Internal medicine
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The coexistence of multiple autoantibodies associated with autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is rare. A 63-year-old woman developed psychosis and consciousness disorder. Her cerebrospinal fluid was positive for anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibodies, and her serum was positive for anti-Hu antibodies. ⋯ AE complicated with small-cell lung cancer was diagnosed. Immunotherapy (steroid therapy and intravenous immunoglobulin) and four courses of carboplatin-etoposide chemotherapy were required to improve her neurological symptoms. When the coexistence of multiple antibodies is detected, despite its rarity, aggressive detection and treatment of any underlying malignancy may be recommended.
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Review Case Reports
Lung and Cerebral Nocardiosis Caused by Nocardia elegans in a Lung Transplant Recipient: A Case Report and Literature Review.
Patients after lung transplantation are at risk for Nocardia infections. We herein report a case of lung and cerebral nocardiosis caused by Nocardia elegans, a rare species of Nocardia, in a lung transplant recipient. ⋯ A literature review of N. elegans infections showed that 12 of 14 cases (85.7%) were reported from East Asia, particularly Japan (9 cases, 64.2%). The lungs were the predominant site (12/14 cases, 85.7%), and most of the cases were susceptible to ST (9/10 cases, 90%).
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Review Case Reports
Subendocardial Ischemia Caused by Acute Severe Aortic Regurgitation Due to Aortic Root Dissection: A Case Report and Literature Review.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) findings showing ST-segment depression in a wide range of leads and ST-segment elevation in aVR are found in patients with acute coronary syndrome with multivessel coronary lesions and left main trunk lesions. A 64-year-old man with a history of eosinophilic granulomatosis presented with chest pain and dyspnea. Although an ECG showed the above findings, he was diagnosed with acute severe aortic regurgitation (AR) complicating aortic root dissection and successfully underwent urgent Bentall operation. These ECG findings indicated that acute severe AR caused subendocardial ischemia.
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Review Case Reports
Epidural Spinal Cord Compression as the Presenting Manifestation of Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Case Report and Literature Review.
We herein report a rare case of spinal cord compression due to epidural involvement of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A 14-year-old boy presented with a 7-day history of back pain, paraplegia and hypoesthesia. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed an epidural mass. ⋯ Chemotherapy was initiated, and complete remission was achieved. Neurological sequelae remained after the treatment. Based on the present and previous reports, spinal cord compression from epidural AML involvement may progress rapidly.
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Review Case Reports
Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding Caused by a Small Intestinal Lymphatic-venous Malformation: A Case Report with a Literature Review.
A 44-year-old woman presented with severe anemia. We strongly suspected gastrointestinal bleeding; however, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and computed tomography showed no bleeding sources. Video capsule endoscopy revealed an actively bleeding submucosal lesion within the jejunum. ⋯ The resected specimen pathologically comprised dilated, thin-walled lymphatic channels and blood vessels involving the small intestinal submucosa. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with small intestinal lymphatic-venous malformation. Postoperatively, the patient recovered well, and recurrence was not observed.