The American journal of the medical sciences
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There are few data available on low hemoglobin and incident falls in the general U.S. population. ⋯ Among men, lower hemoglobin levels were associated with an increased risk for recurrent falls. Although our findings suggest an increased risk for recurrent falls at both lower and higher hemoglobin levels among women, these findings should be confirmed in subsequent studies.
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A case of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis with an atypical finding of transient increased intracranial pressure is reported. Anti-NMDAR encephalitis is an underrecognized, novel and treatable form of encephalitis being increasingly identified as an explanation of encephalitis in young adults. Management of these patients requires a multidisciplinary approach involving neurologists, internists, nursing and rehabilitation staff. ⋯ Internists also need to be familiar with the clinical manifestations and the treatment of the disease as they have an important role in the care of these patients during their prolonged stay in the hospital. Increased intracranial pressure is an atypical and underrecognized finding that has been only noted in a previous review on this disorder. It may present a diagnostic or management challenge in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
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The concept of inflammatory back pain (IBP) evolved in the 1970s, coincident with the discovery of the HLA-B27 association with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), leading to the development of criteria to determine the presence of IBP. The concept of IBP and it relationship with AS and axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) has further evolved, and an instrument developed (the Spondylitis Association of America Back Pain Tool), which was further modified and field tested for use in the 2009 to 2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). ⋯ The national prevalence of HLA-B27 in the United States is 6.1%, and intriguing data from NHANES 2009 suggest a decreasing frequency with increasing age. From this arise new questions and a work agenda ahead.
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Computed tomography-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of the lung is a common and frequently performed procedure for diagnosis of lung lesions. However, this procedure is not without risks. The major complications include pneumothorax and hemoptysis, which are mild and self-limiting. ⋯ Cerebral air embolism is a very rare and fatal complication. In previous reports, cerebral air embolism generally occurred during or immediately after lung biopsy. Herein, we present the first case of cerebral infarction secondary to cerebral air embolism 6 hours after computed tomography-guided lung biopsy.