Hospital Outcomes in Patients Who Developed Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome After Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

Purpose: To identify risk factors for and outcomes in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods: This is a retrospective study using the Premier Healthcare Database between 2016 and 2020. Patients diagnosed with pneumonia, requiring mechanical ventilation (MV), antimicrobial therapy, and hospital admission ≥2 days were included. Multivariable regression models were used for outcomes including in-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) LOS, and days on MV. Results: 1924 (2.7%) of 72 107 patients with CAP developed ARDS. ARDS was associated with higher mortality (33.7% vs 18.9%; adjusted odds ratio 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.16-2.66), longer hospital LOS (13 vs 9 days; adjusted incidence risk ratio (aIRR) 1.24; 95% CI 1.20-1.27), ICU LOS (9 vs 5 days; aIRR 1.51; 95% CI 1.46-1.56), more MV days (8 vs 5; aIRR 1.54; 95% CI 1.48-1.59), and increased hospitalization cost ($46 459 vs $29 441; aIRR 1.50; 95% CI 1.45-1.55). Conclusion: In CAP, ARDS was associated with worse in-patient outcomes in terms of mortality, LOS, and hospitalization cost. Future studies are needed to explore outcomes in patients with CAP with ARDS and explore risk factors for development of ARDS after CAP.

Teledermatology May Benefit Marginalized Populations: National and Institutional Trends during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Limited data exist regarding demographic-specific teledermatology (TD) utilization during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to determine TD utilization trends during the pandemic. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study for national and institutional populations was conducted. Patient encounters in the American Academy of Dermatology's DataDerm registry (DataDerm) were analyzed from 1 April 2020 through 30 June 2021. All dermatological patients seen by Duke University Health Systems (DUHS) were analyzed from 1 March 2020 through 30 April 2021. In-person clinic visits versus TD encounters (national and institutional) and no-show rates (institutional only) were collected for visit type (i.e., TD versus in-person), sex, race, age/generation, and in- versus out-of-state location (national only). TD utilization is defined as the cohort of interest using TD (e.g., females, whites) within a demographic group (i.e., sex, race) as a percentage of total TD users. This was compared with in-person utilization during the identical timeframe. RESULTS: For US national data, 13,964,816 encounters were analyzed. Sex, race, age, and location each had a significant association with TD utilization (adjusted p < 0.001). For institutional data, 54,400 encounters were analyzed. Sex, race, and age had a significant association with TD utilization (adjusted p < 0.001). Both datasets revealed majority female populations for telehealth visits (DataDerm 66.0%; DUHS 61.7%). Non-white populations accounted for a higher percentage of TD utilizers (DataDerm 15.0%; DUHS 37.3%) when compared with in-person utilizers (DataDerm 11.7%; DUHS 22.3%). Younger patients utilized TD (DataDerm 63.6%; DUHS 62.6%) more than in-person services (DataDerm 26.3%; DUHS 43.8%). Institutional no-show rates between telehealth and in-person visits were lower for Black patients (11.8% versus 19.2%), other non-white races (10.6% versus 13.6%), and younger ages/generations (9.8% versus 12.8%), respectively. TD utilization decreased over time nationally as a percentage of total visits (2.9% versus 0.3%) in 2020 versus 2021, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, certain populations (females, younger patients, non-white races) showed higher TD utilization. Understanding TD utilization trends is critical in defining the role of virtual care for improving universal care access, optimizing resources, and informing future healthcare models for all patient populations.

Itching to find a diagnosis.

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Hedgehog inhibitors with and without adjunctive therapy in treatment of locally advanced basal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hedgehog inhibitor therapy (HHIT) is considered first-line treatment for locally advanced, unresectable basal cell carcinoma (laBCC). HHIT often results in a partial response, which requires adjunctive therapy (AT) post HHIT. We present real-world data for laBCCs undergoing HHIT ± AT. METHODS: Retrospective review at Duke University from 11/01/2007 through 5/20/2020 revealed 13 patients treated with systemic HHIT (sonidegib or vismodegib) for laBCC. RESULTS: Fourteen laBCCs were identified in 13 patients. LaBCCs were treated with sonidegib (n = 10, 71%) or vismodegib (n = 4, 29%) for a median (IQR) of 9.4 (9.3) or 9.8 (8.5) months, respectively. The median (IQR) follow-up time from HHIT initiation was 15.5 (8.7) months. Tumors were most often located on the trunk (43%), followed by head and neck (29%), extremities (21%), and orbit/periorbital area (7%). Nine laBCCs (64%) were treated with HHIT alone, of which five (36%) achieved complete response (CR), four (29%) achieved partial response (PR), and five (36%) achieved CR with combined HHIT and AT post-HHIT. Duration of HHIT treatment (IQR) was 7.5 (3.5) months in the 10 CR patients, versus 15.1 (6.3) months in the four PR patients (P = 0.024). Nine patients (69%) experienced adverse events from HHIT, most commonly ageusia/dysgeusia, muscle spasms, and alopecia. CONCLUSION: As a single institutional experience, we report 10/14 laBCCs (71%) with CRs without recurrence and 4/14 laBCCs (29%) with PRs with HHIT ± AT over median follow-up of 15.5 months. Longer follow-up and larger cohorts evaluating responses with HHIT followed by AT are needed to substantiate our findings.

That's Not Molluscum! A literature review of 109 cases of subepidermal calcified nodules.

Subepidermal calcified nodule (SCN) is a rare presentation of idiopathic calcinosis cutis. A literature review was conducted, with 109 cases reported in 268 articles. We report the demographic data, SCN clinical and histological characteristics, common differential diagnoses, and treatments performed from this analysis.

Does sex affect second ACL injury risk? A systematic review with meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine sex-based differences in risk of a second ACL injury (overall and by laterality) following primary ACL reconstruction in athletes who are attempting to return to sport. DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Systematic search of five databases conducted in August 2019. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Studies reporting sex-based differences in the incidence of second ACL injury in athletes attempting to return-to-sports and who were followed for at least 1 year following primary ACL reconstruction. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included in this review, with seven studies excluded from the primary meta-analysis due to high risk of bias. The remaining 12 studies (n=1431 females, n=1513 males) underwent meta-analysis, with all 19 studies included in a sensitivity analysis. Total second ACL injury risk was 21.9% (females: 22.8%, males: 20.3%). Females were found to have 10.7% risk of an ipsilateral ACL injury and 11.8% risk of a contralateral ACL injury. Males were found to have 12.0% risk of an ipsilateral ACL injury and 8.7% risk of a contralateral ACL injury. No statistically significant differences were observed for total second ACL injury risk (risk difference=-0.6%, 95% CI -4.9 to 3.7, p=0.783, I2=41%) or contralateral ACL injury risk (risk difference=1.9%, 95% CI -0.5% to 4.4%, p=0.113, I2=15%) between sexes. Females were found to have a 3.4% absolute risk reduction in subsequent ipsilateral ACL injury risk compared with males (risk difference=-3.4%, 95% CI -6.7% to -0.02%, p=0.037, I2=35%). CONCLUSION: Both sexes have >20% increased risk of experiencing a second ACL injury. Any difference in the absolute risk of either a subsequent ipsilateral or contralateral ACL injury between sexes appears to be small. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42020148369).

Primary Central Nervous System Burkitt Lymphoma in HIV Positive Pediatric Patient: A Rare Case Report.

Burkitt lymphoma is a high-grade B-cell lymphoma with aggressive course of disease and primarily systemic nodal involvement. Primary Burkitt lymphoma with isolated central nervous system (CNS) involvement and that too in pediatric population has been rarely reported. Here, we present a case of a primary Burkitt lymphoma involving brain in an human immunodeficiency virus-positive pediatric patient who was on antiretroviral therapy. Currently, there are no established protocols or guidelines for management of primary CNS Burkitt lymphoma thus posing challenges in the management of such cases. Our patient was successfully treated by surgical resection followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Non-uremic Calciphylaxis: A Rare and Late Adverse Reaction of Warfarin.

BACKGROUND: Calciphylaxis is a complex dermatological lesion of micro vascular calcification that is typically presented as panniculitis with gangrenous painful lesions having uremic and non-uremic causes. CASE REPORT: We present a case of a 48-year old male with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and hypertension taking amlodipine 5 mg and warfarin 5 mg daily for the last 26 months. The patient had a 6- months history of painful swelling followed by necrotic skin ulcer over the right leg. His remarkable examination findings were right leg tender ulcer with surrounding erythema and secondary sepsis. His hemogram, metabolic profile and connective tissue diseases work up were unremarkable except leucocytosis and raised inflammatory markers. His local part radiological and skin biopsy findings were suggestive of calciphylaxis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In our case, warfarin and amlodipine were culprit drugs for the lesion, but Naranjo score (warfarin 7and amlodipine 1) speculate warfarin as a probable adverse reaction of warfarin. The lesion was cured with local wound treatment after discontinuation of warfarin. The physician should be aware of this rare cutaneous disorder of systemic origin for proper management.