Glomerular mitochondrial changes in HIV associated renal injury.

HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is an AIDs-related disease of the kidney. HIVAN is characterized by severe proteinuria, podocyte hyperplasia, collapse, glomerular, and tubulointerstitial damage. HIV-1 transgenic (Tg26) mouse is the most popular model to study the HIV manifestations that develop similar renal presentations as HIVAN. Viral proteins, including Tat, Nef, and Vpr play a significant role in renal cell damage. It has been shown that mitochondrial changes are involved in several kidney diseases, and therefore, mitochondrial dysfunction may be implicated in the pathology of HIVAN. In the present study, we investigated the changes of mitochondrial homeostasis, biogenesis, dynamics, mitophagy, and examined the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and apoptosis in the Tg26 mouse model. The Tg26 mice showed significant impairment of kidney function, which was accompanied by increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and protein urea level. In addition, histological, western blot and PCR analysis of the Tg26 mice kidneys showed a downregulation of NAMPT, SIRT1, and SIRT3 expressions levels. Furthermore, the kidney of the Tg26 mice showed a downregulation of PGC1α, MFN2, and PARKIN, which are coupled with decrease of mitochondrial biogenesis, imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics, and downregulation of mitophagy, respectively. Furthermore, our results indicate that mitochondrial dysfunction were associated with ER stress, ROS generation and apoptosis. These results strongly suggest that the impaired mitochondrial morphology, homeostasis, and function associated with HIVAN. These findings indicated that a new insight on pathological mechanism associated with mitochondrial changes in HIVAN and a potential therapeutic target.

More than a drink: A rare anaphylactic reaction to sparkling water.

Anaphylaxis is a potentially life threatening, type I hypersensitivity reaction which can occur within seconds to minutes after exposure to an allergen. Sulfites have been implicated in causing such reactions with symptoms ranging from mild to potentially life threatening. Here we present a patient who had an anaphylactic reaction secondary to exposure to sulfites found in sparkling water.

A cardiac tamponade in the hypertensive patient presenting as abdominal fullness.

Cardiac tamponade is a medical emergency consisting of an accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space which is rapidly progressing and fatal. Because cardiac tamponade is ultimately a clinical diagnosis, mindful consideration for atypical presentations is essential for the reduction of mortality in the acute setting. Our patient was a 77year-old female admitted after presenting with general malaise, weakness, somnolence, altered mental status and urinary incontinence found to have CML (chronic myeloid leukemia) on confirmatory bone marrow biopsy after suspicions arose from a leukocytosis of 34,000 cells per mcL with 85% neutrophils and elevated blasts (8%). Initial vital signs revealed mild tachycardia, mild tachypnea and blood pressure elevated to 162/84mm Hg along with a temperature of 38.7°C and oxygen saturation of 96% on 2l by nasal cannula. She received the standard of care for a community acquired pneumonia and was started on treatment with decitabine as further work-up was unremarkable. An abdominal CT performed for abdominal fullness later displayed a large pericardial effusion. Repeat echocardiography exhibited right atrial diastolic collapse, inferior vena cava dilatation (IVC) without inspiratory collapse >50% and the large pericardial effusion consistent with tamponade. The blood pressure remained hypertensive until she suddenly went into cardiac arrest after being intubated for a pericardial window and expired. Our case highlights the need to keep cardiac tamponade as a differential in the hypertensive individual with abdominal complaints as atypical presentations can obscure diagnosis, delay treatment and increase mortality.

Review of potential drug interaction between Oseltamivir and Warfarin and why it is important for emergency medicine physicians.

Oseltamivir is a very commonly prescribed anti-viral medication by the Emergency Medicine (EM) physicians for the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of Influenza infection. While the drug interaction of Warfarin with various antibiotics is known, the drug interaction between Oseltamivir and Warfarin is not common. We present a case where an 83-year female patient, on Warfarin for Pulmonary Embolism, had worsening of coagulopathy after she was started on Oseltamivir. The INR was monitored daily in our patient and Warfarin was stopped when the INR became supra-therapeutic. Our patient did not have any minor or major bleeding complication. This is the first reported case of Oseltamivir related worsening coagulopathy in patient on Warfarin to the best of our knowledge. Keeping in mind the possible interaction between the two as it was evident in our case and few other published reports, we recommend monitoring the INR closely in patients using Warfarin after they are started on Oseltamivir therapy.

Consideration of alternative causes of lactic acidosis: Thiamine deficiency in malignancy.

Lactic acidosis is a common metabolic acidosis characterized by increased serum lactate and is usually associated with a decreased blood pH. Lactic acidosis has many different causes but has been differentiated into type A, hypoxic causes, and type B, non-hypoxic causes. Tissue hypoxia, type A, is the most common cause, usually secondary to processes such as sepsis and multi-organ failure. Type A must be differentiated from type B in the correct clinical setting as treatments are vastly different. Type B causes may include drug side-effects, toxins, enzymatic defects, inherited or acquired, any of which may lead to overproduction or underutilization of lactate. However, as most clinicians are more familiar, and likely more initially concerned with hypoxic etiologies, evaluation is directed toward finding the source of hypoperfusion or hypoxia, and thus generally leading to a delay in discovering a type B cause (or mixed type A and type B). Here we describe a case of lactic acidosis in the setting of thiamine deficiency thought to be secondary to advanced lung cancer. The purpose of this paper is to bring awareness to the clinician to consider other causes of lactic acidosis when evaluating a patient.

A multidisciplinary approach for a patient with cardiogenic shock from pulmonary embolism with concomitant impending clot in transit trapped in PFO.

Impending paradoxical embolism (IPDE) is a right heart thrombus (RHT), in times of elevated pulmonary arterial pressure, that is trapped in a patent foramen ovale (PFO) Myers et al. (2010) (3). We present a case that highlights our multidisciplinary approach in a patient with IPDE with cardiogenic shock from pulmonary embolism (PE).

Hughes Stovin Syndrome, a Rare Form of Behcet's Disease Presenting as Recurrent Intracardiac Thrombus.

Hughes Stovin syndrome (HSS) is a particularly rare disease characterized by multiple pulmonary artery and/or bronchial artery aneurysms with concomitant peripheral venous thrombosis and is believed to be a cardiovascular variant of Behcet's disease. Intracardiac thrombus occurring as a thrombotic manifestation of HSS is an unusual presentation and represents a challenge in diagnosis and treatment. Here we report a 25-year-old male presenting with recurrent right-sided intracardiac thrombi, in whom pulmonary artery aneurysm was later detected in the clinical course corroborating the diagnosis of HSS and leading to appropriate initiation of immunosuppressive agents. The patient required multiple cardiac surgeries during the clinical course for cardiovascular complications associated with recurrent cardiac thrombus. Unfortunately, the patient was readmitted a year later for massive hemoptysis secondary to pulmonary arterial aneurysm rupture requiring left lower lobectomy. Our case highlights also the significant morbidity, complications, and treatment challenges associated with this potentially life-threatening syndrome, which is intensified in the presence of cardiac involvement.

Discrepant myocardial microvascular perfusion and mechanics after acute myocardial infarction: Characterization of the "Tako-tsubo effect" with real-time myocardial perfusion contrast echocardiograph.

BACKGROUND: In patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction (MI), sometimes an "apical ballooning" contractile dysfunction pattern that exceeds factual myocardial injury is identified in the ventriculography and bedside echocardiography. The hemodynamic consequences/sequela of this "Tako-tsobu effect" has not been well delineated. Of note, this anatomic imaging finding often misleads frontline physicians who assume reciprocal causation of persistent cardiac pump failure and ventricular pressure overload. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using real-time myocardial perfusion contrast echocardiography (MCE), we investigated myocardial (microvascular) perfusion in 60 patients after acute MI and coronary revascularization. Twenty-eight percent of the studied patients showed significantly mismatched myocardial perfusion and contractile defects. In these patients, an integrated imaging assessment with coronary angiography/ventriculography, deformation echocardiography, and MCE proved that the myocardial mechanic abnormalities significantly exceeded the defected perfusion areas. Compared with 72% of the patients without perfusion-contractility mismatch, apparently worse systolic functions (left ventricular ejection, wall motion score, and systolic longitudinal strain) in these patients did not change diastolic ventricular filling pressures (E/E' and E/A) or hemodynamic consequences/adverse events. Both systolic and diastolic functions in patients with perfusion-contractility mismatch appeared to be comparable with those in patients with Tako-tsubo syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Real-time MCE identifies discrepant myocardial microvascular perfusion and mechanics in patients with acute MI. The "Tako-tsubo effect" in patients with perfusion-contractility mismatch does not cause diastolic filling pressure change or worse hemodynamic consequence/cardiac event.

Chylous ascites as a complication of intraabdominal Mycobacterium avium complex immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.

Chylous ascites is an uncommon finding of triglyceride-rich lymph in the peritoneal cavity. There are a variety of reported etiologies for chylous ascites; however, the reporting of chylous ascites among AIDS/HIV-positive patients is quite uncommon. This finding as a complication of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome is even more unusual. Here we report a case of an HIV-positive man with a history of colonic Mycobacterium avium complex who developed chylous ascites in the setting of increasing CD4 counts and decreasing viral load, suggestive of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.

Spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome in small cell lung cancer.

Tumor lysis syndrome is a set of metabolic disturbances that can be seen during the destruction of tumor cells and is an oncologic and metabolic emergency. The syndrome is rare in those with solid tumors, and even more rare in those with solid tumors who have not yet received chemotherapy. We present a case of tumor lysis syndrome in a patient with small cell lung cancer.

Flecainide toxicity in renal failure.

Flecainide, a class Ic antiarrhythmic, is used for the prevention of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation/flutter, and sustained ventricular tachycardia. Flecainide is primarily metabolized by the liver and to a lesser extent (30%) is excreted unchanged in the kidney. We present a case of flecainide toxicity in the setting of renal impairment that was successfully treated with intravenous sodium bicarbonate.

A novel case of Raoultella planticola osteomyelitis and epidural abscess.

A spinal epidural abscess is the collection of pus in the epidural space, and is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires early detection and prompt management. Almost two-thirds of cases are caused by Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Gram-negative bacilli which account for approximately 16% of cases. Raoultella planticola is an emerging pathogen, and is an extremely rare cause of invasive infection in humans. It has been reported to cause urinary tract infections, pneumonia, bacteraemia, cholangitis, cholecystitis, conjunctivitis and soft tissue infections. We report the first case, to our knowledge, of R. planticola osteomyelitis and spinal epidural abscess.

Carotid artery dissection: a rare complication of Eagle syndrome.

Carotid artery dissection is a significant cause of ischaemic stroke in all age groups and accounts for a large percentage of strokes in young patients. Carotid dissection can be caused by trauma, underlying connective tissue disease, hypertension, mechanical injury or can be spontaneous. We present an exceedingly rare case of carotid dissection caused by an elongated styloid process, causing direct mechanical damage to the carotid artery.

Kounis syndrome: A review article on epidemiology, diagnostic findings, management and complications of allergic acute coronary syndrome.

Kounis syndrome (KS) is a hypersensitivity coronary disorder induced by exposure to drugs, food, environmental and other triggers. Vasospastic allergic angina, allergic myocardial infarction (MI) and stent thrombosis with occluding thrombus infiltrated by eosinophils and/or mast cells constitute the three main variants of this syndrome. We reviewed 175 patients who fulfilled the definition of one of the three types of KS. The epidemiology, diagnostic findings, management and complications were reviewed in this article.