Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Association With Hypokalemia Can Be a Predictor of Inferior Outcomes in COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease-2 (SARS-C0V-2), has affected many lives globally. In Singapore, majority of the infected individuals are foreign workers residing in dormitories. A retrospective review conducted over two weeks (April 13 to April 26, 2020) of migrant workers admitted to a public hospital in Singapore revealed that a significant number of them developed hypokalemia. The purpose of this study was to examine any association that might exist between COVID-19 and hypokalemia. Fifty patients in this study had hypokalemia, translating to a prevalence of 28.4% (95% CI: 21.9-35.7). Gastrointestinal (GI) loss was a significant cause of hypokalemia with a prevalence of GI symptoms in the study group (diarrhea, vomiting, poor oral intake) of 5.7% (95% CI: 2.8-10.2). Clinicians should consider screening for hypokalemia in COVID-19 patients and initiate potassium replacement to mitigate any potential arrhythmias.

Remdesivir in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment: a review of evidence.

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a novel ß-coronavirus, belonging to the same subgenus as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus. Remdesivir, an investigational broad-spectrum antiviral agent has previously demonstrated in vitro activity against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and in vivo efficacy against other related coronaviruses in animal models. Its safety profile has been tested in a compassionate use setting for patients with COVID-19. The current therapeutic studies demonstrate clinical effectiveness of remdesivir in COVID-19 patients by shortening time to clinical recovery, and hospital stay. In this review, we critically analyze the current evidence of remdesivir against COVID-19 and dissect the aspects over its safety and efficacy. Based on existing data, remdesivir can be regarded as a potential therapeutic agent against COVID-19. Further large-scale, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials are, however, awaited to validate these findings.

Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is increasingly reported in seriously ill patients with COVID-19 infection. Incidence of VTE has been reported before and results varied widely in study cohorts. AREA OF UNCERTAINTY: Incidence of major VTE (segmental pulmonary embolism and above and proximal deep vein thrombosis) which is a contributor to mortality and morbidity is not known. Also, data is unclear on the optimal anticoagulation regimen to prevent VTE. DATA SOURCES: Multiple databases including PubMed were searched until May 12, 2020, to include studies reporting VTE in hospitalized COVID-19 adult patients. MOOSE guidelines were followed in selection, and 11 studies were included. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantitatively assess the VTE burden in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and potential benefits of therapeutic dosing of anticoagulation compared with prophylaxis dosing for VTE prevention. THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES: Many societies and experts recommend routine prophylactic anticoagulation with heparin for VTE prevention in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. In this meta-analysis, the pooled rate of major VTE was 12.5% in hospitalized patients and 17.2% in intensive care unit patients. When therapeutic anticoagulation dosing was compared with prophylactic anticoagulation, the pooled odds ratio of VTE was 0.33 (95% confidence interval 0.14-0.75; P = 0.008, I = 0%) suggesting statistical significance with therapeutic dosing of anticoagulation for primary prevention of VTE in all hospitalized patients. However, this should be interpreted with caution as the bleeding events and safety profile could not be ascertained because of lack of adequate information. We recommend applying this finding to hospitalized COVID 19 patients only after carefully weighing individual bleeding risks and benefits. CONCLUSION: Major VTE events, especially pulmonary embolism, seem to be high in COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Therapeutic anticoagulation dosing seems to significantly benefit the odds of preventing any VTE when compared with prophylactic dosing in all hospitalized patients.

The Complex Relationship between Mesenteric Panniculitis and Malignancy - A Holistic Approach is Still Needed to Understand the Diagnostic Uncertainties.

Mesenteric panniculitis is an idiopathic, localized inflammation involving the adipose tissue of the small bowel mesentery. The association of mesenteric panniculitis with malignancy, predominantly lymphomas, has been widely reported in the medical literature. In this review article, we will discuss the clinical guidelines in the diagnosis and management of mesenteric panniculitis and the clinical association between mesenteric panniculitis and malignancies.

Beyond the Liver, Hepatitis E Can Affect the Nerves, Pancreas, and Blood Vessels. Extrahepatic Manifestations of Hepatitis E: A Comprehensive Literature Review.

Extrahepatic manifestations of Hepatitis E, though rare, are being increasingly reported in the medical literature. In this review article, we will discuss the extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis E, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, pancreatitis, and cryoglobulinemia, their clinical association with hepatitis E, and their management.

Clostridium difficile Infection in Liver Cirrhosis Carries a Higher Risk of Mortality: A Comprehensive Literature Review.

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection is associated with higher mortality in liver cirrhosis. This literature review discusses the risk factors associated with increased mortality in patients with C. difficile infection in liver cirrhosis. This literature review also highlights the importance of selecting antibiotics wisely, carefully selecting patients who are candidates for antibiotic prophylaxis for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in liver cirrhosis and avoiding unnecessary proton pump inhibitors in liver cirrhosis.

Prevalence of colorectal cancer in cryptogenic pyogenic liver abscess patients. Do they need screening colonoscopy? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cryptogenic pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) could result due to compromised colonic mucosal barrier in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Association of PLA and CRC is unclear. Evidence is weak and limited to small sized studies. As a result, the need for colonoscopy in PLA patients is debatable. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search of multiple electronic databases and conference proceedings (from inception through January 2019) to identify studies that reported on the prevalence of CRC in PLA patients. Our goals were to evaluate the pooled rate of CRC in patients with cryptogenic PLA. RESULTS: 12 studies were included in the analysis. 18,607 patients were diagnosed with PLA in study group and 60,130 patients were in control group. 63% were males in the age range of 56-94 years. 90.5% of the colonic lesions were left sided and 93.1% were positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae. The pooled rate of prevalence of CRC was 7.9% (95% CI (confidence interval) 5-12.1, I2 = 92.4, relative risk = 6.6) in patients with PLA, as compared to 1.2% (95% CI 0.3-5.7, I2 = 93.4) in control, with statistical significance (p = 0.001 respectively). CONCLUSION: Our study, albeit limited by heterogeneity, demonstrates that patients with cryptogenic PLA are at a 7-fold risk of having CRC. A screening colonoscopy may be considered in population with cryptogenic PLA, especially if positive for K. pneumoniae. Well-conducted studies are needed to answer this question.

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw and Concomitant Atypical Femoral Fractures with Bisphosphonates: A Comprehensive Literature Review.

Bisphosphonates are the first line of treatment for osteoporosis. Complications of bisphosphonates, such as osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) and atypical femoral fractures (AFF), have been reported in the medical literature. Concomitant occurrence of both of these complications is very rare. In this review article, we will discuss the etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical studies, as well as case studies and their management per the latest clinical guidelines.

Bilateral Basal Ganglia Calcification: Fahr's Disease.

Fahr's disease/syndrome is a condition defined as bilateral striato-pallido-dentate calcinosis, a neurodegenerative disease with radiological findings of symmetrical and bilateral idiopathic calcifications of the cerebellum, periventricular white matter, and basal ganglia. Clinical correlation with radiological and a calcium metabolism panel is crucial in differentiating between Fahr's disease and Fahr's syndrome. We describe a case that presented with the clinical feature of a cerebrovascular accident and had an incidental radiological finding of Fahr syndrome. The clinical features, laboratory investigations, and clinical management of Fahr's disease/syndrome will be discussed in detail in the article.

An Unusual Presentation of Parvimonas micra Infective Endocarditis.

Parvimonas micra has been identified as a prominent oral pathogen. This organism has been implicated in periodontal, soft tissue and bone infections. It causes a subacute presentation with high morbidity. We present a case of severe infective endocarditis caused by Parvimonas micra requiring valvular surgery despite appropriate antibiotics. To our knowledge, this is the second case report of Parvimonas micra infective endocarditis since its reclassification in 2006.

A Rare Case of Retrogastric Abscess Occurring Six Months after N-Butyl-2-Cyanoacrylate Injection into Gastric Varices.

Background. Injection with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate is a proven and successful therapeutic modality for treatment of patients with bleeding gastric varices. However, a variety of complications have also been associated with its use. Here, we report a rare case of retrogastric abscess which occurred almost six months after this therapy. This abscess was attributed to the hampered microbial clearance caused by the venous obliterations from N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. The abscess was successfully treated with 3 months of antibiotics.

Extraintestinal Salmonellosis in the Immunocompromised: An Unusual Case of Pyomyositis.

Salmonella infection can cause a wide range of presentations, predominantly gastrointestinal but occasionally with cardiovascular or other extraintestinal manifestations. The diagnosis of extraintestinal salmonellosis requires a high degree of clinical suspicion and should be considered in patients with deep-seated abscesses especially if they are immunocompromised. We present a case of salmonella causing gastroenteritis complicated by an intramuscular abscess of the left leg. With prompt recognition and multidisciplinary management, the patient recovered with no serious sequela.

A Rare Case of Primary Bilateral Adrenal Lymphoma.

Lymphoma may involve the adrenal glands, but primary lymphoma is rare. Only a few cases have been reported in medical literature. Primary adrenal lymphoma is extremely rare, accounting for <1% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. We here present a case of a middle-aged female who presented with persistent fever for three weeks. She also reported significant weight loss of more than 10 kgs over the duration of three months. Computed tomography of the thorax and abdomen and pelvis demonstrated bilateral adrenal masses. She underwent short Synacthen test which showed evidence of adrenal insufficiency. She underwent CT-guided adrenal gland biopsy. Histology of adrenal gland biopsy showed features consistent with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. She was started on R-CHOP chemotherapy and had a good clinical response and remained in complete remission for five months after chemotherapy.