The American journal of the medical sciences
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The arterial to end-tidal carbon dioxide gradient (P [a-Et] CO2) reveals the ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) status of critically ill patients. V/Q mismatch has several causes and affects the clinical outcomes of critically ill patients. We investigated the relationship between P (a-Et) CO2 and the clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. ⋯ P (a-Et) CO2 is a simple, easily accessible indicator that potentially impacts patient care and outcomes as an independent marker for assessing disease severity and predicting mortality, especially in non-respiratory critical care scenarios.
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Carcinoma erysipeloides (CE) is a rare form of cutaneous metastasis appearing similar to erysipelas or cellulitis. Due to its rarity, little is known about CE. ⋯ CE has a poor prognosis and is most common in individuals with breast cancer and adenocarcinoma. Patients generally receive local dermatological treatments with different diagnoses. CE should be considered in the differential diagnosis, especially in the presence of erysipelas/cellulitis-like lesions in patients with a history of malignancy or who do not respond to local treatments.
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Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a commonly obtained laboratory test, but its diagnostic specificity is limited because it is found in multiple tissues. We investigated patients with isolated, elevated, ALP levels without an obvious etiology at presentation to determine the frequency of different causes of an isolated elevated ALP. ⋯ An isolated, elevated ALP of unclear etiology is associated with several very specific and important disorders, in particular metastatic intrahepatic malignancy - and is uncommonly associated with primary parenchymal liver disease. Providers should be aware of the potential clinical significance of an elevated ALP.