Silent Storm Unveiled: Lupus Nephritis and Cerebral Vasculitis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder known for its intricate clinical manifestations, spanning a spectrum of symptoms, including neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) and lupus nephritis (LN). This condition predominantly affects young women of childbearing age, presenting a diverse array of symptoms that pose challenges in both diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosing central nervous system (CNS) involvement in SLE remains notably difficult despite being rooted in an autoimmune inflammatory response driven by cytokine surges. There exists no single definitive test for diagnosis, necessitating a thorough evaluation of clinical presentations, neurological indicators, and specific antibody detection. LN typically evades diagnosis until the patient progresses to a state of advanced renal insufficiency, demanding aggressive therapeutic interventions. In this discourse, we examine a case marked by generalized tonic-clonic seizures. While epilepsy might be initially suspected, in this instance, the underlying cause lay deeper, concealed within the complexities of autoimmune dysregulation. Additional symptoms included generalized edema, sun-exposed rash, oral ulcers, and recurrent fever over the past six months. The puzzle pieces eventually coalesced through meticulous examination of each clinical manifestation, coupled with laboratory analyses, neuroimaging studies, and renal biopsy, revealing a complex scenario of cerebral vasculitis concurrent with LN in a case of SLE.

Unveiling Dermatomyositis: A Tragic Tale of Mortality in a 23-Year-Old.

Dermatomyositis represents a rare inflammatory myopathy that induces inflammation in the muscles or related tissues, including the blood vessels supplying these muscles. The precise pathogenesis of this condition remains unknown. Diagnosis typically relies on clinical indicators such as skin rashes, progressive muscle weakness, elevated serum muscle enzymes, abnormal electromyogram results, and muscle biopsy. In this case study, we report a fatal case of dermatomyositis in a 23-year-old female patient who succumbed to complications of dermatomyositis, causing mortality without any evidence of malignancy.

Navigating Nutritional Strategies: A Comprehensive Review of Early and Delayed Enteral Feeding in Acute Pancreatitis.

This review critically examines enteral feeding strategies in managing acute pancreatitis, focusing on the contrasting early and delayed initiation approaches. Acute pancreatitis, marked by pancreatic inflammation, poses complex challenges, and nutritional interventions are pivotal in patient outcomes. Early enteral feeding, initiated within 24-48 hours, is associated with positive outcomes such as shortened hospital stays and reduced complications. However, controversies persist, with studies questioning its universal benefits. Conversely, delayed enteral feeding, employing a cautious approach, gains prominence in high-risk and severe cases. The identification of high-risk patients becomes paramount in decision-making. Practical recommendations for clinicians advocate an individualized approach, considering the severity of pancreatitis and regular monitoring. As the landscape of acute pancreatitis management evolves, staying abreast of emerging guidelines is essential. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of critical findings, offering practical insights to guide clinicians in navigating the complexities of enteral feeding decisions in acute pancreatitis.

Complex Closed Spinal Dysraphism Presenting As Cauda Equina Syndrome With Faun Tail Nevus.

A posterior midline cutaneous lesion known as a faun tail nevus or aberrant lumbar hypertrichosis is significant to doctors because it may serve as a cutaneous signal for an underlying spinal cord and spine abnormalities. We describe a 17-year-old child who, since infancy, has had excessive hair development over his lumbosacral area. The lower spinal cord was affected by a related spinal abnormality. Clinical evidence was used to make the diagnosis. The patient presented with complaints of asymmetric monoparesis which on clinical examination and radiological investigations was found to be cauda equina syndrome secondary to spina bifida occulta. This case is reported for its clinical importance as patients with spina bifida occulta may show late deterioration.

Huntington's Disease: Understanding Its Novel Drugs and Treatments.

An inherited neurodegenerative ailment called Huntington's disease (HD) of gradual physical impairment, cognitive decline, and psychiatric symptoms. It is brought on by a mutation of the HTT gene, which causes aberrant huntingtin protein buildup in neurons. This predominantly affects the striatum and cerebral cortex, where neuronal malfunction and eventual cell death follow. The quality index of life for both patients and their families is significantly impacted when symptoms first appear in mid-adulthood. An overview of the available therapies for HD is given in this article. Although HD has no known treatment options, there are several that try to lessen symptoms and reduce the disease's development. By lowering involuntary movements, pharmaceutical treatments like tetrabenazine and deutetrabenazine focus on motor symptoms. Antidepressants and antipsychotic medicines are also used to manage the mental and cognitive symptoms of HD. The investigation of prospective gene-based medicines is a result of research into disease-modifying medications. Reduced synthesis of mutant huntingtin protein is the goal of RNA interference (RNAi) strategies, which may halt the course of illness. Additionally, continuing research into Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) and other gene editing methods shows promise for reversing the genetic mutation that causes HD. Individuals with HD can benefit from non-pharmacological therapies such as physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy to increase their functional abilities and general well-being. Supportive treatment, psychiatric therapy, and caregiver support groups are also essential in addressing the difficult problems the illness presents. In conclusion, tremendous progress is being made in the domain of HD treatment, with an emphasis on symptom control, disease modification, and prospective gene-based therapeutics. Even though there has been significant improvement, more study is still required to provide better therapies and ultimately discover a solution for this debilitating condition.

Comparison of health care professionals' and laypeople's knowledge, attitudes, and practices on the use of antimicrobial and antimicrobial resistance.

BACKGROUND: The discovery of antimicrobials is a pioneering step in health sciences concerning preventive care and early management for infectious diseases. However, with advancements in health sciences, inappropriate knowledge, practices, and over-the-counter medications were often used by the general population in underdeveloped nations like India without thinking about its consequences which leads to the use of antimicrobials excessively or inadequately, which is also a factor for antimicrobial resistance. This quantitative study determines the awareness of healthcare professionals and laypersons about usage and resistance of antimicrobials. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Research was carried out in rural tertiary teaching hospital of study participants were 106 nurses, 115 interns, 107 junior residents, and 97 laypersons using a "self-administered WHO questionnaire". SPSS version 27.0 software was used to analyze the data. The P value cut-off for significance was established at <.05. RESULTS: Forty seven percent of nurses and 44% of interns consumed antimicrobials in the last month, more than interns and junior residents. Fourteen percent of interns and 13% of laypersons did not get any prescription for lastly taken antimicrobial. The majority of participants obtain prescribed antimicrobials from medical stores and pharmacies. Fifty five percent of laypersons and 59% of nurses stop taking antimicrobials when they feel better. Only 13% of nurses were aware of the proper indications of antimicrobials for the same illness. Only 22% of respondents know the term superbugs, significantly less than the other key terms related to the antimicrobials. Nurses and laypersons had some misconceptions related to the mechanism of development of antimicrobial resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis revealed that a significant lack of knowledge and various misconceptions were primarily seen in the nurses and laypersons. In contrast, medical graduates such as interns and junior residents lacked the right attitude and perspective regarding the use of antimicrobials and their resistance.

Correlation of FIRE-MADE (Frailty Index in Rural Elderly - Mental Status, Activities of Daily Living, Depression, and Events) With Sarcopenia in Elderly Population of Central Rural India.

Introduction Ageing results in the deprivation of various physiological reserves and resources resulting in the development of frailty. Frailty in turn brings various morbidities and dependence on others for the survival of an individual making him weak and vulnerable to various infective and non-infective insults leading to death. The present study assessed frailty in rural older adults of central India by using the Frailty Index in Rural Elderly - Mental Status, Activities of Daily Living, Depression, and Events (FIRE-MADE) and correlated it with sarcopenia assessed by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) and European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) criteria. Materials This study was a prospective cross-sectional study, involving 250 older adults (i.e. age >60 years) with good functional status (i.e. able to perform basic activities of daily living or more), visiting the Medicine Department of Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital (AVBRH), Sawangi, Wardha, from December 2019 to May 2020. Frailty was assessed and estimated by FIRE-MADE frailty index (FI) and then correlated it with sarcopenia assessed by AWGS and EWGSOP2 criteria. And effects of various parameters of FIRE-MADE (like mental status, functional status, depression, polypharmacy, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive airway disease, ischemic heart disease, stroke and cancer) and sarcopenia on frailty were studied. Results The mean age of the present study group was 68.08±4.46 years. Out of 250, 204 (91.07%) were frail and 178 (71.2%) were sarcopenic, and among the whole study population, 72 (28.8%) were severely frail, whereas 89 (35.6%) were severely sarcopenic. Frailty and sarcopenia increase with an increase in age. Females were more sarcopenic than males in all age groups. All the components of FIRE-MADE were significant contributors to frailty, but sarcopenia was the most important factor, with an odds ratio of 295.00. Conclusion In the rural regions of India, there is an elevated probability of frailty, with sarcopenia being the main reason behind it.

Serum Lactate-Albumin Ratio: Soothsayer for Outcome in Sepsis.

AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of the serum lactate/albumin (L/A) ratio as a prognostic marker of sepsis syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in the Internal Medicine Department at Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital with a sample size of 160 cases of sepsis. The serum L/A ratio was calculated on admission and correlated with deaths and morbidity. Statistical analysis was significant if the P-value was less than 0.05. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 52.83 ± 16.80 years with a male predominance (64.4% vs. 35.6%). The mean L/A ratio was 0.95 ± 0.46. The proportion of discharged subjects and mortality were 58.8% and 41.2%, respectively. The study found that a higher mean L/A ratio (1.1-1.44) was significantly linked to the various variables in the study. Furthermore, a significantly higher median L/A ratio of 1.23 was found in subjects with vasopressor use. The median L/A ratio in the Discharge group and Death group was 0.64 and 1.27, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve indicated that accurate diagnostic performance was 0.976 in predicting Death versus Discharge for the L/A ratio. CONCLUSION: This study found that, compared to lactate and albumin alone, the predictor value of the L/A ratio was outstanding in predicting death and hospital stay (discharge) among sepsis participants, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 88%.

Timely Management of Simultaneous Bilateral Spontaneous Pneumothorax: A Near-Death Experience.

Simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax is a situation that rarely occurs. The patient can have various presentations, from dyspnoea and chest pain to significant respiratory failure. Although it causes lung collapse in nearly two thirds of cases, early diagnosis and treatment are of the utmost importance. Here, we present the case of an 18-year-old boy who presented with complaints of sudden onset respiratory distress. He was immediately put on mechanical ventilation. He was diagnosed with simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax on chest X-ray. He needed bilateral intra-thoracic drainage, following which a video-assisted thoracoscopy was done on the left side.

Supernumerary Kidney (Triple Kidney) With Horseshoe Malformation: A Case Report.

The presence of an extra (third) kidney is an unusual congenital anomaly of the urinary system (US), having less than a hundred cases reported globally. Owing to the rare occurrence of this complex anomaly, the fused supernumerary kidney and horseshoe portion is very scarcely reported with unknown incidence. This paper presents a rare renal anomaly case of a fused supernumerary kidney with a horseshoe portion in a 41-year-old male who presented with fever, abdominal pain, and burning micturition. CT of the kidney urinary bladder showed non-rotation of the right kidney with a supernumerary malrotated horseshoe-shaped kidney and malrotated left kidney with features of acute pyelonephritis. The patient was managed with double J stenting and appropriate antibiotics till discharge.

Role of Ertugliflozin in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus.

The novel oral sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor Ertugliflozin (SteglatroTM) is introduced as a monotherapy or in conjunction with another antidiabetic drug regimen for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Additional safe and efficient treatment options for patients and physicians are of utmost importance as the incidence of T2DM rises. As a standalone therapy or an adjunctive treatment, ertugliflozin seems to be a reliable and safe option.This narrative review seeks to report and analyze ertugliflozin's effectiveness, safety, cardiovascular (CV), and renal outcomes in T2DM. Various combinations of drugs and drug classes have been tried to reduce mortality and comorbidities associated with the use of antidiabetic agents, especially cardiogenic events and renal diseases. With the administration of hypoglycemic drugs like ertugliflozin and the regulation of blood sugar levels, the incidence of therapy-induced hypertension, obesity, and dose-related hypoglycemia has been reduced to a significant extent. Additionally, ertugliflozin prevents hypertension caused by prolonged antidiabetic drug intake, which is advantageous for lowering the chances of end-stage cardiac events in type 2 diabetic patients. As far as the renal safety profile of ertugliflozin is concerned, it has been associated with the maintenance of eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) and a decreased UACR (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio) in patients with T2DM and coronary artery disease, which reduces the incidence of renal adverse effects due to long-term medication. As a result of common pathophysiological mechanisms, SGLT2 inhibitors represent a feasible therapeutic option and are advantageous for patients with type 1 and type 2 DM in terms of cardiovascular and renal outcomes.

Acquired Refractory Angioneurotic Edema in a Known Case of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

A woman came to the emergency room with swelling of the face, which included swelling around the lips and the eyes. The patient had undergone root canal treatment under lidocaine anesthesia one day prior, after which she developed swelling. Because angioneurotic edema was a possibility, the complement components C3 and C4 and C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) were tested. The C4 level was found to be very low (0.08 gm/l) and the C1 level was also on the lower side (0.26 gm/l). Angioneurotic edema with acquired C1-INH deficiency was diagnosed after complete systemic and physical examinations. The patient made a complete recovery with the help of steroids, fresh frozen plasma, antibiotics, and antiallergic medications. For its rarity, this case of systemic lupus erythematosus refractory angioneurotic edema with acquired C1-INH deficiency is being reported.

Hidden Mystery behind Unilateral Cerebellar Infarction in Hanging: A Case Report.

One of the most popular ways to commit suicide is by hanging. Injury after hanging typically results from pressure on the veins and arteries of the neck; airway compression is less likely, and cervical spine injuries are quite uncommon. Due to the severity of the hypoxic and ischemic brain injury, the external compression results in venous congestion of the brain, hypoxic circulation, diminished arterial supply to the brain, and possible death. Following a near-hanging, cerebral infarction or hypoxic encephalopathy without ischemia may be the mechanism causing brain damage.

Fatal Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis Post-COVID-19 Vaccination: A Rare Case Report.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a disease of the brain and spinal cord that is an immune-mediated inflammatory and demyelinating disorder, which is commonly preceded by an infection. Some reports have also shown the association of acute demyelination of the central nervous system (CNS) with vaccination. Primarily, the involvement of the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres, brain stem, and spinal cord is observed. Such lesions should be considered as the differentials of ADEM. We would like to report a case of a 77-year-old female who was of post-COVID-19 vaccination status and presented to us with altered sensorium with imaging revealing acute demyelination.

Effects and Complications of Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator in the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death: A Narrative Review.

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is one of those devices that is a big boom for the prevention of sudden deaths due to heart failure. This particular device has been in use for just a couple of years, but its impact in the domain has brought about a considerable change in the way a specific issue of the cardiovascular system is tackled. Although subcutaneous or hypodermic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) is considered to be a better alternative as far as transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (TV-ICD) is concerned, the former, being a newer introduction in the market, needs to be assessed in depth to clearly understand its effects and complications. Various types of research have been conducted on the efficacy of this device, and in most of the studies, the supremacy of this device is clearly evident when compared with other devices that are used for the same purpose. Better innovations in subcutaneous or hypodermic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators would enable them to be manufactured in a more efficient and cost-effective way so that a huge lot of people are benefited from this device. This review article is a whole peep into the various studies done in this domain, thereby providing adequate scientific insights about subcutaneous or hypodermic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in a very simple and comprehensive manner.

Fatal Manifestations of Methotrexate Overdose in Case of Psoriasis Due to Dosing Error.

For more than 50 years, methotrexate (MTX), when used in low doses, has been one of the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of psoriasis. It has immunosuppressive as well as anti-inflammatory properties. Pancytopenia, hepatic dysfunction, respiratory toxicity, and acute renal failure are some of the reported side effects. This is a case study of a patient who had developed florid symptoms of methotrexate toxicity as a result of erroneous overdosing of methotrexate, which was given to her for psoriasis management.

Relationship Between Vaccination and Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia: Coincidental or Causal?

Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a complication developed in patients due to vaccination. High-risk factors like a prothrombotic state predispose such a condition. Due to the increase in vaccinations after the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the predisposition to risk factors has increased. Hence, complications occur at a very young age. This case report is of a young male who developed venous sinus thrombosis post the COVID-19 vaccination and was diagnosed and treated promptly.

Efficacy of Oral Versus Injectable Iron in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Two-Year Cross-Sectional Study Conducted at a Rural Teaching Hospital.

Aim Anaemia (particularly iron deficiency) is of important concern in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) as it reflects the outcome of the disease. Current recommendations for the use of intravenous iron (IV) therapy in the management of anaemia in such patients are limited. This study highlights the comparison of oral to intravenous iron in patients with chronic kidney disease. Materials and methods This is a prospective case-control study comparing intravenous iron to oral iron in chronic kidney disease patients admitted to the Medicine Department of Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, in central India from October 2018 to October 2020. A total of 150 patients were divided into two groups of 75 each, one receiving oral iron (ferrous sulfate 325 mg tablets) and the other intravenous iron (IV iron sucrose). Results Serum iron, serum ferritin, and transferrin saturation (TS) showed increased levels in the IV iron group than in the oral iron group. In the IV group, a statistically significant increase was found in haemoglobin levels after therapy among all stages of kidney disease (p<0.05) while the same was not reported in the oral iron group. Conclusion IV iron sucrose therapy had been found to be effective, well-tolerated, and more successful than oral iron treatment in chronic kidney disease patients as far as the parameter of iron deficiency anaemia is concerned.

Association of Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease With Various Anthropometric Parameters in Pre-diabetes in Comparison With Diabetes and Control: A Single Tertiary Care Center Study.

Introduction Individuals with pre-diabetes and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) have an increased risk of developing diabetes mellitus (type-2) when compared with individuals with pre-diabetes without MAFLD. Patients with any of the components of metabolic syndrome should be screened for the risk of MAFLD, as all its components are well correlated with the degree of liver fat content. In this research article, we have highlighted the association of MAFLD with various anthropometric parameters in pre-diabetes as compared to diabetes and normal individual. Methods In this cross-sectional study a total of 356 patients more than 18 years of age who meet the criteria for diabetes and pre-diabetes according to WHO, were enrolled. Anthropometric indices like body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio, waist to height ratio, and neck circumference were recorded. Patients underwent ultrasonography of liver and blood investigations like lipid profile, and liver function tests. Results The prevalence of MAFLD observed in this study was 44.1% in diabetics and 22% in pre-diabetics, compared to 9.2% in healthy controls. The ROC analyses showed that MAFLD predict pre-diabetes using the waist-hip ratio was higher in women compared to men (0.750 and 0.693 respectively). In men, the waist-hip ratio was followed by 0.648 for Neck Circumference, 0.646 for BMI, and 0.635 for waist-to-height ratio respectively, whereas the ROC analyses in women showed that other than waist-hip ratio, no other anthropometric index that had consistently higher AUC value. Conclusion Though there was an association between high BMI, waist-hip ratio, waist to height ratio, and neck circumference with MAFLD in pre-diabetes, it was not strongly associated as in the diabetic group.

Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis With Brain Abscess Presenting as Status Epileptucus in a COVID-19-Infected Male: A Calamitous Complication.

With the evolution of COVID-19 disease, the emergence of more complications associated with COVID-19 is taking place. Mucormycosis is the most common opportunistic fungal infection encountered after COVID-19. In this case report, we describe a case of a 61-year-old male type 2 diabetic with sino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis infection who was treated with conventional guidelines for a recent COVID-19 infection and further presented with generalized tonic-clonic status seizures. Neuroimaging revealed sino-orbital mucormycosis with right frontal lobe abscess. He was treated with anti-epileptics, steroids, amphotericin-B, and functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).