Revisiting Asthma Obstructive Sleep Apnea Overlap: Current Knowledge and Future Needs.

Asthma and obstructive sleep apnea are highly prevalent conditions with a high cost burden. In addition to shared risk factors, existing data suggest a bidirectional relationship between asthma and OSA, where each condition can impact the other. Patients with asthma often complain of sleep fragmentation, nocturnal asthma symptoms, daytime sleepiness, and snoring. The prevalence of OSA increases with asthma severity, as evidenced by multiple large studies. Asthma may lower the threshold for arousal in OSA, resulting in the hypopnea with arousal phenotype. Epidemiologic studies in adults have shown that OSA is associated with worse asthma severity, increased frequency of exacerbation, and poor quality of life. The current literature assessing the relationship among OSA, asthma, and CPAP therapy is heavily dependent on observational studies. There is a need for randomized controlled trials to minimize the interference of confounding shared risk factors.

Update on the Role of FeNO in Asthma Management.

Asthma is a heterogenous disorder characterized by presence of different phenotypes and endotypes. Up to 10% of the individuals suffer from severe asthma and are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a cost-effective, point of care biomarker that is used to detect type 2 airway inflammation. Guidelines have proposed to measure FeNO as an adjunct to diagnostic evaluation in individuals with suspected asthma and to monitor airway inflammation. FeNO has lower sensitivity, suggesting that it may not be a good biomarker to rule out asthma. FeNO may also be used to predict response to inhaled corticosteroids, predict adherence and deciding on biologic therapy. Higher levels of FeNO have been associated with lower lung function and increased risk for future asthma exacerbations and its predictive value increases when combined with other standard measurements of asthma assessment.

A rare case of isolated thoracic AL-amyloidoma causing complete atelectasis of the right lung.

Tumoral amyloidosis, or amyloidoma, is a benign, but rare form of amyloidosis that has been reported with a favorable prognosis following surgical resection in some case reports. We present a case of acute on chronic respiratory failure secondary to extensive growth of a thoracic amyloidoma causing atelectasis of the right lung. Our case patient had greater morbidity due to late presentation and extensive disease at diagnosis, precluding any surgical intervention. Radiation therapy and medical management were unsuccessful in reducing disease burden. Early diagnosis and detection are pivotal to improving survival in patients with isolated thoracic amyloidoma.

Phenotypes of Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap.

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are considered unique diseases with distinct characteristics. Asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap is a disorder in which the clinical characteristics of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease coexist. Asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap is a heterogenous condition; patients can have varied clinical presentations. There are significant gender variations among different phenotypes overlap. Age of symptom onset is another important consideration. Severity of symptoms, spirometry findings, smoking history, and type of airway inflammation varies between the different phenotypes. Understanding disease pathophysiology and establishing phenotypic models will improve a precision approach.

May-Thurner Syndrome: A Rare Case of Unilateral Deep Vein Thrombosis in an Elderly Woman.

BACKGROUND Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a critical disorder with a high incidence and a high disease burden. Multiple acquired and genetic factors leading to hypercoagulation, venous injury, and venous stasis account for its basic pathophysiology. One of the rarely considered underlying etiologies of DVT is May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS), also known as iliac vein compression syndrome. MTS is an anatomical variant in which the left common iliac vein is extrinsically compressed by the right common iliac artery against the lumbar spine, leading to the development of iliofemoral DVT. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 78-year-old woman who presented with chronic unilateral lower-extremity swelling and pain. Ultrasound was consistent with extensive DVT extending from the left common femoral vein to left popliteal vein. Further workup revealed left common iliac venous outflow obstruction due to the extrinsic compression by the overlying atherosclerotic calcified right common iliac artery crossing against the lumbosacral region. CONCLUSIONS MTS usually presents in the second to fourth decades of life, making it challenging to consider it as a differential diagnosis in older patients. The conventional treatment of DVT with anticoagulation alone is insufficient to address thrombotic MTS and can lead to recurrent DVT, post-thrombotic syndrome, and life-threatening complications. Our patient presented in the seventh decade of life, warranting a high index of clinical suspicion of MTS in patients presenting with unilateral leg DVT, regardless of patient age, for timely diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic management.

Potential predictors of outcomes among hospitalized COVID-19 patients treated with convalescent plasma: a single-center study.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is a major international public health crisis, which has led to over 3 million deaths as of April 2021. Several therapeutics have been tried for this deadly illness including antivirals, immunosuppressive agents and convalescent plasma (CP). In this study, we present our inner-city safety net hospital experience with CP therapy. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 who were treated with CP. Results: A total of 60 patients received CP during the study period. The mean age for patients in this study was 58.95 years. The most common presenting symptoms were shortness of breath (85%) and cough (73%). Hypertension (65%) and diabetes mellitus (55%) were the most common comorbidities in our patients. In our multivariate regression analysis, male sex, nausea and loss of appetite at presentation were associated with improvement in oxygenation after CP. Total survival time, history of obstructive airway disease, home use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers were associated with decreased survival, whereas Hispanic ethnicity showed a trend towards lower survival after CP therapy. Conclusions: Our study highlights several important characteristics of inner-city safety net hospital patient population who might benefit from CP therapy.

A Rare Case of Mycobacterium Monacense Osteomyelitis: A Case Report.

Mycobacterium monacense (M. monacense) is a yellow-pigmented, rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacterium (RGM). It is a rare pathogen in humans, and only a very few cases of skin and lung infection related to it have been reported. In this report, we present the case of a 70-year-old Hispanic male who was brought to the hospital with back pain for 11 months. His physical exam on admission showed point tenderness in the lumbar and thoracic spine. MRI demonstrated severe spinal stenosis, discitis, and adjacent osteomyelitis at the T11-T12 vertebral bodies. Mycobacterium culture with fluorochrome smear from thoracic spine T12 tissue revealed mycobacterium species, but not Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). The final culture report led to the identification of M. monacense, which was confirmed by DNA sequencing. This case illustrates the rare manifestations of M. monacense and highlights the use of molecular biologic techniques to reach a definitive diagnosis in suspected cases. Infections caused by M. monacense are rarely reported in humans. Even though a few cases have reported M. monacense isolated from human samples, the clinical importance of it is not fully understood. A drug susceptibility test for antibiotic therapy is essential for this patient population. The interpretation of these cultures often generates unclear results. However, the aggravation of the disease on imaging and isolation of M. monacense alone from the cultured specimens obtained suggested that this pathogen may have caused the infection presented in this case.

Ramucirumab-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Rupture and Gastrointestinal Perforation.

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver malignant tumor that typically but not always develops in the setting of chronic liver disease, particularly in patients with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Advanced HCC portends a poor prognosis; however, recent advances in first-line and second-line treatment options yield significant survival improvements. Ruptured HCC is an uncommon presentation that occurs in approximately 3-26% of patients. CASE REPORT We present a case of a patient with HCC who was undergoing treatment with the antiangiogenic monoclonal antibody ramucirumab. Subsequently, he presented with signs and symptoms of acute abdomen. The abdominal imaging revealed pneumoperitoneum with multiple abdominal and pelvic collections. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy and was found to have necrotic liver parenchyma, which appeared to be perforated. Also, a microperforation was noted in the proximal duodenum. The pathology report from liver specimens showed fragments of hepatocellular cancer with extensive necrosis. CONCLUSIONS The mechanism of tumor rupture in HCC is poorly understood. The so-called vascular injury hypothesis states that collagen expansion and elastin proliferation in the arterial wall supplying the tumor could be the leading cause of HCC rupture. We believe that the process mentioned above was accelerated in our patient using the antiangiogenic factor ramucirumab. A similar antiangiogenic mechanism is also implicated in gastrointestinal hemorrhage and perforation related to this drug.

Association of smoking status with outcomes in hospitalised patients with COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Smoking causes inflammation of the lung epithelium by releasing cytokines and impairing mucociliary clearance. Some studies have linked smoking with severity of illness of COVID-19 whereas others have found no such association. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of all adults hospitalised with COVID-19 from 9 March to 18 May 2020. RESULTS: 1173 patients met the study criteria. 837 patients never smoked whereas 336 patients were either current smokers or past smoker and were grouped together in smokers group. Patients in smokers group were more likely to be male and had higher incidence of underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (19% vs 6%, p<0.001), HIV infection (11% vs 5%,p<0.001), cancer (11% vs 6%, p=0.005), congestive heart failure (15% vs 8%, p<0.001), coronary artery disease (15% vs 9%, p=0.3), chronic kidney disease (11% vs 8%, p=0.037) and end-stage renal disease (10% vs 6%, p=0.009) compared with non-smokers. Outcome analysis showed that smokers were more likely to develop critical illness requiring mechanical ventilation (47% vs 37% p=0.005). Univariate Cox model for survival analysis by smoking status showed that among smokers only current smokers had higher risk of death compared with never smokers (HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.12, p<0.001). In the multivariate approach, Cox model for the survival, female sex, young age, low serum lactate dehydrogenase and systemic steroid use were associated with overall improved survival. CONCLUSION: In our large single-centre retrospective database of patients hospitalised with COVID-19, smoking was associated with development of critical illness and higher likelihood of death.

A Rare Case of Cerebellar Glioblastoma Mimicking Acute Stroke in an Elderly Patient.

BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GB) is a common brain tumor that usually presents in the cerebral hemisphere. Very rarely, these tumors can present in the cerebellum. The tumor tends to have a diffuse infiltrative growth that follows the white-matter pathway. Cerebellar GB is often difficult to diagnose on imaging and a biopsy is often needed for diagnosis. Here, we present the case of an elderly woman who presented with symptoms suggestive of acute stroke. CASE REPORT An 82-year-old woman presented for intermittent dizziness that started 2 weeks prior to the presentation and had been progressively worsening. She had a prior history of stroke and was noted to have decreased motor strength and sensation to touch on the left side. A cranial nerve examination was normal, as was finger-nose testing. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain with and without contrast showed an enhancing lesion in the left posterior cerebellum producing a mass effect in the left lateral ventricle. The differential diagnosis included cerebellitis with abscess, neoplastic process with necrosis, and, less likely, a sub-acute infarction A suboccipital craniotomy with cerebellar biopsy-diagnosed cerebellar GB. CONCLUSIONS We report the unique presentation of cerebellar GB in an elderly woman who presented with left-sided weakness, elevated blood pressure, dizziness, vasogenic edema in the left cerebellum, and a mass effect on the fourth ventricle, mimicking acute stroke.

COVID-19 in the Healthy Patient Population: Demographic and Clinical Phenotypic Characterization and Predictors of In-Hospital Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can infect patients in any age group including those with no comorbid conditions. Understanding the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of these patients is important toward developing successful treatment strategies. Approach and Results: In a retrospective study design, consecutive patients without baseline comorbidities hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 were included. Patients were subdivided into ≤55 and >55 years of age. Predictors of in-hospital mortality or mechanical ventilation were analyzed in this patient population, as well as subgroups. Stable parameters in overall and subgroup models were used to construct a cluster model for phenotyping of patients. Of 1207 COVID-19-positive patients, 157 met the study criteria (80≤55 and 77>55 years of age). Most reliable predictors of outcomes overall and in subgroups were age, initial and follow-up d-dimer, and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) levels. Their predictive cutoff values were used to construct a cluster model that produced 3 main clusters. Cluster 1 was a low-risk cluster and was characterized by younger patients who had low thrombotic and inflammatory features. Cluster 2 was intermediate risk that also consisted of younger population that had moderate level of thrombosis, higher inflammatory cells, and inflammatory markers. Cluster 3 was a high-risk cluster that had the most aggressive thrombotic and inflammatory feature. CONCLUSIONS: In healthy patient population, COVID-19 remains significantly associated with morbidity and mortality. While age remains the most important predictor of in-hospital outcomes, thromboinflammatory interactions are also associated with worse clinical outcomes regardless of age in healthy patients.

The Association of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors With Outcomes Among a Predominantly Ethnic Minority Patient Population Hospitalized With COVID-19: The Bronx Experience.

Background and objective Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) are commonly used for the treatment of patients with heart disease, hypertension (HTN), and diabetes mellitus (DM). In the aftermath of the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, initial data raised concerns that ACE/ARB use can increase the expression of ACE2 receptors, leading to the worsening of COVID-19. However, recent studies have suggested that their use might be safe in a select subgroup of patients. We conducted a single-center retrospective study to evaluate the association of in-patient use of ACE/ARB with outcomes among a predominantly ethnic minority patient population of the inner New York City (NYC). Methods This was a retrospective analysis of all hospital admissions with COVID-19 from March 1, 2020, to March 31, 2020. Results Of the 469 patients included in the study, 91 patients (19.4%) used ACE/ARB therapy during their hospital stay and were labeled as ACE/ARB group. Patients in the ACE/ARB therapy group were older and had a higher incidence of HTN, coronary artery disease (CAD), congestive heart failure, DM, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Admission D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were similar between the two groups, but absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) was lower in the non-ACE/ARB group (0.971 k/ul vs. 1.135 k/ul, p=0.0144). The incidence of hyperkalemia and the rise in creatinine were similar between the two groups. Univariate analysis by treatment group using the log-rank test produced significant results (p=0.0062), indicating a higher survival rate for the ACE/ARB group. Conclusion The use of ACE/ARB appears to be safe in all patients in whom their use is medically indicated.

Thrombotic complications and anticoagulation in COVID-19 pneumonia: a New York City hospital experience.

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) can cause prothrombotic complications. We aim to study the frequency of thrombotic complications and impact of anticoagulation on outcomes in hospitalized patients. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 921 consecutive patients admitted to our hospital with COVID-19. Patients were divided into four groups depending on whether they were on anticoagulation prior to admission, started anticoagulation during the admission, received prophylactic anticoagulation, or did not receive any anticoagulation. At the time of analysis, 325 patients (35.3%) had died, while 544 patients (59%) had been discharged resulting in inpatient mortality of 37.3%. Male sex, age > 65 years, and high D-dimer at admission were associated with higher mortality. Sixteen patients (1.7%) had venous thromboembolism confirmed with imaging, 11 patients had a stroke, and 2 patients developed limb ischemia. Treatment with therapeutic anticoagulation was associated with improved inpatient mortality compared with prophylactic anticoagulation alone (63% vs 86.2%, p < 0.0001) in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Other outcomes such as rates of liberation from mechanical ventilation and duration of mechanical ventilation were not significantly impacted by the type of anticoagulation.

Case report: An unusual presentation of acute promyelocytic leukemia in a middle aged female mimicking dengue infection.

RATIONALE: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is an uncommon subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). M3v phenotype is a less common presentation of APL and these patients usually present with leukocytosis and abnormal promyelocytes that are characterized by sparse granulation and are less likely to have faggot cells with multiple Auer rods. Distinguishing M3v phenotype from acute febrile illness can be challenging as the diagnosis relies on examination of peripheral smear. PATIENT CONCERNS: Fifty-seven-year-old female who presented after recent trip to Dominican Republic for high grade fever and gum bleeding. She was exposed to patients with Dengue fever during her stay. At presentation, patient had leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, and urinalysis showing bacteria and white cell. She was started on treatment for urinary tract infection. Patient remained febrile and thrombocytopenia worsened. On day 2, flow cytometry of the peripheral smear showed 43% medium sized blasts. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was positive for promyelocytic leukemia/retinoic acid receptor alpha. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed with APL. INTERVENTIONS: Patient was started on treatment with all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide along with supportive care OUTCOMES:: Patient had a favorable clinical response and her symptoms subsided. LESSONS: Flow cytometry of the peripheral smear is key to diagnosis of suspected APL. One must maintain high suspicion for this life-threatening condition as early diagnosis saves lives.

Comparative outcomes of inpatients with lung collapse managed by bronchoscopic or conservative means.

Background: Although the incidence and prevalence of atelectatic lung collapse is unknown, such events are common among inpatients, and there are no guidelines for optimally instituting bronchoscopic techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients with complete or near-complete lung collapse managed via interventional flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy or a conservative approach. Methods: Retrospective analysis of all adult patients admitted to BronxCare Health System between January 2011 and October 2017 with a diagnosis of lung collapse/atelectasis. The primary outcome was radiological resolution. Timing of bronchoscopy relative to radiological resolution and mortality served as secondary outcomes. Results: Of the 177 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 149 (84%) underwent bronchoscopy and 28 (16%) were managed through conservative measures only. A significantly greater number of patients in the bronchoscopy group achieved complete or near-complete resolution on chest X-ray, compared with the conservative group (p=0.007). Timing of bronchoscopy had no impact on the rate of radiological resolution, and mortality in the two groups was similar. New endobronchial malignancies were identified in 21 patients (14%). Conclusions: Our data support the central role of bronchoscopy in instances of complete or near-complete lung collapse, ensuring better radiological outcomes. Judicious use of conservative management is warranted to avoid missing significant pathology. A prime consideration in this setting is obstructive malignancy.

Influence of HIV status on the management of acute asthma exacerbations.

Background: An increased incidence of asthma has been suggested in patients with HIV. We aimed to compare the outcomes of HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients following hospital admission for asthma exacerbation. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients hospitalised between January 2015 and December 2017 owing to asthma exacerbation with a known HIV status was conducted. Results: During the study period, 1242 patients with asthma were admitted. Of these, 462 patients had a known HIV status (358 HIV-negative, 104 HIV-positive) and were included. No differences in baseline demographics, including age, sex, body mass index and underlying comorbid conditions, were identified between the groups except that HIV-negative patients had higher incidence of underlying congestive heart failure. HIV-positive group had a significantly higher serum creatinine levels (1.117 (1.390) vs 0.813 (0.509), p=0.001), higher serum eosinophil levels (492.91 (1789.09) vs 243.70 (338.66), p=0.013) but had lower serum neutrophils (5.74 (3.18) vs 7.194 (3.59), p=0.0002) and lower serum albumin levels (3.754 (0.480) vs 3.94 (0.443), p=0.003) than the HIV-negative group, respectively. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) use was more frequent (54.8% vs 25.4%, p≤0.001) and the length of in-hospital stay (LOS) was longer in HIV-positive vs HIV-negative patients (3.346 days vs 2.813 days, p=0.015); no differences in mechanical ventilation use or intensive care unit admission were noted between the groups. In a subgroup analysis comparing HIV-negative with HIV-positive patients stratified by CD4 count, NIPPV use was more frequent and the LOS was longer in HIV-positive patients with CD4 counts≥200 cellsx 10∧6/L. In a multivariable regression model, HIV-positive status was independently associated with NIPPV use (OR 2.52; 95% CI 1.43 to 4.46) and a 0.55 day (95% CI 0.02 to 1.08) longer LOS in hospital. Conclusions: HIV-positive patients admitted with asthma exacerbation are more likely to require NIPPV and have longer LOS.