Medicine
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Can red cell distribution width in very low birth weight infants predict bronchopulmonary dysplasia?
Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a useful marker for assessing the severity and prognosis of various diseases in adults. However, whether it is applicable to children, especially in newborns, has not been determined. This study aimed to investigate the RDW values of preterm infants and evaluate whether RDW values in the early days of life can predict bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) development. ⋯ The levels remained similar at 1 month of age. RDW at birth, D7, and D28 and the changes in RDW from birth to D7 were not correlated with the development of BPD independent of its severity. The usefulness of RDW as a predictor of BPD development remains questionable and requires further study.
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Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is mainly used to treat acute and chronic esophageal, gastric, and intestinal variceal bleeding and refractory ascites caused by portal hypertension. The most common complication of TIPS is the development of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an emerging method for treating diseases by altering the intestinal flora. We present 2 cases of FMT that ameliorated liver function and HE after TIPS. ⋯ FMT may be another effective way to treat HE, and is worthy of further research.
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Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare condition characterized by multiple gas-filled cysts in the intestinal wall, and can be caused by many conditions. ⋯ PCI is a rare condition that may be secondary to many other diseases. Because of its atypical clinical manifestations, it can be misdiagnosed as other diseases, such as polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, and even cancer. The diagnosis of PCI depends on computed tomography, colonoscopy, and endoscopic ultrasonography. Fine-needle aspiration may be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of PCI.
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Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer and is the second most common urologic neoplasm. Vaginal metastasis from RCC is extremely rare clinically. ⋯ In cases of vaginal bleeding, the possibility of metastatic renal cell carcinoma should be considered. Percutaneous transcatheter arterial embolization is an effective and novel treatment for uncontrollable vaginal bleeding caused by vaginal metastasis of RCC.
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Primary diffuse leptomeningeal melanomatosis (PDLM) is a rare disease that affects melanocytes in the leptomeninges. There is very limited data on the efficacy of immunotherapy in this setting. ⋯ This is one of the few case reports of an adult patient with this rare malignancy being treated with a programmed death-1 inhibitor with partial response. Immunotherapy in metastatic PDLM may be a reasonable therapeutic option.