Internal Medicine Commons^™

Long-Term Outcomes And Factors Associated With Mortality In Patients With Moderate To Severe Pulmonary Hypertension In Kenya, Mzee Ngunga, Abdulaziz Mansur Abeid, Jeilan Mohamed, Anders Barasa

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Pulmonary hypertension is poorly studied in Africa. The long-term survival rates and prognostic factors associated with mortality in patients with moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) in Africa are not well described.

Objectives: To determine the causes of moderate to severe PH in patients seen in contemporary hospital settings, determine the patients’ one-year survival and the factors associated with mortality following standard care.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients diagnosed with moderate to severe PH at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUHN) from August 2014 to July 2017 was carried out. Clinical and outcome data were collected …

Adrenocortical Carcinoma: A Stressful Diagnosis, Shabnam Khoie Do, Dmitriy Scherbak Do

Internal Medicine

Introduction: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and biologically aggressive malignancy. The incidence of ACC is between 0.7-2 cases per million, accounting for 0.05-2% of all malignant tumors. Cortisol-producing carcinomas are the most common, with clinical features consistent with hypercortisolism: refractory hypertension, glucose intolerance, and central obesity. We present a case of a 75-year-old male with a cortisol-secreting variant of adrenocortical carcinoma.

Case Description: A 75 year-old male with a prior medical history significant for refractory hypertension on multiple anti-hypertensives including hydrochlorothiazide, type two diabetes mellitus, and untreated obstructive sleep apnea, presented to the emergency department with a blood pressure …

Severe Malaria Due To Plasmodium Falciparum, Hamid Hussaini, Rage Geringer Md, Gregory Hicks Md, Oliwier Dziadkowiec

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens In May Thurner Syndrome: A Threat To Life & Limb, Matt Mcmaster, Rage Geringer Md, Gregory Hicks Md, Oliwier Dziadkowiec

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Bradycardia In The Setting Of Gastric Sarcoidosis, Kameron Black Mph, Michelle Levine Do, Rage Geringer Md, Gregory Hicks Md, Oliwier Dziadkowiec

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Hsp47 Promotes Cancer Metastasis By Enhancing Collagen-Dependent Cancer Cell-Platelet Interaction, Gaofeng Xiong, Jie Chen, Guoying Zhang, Shike Wang, Kunito Kawasaki, Jieqing Zhu, Yan Zhang, Kazuhiro Nagata, Zhenyu Li, Binhua P. Zhou, Ren Xu

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Increased expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) suggests potential function of cancer cell-produced ECM in initiation of cancer cell colonization. Here, we showed that collagen and heat shock protein 47 (Hsp47), a chaperone facilitating collagen secretion and deposition, were highly expressed during the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and in CTCs. Hsp47 expression induced mesenchymal phenotypes in mammary epithelial cells (MECs), enhanced platelet recruitment, and promoted lung retention and colonization of cancer cells. Platelet depletion in vivo abolished Hsp47-induced cancer cell retention in the lung, suggesting that Hsp47 promotes cancer cell colonization by enhancing cancer cell–platelet interaction. …

Patients' Perspectives Of Tuberculosis Treatment Challenges And Barriers To Treatment Adherence In Ukraine: A Qualitative Study, Mariya Bachmaha, Anne E Becker, Megan B Murray

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: To understand the challenges faced by patients with tuberculosis (TB) and factors that influence TB treatment adherence in Ukraine.

DESIGN: Qualitative study.

SETTING: TB treatment facilities in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine.

PARTICIPANTS: Sixty adults who had undergone treatment for drug-sensitive TB between June 2012 and August 2015.

METHODS: We conducted semistructured, in-depth, individual interviews among a purposively selected clinical sample of patients previously treated for drug-sensitive TB. Interview content encompassed WHO's framework for barriers to adherence to long-term therapies and included questions about patient preferences and motivators concerning treatment adherence. We examined treatment experience across strata defined by previously identified …

Turning Passion Into Purpose: A Journey To Medicine Through Global Health, Laurenie Louissaint Md

Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Adequacy Of Hemodialysis And Its Associated Factors Among Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Samina S. Somji, Pascal Ruggajo, Sibtain Moledina

Internal Medicine, East Africa

The worldwide prevalence of maintenance hemodialysis continues to rise. An adequate delivery of hemodialysis dose as measured by Kt/V or urea reduction ratio is a crucial determinant of clinical outcome for chronic hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to assess the adequacy of hemodialysis and its associated factors among patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis in Dar es Salaam. This was a cross-sectional study done on patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis in four dialysis centers in Dar es Salaam. Sociodemographic information and treatment characteristics were collected. Urea reduction rate and single-pool Kt/V were calculated to determine the …

Point-Of-Care Hpv Molecular Diagnostics For A Test-And-Treat Model In High-Risk Hiv Populations, Shahin Sayed, Michael Chung, Marleen Temmerman

Pathology, East Africa

Strategies for cervical cancer prevention and control in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) require concerted efforts to improve screening and access to treatment, especially in high-risk HIV populations. LMICs bear the largest burden of HIV infection, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is common among HIV-infected women, risk of cervical cancer is increased in women with HIV/AIDS, and HIV clinics provide opportunities to screen and treat for cervical cancer in this population.

The Elevated Systemic Cytokine Levels In Hiv Patients Are Not Associated With An Elevated Pulmonary Cytokine Environment., Rafael Fernandez-Botran, Andrea Reyes-Vega, Yasmany García, Chanakya Charan Tirumala, Praneet Kumar Srisailam, Anupama Raghuram, Paula Peyrani, Stephen P. Furmanek, Mahder A. Tella, Jeffrey D. Ritzenthaler, Jesse Roman, Julio A. Ramirez

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Background

HIV-positive patients on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) are at higher risk of developing many non-AIDS related chronic diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), compared to HIV-negative individuals. While the mechanisms are not clear, a persistent pro-inflammatory state appears to be a key contributing factor. The aims of this study were to investigate whether HIV-positive patients without COPD present evidence of potentially predisposing abnormal pulmonary cytokine/chemokine environment and to explore the relationship between pulmonary and systemic cytokine levels.

Methods

This study included 39 HIV-seropositive and 34 HIV-seronegative subjects without COPD. All were subjected to outpatient bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid …

Everolimus-Induced Pneumonitis: A Diagnostic Challenge

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Ablation Of Refractory Papillary Muscle Ventricular Tachycardia Warranting Multiple Adjunctive Ablation Techniques: A Combined Approach For Success, Nilesh Mathuria

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

A 27-year-old male presented to our institution with recurrent unifocal premature ventricular contraction/nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) with associated cardiomyopathy. The patient had undergone three prior ablation procedures with continued arrhythmia. Mapping led to identification of the VT arising from the basal aspect of the left ventricular anterolateral papillary muscle. Conventional ablation techniques were unsuccessful. We incorporated adjunctive ablation techniques in this case that ultimately led to a successful outcome. The present discussion covers the roles of intracardiac echocardiography, induced apnea, and low-ionic irrigation.

Diagnostic Criteria For Detection Of Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer Thickness And Neuroretinal Rim Width Abnormalities In Glaucoma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although measurements of the Bruch's membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLT) with optical coherence tomography (OCT) have been widely adopted in the diagnostic evaluation of glaucoma, there is no consensus on the diagnostic criteria to define BMO-MRW and RNFLT abnormalities. This study investigated the sensitivities and specificities of different diagnostic criteria based on the OCT classification reports for detection of glaucoma.

METHODS: 340 eyes of 137 patients with glaucoma and 87 healthy individuals, all with axial length ≤26mm, had global and sectoral BMO-MRW and RNFLT measured with Spectralis OCT (Heidelberg Engineering). Six …

Modern Ventilator Management In Surgical/Trauma Patients, Errington C. Thompson

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Physicians have a lot to consider when they place a patient on the ventilator. This article reviews the literature and provides the physician with a clear guide to managing the ventilator in the ICU. This manuscript is meant to be a practical guide to managing the ventilator at the patient's bedside.

Angioimmunoblastic T Cell Lymphoma: A Diagnostic Dilemma, Nishanth Thalambedu, Md, Seema Sethi, Do, Herbert Auerbach, Do

Abington Jefferson Health Posters

Angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma(AITL) is one of the rarest T cell lymphomas. Diagnosing the type of lymphoma is crucial, as the management differs depending on the type. We present a case of a sixty-one-year-old woman who presented with generalized lymphadenopathy and how we unfolded the diagnosis.

Listening To The Patient: A Typology Of Contextual Red Flags In Disease Management Encounters, Amy E. Binns-Calvey, Gunjan Sharma, Naomi Ashley, Brendan Kelly, Frances M. Weaver, Saul J. Weiner

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Patients send clues, often unwittingly, when they are grappling with a life challenge that complicates their care. For instance, a patient may lose control of a previously well-managed chronic condition or start missing appointments. When explored, these clues help clinicians uncover the life circumstance impacting the individual’s ability to manage their health and health care. Such clues are termed “contextual red flags.” Effective care requires recognizing them, asking about them, and customizing the care plan where feasible. We sought to develop a typology of contextual red flags by analyzing audio recordings along with the medical records of encounters between …

Assessment Of Guideline Recommended Anti-Coagulation Rates For Atrial Fibrillation In An Outpatient Resident Clinic, Kanav Gupta Md, Emily Langnas Do, Zahra Khaled, Travis Tagami Do, Alexandra Halalau Md

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

How Deep Is Too Deep?, Dietrich Schlueter Md, Asma Jamil Md, Ibrahim Talab, Samia Faiz, Scott Kubomoto Md

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

A Five Chambered Heart, George Hanna, Javad Savoj, Syed Iftikhar, Scott Kubomoto, Patrick Hu

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Catch 22 : To Anticoagulate Or Not To Anticoagulate, Muhammad Madkour, Patrick Hu

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Cervical Osteomyelitis: Unique Presentation And Fatal Outcome, Asma Jamil Md, Ayesha Jamil Md, Scott Kubomoto Md, Liliana Crisan Md

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Giant 75mm Intracranial Aneurysm Masquerading As Primary Malignancy, Andrew W. Hwang, Satvir Dhillon Md, Remus Popa

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Always Remember To Floss... Or Else, Arunmozhi (Sankavi) Aravagiri Md, Muhammad Zain Md, Rajesh Gulati Md

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Calcium Alkali Thiazide Syndrome, Mehboob A. Rehan Md, Asma Rashid Md, Reema Singh Md, Gabutti Cristina, Luma Mohsin Md, Tausha Allen Md, Paul Stanford Md, James Thomson Md

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Menstrual-Related Headaches Among A Cohort Of African Adolescent Girls, Philip Adebayo, Folajimi M. Otubogun, Rufus O. Akinyemi

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Introduction: Migraine attacks associated with menstruation are generally perceived as more severe than attacks outside this period.

Aim and Objective: The study aimed at determining the frequency of menstrual-related headaches among a cohort of senior secondary school girls in Abeokuta, Nigeria. We also determined its burden among these school girls.

Methodology: This study was cross-sectional using a validated adolescent headache survey questionnaire. A self-administration of the instrument was done during a school visit. A headache was classified using the ICHD-II criteria.

Results: Of the 183 students interviewed, 123(67.2%) had recurrent headaches. Mean age ±SD, 16.18± 1.55 (range 12– …

Older Adults Hospitalized For Pneumonia In The United States: Incidence, Epidemiology, And Outcomes., Forest W. Arnold, Andrea Reyes-Vega, Vidyulata Salunkhe, Stephen P. Furmanek, Christian Furman, Laura Morton, Anna Johan Faul, Pam Yankeelov, Julio A. Ramirez

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

OBJECTIVES: To define the current incidence, epidemiology, and mortality of older adult patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Louisville, KY and thus estimate the burden of CAP in the older adult population of the United States. To define risk factors associated with early and late outcomes. DESIGN: This was a secondary analysis of older adults (aged ≥65 years) from the University of Louisville Pneumonia Study, a prospective population-based cohort study of all hospitalized adults with CAP between June 1, 2014, and May 31, 2016. SETTING: The study took place in all nine acute care hospitals for adults in Louisville, …

A Phantom Of The Past: Withdrawal From Meprobamate Presenting With Focal Seizures., Thomas M. Zink, John E. Erickson

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: Meprobamate (Miltown, Equinil) is a sedative-hypnotic medication that first gained popularity as an anxiolytic and later as a muscle relaxant. It is a major metabolite of the more commonly used muscle relaxant carisoprodol (Soma). In vitro and electroencephalogram studies demonstrated that meprobamate modulates gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, similar to barbiturates. Withdrawal from meprobamate manifests in symptoms ranging from mild anxiety to severe autonomic instability and death. Meprobamate is rarely prescribed, but is still given to a small subset of elderly patients.

Clinical findings: In this case of meprobamate withdrawal, the patient initially displayed altered mental status and recurrent seizures …

Famotidine Use Is Associated With Improved Clinical Outcomes In Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients: A Propensity Score Matched Retrospective Cohort Study., D. E. Freedberg, J. Conigliaro, T. C. Wang, K. J. Tracey, M. V. Callahan, J. A. Abrams, Famotidine Research Group Famotidine Research Grou, M. E. Sobieszczyk, D. D. Markowitz, A. Gupta, M. R. O'Donnell, J. Li, D. A. Tuveson, Z. Jin, W. C. Turner, D. W. Landry

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

The Uses Of Overnight Pulse Oximetry, S. Singh, S. Khan, D. Singh, S. Verma, A. Talwar

Journal Articles

© 2020 Indian Chest Society Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow. Overnight pulse oximetry (OPO) has proven to be an effective and beneficial technique to determine the cardiorespiratory status of patients in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. It is a cheap, safe, reliable, simple, and accurate method of patient monitoring as compared to the expensive and labor-intensive method of multichannel polysomnography for detecting sleep-disordered breathing. It provides accurate information about patient's oxygenation status and also helps in monitoring the response to continuous positive airway pressure and in the surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Nocturnal hypoxemia portends a …