Internal medicine
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Case Reports
Efficacy of Upadacitinib as a Second-line JAK Inhibitor in Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Series.
Upadacitinib, a recently approved Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor specific for JAK1, may be a promising candidate in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) who present no response or intolerance to first-line JAK inhibitors. We assessed the therapeutic impact of upadacitinib on six UC patients who demonstrated an inadequate response or intolerance to tofacitinib or filgotinib. ⋯ One patient had coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia and showed a mild increase in transaminase levels. This case series highlights the potential utility of a rotation strategy among JAK inhibitors.
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Case Reports
Severe Bacterial Pneumonia due to Legionella longbeachae Transmitted from Potting Soil in Japan.
Pneumonia caused by Legionella longbeachae, transmitted through contaminated soil, is very rare in Japan. A 70-year-old man with severe respiratory failure was admitted to our hospital and underwent multidisciplinary procedures. Although a urinary antigen test was negative for Legionella, he was clinically diagnosed with legionellosis and administered levofloxacin. ⋯ Thereafter, sputum culture detected L. longbeachae. Because the DNA of L. longbeachae was detected in the gardening soil, it is suspected source of infection. Therefore, it is important to suspect legionellosis based on clinical information, even if a urine antigen test is negative.
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A 73-year-old man was admitted with Cheyne-Stokes respiration and progressive disturbance of consciousness over the course of a month. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed signs suggestive of angioedema in the posterior limb of the internal capsule, external capsule, and subcortical white matter. ⋯ After methylprednisolone pulse therapy followed by chelation therapy, the patient fully recovered. In this case, the angioedema with a distinctive magnetic resonance imaging appearance was attributed to the cytotoxic effects of lead on the nervous system, which responded well to methylprednisolone pulse therapy.
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A 79-year-old woman presented with difficulty walking and disturbance of consciousness. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed diffuse white matter lesions and abnormal signals along the surface of the brain and sulci. ⋯ Steroids and other immunosuppressant therapies showed only limited effects. PACNS with pathological findings of EGPA is extremely rare, and a prompt brain biopsy is necessary for a diagnosis.
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Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is a condition that results in the development of vegetation on cardiac valves that are devoid of inflammation and bacteria. We herein report a 60-year-old man who transferred to our hospital because of a systemic embolism and heart failure. ⋯ During treatment, however, the patient was diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome and cancer. After 4 weeks of antibacterial therapy, the patient underwent open chest surgery, and the postoperative histological diagnosis was NBTE.