The relationship between air pollutant levels and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between air pollutants, including fine particles (particulate matter [PM] < 10 µm and < 2.5 µm), and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has been inadequately studied, and the results remain inconclusive. In this study, we attempted to investigate the relationship between air pollutant levels and aneurysmal SAH. METHODS: Ninety-two patients diagnosed with aneurysmal SAH were retrospectively included in the study. Medical records were reviewed, and levels of pollutants, including those of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), and PM with an aerodynamic diameter < 10 and 2.5 µm (PM10 and PM2.5), were collected from the open-source Air Korea website for a period of 4 days. Independent t-tests were conducted to identify the difference in the pollutant levels between the data obtained on the day of aneurysm rupture (D-0) and the other 3 days (D-7, D-2, and D-1). RESULTS: A majority (40.2%) of the patients experienced aneurysm rupture during the fall season when the mean daily pollutant levels were 0.004 ± 0.001 (ppm, SO2), 0.517 ± 0.218 (ppm, CO), 0.02056 ± 0.012 (ppm, O3), 0.02628 ± 0.015 (ppm, NO2), 36.36957 ± 24.538 (µg/m3, PM10), and 19.75581 ± 13.494 (µg/m3, PM2.5), respectively. The level of NO2 was significantly higher on the day of aneurysm rupture (P = .035) than on the other days, while the levels of CO and O3 were nonsignificantly higher (P = .081, P = .055, respectively) on the day of aneurysm rupture than on the other days. There was no significant differences in the PM levels between the 4 days. CONCLUSION: A relationship between PM levels and aneurysm rupture was not identified. Only the levels of classic air pollutant (CO, O3, and NO2) were higher on the aneurysm rupture day than on the other days.

Comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome: A case series.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a significant complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, affecting 30%-70% of transplant recipients. One of the most challenging manifestations of chronic pulmonary GVHD is bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), a rare and difficult-to-diagnose disease associated with a high mortality rate. BOS results in progressive circumferential fibrosis and, ultimately, cicatrization of the small terminal airways, manifesting as new fixed airflow obstruction. Although BOS patients are typically treated with immunosuppressive agents, there is no strong evidence that any specific therapies are effective in improving long-term outcomes. Thus, the mortality rate remains high. Therefore, there is an increasing need for additional therapies, including pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), in patients with BOS. PR is an evidence-based and comprehensive intervention for patients with chronic obstructive lung disease aimed at alleviating respiratory symptoms and optimizing functional capacity. This present case series demonstrates that comprehensive PR may also improve exercise tolerance and dyspnea in patients with BOS.

Rare Occurrence of Internal Auditory Canal Stenosis Accompanied With Congenital Facial Palsy in a 3-Month-Old Infant: A Case Report.

Internal auditory canal (IAC) stenosis with hypoplasia of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves is a rare cause of congenital facial palsy. In this case report, a 3-month-old female infant was referred for a neurological developmental assessment for developmental delay and congenital facial palsy. Upon evaluation of developmental delay, hearing loss was detected. Following a magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain and a computed tomography scan of the temporal bone, IAC stenosis with hypoplasia of facial and vestibular nerves was diagnosed. This is a rare case of IAC stenosis in an infant with initial presentations of left facial palsy and developmental delay associated with hearing loss in the left ear. We strongly suggest that IAC stenosis be considered a cause of congenital facial palsy in infants, especially in patients with developmental delay. In infants with congenital facial palsy, a thorough physical examination and neurological developmental assessment should be performed.

One-year follow-up of heart transplant recipient with cardiac rehabilitation: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Heart transplantation (HT) is known to be the final therapy for patients with advanced heart failure; however, the exercise capacity of these patients remains under the aged-predicted value after HT. Many studies have described the effectiveness and safety of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in HT recipients. Nevertheless, long-term follow-up data of HT recipients undergoing CR are insufficient, and there is a lack of evidence on the long-term effects of CR. In this case report, we present the long-term benefits of CR in an HT recipient, including serial follow-up clinical data over 1 year. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 48-year-old female patient underwent HT because of advanced dilated cardiomyopathy. DIAGNOSIS: Cardiopulmonary exercise test showed reduced exercise capacity and pulmonary function. The grip power and quadriceps muscle strength were also decreased after HT. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent a phase I CR program for 3 months, followed by a phase III CR program for 7 months. In the beginning, moderate-intensity continuous training was conducted. Thereafter, high-intensity interval training was implemented after a period of adjustment for interval training. OUTCOMES: The exercise capacity, 6-min walk distance, muscle strength, and vital capacity were improved after CR. CONCLUSION: CR in HT recipients may improve muscle strength and pulmonary function as well as exercise capacity, without serious cardiovascular complications. Phase III CR may help maintain exercise capacity in these patients.

Compressive peroneal neuropathy by an intraneural ganglion cyst combined with L5 radiculopathy: A case report.

RATIONALE: Most cases of foot drop are known to result from lower motor neuron pathologies, particularly lumbar radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, including common peroneal neuropathy. To improve the prognosis of foot drop, it is important to quickly and accurately diagnose the etiology and provide appropriate treatment. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 65-year-old female patient with a history of L4-5 intervertebral disc herniation presented with right foot drop that had developed 1 month previously. DIAGNOSIS: Electrodiagnostic examination revealed common peroneal neuropathy combined with L5 radiculopathy, with the former being the main cause of the foot drop. MRI of the right knee was performed to identify the cause of the peroneal nerve lesion, which revealed an intraneural ganglion cyst in the common peroneal nerve. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was treated by ultrasound-guided percutaneous cyst aspiration and corticosteroid injection into the decompressed ganglion, followed by strengthening exercise, electrical stimulation therapy, and prescription of an ankle foot orthosis. OUTCOMES: We confirmed regeneration of the injured peroneal nerve at the follow-up electrodiagnostic examination 12 weeks after the intervention. In addition, the manual motor power test demonstrated an increase in the ankle dorsiflexor function score by one grade. LESSONS: Diagnosing the cause of foot drop can be difficult with multiple co-existing pathologies, and consideration of various possible etiologies is the key for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. In addition to imaging modalities such as MRI, electrodiagnostic examination can help to improve diagnostic accuracy. Intraneural ganglion cyst of the common peroneal nerve is rare, but should be considered as a possible cause of foot drop.

Characteristics and Clinical Course of Dysphagia Caused by Anterior Cervical Osteophyte.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate swallowing characteristics of patients with dysphagia caused by anterior cervical osteophytes (ACOs) and compare clinical courses according to treatment options. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 1,866 videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS) of patients with ACOs from electronic medical records was performed. Patients with other diseases that could explain the dysphagia were excluded. Dysphagia characteristics and severity and clinical and radiological characteristics of subjects with ACOs were evaluated. Dysphagia characteristics and clinical course were compared among three treatment groups: surgical treatment, swallowing rehabilitation, and conservative treatment. RESULTS: Subjects were 22 men and 1 woman with a mean age of 78.69±8.01 years. The mean osteophyte thickness was 9.07±3.84 mm. It was significantly thicker in the surgical group than that in other groups (p=0.01). ACOs were most frequently found at C5 level. This level also had the thickest osteophytes. However, videofluoroscopic dysphagia scales (VDS) were not significantly different among the three treatment groups. The pharyngeal phase score of the VDS was significantly higher in the surgical group (p=0.041). Dysphagia severity was decreased significantly in the surgical group at 3 months after the initial VFSS (p=0.004). CONCLUSION: The main swallowing characteristics in patients with ACOs were dysphagia features of the pharyngeal phase, including inappropriate airway protection, decreased laryngeal elevation, and reduced epiglottis inversion. When determining treatment options, it may be helpful to consider dysphagia severity at pharyngeal phase and osteophyte thickness.