Acute watery diarrhoea cases during cholera outbreak in Syria: a cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is a descriptive presentation of cases of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) that were presented to Aleppo University Hospital (AUH) during the recent cholera outbreak in Syria. DESIGN: Prospective, observational, cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1061 patients with AWD were admitted to AUH during the timeframe of 20 September 2022 to 20 October 2022. The data collection was done through a structured questionnaire. This includes comprehensive clinical observation, laboratory analyses, therapeutic interventions and holistic case evaluations. RESULTS: The analysis has revealed notable insights: a predominant proportion of patients (58.6%) were residents from urban areas and 40.3% were residents from rural areas. Intriguingly, a diverse range of potential infection sources emerged from patient data within our hospital, including uncontrolled well water, vegetables and faecal-oral transmission through contaminated street/fast food. At discharge, most patients were in good health (79.7%), followed by moderate health (17.6%) and poor health (2.3%), with a minimal percentage dying before discharge (0.4%). The most common complications reported at admission and during hospitalisation included electrolyte imbalance (28.2%), followed by severe dehydration (16.3%). In the follow-up period, the majority of patients exhibited good health (81.0%). Older patients (>60 years) had poorer outcomes, with 8.4% having poor health and 4.2% death rate. CONCLUSIONS: The study found results consistent with previous AWD outbreaks in developing countries like Yemen, Nigeria and Lebanon. Preventative measures like improving water sanitation and hygiene practices are essential to prevent future outbreaks and ease the strain on healthcare systems. Therefore, future studies must investigate the risk factors that increase the spread and the severity of the disease and investigate the best management method.

Metastatic signet-ring cell carcinoma of the testis: An unusual case report in Syria.

Key Clinical Message: The case of a 44-year-old male with signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma metastasis in the testis emphasizes the significance of immunohistochemistry in identifying the primary site of metastatic tumors. Further research is needed to establish effective treatment strategies for rare malignancies like small intestine signet-ring cell carcinoma. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial for improved patient outcomes. Abstract: Metastasis to the testes is a rare occurrence, and identifying the primary site of origin can pose a significant challenge. Signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is an uncommon subtype of adenocarcinoma typically found in the stomach but can also occur in other organs. This case report presents a 44-year-old male with signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma metastasis in the right testis. The patient's initial clinical manifestation was testicular painful swelling, and subsequent immunohistochemical analysis using CK7, CK20, and CDX2 markers suggested a gastrointestinal origin. Normal upper and lower endoscopies rise suspicion of a small intestinal origin. The rarity of SRCC of the small intestine and the lack of clinical trials make treatment decisions difficult. This case highlights the importance of immunohistochemistry in determining the primary site of metastatic tumors and underscores the need for further research to establish optimal treatment strategies for rare malignancies like SRCC of the small intestine. As early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are critical for better patient outcomes.