a promising approach to heart failure (HF) treatment.

OBJECTIVES: SENECA (Stem Cell Injection in Cancer Survivors) was a phase 1 study of allo-MSCs in AIC.

METHODS: Cancer survivors with chronic AIC (mean age 56.6 years; 68% women; NT-proBNP 1,426 pg/ml; 6 enrolled in an open-label, lead-in phase and 31 subjects randomized 1:1) received 1 × 10

RESULTS: A total of 97% of subjects underwent successful study product injections; all allo-MSC-assigned subjects received the …

Postoperative Hypocalcemia Following Parathyroidectomy For Giant Parathyroid Adenoma, Rishi Raj, Adele Amine, Demetrios Herodotou

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective
Giant parathyroid adenomas (GPAs) are a rare type of parathyroid adenoma (PA) weighing > 2 to 3 g. The objective of this manuscript is to report a case of giant parathyroid adenoma and highlight the risk of postoperative hypocalcemia.

Methods
We describe the presentation and work-up of a woman with GPA confirmed with histopathology as well as management of postoperative hypocalcemia.

Results
A 66-year-old Caucasian female with chronic fatigue was found to have elevated calcium levels at 13.7 mg/dL (normal, 8.9 to 10.2 mg/dL) and elevated parathyroid hormone levels at 1,240 pg/mL (normal, 12 to 72 pg/mL). Contrast enhanced computed …

Overview Of Antiretropulsion Devices For Prevention Of Inadvertent Stone Migration During Pneumatic Lithotripsy For Ureteric Stone, Ali Akbar Zehri, Miten Patel, Philip Adebayo, Authar Ali

General Surgery, East Africa

The purpose of the present chapter is to provide an update about the use of preventive devices used to stop retrograde stone migration during pneumatic lithotripsy for ureteric stone management. The aim to reduce the cost, ancillary procedure, reduce the operative time and improve the stone free rate. The hunt for ideal cadget to stop retrograde stone migration is still continue in 21 century.

An International Study Exploring The Experience Of Survivors Of Critical Illness As Volunteers Within Icu Recovery Services, Carly Robinson, Elizabeth Hibbert, Anthony J. Bastin, Joel Meyer, Ashley A. Montgomery-Yates, Tara Quasim, Andrew Slack, Mark E. Mikkelsen, Theodore J. Iwashyna, Kimberly J. Haines, Carla M. Sevin, Joanne Mcpeake, Leanne M. Boehm

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Objectives:
Many clinicians have implemented follow-up and aftercare to support patients following ICU. Some of this care is supported and facilitated by peer volunteers. There is limited contemporary work that has explicitly explored volunteer roles within ICU recovery services or the experience of volunteers undertaking these roles. We sought to explore the experience of survivors of critical illness, as volunteers, involved in ICU recovery services and understand their motivation for undertaking these roles.

Design:
Qualitative exploration using in-depth semistructured interviews. The study design used an inductive content analysis process. We also documented the roles that were adopted by volunteers in …

Adverse Health Effects Associated With Household Air Pollution: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, And Burden Estimation Study, Kuan Ken Lee, Rong Bing, Joanne Kiang, Sophia Bashir, Nicholas Spath, Dominik Stelzle, Kevin Mortimer, Anda Bularga, Dimitrios Doudesis, Michael Chung

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: 3 billion people worldwide rely on polluting fuels and technologies for domestic cooking and heating. We estimate the global, regional, and national health burden associated with exposure to household air pollution.

Methods: For the systematic review and meta-analysis, we systematically searched four databases for studies published from database inception to April 2, 2020, that evaluated the risk of adverse cardiorespiratory, paediatric, and maternal outcomes from exposure to household air pollution, compared with no exposure. We used a random-effects model to calculate disease-specific relative risk (RR) meta-estimates. Household air pollution exposure was defined as use of polluting fuels (coal, wood, …

Variable Expression Of Msh6 In Endometrial Carcinomas With Intact Mismatch Repair And With Mlh1 Loss Due To Mlh1 Methylation, Nidhi Tandon, Courtney Hudgens, Bryan Fellman, Michael T Tetzlaff, Russell R Broaddus

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Immunohistochemistry for mismatch repair proteins MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 is an effective screen to detect individuals at risk for Lynch syndrome. College of American Pathologists guidelines stipulate that protein expression should be reported as present versus absent, as most patients with germline mutations in a mismatch repair gene have complete loss of protein expression in tumor cells. A similar approach is employed to screen for cancer patients eligible for immune checkpoint blockade. This "all or none" interpretive approach ignores substantial evidence that mismatch repair may be more finely regulated by other mechanisms. We have observed clinically that MSH6 expression …

A Case Of Plesiomonas Bacteremia Without Reported Freshwater Exposure, Abigail E. Mcdonald

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction: Plesiomonas shigelloides is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family generally found in freshwater. There is little substantive data about the prevalence or distribution of Plesiomonas within the United States. Plesiomonas are most commonly associated with mild, self-limited watery diarrhea among healthy individuals followed by infective colitis. Bacteremia is the most common extraintestinal manifestation of Plesiomonas. Few cases of Plesiomonas bacteremia can be found in the literature.

Clinical Findings: An elderly female with multiple comorbidities was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of generalized cramping abdominal pain of several days duration. She denied any freshwater or saltwater exposure. The …

Combating Acquired Resistance To Mapk Inhibitors In Melanoma By Targeting Abl1/2-Mediated Reactivation Of Mek/Erk/Myc Signaling, Rakshamani Tripathi, Zulong Liu, Aditi Jain, Anastasia Lyon, Christina Meeks, Dana Richards, Jinpeng Liu, Daheng He, Chi Wang, Marika Nespi, Andrey Rymar, Peng Wang, Melissa Wilson, Rina Plattner

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Metastatic melanoma remains an incurable disease for many patients due to the limited success of targeted and immunotherapies. BRAF and MEK inhibitors reduce metastatic burden for patients with melanomas harboring BRAF mutations; however, most eventually relapse due to acquired resistance. Here, we demonstrate that ABL1/2 kinase activities and/or expression are potentiated in cell lines and patient samples following resistance, and ABL1/2 drive BRAF and BRAF/MEK inhibitor resistance by inducing reactivation of MEK/ERK/MYC signaling. Silencing/inhibiting ABL1/2 blocks pathway reactivation, and resensitizes resistant cells to BRAF/MEK inhibitors, whereas expression of constitutively active ABL1/2 is sufficient to promote resistance. Significantly, nilotinib (2nd generation …

Salmonella Meningitis Complicated By Ventriculitis And Brain Abscesses In An Hiv Positive Adult Patient, Tamoor Ahmed, Taha Ahmed

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Salmonella meningitis is a rare complication of Salmonella sepsis and is mostly reported in infants and young children. The incidence of Salmonella bacteremia is increased in immunocompromised adult individuals, such as those having human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Ventriculitis and brain abscess as a complication of Salmonella intracranial infection is particularly rare, even in patients who are immunosuppressed. Herein, we report a case of Salmonella meningitis complicated by ventriculitis and two brain abscesses in an HIV positive adult patient requiring mini-craniectomy and drainage along with a prolonged course of antibiotic therapy with a favorable outcome.

Outcomes After In Utero Myelomeningocele Repair Based On Delivery Location, Eric P Bergh, Kuojen Tsao, Mary T Austin, Stephen A Fletcher, Suzanne M Lopez, Kenneth J Moise, Anthony Johnson, Ramesha Papanna

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Maternal and pediatric delivery outcomes may vary in patients who underwent open fetal myelomeningocele repair and elected to deliver at the fetal center where their fetal intervention was performed versus at the referring physician’s hospital. A prospective cohort study of 88 patients were evaluated following in utero open fetal myelomeningocele repair at a single fetal center between the years 2011–2019. Exclusion criteria included patients that delivered within two weeks of the procedure (n = 6), or if a patient was lost to follow-up (n = 1). Of 82 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 36 (44%) patients were delivered at …

Outcomes After In Utero Myelomeningocele Repair Based On Delivery Location, Eric P Bergh, Kuojen Tsao, Mary T Austin, Stephen A Fletcher, Suzanne M Lopez, Kenneth J Moise, Anthony Johnson, Ramesha Papanna

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Maternal and pediatric delivery outcomes may vary in patients who underwent open fetal myelomeningocele repair and elected to deliver at the fetal center where their fetal intervention was performed versus at the referring physician’s hospital. A prospective cohort study of 88 patients were evaluated following in utero open fetal myelomeningocele repair at a single fetal center between the years 2011–2019. Exclusion criteria included patients that delivered within two weeks of the procedure (n = 6), or if a patient was lost to follow-up (n = 1). Of 82 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 36 (44%) patients were delivered at …

The Difficult Clinical Decision Of Thrombolytic Therapy For Submassive Pulmonary Embolism In A Community Hospital., Qian Zhang, Jonathan Vayalumkal, John Ricely, Daniel L. Gray, Ahmad Raza

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

Submassive or intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when an acute PE episode is associated with radiographic evidence of right heart strain without hemodynamic instability. Further risk stratification is important in determining whether systemic thrombolytic therapy should be administered when weighing the risks and benefits. It includes the risk of death from acute PE versus the risk of bleeding. This decision could be further complicated in institutions where there is a lack of complete therapeutic options, which increases the importance of the expertise of a pulmonologist or an intensivist to decide whether rescue reperfusion is needed. We describe the case of …

Conference Proceedings: Aurora Scientific Day 2020

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Abstracts published in this supplement were among those presented at the 46th annual Aurora Scientific Day research symposium, held virtually on May 20, 2020. The symposium provides a forum for describing research studies conducted by faculty, fellows, residents, and allied health professionals affiliated with Wisconsin-based Aurora Health Care, a part of the Advocate Aurora Health health system, which publishes the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews.

Association Of Visceral Adipose Tissue And Subclinical Atherosclerosis In Us-Born Mexican Americans But Not First Generation Immigrants, Clarence Gill, Miryoung Lee, Kristina P Vatcheva, Nahid Rianon, Beverly Smulevitz, David D Mcpherson, Joseph B Mccormick, Susan P Fisher-Hoch, Susan T Laing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background Excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a primary driver for the cardiometabolic complications of obesity; VAT-associated cardiovascular disease risk varies by race, but most studies have been done on Non-Hispanics. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and metabolic correlates of VAT, its association with subclinical atherosclerosis, and the factors affecting this association in Mexican Americans. Methods and Results Participants (n=527) were drawn from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (CCHC), on whom a carotid ultrasound to assess carotid intima media thickness and a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan to assess for VAT were obtained. Those in the highest quartiles of …

Necrotizing Granulomas In A Construction Worker, Dylan Soller Do, Kaitlyn Musco Md, Christopher Lenivy Do, Joseph Shellenberg Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

An Unusual Case Of Evali With Recurrent Hemoptysis, Dylan Soller Do, Alaynna C. Kears Do, Kaitlin Buzard Do, Waqas Adeel Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.