Medicina
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Review Case Reports
Management Strategies for Brain Tumors Diagnosed during Pregnancy: A Case Report and Literature Review.
Background and Objectives: Maternal brain tumors diagnosed during pregnancy are very rare, and their clinical course remains incompletely understood. We recently experienced a case of a brain tumor diagnosed at 30 weeks of gestation, and the treatment was initiated after delivery at 32 weeks of gestation. In this study, we reviewed case reports of brain tumors diagnosed during pregnancy, focusing on whether the brain tumor was treated during pregnancy or after termination of pregnancy and on the timing of therapeutic intervention. ⋯ Treatment was initiated within two weeks of diagnosis in 50% of patients in Group A and 30% in Group B. Conclusions: When severe symptoms caused by increased intracranial pressure last for several weeks, imaging tests should be considered. Termination of pregnancy is a good option for a brain tumor diagnosed after 34 weeks of gestation, while comprehensive treatment decisions should be made based on the severity of symptoms and the course of pregnancy in other cases.
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Background and Objectives: Chances of surviving sepsis increase markedly upon prompt diagnosis and treatment. As most sepsis cases initially show-up in the Emergency Department (ED), early recognition of a septic patient has a pivotal role in sepsis management, despite the lack of precise guidelines. The aim of this study was to identify the most accurate predictors of in-hospital mortality outcome in septic patients admitted to the ED. ⋯ Results: Septic shock and positive qSOFA were identified as risk factors for in-hospital mortality among septic patients admitted to the ED. Hyperthermia was a protective factor for in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: Physicians should bear in mind that fever is not a criterium for defining sepsis; according to our results, absence of fever upon presentation might be indicative of greater severity and diagnosis of sepsis should not be delayed.
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(1) Background: Halitosis is a frequent condition that affects a large part of the population. It is considered a "social stigma", as it can determine a number of psychological and relationship consequences that affect people's lives. The purpose of this review is to examine the role of psychological factors in the condition of self-perceived halitosis in adolescent subjects and adulthood. (2) Type of studies reviewed: We conducted, by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, systematic research of the literature on PubMed and Scholar. ⋯ In general, women have a greater ability to recognize it than men. Several factors can affect the perception of the dental condition, such as socioeconomic status, emotional state and body image. (4) Conclusion and practical implication: Self-perceived halitosis could have a significant impact on the patient's quality of life. Among the most frequent consequences are found anxiety, reduced levels of self-esteem, misinterpretation of other people's attitudes and embarrassment and relational discomfort that often result in social isolation.
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Review Case Reports
Vancomycin-Induced Organizing Pneumonia: A Case Report and Literature Review.
The long-term administration of vancomycin has increased; however, the pulmonary adverse reactions of long-term vancomycin treatment remain under-studied. A 75-year-old male patient with vertebral osteomyelitis receiving long-term vancomycin therapy developed a fever. High resolution computed tomography showed irregular ground glass opacity and consolidation in the right upper lung. ⋯ He recovered from organizing pneumonia after four weeks of steroid therapy. Solitary organizing pneumonia can develop during treatment with vancomycin. When pulmonary inflammation occurs and other causes of pneumonia are excluded, vancomycin therapy should be discontinued.
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Background and Objectives: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) accounts for 1-2% of all thyroid malignancies, and it originates from parafollicular "C" cells. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a tumor marker, mainly for gastrointestinal malignancies. There are references in literature where elevated CEA levels may be the first finding in MTC. ⋯ In the recent literature, C cells seem to originate from the endoderm of the primitive anterior gut at the ultimobranchial bodies' level. Conclusions: Although CEA is not a specific biomarker of the disease in MTC, itsmeasurement is useful in assessing the progression of the disease. The embryonic origin of C cells could explain the increased CEA values in MTC.