Internal medicine
-
Sinus arrest and inappropriate sinus bradycardia are sinus node dysfunction (SND), which cause loss of consciousness. Cardiac pacing is recommended in patients with symptoms, such as syncope or dizziness. ⋯ Since cardiac pause was never monitored and the bradycardia improved after HSE treatment, HSE was suspected to be the cause of SND. Although the underlying mechanisms have not yet been completely elucidated, HSE may cause secondary SND.
-
The usefulness of greyscale (GS) in salivary gland ultrasonography for Sjögren's syndrome (SS) has been established; however, limited information is currently available on power Doppler signals (PDs), and changes after treatment remain unknown. PDs are considered to represent glandular inflammation, which indicates the worsening of GS in later years. ⋯ PDs decreased, along with GS and markers of disease activity, after treatment. PDs have the potential to provide insights into glandular inflammation in real time; however, large-scale studies on their clinical usefulness are needed.
-
A 57-year-old man presented with subacute-onset paraparesis, bilateral dysesthesia in his lower extremities, and bladder/bowel disturbance six weeks after being infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection [coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)]. A neurological examination suggested transverse myelitis at the level of the lower thoracic spinal cord. ⋯ Aggressive immunosuppressive therapy, started soon after hospitalization, dramatically improved his symptoms. Early aggressive immunosuppressive therapy should therefore be considered in cases of MRI/CSF-negative myelitis associated with COVID-19.
-
A 73-year-old man with a history of heterotaxy syndrome and intestinal malrotation developed hemorrhagic shock due to bleeding from a duodenal ulcer. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy failed to achieve hemostasis because of restriction of the view by massive hemorrhage. Transcatheter arterial embolization cannot achieve endovascular hemostasis due to the vascular anatomy. ⋯ Intestinal malrotation due to heterotaxy syndrome is a risk factor for gastrointestinal bleeding. Severe gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with intestinal malrotation is difficult to control with endoscopy alone. Therefore, combined therapies with endoscopy, interventional radiology, surgical procedures, and intensive care are vital for achieving a better prognosis.
-
Objective This study explored the prognostic factors of in-hospital mortality in patients with Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, using a Japanese nationwide inpatient database. Methods We extracted the data of patients with PCP without HIV infection between July 2010 and March 2022 from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to identify the prognostic factors of in-hospital mortality in with PCP without HIV infection. ⋯ Higher in-hospital mortality was associated with advanced age, male sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-2.00), a low Barthel index score, non-hematological malignancy (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.22-2.70), receipt of mechanical ventilation (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.47-4.21), and administration of antibiotics (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.12-2.06) and antifungal drugs (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.26-2.67). Lower in-hospital mortality was associated with connective tissue disease and vasculitis (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.37-0.81), hematological malignancy (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.38-0.93), and early trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole treatment (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.44-0.90). Conclusions These findings will help physicians identify patients who may benefit from early aggressive therapeutic interventions.