Epidemiology and outcomes of emergency department visits in systemic lupus erythematosus: Insights from the nationwide emergency department sample (NEDS).

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients are prone to frequent emergency department (ED) visits. This study explores the epidemiology and outcomes of ED visits by patients with SLE utilizing the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS). METHODS: Using NEDS (2019), SLE ED visits identified using ICD-10 codes (M32. xx) were compared with non-SLE ED visits in terms of demographic and clinical features and primary diagnoses associated with the ED visits. Factors associated with inpatient admission were analyzed using logistic regression. Variations in ED visits by age and race were assessed. RESULTS: We identified 414,139 (0.35%) ED visits for adults ≥ 18 years with SLE. ED visits with SLE comprised more women, Black patients, ages 31-50 years, Medicare as the primary payer, and had higher comorbidity burden. A greater proportion of Black and Hispanic SLE patients who visited the ED were in the youngest age category of 18-30 years (around 20%) compared to White patients (less than 10%). Non-White patients had higher Medicaid utilization (27%-32% vs 19% in White patients). Comorbidity patterns varied based on race, with more White patients having higher rates of hyperlipidemia and ischemic heart disease (IHD) and more Black patients having chronic kidney disease (CKD), hypertension, and heart failure. Categorizing by race, SLE/connective tissue disease (CTD) and infection were the most prevalent primary ED diagnosis in non-White and White patients, respectively. Age ≥ 65 years, male sex, and comorbidities were linked to a higher risk of admission. Black race (OR 0.86, p = .01) and lowest income quartile (OR 0.78, p = .003) had lower odds of inpatient admission. CONCLUSION: Infection and SLE/CTD were among the top diagnoses associated with ED visits and inpatient admission. Despite comprising a significant proportion of SLE ED visits, Black patients had lower odds of admission. While the higher prevalence of older age groups, hyperlipidemia, and IHD among White patients may partly explain the disparate results, and further study is needed to understand the role of other factors including reliance on the ED for routine care compared among Black patients, differences in insurance coverage, and potential socioeconomic biases among healthcare providers.

Complications of modern pancreaticoduodenectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: In the past decades, the perioperative management of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has undergone major changes worldwide. This review aimed to systematically determine the burden of complications of PD performed in the last 10 years. DATA SOURCES: A systematic review was conducted in PubMed for randomized controlled trials and observational studies reporting postoperative complications in at least 100 PDs from January 2010 to April 2020. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB2 tool for randomized studies and the methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS). Pooled complication rates were estimated using random-effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was investigated by subgroup analysis and meta-regression. RESULTS: A total of 20 randomized and 49 observational studies reporting 63 229 PDs were reviewed. Mean MINORS score showed a high risk of bias in non-randomized studies, while one quarter of the randomized studies were assessed to have high risk of bias. Pooled incidences of 30-day mortality, overall complications and serious complications were 1.7% (95% CI: 0.9%-2.9%; I2 = 95.4%), 54.7% (95% CI: 46.4%-62.8%; I2 = 99.4%) and 25.5% (95% CI: 21.8%-29.4%; I2= 92.9%), respectively. Clinically-relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula risk was 14.3% (95% CI: 12.4%-16.3%; I2 = 92.0%) and mean length of stay was 14.8 days (95% CI: 13.6-16.1; I2 = 99.3%). Meta-regression partially attributed the observed heterogeneity to the country of origin of the study, the study design and the American Society of Anesthesiologists class. CONCLUSIONS: Pooled complication rates estimated in this study may be used to counsel patients scheduled to undergo a PD and to set benchmarks against which centers can audit their practice. However, cautious interpretation is necessary due to substantial heterogeneity.

CT liver perfusion in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: can we modify acquisition protocol to reduce patient exposure?

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the potential of decreasing the number of scans and associated radiation exposure involved in CT liver perfusion (CTLP) dynamic studies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) assessment. METHODS: Twenty-four CTLP image datasets of patients with HCC were retrospectively analyzed. All examinations were performed on a modern CT system using a standard acquisition protocol involving 35 scans with 1.7 s interval. A deconvolution-based or a standard algorithm was employed to compute ten perfusion parametric maps. 3D ROIs were positioned on 33 confirmed HCCs and non-malignant parenchyma. Analysis was repeated for two subsampled datasets generated from the original dataset by including only the (a) 18 odd-numbered scans with 3.4 s interval and (b) 18 first scans with 1.7 s interval. Standard and modified datasets were compared regarding the (a) accuracy of calculated perfusion parameters, (b) power of parametric maps to discriminate HCCs from liver parenchyma, and (c) associated radiation exposure. RESULTS: When the time interval between successive scans was doubled, perfusion parameters of HCCs were found unaffected (p > 0.05) and the discriminating efficiency of parametric maps was preserved (p < 0.05). In contrast, significant differences were found for all perfusion parameters of HCCs when acquisition duration was reduced to half (p < 0.05), while the discriminating efficiency of four parametric maps was significantly deteriorated (p < 0.05). Modified CTLP acquisition protocols were found to involve 48.5% less patient exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Doubling the interscan time interval may considerably reduce radiation exposure from CTLP studies performed for HCC evaluation without affecting the diagnostic efficiency of perfusion maps generated with either standard or deconvolution-based mathematical model. KEY POINTS: • CT liver perfusion for HCC diagnosis/assessment is not routinely used in clinical practice mainly due to the associated high radiation exposure. • Two alternative acquisition protocols involving 18 scans of the liver were compared with the standard 35-scan protocol. • Increasing the time interval between successive scans to 3.4 s was found to preserve the accuracy of computed perfusion parameters derived with a standard or a deconvolution-based model and to reduce radiation exposure by 48.5%.

Propylthiouracil-Induced Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA)-Associated Vasculitis Presenting with Multiple Sterile Abscesses, Mononeuritis Multiplex, and Splenic Vein Thrombosis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) represents a rare group of disorders, that traditionally includes diseases like granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). However, AAV can also be triggered by medications such as propylthiouracil (PTU). This article focuses on the subset of drug-induced AAV. We examine how certain medications, notably PTU, can provoke an AAV response, detailing the pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical implications. A 72-year-old female being treated with PTU presented with bilateral hand abscesses, generalized weakness, and frequent falls. Despite initial treatments, her condition worsened, prompting consideration of AAV secondary to PTU. Following appropriate diagnostic procedures and initiation of treatment, including steroids, heparin, and rituximab, the patient showed significant improvement. PTU-induced AAV is a serious, albeit rare, side effect characterized by anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies, with the potential for varied organ involvement and generally a better prognosis than primary AAV. The atypical presentation in this case underscores the importance of clinician vigilance and awareness, ensuring timely diagnosis and appropriate management of this complex condition.

Hepatic segmental arterial mediolysis: A case report and brief literature review.

Key Clinical message: When evaluating patients with abdominal pain, it is important to consider SAM in the differential diagnosis, along with vasculitis, fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), atherosclerosis, mycotic aneurysms, and cystic medial degeneration. Abstract: Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is a rare arteriopathy which is an under-recognized and commonly missed diagnosis of abdominal pain. We report a case of a 58-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain and was misdiagnosed with a urinary tract infection. The diagnosis was made with CTA and managed with embolization. Despite appropriate intervention and close hospital monitoring, further complications were inevitable. We conclude that though literature has shown better prognosis and even complete resolution after medical and/or surgical intervention, close follow up and monitoring is needed to avoid unexpected complications.

Stress and Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders Among the Nursing Personnel of a Tertiary Hospital Unit in Greece: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Work-related musculoskeletal injuries and disorders (WMSD) are a significant cause of morbidity in the health care sector. Healthcare professionals are routinely exposed to various physical and psychosocial factors that increase the risk of developing a WMSD. Nurses are more susceptible to the manifestation of such disorders. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the second semester of 2020. The Nordic Questionnaire (NMQ) was used to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, the Short Anxiety Screening Test (SAST) for stress detection, and a data collection sheet was developed for the registration of clinical, demographic, and anthropometric characteristics of the nursing personnel of the tertiary hospital unit of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. RESULTS: A percentage of 82% of nurses had developed at least one musculoskeletal symptom in the last 12 months. The most common anatomical areas at which symptoms were present the last 12 months were the neck (53.9%), shoulders (50.8%), and the lower back (49.5%). The same areas were also the reported anatomical regions, most affected by musculoskeletal symptoms when stress levels were high. Absence from work was associated with the onset of musculoskeletal symptoms (p<0.001), while nurses' financial expenses (out-of-pocket payment) appeared to be associated with the onset of any symptom at 12 months, musculoskeletal symptoms limiting everyday activity at 12 months, and current musculoskeletal symptoms (p=0.001, p=0.002, and p=0.002 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal disorders were common among the nursing personnel. Higher levels of stress were related with a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms.

Antisynthetase Syndrome With Paraneoplastic Antibodies.

Antisynthetase syndrome (ASyS) is an uncommon systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by the presence of autoantibodies targeting aminoacyl-transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetase. The syndrome displays a diverse range of clinical manifestations affecting multiple organs, thereby posing a diagnostic challenge. In this report, we present an unusual case of a patient diagnosed with ASyS, displaying positive anti-PL-12 antibodies along with paraneoplastic antibodies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case in the existing literature describing ASyS with the presence of anti-PL-12 antibodies and concomitant paraneoplastic antibodies in the context of ductal carcinoma in situ.

Overlapping Tubulointerstitial Lupus Nephritis and Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease: A Case Report.

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) in conjunction with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rare occurrence. In this case report, we present the case of a 50-year-old female who was diagnosed with SLE based on clinical and laboratory criteria. The patient exhibited pericardial effusion necessitating pericardiocentesis, pleural effusion requiring thoracentesis, and impaired renal function necessitating dialysis. Renal biopsy revealed findings consistent with tubulointerstitial lupus nephritis and IgG4-related disease. Additionally, elevated levels of serum IgG4 were detected. The patient received intravenous pulse dose steroids and oral steroids, which were tapered gradually, followed by daily hydroxychloroquine treatment and two doses of rituximab every two weeks. Consequently, the patient experienced an improvement in renal function and no longer needed dialysis. To our knowledge, only a few reports of this overlap exist. This late diagnosis of SLE could be explained by the fact that IgG4 is associated with milder renal disease in lupus patients, due to its inability to activate the classical complement pathway. IgG4-RD/SLE overlap patients usually respond well to a combination of steroids and other immunosuppressants used to treat SLE. However, our experience with treating this disease overlap remains limited due to its extreme rarity.

Clinical and Social Features of Patients with Eye Injuries Admitted to a Tertiary Hospital: A Five-Year Retrospective Study from Crete, Greece.

Eye injuries are a major cause of visual disability worldwide and may present a burden to both quality of life of the sufferers and healthcare services. The aim of this study was to extract and triangulate information on the demographic, clinical, and social features of eye-injured adult patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Greece. The design was a five-year retrospective study of eye-injured adult patients, admitted to the General University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete (GUHH), the single tertiary referral hospital on the island. Drawing the profile of eye-injured patients may add to future health planning. Data collected from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019, such as sociodemographic features and clinical information, were extracted. One hundred twenty-eight patients were included. Of those, there was no available information on activity during injury for 6 patients, 78 (60.9%) had work-related ocular injuries, and 44 (34.4%) had non-work-related ocular injuries. Patients with no current formal employment, those who were retired, and formally unemployed and manual force workers had the higher rates of work-related injuries. The most common work-related injuries were closed globe injuries, specifically contusions, while ruptures and penetrating wounds were the most frequent of the open globe injuries. Within the univariate analyses, work-related eye injuries were significantly associated with male gender, middle age, and the place related to daily work activity. Determinants of poor final visual acuity (VA) were the initial VA, the type of injury (p < 0.0001), the distance of the place of residence from the hospital, and the time to hospital admission (p < 0.013). In a multivariate analysis, referred patients and those with open globe injuries arrived at hospital after a two-hour interval compared with those who were not referred and those with closed globe injuries (p ≤ 0.05). A reduction in the time to hospital admission deserves further attention. The interconnection of community and health system services through a capacity increase and networking needs further research in order to obtain targeted and viable access for eye-injured patients.

Remdesivir-Induced Liver Injury in a Patient With Coronavirus Disease 2019 and History of Congestive Hepatopathy.

Remdesivir is an antiviral agent used as supportive care in adults with SARS-COV2-induced pneumonia. We report a case of an 81-year-old patient who developed hepatocellular acute liver injury 48 hours after initiating remdesivir. During the investigation, other causes of hepatotoxicity were excluded. A decrease in transaminases and international normalized ratio (INR) was observed 24 hours after cessation of remdesivir. An abdominal CT demonstrated hepatic congestion, retrograde hepatic venous opacification shortly after intravenous contrast injection, and dilatation of hepatic veins and inferior vena cava. We suggest congestive hepatopathy secondary to remdesivir as a possible component of liver injury.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Primary Care Physicians towards COVID-19 in Greece: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary care physicians and residents towards the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in Greece during March 2021. The population frame for the study was a list of currently practicing primary care physicians and residents who were registered within one of the main associations of general/family medicine in Greece. Hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis was performed for practices at higher levels (vs. lower) in relation to knowledge, attitudes, and general characteristics of participants. Overall, 194 participants completed the survey (e-response rate: 38.4%). In total, 94% of participants were familiar with official recommendations regarding SARS-CoV-2, and 88.7% were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 or promptly intended to be. Physicians working in the private sector had a higher average practices score when compared to physicians working in the public sector (87.6 vs. 81.9, p < 0.05). Higher levels of attitudes predicted greater odds for higher levels of practices (odds ratio = 4.18, p < 0.05). Despite the relatively high COVID-19 vaccination rate of physicians, several participants were unvaccinated due to a then unscheduled first dose appointment. Attitudes were the only determinant for more proper practices towards the prevention of COVID-19.

Vomiting-induced costal cartilage fracture: a case report.

The use of ultrasonography as a first line imaging test in cases of possible costal cartilage fracture can be pivotal. In this case report, we present the case of a patient with a suspected atraumatic vomiting-induced costal cartilage fracture. The costal cartilage fracture was non-displaced and incomplete, thus not visible in a Computed Tomography scan. When Ultrasound imaging was employed at the area of tenderness, soft tissue edema and hematoma around the cartilage were visualized. High level of suspicion for a cartilage fracture in this case revealed a subtle osseous injury.

Maximizing patient benefit through a reversed pathway from specialist to generalist: the case of chronic pain.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) is a syndrome characterized by chronic pain and/or stiffness in the neck, shoulders or upper arms and hips. It affects adult patients usually over 50 years old and is treated with low-dose oral corticosteroids. In this case, a 68-year-old female with a history of PMR, diagnosed by a specialist sporadically seen in the past, presented to a primary care physician due to herpes zoster (HZ) infection. Thorough history taking, along with a careful review of previous laboratory results, raised serious doubts concerning her diagnosis (PMR). Because the patient described diffuse pain throughout her body, sleep disturbances and a depressed emotional state, fibromyalgia was suspected instead and appropriate treatment was given. The patient remained free of symptoms and corticosteroids for almost a year. Information from this case may help to point out that PMR is a disorder that can be easily confused with other chronic pain conditions with similar manifestations, especially when the initial diagnosis is sped up in terms of consultation depth and care continuity. Under certain circumstances, primary care can lead to improved clinical outcomes.

A case of incidental infantile gallbladder adenomyomatosis: an unusual US finding of uncertain clinical significance.

Adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder is defined as hypertrophy of the gallbladder mucosal epithelium that invaginates into a thickened muscularis propria, leading to the formation of intramural diverticula. It is typically considered a benign condition most commonly affecting adults and, rarely, children. In this case report, we present a case of gallbladder adenomyomatosis in a 3-month-old infant. The diagnosis was made incidentally on ultrasound examination of the abdomen, in an otherwise asymptomatic child with no laboratory test abnormalities and no underlying disease. The purpose of this case report is to make infantile adenomyomatosis and its implications known to clinicians, as the literature on this topic is limited. To the best of our knowledge, this is the youngest reported case of adenomyomatosis in the pediatric population.

Satisfaction and Perceived Barriers of General Practice Residents in Relation to Their Educational Needs Coverage During Residency in Greece.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess satisfaction and report on perceptions of General Practice (GP) residents during residency in Greece, through an online questionnaire at a national level. Material and methods:A mixed type method study was shaped. Both quantitative analysis and a quasiqualitative approach were used, while information from an open-ended question was processed. The study included answers of GP residents recruited with a national sample pool technique. Results:There were 177 responders from 430 registered residents. Using a grading system from 1 to 10, the median value showing how much satisfied the participants were during their training was 4.48 (95% CI 4.16-4.79), while GP logbook was regarded as useful (median value 6.29, 95% CI 5.84-6.73). The training program was reported as insufficient to prepare residents for their future work as primary health care physicians, with a median rating of 4.09 (95% CI 3.78-4.41). The overall educational gain was regarded as poor compared to residents' expectations, with a median rating of 4.71 (95% CI 4.38-5.07). From free text responses of 83 participants, an organized educational program based on logbook skill acquirement with interaction between coordinator and resident emerged as a priority. Conclusion: Understanding general practitioners' perceptions, satisfaction level and expectations may help to design reform initiatives and cover their educational needs during residency in a holistic manner. Experience from local settings may be useful to offer more comprehensive messages. In a rapidly changing health environment, quickly collecting and analyzing emerging data appears to be a practical way for correcting decisions and avoiding previous errors.

Mycobacterium leprae Activates Toll-Like Receptor-4 Signaling and Expression on Macrophages Depending on Previous Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Vaccination.

Toll-like receptor (TLR)-1 and TLR2 have been shown to be receptors for Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae), yet it is unclear whether M. leprae can signal through alternative TLRs. Other mycobacterial species possess ligands for TLR4 and genetic association studies in human populations suggest that people with TLR4 polymorphisms may be protected against leprosy. Using human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells co-transfected with TLR4, we demonstrate that M. leprae activates TLR4. We used human macrophages to show that M. leprae stimulation of cytokine production is diminished if pre-treated with TLR4 neutralizing antibody. TLR4 protein expression was up-regulated on macrophages derived from non-bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccinated healthy volunteers after incubation with M. leprae, whereas it was down-regulated in macrophages derived from BCG-vaccinated donors. Finally, pre-treatment of macrophages derived from BCG-naive donors with BCG reversed the effect of M. leprae on TLR4 expression. This may be a newly described phenomenon by which BCG vaccination stimulates "non-specific" protection to the human immune system.

Silent diabetes mellitus, periodontitis and a new case of thalamic abscess.

Brain abscess is an unusual complication of uncontrolled diabetes. A solitary thalamic abscess is an uncommon type of brain abscess. We report a case of thalamic abscess, whereupon diabetes mellitus and periodontitis were diagnosed. The diagnosis and management of thalamic abscess, and the interplay of type 2 diabetes and periodontitis are discussed. A 56-year-old, Caucasian, man with no medical or travel history, presented with 5-day symptoms of meningeal irritation. Body mass index 30.6 kg/m(2). CT demonstrated a solitary midline lesion with neoplasia as a differential diagnosis. It was biopsied and cultures grew Streptococcus milleri. He was treated by stereotactic puncture, external drainage and targeted intrathecal and systemic antibiotic therapy. HIV negative but glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 10.7% (93 mmol/mol). Dental examination revealed a small molar abscess. Radiological resolution of the thalamic abscess occurred within 2 months. Diabetes improved with 7 weeks of insulin, and maintained on metformin, HbA1c 6.9% (51 mmol/mol). There was no residual neurological disability.