Cyclophosphamide, Bortezomib, and Dexamethasone and Severe Systolic Heart Failure: A Case Report.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a neoplastic proliferation of plasma cells in bone marrow. Pharmacotherapy for the management of patients with MM includes drug classes like proteasome inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, immunomodulators, alkylating agents, steroids, etc. We present a case of new-onset heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in a patient with previously normal ejection fraction after treatment with a cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (CyBorD) chemotherapeutic regimen. An echocardiogram done after the completion of nine cycles of chemotherapy in a period of about 4.5 months showed severely decreased left ventricular systolic function with an ejection fraction of only 15-20% and grade I diastolic dysfunction. Cardiac catheterization showed no angiographic evidence of vessel occlusion or epicardial disease. HFrEF was managed with the initiation of guideline-directed medical therapy with cardiology clinic follow-up, and the patient was discharged with a plan to start a lenalidomide-based chemotherapeutic regimen with oncology clinic follow-up. It is, therefore, imperative to perform a thorough cardiovascular assessment before initiation of chemotherapy, complemented by periodic and recurrent assessments of cardiovascular function during and after completion of the treatment course, for early detection and prevention of potentially severe cardiovascular toxicities in patients with MM.

Primary Effusion Lymphoma Secondary to Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) Infection in an Immunocompetent Host: A Case Report.

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a rare, aggressive, mature type of B-cell lymphoma that usually causes malignant, lymphomatous effusions in the absence of a solid mass. This is commonly seen in immunosuppressed individuals such as those with underlying malignancies, human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV), cirrhosis, and a history of solid organ transplantation who are infected with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8). Clinical presentation varies depending on the extent of disease like shortness of breath, abdominal distention, and typical B symptoms like weight loss, fever, and night sweats. Morphological and immunohistochemical analysis of pleural fluid is required for diagnosis of PEL. Recent case studies are increasingly being reported with cases of PEL presenting in immunocompetent individuals infected with HHV-8. We present a case of PEL in an immunocompetent host and highlight its presentation, diagnosis, and management approaches. Due to the well-known association of PEL with immunocompromised status, the diagnosis is often overlooked in immunocompetent individuals. This case would further highlight the increasing association and the need for clinical vigilance in diagnosing PEL in immunocompetent patients.

Intravenous Hydration and Associated Outcomes in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease Admitted With Vaso-Occlusive Crises: A Systematic Review.

Acute painful vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) is the common presentation of sickle cell disease (SCD) leading to emergency room visits, admissions, morbidity, mortality, and negative impacts on quality of life. Among various treatment approaches commonly employed to manage the condition, intravenous (IV) hydration is also frequently used in emergency and inpatient settings. Although helpful to overcome dehydration, IV hydration often leads to adverse outcomes like fluid overload, pulmonary edema, increased length of stay, transfer to intensive care unit, new oxygen requirement, etc. Small-scale retrospective studies are conducted to study the outcomes of IV hydration but have failed to conclusively demonstrate its benefits as well as choice of IV fluids, rate of IV fluid replacement, etc. We conduct this review as an attempt to summarize the available evidence on the role and utility of IV hydration in sickle cell crises along with reported adverse outcomes.

Septic thrombophlebitis of portal and splenic vein secondary to Fusobacterium nucleatum: A case report of an abdominal variant of lemierre syndrome.

RATIONALE: Septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein also known as Lemierre syndrome occurs secondary to an oropharyngeal infection often leading to septic embolisms to distant sites. Anaerobic gram-negative bacillus, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Fusobacterium necrophorum are commonly isolated organisms. Fusobacterium species has also been reported to complicate an intra-abdominal infection leading to septic thrombophlebitis of portal vein also known as pylephlebitis or abdominal variant of lemierre syndrome. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient was a middle-aged female patient with chief complaints of abdominal discomfort, intermittent fever and vomiting for one month. DIAGNOSES: The final diagnosis was septic thrombophlebitis of portal and splenic vein secondary to Fusobacterium nucleatum. INTERVENTIONS: Patient was managed with broad spectrum intravenous antibiotics with coverage against gram-negative bacilli, anaerobes, and aerobic streptococcus species with therapeutic anticoagulation. OUTCOMES: Patient gradually improved and was discharged on oral apixaban. She was instructed to follow up with gastrointestinal specialist upon discharge in anticipation of the need for liver transplant in future. LESSONS: Due to its high mortality and associated long term disease morbidity, clinicians should always strive towards early diagnosis and treatment of the condition with involvement of multidisciplinary teams.

Amiodarone-Induced Liver Attenuation on CT Scan: Alarming Signal for Toxicity and Prompt Discontinuation.

Amiodarone, a class III antiarrhythmic drug, is commonly used for the management of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, and other refractory supra-ventricular arrhythmias. Factors like a large volume of distribution, lipophilic property, deposition in tissues in large amounts, etc. have led to the development of amiodarone-induced multisystem adverse events. We report a case of amiodarone-induced hepatic attenuation on computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen in an elderly female patient. Amiodarone with a composition of 40% iodine by weight deposits in the liver, leading to characteristically increased radiodensity reported as increased attenuation on CT scan. Surprisingly, the severity and extent of hepatic attenuation on CT scans do not necessarily correlate with the total exposure to amiodarone over time. Individual factors may influence the liver's response to the drug, leading to varying degrees of hepatic changes. To minimize the risk of adverse events associated with amiodarone, clinicians should carefully adjust the dosage to the lowest effective level and regularly monitor liver function tests in patients. This proactive approach enables early detection of liver dysfunction and facilitates timely adjustments or discontinuation of amiodarone, thereby reducing potential harm.

Veillonella Bacteremia in a Patient With Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma.

Colorectal carcinoma has increasingly been reported to be associated with gut microbial dysbiosis. Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Faecalibacterium, Blautia, etc., are gut microbes commonly associated with colorectal carcinoma. Gut microbial dysregulation secondary to infectious, inflammatory, toxin exposure or change in dietary habits coupled with the disruption of the inner mucosal layer overlying the luminal epithelium is hypothesized as the inciting events leading to microbial invasion and subsequent tumorigenesis. Although the precise mechanism is unclear, disruption of normal host responses like inflammation, apoptosis, cellular proliferation, free radical injury, production of oncogenic toxins, etc., is postulated to play a role. We report a case of Veillonella bacteremia in a patient with metastatic colorectal carcinoma without a preceding history of periodontal disease. The patient was managed with ampicillin-sulbactam, which was followed by subsequent negative blood cultures. This case report signifies the association of gut microbiota like Veillonella with colorectal carcinoma and the importance of subsequent screening for colorectal cancer following Veillonella bacteremia.

Attempts to Develop Vaccines Against Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review of Ongoing and Completed Vaccination Trials in Humans.

In this systematic review, we evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of vaccination efforts against Alzheimer's disease (AD) in human subjects from both ongoing and completed vaccination trials. Databases like PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were used to identify relevant articles on completed vaccination trials whereas the clinicaltrials.gov database was used for identifying ongoing clinical trials for vaccination against AD in humans until January 2022. Only interventional randomized or non-randomized clinical trials which reported on the safety and immunogenicity of vaccine against AD in humans were included. Cochrane risk of bias tool-2 (RoB-2) or risk of bias in non-randomized studies- of intervention (ROBINS-I) was used for risk of bias assessment as appropriate. A narrative descriptive synthesis of the findings was done. Sixteen randomized/non-randomized clinical trials (phase I: six and phase II: 10) for seven different types of vaccines against AD were identified comprising a total of 2080 participants. Apart from the development of meningoencephalitis in 6% of patients receiving AN1792 in an interrupted phase II trial, the rest of the trial reported promising results on the safety and immunogenicity of vaccines. While only a subset of reported adverse events was treatment related, none of the fatalities reported during the trial were considered related to vaccine administration. The serological response rate ranged from 100% (4/16 trials) to 19.7% in an interrupted trial. Although current trials show promising results, adequately powered phase III studies are needed to conclusively establish the safety, immunogenicity and therapeutic efficacy of vaccines.

A Rare Presentation of Levetiracetam-Induced Torsades De Pointes.

Torsades de pointes occurs in the presence of a prolonged QTc interval, which has many congenital and acquired causes. Levetiracetam is a widely used anti-epileptic medication secondary to its favorable safety profile. We present a rare case of a 59-year-old male who developed torsades de pointes and cardiac arrest after levetiracetam administration. To our knowledge, there is only one other case report documenting torsades de pointes after levetiracetam administration, and our case report will be the first documenting cardiac arrest after levetiracetam administration.

An Incidental Finding of Eagle Syndrome Post-Losartan-Induced Angioedema.

Eagle syndrome is a condition that can present with a wide range of clinical manifestations, including orofacial pain, altered sensation, dysphagia, tinnitus, and ear pain, and is caused by the abnormal elongation of the styloid process or the mineralization of the stylohyoid ligament. We present a case of an incidental finding of Eagle syndrome in a 48-year-old African American patient with losartan-induced angioedema. The patient complained of a foreign body sensation in his throat and mild dysphagia, and a computed tomography scan of his neck showed ossification of bilateral stylohyoid ligaments. This case report highlights the importance of being on the lookout for other pathologies when ordering imaging for primary diagnoses.

Recurrent Non-cirrhotic Hyperammonemic Encephalopathy Due to Complicated Urinary Tract Infection: A Case Report.

Hyperammonemic encephalopathy (HE) can be broadly defined as an alteration in the level of consciousness due to elevated blood ammonia level. While hepatic cirrhosis is the most common cause of HE, non-hepatic causes like drugs, infections, and porto-systemic shunts can also lead to the presentation. In this case, we highlight an unusual occurrence of recurrent non-cirrhotic HE from obstructive urinary tract infection (UTI) with urea-splitting micro-organisms in an elderly male patient. The patient exhibited altered mentation, and elevated ammonia levels with normal hepatic function at presentation. Urine culture revealed Proteus mirabilis resistant to extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL). Successful management of obstructive UTI was achieved through Foley's catheterization and intravenous (IV) antibiotics, resulting in the resolution of HE. This outcome further supports the significance of UTI as a potential cause of hyperammonemia. Thus, UTI as one of the non-hepatic causes of hyperammonemia should always be explored among elderly patients presenting with altered mentation.

Losartan-Induced Angioedema: A Case Report.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers are both classes of drugs used in the management of hypertension, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and proteinuria. While angioedema induced by ACE inhibitors has been well-documented, angioedema induced by angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) has not. We present the case of losartan-induced angioedema requiring tracheostomy in a 48-year-old African American male. To our knowledge, there have only been twenty case reports published to date about losartan-induced angioedema. Although in the immediate short-term, our patient made a complete recovery, he had a sudden cardiac arrest a few months after the incident of angioedema and died.

A Case Report of Cannabis Abuse: A Surprising Etiology of Elevated Troponin.

Cannabis is the most commonly used additive drug after alcohol and tobacco. There has been literature proving the relationship between cannabis use and elevated troponin from myocardial infarction, with many mechanisms explaining them. However, limited data are available on elevated troponin due to cannabis-induced high myocardial oxygen demand due to vasospasm. We present a case of a 21-year-old female presenting with chest pain after cannabis abuse. She exhibited a steep rise in troponin with a normal electrocardiogram (EKG). She refused a coronary angiogram, but a bedside echocardiogram showed no wall motion abnormality. Therefore, the dramatic rise of troponin levels with the chest pain and the resolution of the symptoms were most likely explained by demand ischemia via the mechanism of reversible vasospasm.

Cerebral astroblastoma radiologically mimicking pilocytic astrocytoma: A case report.

Astroblastoma is a rare central nervous system tumor. We reported a case of a 24-year-old Nepalese woman with radiological features mimicking pilocytic astrocytoma which came out to be low-grade astroblastoma in histopathological and immunohistochemistry examination after total excision of the tumor.

Diagnostic accuracy of antigen-detection rapid diagnostic tests for diagnosis of COVID-19 in low-and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Antigen detection rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) used for detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleocapsid protein are inexpensive, faster and easy to use alternative of Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) for diagnosis of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we assessed the diagnostic accuracy of Ag-RDTs in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). We included studies that evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of Ag-RDTs (sensitivity and specificity) against reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) as a reference standard. The study population comprised of people living in LMICs irrespective of age and gender, who had undergone testing for COVID-19. We included peer reviewed prospective or retrospective cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, case control studies, randomized clinical trials (RCTs) as well as non-randomized experimental studies which addressed the review question. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar to identify studies published between 1 January, 2020 and 15 August, 2021. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS)-2 tool was used to assess the methodological quality of studies. The analysis was done using Review Manager 5.4 and R software 4.0.2. From the total of 12 diagnostic accuracy studies with 4,817 study participants, pooled sensitivity and specificity were 78.2% and 99.5% respectively. Sensitivity was marginally higher in subgroup analysis based on studies with low risk of bias and applicability concerns (78.9%) and studies using SD Biosensor Ag-RDT (79.4%). However, an inverse relation between cycle threshold (Ct) and sensitivity of Ag-RDT was not seen. The review demonstrated pooled sensitivity value approaching the minimum performance requirement for diagnosis of COVID-19 by WHO with specificity value meeting the specified requirement. Ag-RDTs, therefore have the potential to be used as a screening tool for SARS-CoV-2 detection in low resource settings where RT-PCR might not be readily accessible. However, false negative results need to be interpreted with caution.

Prehypertension and its predictors among older adolescents: A cross-sectional study from eastern Nepal.

Prehypertension is a state of transition between normal blood pressure and hypertension. Adolescent prehypertension is a strong predictor of hypertension in adults and is now considered for cardiovascular intervention or risk reduction. This study was conducted among adolescents to assess the burden of pre-hypertension and its predictors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among grade 11 and 12 students in three districts in eastern Nepal namely Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari. Sampling was done using a multistage stratified proportionate random method. A semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the WHO STEPwise approach to the non-communicable disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS) instrument was used as a study tool after modification and pre-testing in addition to the anthropometric and blood pressure measurements by the investigators. The prevalence of prehypertension was assessed along with the identification of its predictors through multivariable binary logistic regression modelling. A total of 806 participants aged 15 to 19 years, with 57.1% female, participated in the study. Prehypertension was found in 20.8% (24.6% in males and 18.0% in females) of the participants, while 7.1% of them were hypertensive (9.2% males and 5.4% females). Obesity and central obesity were seen among 6.3% and 17.7% of the respondents respectively. Age, sex, ethnicity and obesity were found to be significantly associated with prehypertension. A significant proportion of prehypertension was seen among the adolescent population along with a notable presence of risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, and eating out. This warrants careful consideration and identification of relevant strategies to reduce the burden of prehypertension via school-based interventions to reduce the modifiable risk factors.

Knowledge, attitude and reported practice regarding donning and doffing of personal protective equipment among frontline healthcare workers against COVID-19 in Nepal: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory infection with a high rate of transmission primarily via airborne route and direct contact. Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is a proven and effective way to prevent COVID-19 spread in healthcare settings. This study was done aiming to assess the knowledge, attitude, and reported practice, and identify the associated factors regarding donning and doffing of PPE among frontline healthcare workers in Nepal. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 25th April to 30th July 2021 among 205 frontline healthcare workers of Nepal selected randomly from among the contacts of the investigators. A structured self-administered questionnaire prepared in google form was used as a study tool and shared via social media to the participants to obtain information on socio-demographic and workplace characteristics along with their knowledge, attitude, and reported practice regarding donning and doffing of PPE. RESULT: A total of 79.5% of participants had satisfactory knowledge while 75.6% had satisfactory practice scores regarding donning and doffing of PPE. Factors such as the profession of the participants (p-value = 0.048), their workplace (p-value = 0.005), provision of PPE at workplace (p-value = 0 .009), and availability of designated space at workplace for methodical donning and doffing of PPE (p-value = 0.010) were significantly associated with satisfactory knowledge score whereas availability of designated space at workplace for donning and doffing of PPE was significantly associated with good practice score (p-value = 0.009). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated an overall good knowledge, attitude, and reported practice regarding donning and doffing of PPE among frontline healthcare workers in Nepal. However, the reported shortcomings like poor knowledge regarding the sequence of donning and doffing and corresponding flawed practice behaviors need to be addressed.

Primary Pituitary Tubercular Abscess: A Case Report.

Primary pituitary tubercular abscess is a very rare disease. It may present clinically with visual loss, headache, seizure, hormonal abnormalities or with cranial nerve palsies. MRI is the diagnostic modality and shows a cystic-solid mass in the sellar and suprasellar region, isointense on T1 and T2W images with heterogeneous areas and ring enhancement on contrast. Surgery remains the initial treatment and it is approached through the trans-sphenoidal/trans-nasal or transcranial route followed by anti-tubercular therapy. We report a case of primary pituitary tubercular abscess managed successfully with a brief review of its pathology. Keywords: abscess; pituitary gland; pyogenic; sella; tuberculosis.

Unusual cause of 55 years of rectal bleeding: hemolymphangioma (a case report).

RATIONALE: Hemolymphangioma is a rare developmental error of combined blood and lymphatic vasculature. To the best of our knowledge, there is only one case of rectal hemolymphangioma reported in Pubmed. Our case probably is the first reported rectal hemolymphangioma with computed tomography (CT) evaluation. PATIENT CONCERNS AND DIAGNOSIS: A 57-year-old male was presented to our hospital with 55 years of long history of episodic rectal bleeding. Past medical history showed numerous hospital visits for similar illness. Multiple diagnoses were made and different treatment modalities were applied for his benefit, but none of them relieved the symptoms permanently. He was then referred to our hospital. On admission, he was presented with intermediate rectal bleeding of fresh blood. CT examination showed isodense homogenous rectal wall thickening with heterogeneous enhancement on contrast examination. Multiple calcifications were seen in and around the lesion. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES: He underwent open abdominal surgery with total surgical excision of the lesion. Post-surgical histopathological examination of excised specimen showed submucosal multiple thin-walled vessel of varying size, some consistent with blood vessel and other with lymph vessel, thus diagnosis of hemolymphangioma was made. Follow-up for 6 months showed no recurrence. LESSIONS: Hemolymphangioma is a benign developmental lesion. Radiological findings can be challenging and range from benign cystic lesion to aggressive lesion mimicking malignancy. Therefore, combined clinical history, radiological findings, and continuous follow-up can help make proper diagnosis and provide prompt and accurate treatment.

Unusual presentation of obscure Meckel diverticulum treated with robot-assisted diverticulectomy: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Meckel diverticulum (MD) is the most common congenital abnormality of gastrointestinal tract. Tough believed to occur in 2% of population, most of them remain veiled because majority are clinically asymptomatic and remain obscure in radiological examination. CLINICAL FINDINGS AND DIAGNOSIS: A 26-year-old male with episodic black colored stool since last 10 years. Tough symptomatic, diagnosis of pathological lesion, and the bleeding site could not be established with any of the sophisticated diagnostic technique. After 10 years, it was finally diagnosed as MD with careful observation of bowel loops on computed tomography enterography (CTE) where remnant of vitelline vessel and hyper-enhancing nodule are seen along the wall of diverticular loop. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES: The patient underwent robot assisted laparoscopic surgery with excision of diverticular loop. To the best of our knowledge, this robot-assistant Meckel diverculectomy is probably the first reported surgical procedure in PubMed. Follow-up for 3 month showed no complication or recurrence. CONCLUSION: Every case is unique and we must be aware and remain alert in tracing the possible morphological variation of the case. Here, we present one unique but rare feature of MD, which helped us in making diagnosis.

Multiple epithelioid hemangioedothelioma of the skull in a child: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Epithelioid hemangioedothelioma (EHE) is a rare vascular tumor characterized by neoplastic proliferation of epithelioid or histiocytoid epithelial cells. EHE of bone constitutes <1% of primary malignant bone tumor. EHE in the skull is an extremely rare case. Here, we report a case of multiple neoplasm of the skull in a 15-month-old boy who presented with gradual facial swelling for 2 months. On computed tomography (CT) scan, multiple irregular osteolytic lesions were seen on the right maxillary, sphenoid, left zygoma, and roof of the left orbit. Excisional surgery of the lesion was planned. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of excised specimen suggest it to be epithelioid hemangioedothelioma. Follow-up for 6 months showed no recurrence. CONCLUSION: Epithelioid hemangioedothelioma is a locally aggressive tumor with metastatic potential. CT imaging could help in assessment of lesion, but final diagnosis is possible only with histopathology. Complete surgical resection at the early stage of the disease is the most effective treatment with better prognosis.