The American journal of the medical sciences
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The platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome is a rare clinical presentation. The differential diagnosis is short and includes cardiac, hepatic, and pulmonary causes, with right-to-left intracardiac shunt being the most common. ⋯ On postmortem examination, the patient had an underlying poorly differentiated lung adenocarcinoma. This case provides a concise review of the platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome and pulmonary tumor emboli and stresses the importance of looking for a secondary process in conjunction with an intracardiac shunt in establishing the underlying diagnosis.
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Comparative Study
BODE index and GOLD staging as predictors of 1-year exacerbation risk in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The body mass index/airflow obstruction/dyspnea/exercise capacity (BODE) index and global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) staging system are validated measures to define disease severity and to predict survival in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to investigate the influence of BODE classes (score: 0-2, 3-4, 5-7, and 7-10) and GOLD stages (I, II, III, and IV) on the moderate/severe exacerbation occurrence risk in a cohort of 120 mild/very severe stable patients with COPD. ⋯ In summary, our study shows that unidimensional GOLD classification and multidimensional BODE index staging systems seem to have similar clinical utility in predicting exacerbation in ambulatory COPD patients with COPD. However, variables not included in both systems seem to be the main predictors of the exacerbation risk.
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Chronic mesenteric ischemia classically presents as "intestinal angina" with generalized postprandial abdominal pain lasting up to 3 hours. Over time, these episodes can become much more intense and ultimately lead to sitophobia with significant weight loss. ⋯ Gastric ulcerations as a direct result of mesenteric ischemia have been reported but are relatively rare because of the rich collateral blood supply to the stomach. Therefore, a diagnosis of ischemic gastropathy is seldom entertained in patients presenting with abdominal pain and gastric ulcers.
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Cocaine inhalation has been linked to the development of pneumomediastinum. The aim of this review was to identify the clinical course and outcome of spontaneous pneumomediastinum caused by cocaine use. ⋯ Cocaine-induced pneumomediastinum is a benign condition. A short observation period with outpatient follow-up is appropriate in the majority of patients. Invasive procedures have a low yield and should be based on a high degree of clinical suspicion for esophageal rupture or bronchial tree laceration.
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Comparative Study
Hyperfibrinolysis, uPA/suPAR system, kynurenines, and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic renal failure on conservative treatment.
Disturbances of the fibrinolytic system and kynurenine (KYN) pathway of tryptophan (TRP) metabolism have been postulated as important factors in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, no data are yet available on the associations between these 2 systems in relation to CVD prevalence in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). ⋯ This cross-sectional study has demonstrated that hyperfibrinolysis was associated with uPA/suPAR system, KYNs, oxidative status, and CVD prevalence in patients with CRF.