Kounis syndrome following multiple wasp stings: A case report.

This is a case of Kounis syndrome with chest tightness, lightheadedness, unconsciousness, and features of shock following multiple wasp stings. Despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation and management of allergic and cardiac symptoms, the patient died. Kounis syndrome should be suspected when a patient presents with allergic symptoms and acute coronary syndrome.

Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning, an Institutional Experience: Case Series.

BACKGROUND: The growing concern over pesticide use has been linked to self-harm and suicide especially in agricultural countries like Nepal.  Pesticides like organophosphorus and aluminum phosphide cause the majority of deaths. Although organophosphorus poisoning is common means for suicide, Aluminum phosphide poisoning is also encountered occasionally. Our case series aims to look after the intent of poisoning and the outcome of the patients following Aluminum phosphide poisoning. METHODS: This hospital record-based study includes Aluminum phosphide poisoning patients presenting to the emergency department of Scheer Memorial Adventist Hospital from first January 2017 to 31st December 2020. Data were analyzed using SPSS version-22. RESULTS:   Out of 25 total poisoning cases, most of them were female (60%) and married (56%).  The case fatality rate was 84% among which 20% cases were brought dead while 64% died in the hospital. All poisoning cases were suicidal in intent. CONCLUSIONS: Herein we report a case series on 25 Aluminum phosphide poisoning cases with high case fatality rate and all cases being suicidal in intent.

Empyema Thoracis in a Patient Admitted with COVID-19: A Case Report.

After almost a year of declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic, unusual presentations of the disease continue to be reported. Very little is known about its association with pleural disease. Here, we present a case of empyema thoracis in a 39-year-old male admitted with COVID-19. The pleural fluid later turned serosanguinous and eventually bleeding from other sites also occurred. During his treatment, antibiotics were given, thoracocentesis was performed and later thoracotomy was done. He died on the 19th day of admission following a hemorrhagic stroke. Pleural disease, although considered atypical and unusual presentation of COVID-19, needs careful and prompt diagnosis and earliest intervention. COVID-19, being a disease that involves multiple systems, and presentation of the disease may eventually lead to circulatory dysfunction and hence should be kept under consideration.

Psychological and clinical-epidemiological profile of poisoning in Nepal: an institutional experience.

Background  Poisoning has become a major public health problem, with the intent in most cases being self-harm and commit suicide. This study highlights the psychological and clinical-epidemiological profile of patients visiting Scheer Memorial Adventist Hospital after poisoning.  Methods  This retrospective record-based study was done among poisoning patients of a hospital in Nepal from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2020. Data were analyzed using STATA version-15.  Results  Out of 134 total poisoning cases, 71 had consumed organophosphate compounds. The majority of the cases were female (59.2% in organophosphate groups, 69.8% in non-organophosphate groups). The circumstances of poisoning were mostly suicidal (95.8% in organophosphate groups, 90.5% in non-organophosphate groups) and the reasons for this being mostly family disputes. Organophosphate groups had 8.41 times higher odds of having complications when compared to non-organophosphorus compounds.   Conclusions  The majority of the poisoning cases were suicidal in nature and family disputes being the major reason for the intake of a poisonous substance. This demands that more attention be given to psychological and family counseling to resolve any disputes, as well as psychological management of poisoning cases after medical management. Also, a strong regulatory mechanism should be imposed to control the easy access to poisonous substances.

Baseline serum C-reactive protein levels may predict antidepressant treatment responses in patients with major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation has been shown previously to predict antidepressant treatment response. This retrospective study was conducted to test if the baseline serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels could predict antidepressant treatment responses in a Chinese sample. METHODS: 75 adult inpatients (26 male, 49 female) with major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosed according to DSM-5 were included in this study. Sociodemographic and clinical features, baseline CRP levels, 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) scores assessed at baseline and weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 were then collected. Afterwards patients were divided into two groups: the low CRP group (baseline CRP < 1 mg/L, n = 47) and the high CRP group (baseline CRP ≥ 1 mg/L, n = 28). Depression severity and treatment response were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Repeated-measures ANOVA showed a significant group * assessments interaction in HDRS-17 scores (F = 4.754; p = 0.005). Post-hoc test showed that the two groups differed in HDRS-17 scores at week 4 (F = 6.698; p = 0.012), with the low CRP group having lower HDRS-17 scores than the high CRP group. Moreover, the low CRP group exhibited higher percent reduction in HDRS-17 scores at week 3 (F = 5.016; p = 0.028) and week 4 (F = 9.865; p = 0.003) as compared to the high CRP group. Cox proportional hazard model showed that the remission rate was higher in the low CRP group (p = 0.010). LIMITATIONS: Patients received uncontrolled antidepressant therapy and the sample size was limited. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline serum CRP levels may predict antidepressant treatment responses in patients with MDD and patients with higher levels of CRP were less likely to get remission.