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Cureus Nov 2023Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly Wegener's granulomatosis, is a small- and medium-vessel vasculitis with characteristic cutaneous morphologic...
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly Wegener's granulomatosis, is a small- and medium-vessel vasculitis with characteristic cutaneous morphologic presentation and systemic involvement. Most patients have palpable purpura at some point in their disease course, but this is not always the presenting manifestation. This autoimmune disorder can affect a range of organs, with the upper and lower respiratory tract, kidneys, and nervous system being commonly implicated, while gastrointestinal and cardiac involvement is less frequent. This is a 44-year-old female presenting to the emergency department (ED) with polyarthralgia and palpable purpura. Palpable purpura was distributed on the oral palate, elbow, and lower back, and a punch biopsy revealed leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV). While this was an atypical distribution for leukocytoclastic vasculitis, the skin biopsy provided the necessary evidence to diagnose GPA. This case characterizes non-specific and atypical signs and symptoms of GPA that all providers should be aware of in order to diagnose the condition early in its disease course.
PubMed: 38116340
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49056 -
Journal of Digital Imaging Aug 2023The objective of this study is to develop a radiomic signature constructed from deep learning features and a nomogram for prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis...
The objective of this study is to develop a radiomic signature constructed from deep learning features and a nomogram for prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) in breast cancer patients. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging data from 479 breast cancer patients with 488 lesions were studied. The included patients were divided into two cohorts by time (training/testing cohort, n = 366/122). Deep learning features were extracted from diffusion-weighted imaging-quantitatively measured apparent diffusion coefficient (DWI-ADC) imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) by a pretrained neural network of DenseNet121. After the selection of both radiomic and clinicopathological features, deep learning signature and a nomogram were built for independent validation. Twenty-three deep learning features were automatically selected in the training cohort to establish the deep learning signature of ALNM. Three clinicopathological factors, including LN palpability (odds ratio (OR) = 6.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.06-12.54, P = 0.004), tumor size in MRI (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.18-1.80, P = 0.104), and Ki-67 (OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 1.00-1.02, P = 0.099), were selected and combined with radiomic signature to build a combined nomogram. The nomogram showed excellent predictive ability for ALNM (AUC 0.80 and 0.71 in training and testing cohorts, respectively). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 65%, 80%, and 75%, respectively, in the testing cohort. MRI-based deep learning radiomics in patients with breast cancer could be used to predict ALNM, providing a noninvasive approach to structuring the treatment strategy.
Topics: Humans; Female; Lymphatic Metastasis; Breast Neoplasms; Deep Learning; Retrospective Studies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Lymph Nodes
PubMed: 36973631
DOI: 10.1007/s10278-023-00818-9 -
World Journal of Clinical Cases Jul 2023Intussusception is a primary cause of intestinal obstruction in young children. Delayed diagnosis is associated with increased morbidity. Ultrasonography (USG) is the...
BACKGROUND
Intussusception is a primary cause of intestinal obstruction in young children. Delayed diagnosis is associated with increased morbidity. Ultrasonography (USG) is the gold standard for diagnosis, but it is operator dependent and often unavailable in limited resource areas.
AIM
To study the clinical characteristics of intussusception including management and evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of abdominal radiography (AR) and the promising parameters found in the pediatric intussusception score (PIS).
METHODS
Children with suspected intussusception in our center from 2006 to 2018 were recruited. Clinical manifestations, investigations, and treatment outcomes were recorded. AR images were interpreted by a pediatric radiologist. Diagnosis of intussusception was composed of compatible USG and response with reduction. The diagnostic value of the proposed PIS was evaluated.
RESULTS
Ninety-seven children were diagnosed with intussusception (2.06 ± 2.67 years, 62.9% male), of whom 74% were < 2 years old and 37.1% were referrals. The common manifestations of intussusception were irritability or abdominal pain (86.7%) and vomiting (59.2%). Children aged 6 mo to 2 years, pallor, palpable abdominal mass, and positive AR were the parameters that could discriminate intussusception from other mimics ( < 0.05). Referral case was the only significant parameter for failure to reduce intussusception ( < 0.05). AR to diagnose intussusception had a sensitivity of 59.2%. The proposed PIS, a combination of clinical irritability or abdominal pain, children aged 6 mo to 2 years, and compatible AR, had a sensitivity of 85.7%.
CONCLUSION
AR alone provides poor screening for intussusception. The proposed PIS in combination with common manifestations and AR data was shown to increase the diagnostic sensitivity, leading to timely clinical management.
PubMed: 37583866
DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i21.5014 -
Rheumatology International Jul 2024IgA-associated vasculitis (IgAV) known as Henoch - Schönlein purpura (HSP) disease is an inflammatory disorder of small blood vessels. It's the most common type of... (Review)
Review
IgA-associated vasculitis (IgAV) known as Henoch - Schönlein purpura (HSP) disease is an inflammatory disorder of small blood vessels. It's the most common type of systemic vasculitis in children which can be associated with the inflammatory process following infections. IgA vasculitis is a rare and poorly understood systemic vasculitis in adults. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with HSP in both adults and children. A 58-year-old woman was diagnosed with HSP, fulfilling the clinical criteria: palpable purpura, arthritis, hematuria. The disclosure of the HSP disease was preceded by a infection of the respiratory tract. COVID-19 infection was confirmed via the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies. This case indicates the possible role of SARS-CoV-2 in the development of HSP. The clinical course of IgAV in adults appears to be different from pediatric IgAV, especially due to higher risk of renal complications. Symptoms of the disease quickly resolved with low-dose of steroids.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; IgA Vasculitis; Female; Middle Aged; SARS-CoV-2; Immunoglobulin A
PubMed: 38739223
DOI: 10.1007/s00296-024-05606-4 -
JBRA Assisted Reproduction Sep 2023The Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome (HWWS) is characterized by the triad of uterus didelphys, obstructed hemivagina, and renal agenesis. The typical clinical...
The Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome (HWWS) is characterized by the triad of uterus didelphys, obstructed hemivagina, and renal agenesis. The typical clinical presentation involves chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and palpable abdominal mass, related to hematocolpos/hematometra. It is a rare disease, with a challenging clinical and radiological diagnosis. Surgery is the definitive treatment. Complications such as endometriosis, infertility and chronic pelvic pain occur more frequently and severely when diagnosis and treatment are delayed. This is a case report of a twelve-year-old patient admitted to the Gynecology Department of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro's General Hospital (HUCFF/UFRJ), in March 2021, with progressive symptoms of dysmenorrhea and abdominal distention due to palpable abdominal mass. She had a previous history of congenital solitary kidney. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed a double uterus with hematometra and hematocolpos on the left side, pelvic endometriosis and left renal agenesis. Conservative clinical treatment with inhibition of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (H-P-O) axis was initiated while a definitive surgical approach was being defined. In June 2022, the patient underwent left hemi-hysterectomy and salpingectomy, achieving full remission of symptoms. Given the rarity of this syndrome and its potential complications, our report aims to familiarize clinicians with it, mostly those who work with children and adolescents, so that more patients have access to early diagnosis and adequate treatment. Consequently, future fertility can be effectively preserved.
PubMed: 37768821
DOI: 10.5935/1518-0557.20230043 -
Global Cardiology Science & Practice Sep 2023Hydatid cysts (HC) are primarily found in the liver, with secondary occurrences in the lungs and other organs. The presence of HCs in the anterior chest wall is notably...
BACKGROUND
Hydatid cysts (HC) are primarily found in the liver, with secondary occurrences in the lungs and other organs. The presence of HCs in the anterior chest wall is notably rare, and even more so when associated with HCs in the liver.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 53-year-old male reported to our facility with a non-painful lump on his chest's front wall. A thoraco-abdominal CT scan identified cysts within the chest wall's subcutaneous layer, showing no spread to nearby soft tissues or involvement of the lungs and ribs. Despite an echinococcal test returning negative, the initial diagnosis leaned towards a dermoid cyst. After surgical removal and detailed examination, the cysts were confirmed as HCs. Further investigation revealed an additional liver HC. The patient was referred for surgery where he underwent laparotomy and drainage of cyst content.
CONCLUSION
This case underscores the importance of considering HCs when diagnosing palpable lesions on the chest wall, particularly in regions where HCs are endemic.
PubMed: 38404625
DOI: 10.21542/gcsp.2023.32 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024Cryptorchidism presents with an incidence of 1-5% with potential long-term implications on future fertility and overall health. This review focuses on surgical treatment... (Review)
Review
Cryptorchidism presents with an incidence of 1-5% with potential long-term implications on future fertility and overall health. This review focuses on surgical treatment modalities, their impact on testicular development, and function while addressing the Nordic consensus statement as well as current European Association of Urology (EAU) and American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines. Congenital and acquired cryptorchidism present distinctive challenges in surgical management, with different implications for fertility. While congenital cryptorchidism entails a risk to fertility and warrants early intervention, both retractile testes and acquired cryptorchidism also pose risks to fertility potential, underscoring the importance of evaluating treatment options. Testicular location and the child's age form the basis of a practical classification system for undescended testicles. Early diagnosis by clinical examination enables timely treatment. Imaging is reserved for selected cases only. Following guidelines, orchidopexy is recommended between 6-12 months of age for congenital cryptorchidism. Evidence increasingly suggests the benefits of early surgery for promoting testicular health and fertility potential. Current surgical options range from open to laparoscopic techniques, with the choice largely determined by the location and accessibility of the undescended testicle. The advancement in laparoscopic approaches for non-palpable testes underscores the evolving landscape of surgical treatment. Sequential surgeries may be required depending on the mobility of the undescended testes. More research is needed to explore both the potential and limitations of hormonal therapy, which is secondary to surgical treatment and can selectively have a role as adjunct to surgery. Long-term follow-up is imperative to evaluate fertility outcomes, risk of testicular malignancy, and psychological impact. By integrating current guidelines with the latest evidence, this review intends to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of cryptorchidism, thereby optimizing patient management and outcomes.
Topics: Male; Child; Humans; Cryptorchidism; Testicular Neoplasms; Fertility; Research Design
PubMed: 38495791
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1327957 -
Journal of Inflammation Research 2024Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic disease resulting from the interaction of various factors such... (Review)
Review
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic disease resulting from the interaction of various factors such as social elements, autoimmunity, genetics, and gut microbiota. Alarmingly, recent epidemiological data points to a surging incidence of IBD, underscoring an urgent imperative: to delineate the intricate mechanisms driving its onset. Such insights are paramount, not only for enhancing our comprehension of IBD pathogenesis but also for refining diagnostic and therapeutic paradigms. Monocytes, significant immune cells derived from the bone marrow, serve as precursors to macrophages (Mφs) and dendritic cells (DCs) in the inflammatory response of IBD. Within the IBD milieu, their role is twofold. On the one hand, monocytes are instrumental in precipitating the disease's progression. On the other hand, their differentiated offsprings, namely moMφs and moDCs, are conspicuously mobilized at inflammatory foci, manifesting either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory actions. The phenotypic spectrum of these effector cells, intriguingly, is modulated by variables such as host genetics and the subtleties of the prevailing inflammatory microenvironment. Notwithstanding their significance, a palpable dearth exists in the literature concerning the roles and mechanisms of monocytes in IBD pathogenesis. This review endeavors to bridge this knowledge gap. It offers an exhaustive exploration of monocytes' origin, their developmental trajectory, and their differentiation dynamics during IBD. Furthermore, it delves into the functional ramifications of monocytes and their differentiated progenies throughout IBD's course. Through this lens, we aspire to furnish novel perspectives into IBD's etiology and potential therapeutic strategies.
PubMed: 38764499
DOI: 10.2147/JIR.S450801 -
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease Jul 2023The global malaria community has picked up the theme of malaria elimination in more than 90% of the world's population in the next decade. Recent reports of () in... (Review)
Review
The global malaria community has picked up the theme of malaria elimination in more than 90% of the world's population in the next decade. Recent reports of () in sub-Saharan Africa, including in Duffy-negative individuals, threaten the efforts aimed at achieving elimination. This is not only in view of strategies that are tailored only to elimination but also due to currently revealed biological characteristics of concerning the relapse patterns of hypnozoites and conservation of large biomasses in cryptic sites in the bone marrow and spleen. A typical scenario was observed in Botswana between 2008 and 2018, which palpably projects how could endanger malaria elimination efforts where the two parasites co-exist. The need for the global malaria community, national malaria programs (NMPs), funding agencies and relevant stakeholders to engage in a forum to discuss and recommend clear pathways for elimination of malaria, including , in sub-Saharan Africa is warranted.
PubMed: 37624330
DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8080392