An insight into Clostridium difficile infection: a single-center retrospective case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has become a worldwide health problem in view of its significant incidence and medical and economic impact on the health system. Prior studies have been undergone about risk factors and disease characteristics. We wanted to study the characteristics, prognostic factors associated with CDI at our institute, as well as a new prognostic factor. METHODS: Our study aimed at describing the risk factors, patient characteristics, and outcomes associated with healthcare facility-acquired CDI (HCFA-CDI) and community-acquired CDI (CA-CDI). We intended to identify the factors associated with worse outcomes. We evaluated the characteristics associated with CDI over 3 years. We also evaluated a simple neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and its predictive value for worse outcomes. RESULTS: Six hundred patients were enrolled (333 in a control group; 171 in the HCFA-CDI group and 96 in the CA-CDI group). NLR > 5 predicted increased mortality and intensive care unit transfer in all CDI if done as early as day 2 after CDI diagnosis. In HCFA-CDI, NLR > 5 predicted a higher ICU transfer if done as early as day 1 post-diagnosis and with increased mortality as early as day 2 post-diagnosis. In CA-CDI, NLR > 5 predicted a higher mortality and ICU transfer if done at least 4 days after diagnosis. Moreover, every 10-unit increase in NLR was associated with a significant increase in mortality and ICU transfer in patients with CDI. CONCLUSION: A timely use of NLR can be used as a mean to predict worse outcomes, namely ICU transfer and mortality, in patients with CDI.

The Evolution of Iron-Related Comorbidities and Hospitalization in Patients with Hemochromatosis: An Analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

Hemochromatosis, either hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) or secondary hemochromatosis, consists of the accumulation of iron in the liver, heart, and other organs. It leads to end-organ damage in a proportion of affected subjects. Although liver-related morbidity (cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]) and mortality are well established, the frequency of these complications remains controversial. The aim of this study is to examine the rate of hospitalization and the incidence of iron overload-related comorbidities in patients with hemochromatosis between the years of 2002 and 2010. We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from the year 2002 to 2010. We included adults (age ≥18 years) and used the ICD-CM 9 code 275.0x to identify hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of hemochromatosis. Data analysis for this study was generated using SAS software version 9.4. A total of 168,614 hospitalized patients between 2002 and 2010 had a diagnosis of hemochromatosis. The majority were males (57%) with a median age of 54 years (37-68), with a predominance of white patients (63.3%) followed by black (26.8%). The rate of hospitalization among patients with hemochromatosis increased by 79% between the years 2002 and 2010 (34.5/100,000 in 2002 vs 61.4/100,000 in 2010). The main associated diagnoses were diabetes mellitus (20.2%), cardiac disease, including arrhythmias (14%) and cardiomyopathy (dilated 3.8%; peri-, endo-, myocarditis 1.3%), liver cirrhosis (8.6%), HCC (1.6%), and acute liver failure (0.81%). Of note, HCC was associated with cirrhosis in 1188 patients (43% of HCC patients) and male sex (87%). Diagnostic biopsies were performed in 6023 (3.6%) of those patients and liver transplant was performed in 881 (0.5%). In-hospital mortality occurred in 3638 (2.16%) patients. In this large database study, we found a rising trend in hospitalization for hemochromatosis, possibly due to the increased recognition of this entity and billing for the condition. The incidence of cirrhosis in hemochromatosis was found to be similar to other studies (8.6% vs 9%). However, the rate of HCC was lower than previous reports (1.6% vs 2.2%-14.9%), and only 43% of HCC was associated with cirrhosis. This raises important pathophysiologic questions regarding the impact of iron overload in HCC. There has been an increase in the rate of hospitalization for patients with a diagnosis of hemochromatosis. This may be related to an increased recognition of hemochromatosis as the underlying etiology for conditions such as diabetes, cardiomyopathy, cirrhosis, and HCC. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify the burden of liver disease in HH and secondary iron overload.

Gastrointestinal Bleeding Secondary to Metastatic Duodenal Choriocarcinoma in a Patient with Concomitant Peptic Ulcer Disease.

Testicular tumors are one of the most common solid tumors in young males. Choriocarcinoma usually presents as metastatic disease. Gastrointestinal tract involvement is rare. We report a case of a 40-year-old male presenting to our hospital with a three-day history of dyspnea on exertion and black stool after recent diagnosis of testicular choriocarcinoma. Urgent EGD performed revealed small clean-based fundal ulcer and an antral ulcer without the stigma of recent bleeding. Capsule endoscopy was performed and revealed a bleeding ill-defined mass in the proximal duodenum. A subsequent push enteroscopy showed an ulcerated bleeding mass in the third part of the duodenum that was treated with a hemospray with adequate hemostasis. Pathology was consistent with pure choriocarcinoma. The patient received a cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimen. The patient tolerated the chemotherapy regimen well and was discharged for outpatient follow-up. At the three-month follow-up, the patient did not show evidence of recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding.

Acute Appendicitis Review: Background, Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

Appendicitis is a common occurrence in both the adult and pediatric populations. The condition most commonly occurs between the ages of 10 and 20 years with a lifetime risk of 8.6% and 6.7% for males and females respectively. Its diagnosis focuses on clinical presentation and imaging modalities classified according to scoring systems such as the Alvarado scoring system. A number of imaging modalities can be used, with CT being the most common one. For acute appendicitis, surgical intervention is considered to be the gold standard of treatment. However, recent research has focused on other modalities of treatment including antibiotics and endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (ERAT) to avoid surgical complications.

Roth Net-Assisted Endoscopic-Guided Manometry Catheter Placement.

High-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) has become the gold standard to diagnose esophageal motility disorders. Usually, this procedure is performed by introducing the catheter, which has pressure sensors, into the esophagus and proximal stomach via the nares. Repeated coiling of the catheter and inability to pass through the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) are common challenges encountered. Endoscopy-guided placement of the catheter can overcome these difficulties. However, sometimes even with the use of endoscopy, it is difficult to advance catheter due to anatomical variants. The extreme fragility of the catheter and sensors and the high cost of this reusable device precludes the use of biopsy forceps or snare to advance the catheter. There is no literature on using accessories during endoscopy in case of difficult placement under direct visualization. We report a unique case of using Roth Net via the suction channel to advance esophageal manometry catheter into the stomach by using endoscopy.

Polycystic Liver With Cardiac Compression Leading to Atrial Fibrillation: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Polycystic liver disease (PCLD) is a rare condition that most often occurs in patients with polycystic kidney disease and less commonly as an isolated liver disease. Complications include cyst rupture, infection, hemorrhage, and compression of surrounding organs by large cysts. We present the case of a patient with a history of PCLD who presented to our hospital with palpitations and was found to have atrial fibrillation. Imaging and echocardiograph revealed a dominant large cyst compressing the right atrium. Other etiologies including thyroid disease, ischemic heart disease, and electrolytes abnormalities were excluded. The patient refused surgical intervention and was conservatively treated with rate control and anticoagulation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of new-onset atrial fibrillation secondary to right atrial compression by a liver cyst. Compression of cardiac chambers resulting in new-onset arrhythmia should be considered when evaluating patients with PCLD.

Abdominal Wall Hematoma Secondary to Dissection of the Deep Circumflex Iliac Artery: A Rare Complication of Ultrasound-Guided Paracentesis.

Paracentesis of the abdominal cavity is carried out to analyze ascitic fluid for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In recent years, the modern ultrasound-guided method is favored over the landmark-based approach as the latter carries a higher risk of complications. Dissection of the inferior epigastric artery is the most frequent complication encountered on either approach. We present a unique case of iatrogenic laceration of the deep circumflex iliac artery due to abnormal vessel anatomy in a patient with ascites.

An Unconventional Diagnostic Method for Cryptosporidial Enteritis in a Healthy Host: Never Call It Quits!

Cryptosporidial enteritis has a rising incidence in the USA, mostly affecting immunocompromised individuals and children. It has a self-limiting course in healthy hosts. Herein, we present a unique case of a healthy middle-aged female who presented with a 1-month history of voluminous watery diarrhea and acute blood loss anemia. Cryptosporidial enteritis was diagnosed based on endoscopy with biopsy-proven evidence of 2 jejunal peptic ulcers infected with Cryptosporidiumspp. that was originally missed on routine stool culture, ova and parasite tests. The patient was successfully treated with nitazoxanide, and eradication of the protozoan was also confirmed on repeat endoscopic biopsies of the ulcer that were carried out 6 months later. To our knowledge, this is the first case to be reported in the literature with infective colonization of peptic ulcers with Cryptosporidiumspp. with consequent systemic symptoms.

Mesalamine Associated Bradycardia.

A 38-year-old female presented with an acute flare of ulcerative colitis. She was started on prednisone and mesalamine. Within 24 hours of initiating mesalamine, she developed sinus bradycardia. After holding mesalamine, the heart rate returned to normal within five days. Our case illustrates the third described case, to our knowledge, of severe sinus bradycardia secondary to mesalamine.

Severe de novo Ulcerative Colitis following Ixekizumab Therapy.

Ixekizumab is a selective monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-17A, approved for the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis. It has rarely been associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in randomized trials only. We report a unique case of severe new-onset ulcerative colitis in a young male complicated by cytomegalovirus infection who was on ixekizumab therapy for plaque psoriasis. We recommend that clinicians should exercise caution before prescribing ixekizumab as it seems to induce and exacerbate IBD.

Successful Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus by Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir in a Cirrhotic Patient with Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassemia Minor.

Around 8% of patients diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD) are hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers. Previously, HCV treatment was seldom considered in SCD patients, as the ribavirin-induced hemolysis and interferon-induced cytopenias could lead to more profound anemia. Nowadays, several oral direct-acting antiviral drugs have been developed and approved by the FDA for hepatitis C treatment. While direct-acting antivirals mitigate many of these risks, their safety and efficacy in SCD patients remains insufficiently explored. Here, we report on successfully treating HCV with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir in a compensated cirrhotic patient with SCD and thalassemia minor.

Wilson's Disease: Expect the Unexpected.

A 64-year-old woman, presented with abdominal distention, jaundice and resting tremor, was found to have liver injury and abnormal liver enzymes. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed abdominopelvic ascites and signs of liver cirrhosis. An extensive liver disease workup was performed and came back negative; therefore, a liver biopsy was obtained and showed evidence of cirrhosis with elevated liver copper consistent with Wilson's disease (WD). We report a unique case of late-onset WD in which the ceruloplasmin level and 24-h urinary copper excretion were all normal.