Serum iron indices in COVID-19-associated mucormycosis: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Whether dysregulated iron metabolism is associated with COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) remains unknown. Herein, we compare the serum iron indices in COVID-19 subjects with and without mucormycosis. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study enrolling COVID-19 participants with and without mucormycosis. We compared the baseline serum iron indices (iron, ferritin, total iron-binding capacity [TIBC], unsaturated iron-binding capacity and percentage transferrin saturation) between CAM cases and COVID-19 controls. Additionally, we performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess whether any iron indices are associated with CAM. RESULTS: We enrolled 28 CAM cases (mean age 53.6 years old; 78.6% men) and 26 controls (mean age 57.2 years old; 73.1% men). Rhino-orbital (±cerebral) mucormycosis (85.7%) was the most clinical presentation. Diabetes mellitus was more frequent in the cases than controls (75% vs. 42.3%; p = .015). Hypoxaemia during COVID-19 illness was more common in controls than cases. The mean serum iron values (33 vs. 45 µg/dl, p = .03) and TIBC (166.6 vs. 201.6 µg/dl, p = .003) were significantly lower in CAM cases than controls. On multivariate analysis, we found a lower TIBC (odds ratio [OR] 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-0.99) and diabetes mellitus (OR 5.23; 95% CI, 1.21-22.68) to be independently associated with CAM after adjusting for serum iron, ferritin and glucocorticoid therapy. The case fatality rate of CAM was 73.9%. The iron indices were not significantly different between CAM survivors and non-survivors. CONCLUSIONS: The CAM is associated with lower TIBC levels than COVID-19 subjects without mucormycosis, suggesting dysregulated iron metabolism in its pathogenesis. Further studies are required to confirm our preliminary observations.

Objective-structured clinical examination in cardiovascular system for the assessment of internal medicine postgraduates amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

Background The Covid-19 pandemic has posed a challenge to organizing a safe clinical assessment for postgraduate degree candidates completing the residency programmes in various specialties. Although minimizing the risk of Covid-19 transmission is a priority, fulfilling the objectives of the assessment is equally important. Methods We conducted this study in the Department of Internal Medicine at our institute. Instead of physically examining patients, case scenarios that included history, clinical and investigational data of the cardiovascular system (CVS) were presented to the candidates. Performance was scored by both the conventional and the CVS objective-structured clinical examination (CVS-OSCE) method and compared. Results Clinical assessment examination of 27 candidates for the degree of Doctor of Medicine showed that the median cumulative score gained in narrating and analysing various differential diagnoses was lower compared to the mean cumulative score gained in arriving at a single correct diagnosis (50% [interquartile range-IQR 39%-64%] v. 79% [IQR 64%-100%], p<0.01). Most of the candidates agreed that case scenarios were good alternatives to the conventional physical examination amidst the pandemic. Conclusion CVS-OSCE-based assessment using structured case scenarios is a feasible and effective alternative for clinical skill assessment in high-stake examinations.

Serum glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) levels in COVID-19-associated mucormycosis: results of a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: In experimental models, the expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) in endothelial cells played a role in the pathogenesis of mucormycosis. However, the role of GRP78 in COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) has not been studied. We hypothesized that serum GRP78 levels are elevated in subjects with CAM. OBJECTIVE: To compare the serum GRP78 levels in subjects with CAM and COVID-19 controls without mucormycosis. DESIGN AND SETTING: We performed a hospital-based, case-control study between 1 April 2021 and 31 May 2021. PARTICIPANTS: We enrolled 24 subjects each of CAM and COVID-19 subjects without mucormycosis. We also measured serum GRP78 levels in ten healthy controls. EXPOSURE: The primary exposure studied was serum GRP78 concentration, estimated using a commercially available ELISA kit in stored serum samples. RESULTS: We found the mean ± standard deviation (SD) serum GRP78 levels significantly higher (p = 0.0001) among the CAM (374.3 ± 127.3 pg/mL) than the COVID-19 (246.4 ± 67.0 pg/mL) controls. The proportion of subjects with an abnormal GRP78 level (> mean [184.8 pg/mL] plus two SD [23.2 pg/mL] of GRP78 from healthy participants) was 87.5% and 45.8% in the CAM group and COVID-19 controls, respectively. Serum GRP78 level was independently associated with CAM (odds ratio 1.011; 95% confidence interval [1.002-1.019]) after adjusting for diabetes mellitus and hypoxemia during acute COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Serum GRP78 levels were significantly higher in CAM than in COVID-19 controls. Further studies are required to the role of GRP78 in the pathogenesis of CAM.

Efficacy and safety of the Arctic Sun device for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in adult patients following cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: The principal objective of this study was to carry out a comprehensive and thorough analysis to compare the safety and effectiveness of the Arctic Sun, a servo-controlled surface cooling device, with conventional cooling techniques for providing therapeutic hypothermia in adult patients who had experienced hypoxic-ischemic brain injury following cardiopulmonary resuscitation. METHODS: In order to achieve our goal, we conducted an extensive search of multiple databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrials.gov up to the date of July 30, 2021. We only included studies that compared the safety and efficacy of the Arctic Sun surface cooling equipment with standard cooling approaches such as cooling blankets, ice packs, and intravenous cold saline for treating comatose adult patients who had recovered after experiencing cardiac arrest. We evaluated various outcomes, including all-cause mortality, good neurological outcome at 1 month, and the occurrence of adverse effects such as infections, shock, and bleeding. We employed a random-effects meta-analysis to estimate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for dichotomous outcomes. RESULTS: One hundred and fourteen records were identified through our search; however, only three studies met our eligibility criteria, resulting in overall 187 patients incorporated in the meta-analysis. The findings indicated no significant difference in mortality rates among the Arctic Sun device and conventional cooling techniques (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.34-1.19; P = 0.16; I2 = 0%). In addition, we found no significant difference in occurrence of good neurological outcomes (OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 0.94-3.25; P = 0.08; I2 = 0%) between the two cooling methods. However, the application of the Arctic Sun device was associated with increased incidence of infections compared to standard cooling methods (OR: 2.46; 95% CI: 1.18-5.11; P = 0.02; I2 = 0%). While no significant difference occurred in the incidence of shock (OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.07-1.18; P = 0.08; I2 = 40%), the use of the Arctic Sun device was linked to significantly fewer bleeding complications compared to standard cooling methods (OR: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.02-0.79; P = 0.03; I2 = 0%). CONCLUSIONS: After analyzing the results of our meta-analysis, we concluded that the use of the Arctic Sun device for targeted temperature management following cardiopulmonary resuscitation did not result in significant differences in mortality rates or improve neurological outcomes when compared to standard cooling techniques.

Magnesium sulfate in organophosphorus compound poisoning: A prospective open-label clinician-initiated intervention trial with historical controls.

Background: The addition of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) to standard treatment has improved mortality and morbidity associated with organophosphorus compound (OPC) poisoning. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of adjunctive intravenous MgSO4 (IV MgSO4) in poisoning from OPCs. Methods: Forty-seven cases and 72 controls were recruited to this prospective open-label clinician-initiated intervention trial after admitting OPC poisoning. All patients received standard treatment for anticholinesterase poisoning, and oximes were not used. Cases were divided into two groups. Group A (22 patients) received IV MgSO4 at 4 g/day in four divided doses (1 g every 6 h) on day 1. Group B (25 patients) received the same daily dose of IV MgSO4 throughout the hospital stay. Group C (72 patients) represents historical controls who did not receive IV MgSO4. The primary outcome was inhospital mortality. The secondary outcomes included the development of intermediate syndrome (IMS), the requirement of mechanical ventilation (MV), duration of MV, and length of hospital stay. Results: Baseline parameters in both groups were comparable. There is no statistically significant difference in mortality among three groups (Group A: 2/22, 9.1%; Group B: 5/25, 20% and Group C: 6/72, 8.3%). Results were similar for the development of IMS, the requirement of MV, length of MV, and duration of hospital stay. Conclusion: IV MgSO4 did not result in better outcomes compared with standard care alone in OPC poisoning.

Scrub eschar.

A 60-year-old female presented to the emergency room with fever and myalgias for four days and shortness of breath for two days. On clinical examination, she was tachypneic and blood oxygen saturation of 86 % on room air. There was an eschar of size 1 × 1 cm on the left infraclavicular area (Fig. 1). Chest examination showed bilateral interscapular crepitations. CXR showed bilateral lower zone infiltrates. Scrub typhus IgM was found to be positive by rapid diagnostic kit test, Eschar biopsy was also positive for scrub typhus by Polymerase Chain Reaction. The patient was started on doxycycline, clinically improved and discharged after ten days. Presence of eschars is considered pathognomonic of scrub typhus. Incidence of eschar varies widely from 7 % to 97 %. The main reason for low detection is eschars being missed on routine clinical examination as these are painless lesions consisting of a black scab, with an erythematous halo and minimal edema. Eschars are usually found over the covered areas of the body, such as the groin, axilla, chest, and lower back which appears a few days after at chigger-bite sites, even before the disease manifestation. This case emphasizes the importance of thorough clinical examination to look for eschar and early diagnosis and initiation of treatment while routine laboratory assays are awaited.

Brucella endocarditis of pulmonary valve: a rare presentation.

Brucellosis is one of the most frequent zoonotic infections. Cardiac involvement is rare and when involved, affects aortic valve the most. The appearance of a new murmur on clinical examination during sepsis should suspect seeding on valves. Our patient had pulmonary valve endocarditis secondary to brucellosis which was managed with pharmacotherapy as there was no valvular pathology. Triple therapy is standard of care and usually given for months, non-response to pharmacological treatment warrants surgical intervention. Our patient completed the triple-drug regimen at 3 months and is asymptomatic at present.

Ocular Side Effects of Systemic Drugs Used in Dermatology.

Some systemically used drugs in managing dermatologic disorders have associated severe side effects, of which eye involvement is very significant. There are various mechanisms for these drugs to cause damage to the eye. The damage to the eye can be acute as in Stevens-Johnson syndrome or chronic as with chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine toxicity. Knowledge about these drugs and information about the mechanisms and types of damage to the eye are essential. It is also important to understand the monitoring mechanisms to diagnose early and limit the damage. Newer investigative tools, especially the imaging techniques help us to diagnose the adverse effects at an early stage. All these issues are discussed in brief here.