A case of bunashimeji mushroom-induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis diagnosed by inhalational provocation test in a hospital room.

A 66-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a 2-month history of dry cough and exertional dyspnea. She had worked as a mushroom farmer and had been exposed to mushroom for more than 40 years. The patient showed elevated levels of KL-6 (2966 U/mL) and surfactant protein D (410 ng/mL), and computed tomography of the chest revealed ground-glass opacities and fine nodular shadows in both lungs, suggesting mushroom-induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Pulmonary function testing revealed decreases in forced vital capacity (78% of predicted) and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (67% of predicted). The inhalational provocation test was positive for bunashimeji mushrooms. Precipitating antibody was only identified for spores or bodies of bunashimeji mushrooms, and lymphocyte stimulation testing with spores or bodies of bunashimeji mushrooms also yielded positive results. Bunashimeji mushroom-induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis was therefore diagnosed. Radiological findings and pulmonary function were improved by corticosteroid therapy and the patient has since remained healthy with allergen avoidance.

A patient with ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes showing nearly normalized glucose tolerance after recovery from severe diabetic ketoacidosis.

Unprovoked A-ß+ ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes (KPD) is characterized by the sudden onset of diabetic ketosis/ketoacidosis (DK/DKA) without precipitating factors, negative anti-islet autoantibodies ("A- "), and preservation of ß-cell function ("ß+ ") after recovery from DKA using insulin therapy. However, there have been few reports on glucose tolerance after recovery. We present a case of KPD with nearly normalized glucose tolerance after recovery from severe DKA. A 41-year-old obese woman first presented with unprovoked severe DKA, i.e., ketonuria, plasma glucose 570 mg/dL, pH 7.18, and HCO3 - 5.2 mmol/L, without anti-islet autoantibodies. She achieved insulin-free glycemic remission after recovery from DKA, leading to the diagnosis of KPD. Thereafter, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test showed impaired fasting glucose and time-in-range using intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring was 97% without medication. These findings suggest that, despite the initial severe DKA, some patients with KPD might achieve normalized glucose tolerance after recovery. The similar onset patterns of DKA necessitates appropriately distinguishing KPD from acute-onset type 1B (idiopathic) diabetes. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13340-022-00599-6.

HbA1c level may be a risk factor for oxygen therapy requirement in patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

INTRODUCTION: Many clinical studies have identified significant predictors or risk factors for the severity or mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. However, there are very limited reports on the risk factors for requiring oxygen therapy during hospitalization. In particular, we sought to investigate whether plasma glucose and HbA1c levels could be risk factors for oxygen therapy requirement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-center, retrospective study was conducted of 131 COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Saitama Medical University Hospital between March 2020 and November 2020. To identify the risk factors for oxygen therapy requirement during hospitalization, a stepwise multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed using several clinical parameters commonly obtained on admission, including plasma glucose and HbA1c levels. RESULTS: Of the 131 patients with COVID-19, 33.6% (44/131) received oxygen therapy during hospitalization. According to the logistic regression analysis, male sex (odds ratio [OR]: 8.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.65-46.5, P < 0.05), age (OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02-1.12, P < 0.01), HbA1c levels (OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.09-3.44, P < 0.05), and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.54-3.20, P < 0.01) emerged as independent variables associated with oxygen therapy requirement during hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to male sex, age, and serum CRP levels, HbA1c levels on admission may serve as a risk factor for oxygen therapy requirement during the clinical course of COVID-19, irrespective of diabetes history and status. This may contribute to the efficient delegation of limited numbers of hospital beds to patients at risk for oxygen therapy requirement.

Clinical features resembling subcutaneous insulin resistance observed in a patient with type 2 diabetes and severe COVID-19-associated pneumonia: a case report.

We report the case of a 52-year-old hyperglycemic woman with type 2 diabetes and severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated pneumonia, possibly involving the subcutaneous insulin resistance (SIR) syndrome. After admission for pneumonia, her average daily blood glucose (BG) levels remained at 300-400 mg/dL, although the required dosage of subcutaneous insulin markedly increased (~ 150 units/day; ~ 2.63 units/kg/day). Furthermore, the patient had generalized edema along with hypoalbuminemia, developed extensive abdominal purpuras, and had increased plasma D-dimer levels during treatment, suggestive of coagulation abnormalities. Therefore, intravenous infusion of regular insulin was initiated. The BG level subsequently decreased to < 200 mg/dL 2 days after administering 18 units/day of insulin infusion and 118 units/day of subcutaneous insulin, suggesting that subcutaneous insulin alone might have been ineffective in reducing hyperglycemia, which is clinically consistent with the characteristics of an SIR syndrome. Impaired skin microcirculation arising from coagulation abnormalities, subcutaneous edema associated with inflammation-related hypoalbuminemia or vascular hyperpermeability, and/or reduction in subcutaneous blood flow due to COVID-19-induced downregulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 might be associated with the development of pathological conditions that resemble SIR syndrome, leading to impaired subcutaneous insulin absorption. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13340-021-00500-x.