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Clinical Case Reports Jun 2024Immunosuppression from B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) chemotherapy and a preceding COVID-19 infection may predispose patients to rare complications such as...
Co-occurrence of rhino-orbital mucormycosis and acute lymphoblastic leukemia post-COVID-19 infection in a young adolescent male: A case report from a low middle-income country.
KEY CLINICAL MESSAGE
Immunosuppression from B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) chemotherapy and a preceding COVID-19 infection may predispose patients to rare complications such as rhino-orbital mucormycosis. Hence, a high index of suspicion should be maintained by physicians (and oncologists) if patients undergoing B-ALL treatment present with orofacial symptoms and ophthalmological manifestations such as peri-orbital swelling, ophthalmoplegia, and loss of vision, suggestive of infection.
ABSTRACT
Mucormycosis is a severe fungal infection that poses significant mortality and morbidity risks, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. We present a rare case of a 16-year-old patient with rhino-orbital mucormycosis following B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) treatment and concurrent COVID-19 infection. We describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of this patient, and discuss the possible interactions and implications of these three conditions. A young 16-year-old male patient without significant clinical history was admitted with complaints of low-grade intermittent fever, fatigue, malaise, restlessness, and unexplained weight loss for the past 2 months. A bone marrow biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of B-ALL. Following the diagnosis of B-ALL, the patient underwent initiation of chemotherapy. Following the initial two cycles of chemotherapy, the patient experienced fever and cough and tested positive for COVID-19 infection. Nearly a week later, the patient presented to the chemotherapy emergency department with a clinical picture characterized by a fever up to 39°C associated with left facial swelling, severe headache, purulent rhinorrhea, and foreign body sensation in the ipsilateral nostril. The following day, erythema and left eyelid edema were observed, with ocular opening limitation. The diagnosis was confirmed based on the positive result of polymerase chain reaction for left-sided mucormycosis. Initial administration of liposomal and lipid amphotericin B at 1-1.5 mg/kg/d doses for 4-6 weeks was followed by surgical debridement of necrotic tissue on the left side of the face and nose. Subsequent ophthalmological examinations showed normal conditions of the left eye. The case underscores the importance of heightened clinical suspicion, early diagnosis through imaging and molecular techniques, aggressive multimodal therapy, and close interdisciplinary collaboration for improved outcomes in such rare and challenging clinical scenarios.
PubMed: 38799526
DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.8972 -
Journal of Surgical Oncology May 2024Patients with pancreatic and gastroesophageal (PGE) cancers experience high symptom burden, but patient experience throughout multimodality treatment remains unclear. We...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Patients with pancreatic and gastroesophageal (PGE) cancers experience high symptom burden, but patient experience throughout multimodality treatment remains unclear. We aimed to delineate the experience and symptom burden of patients throughout their perioperative course.
METHODS
Qualitative interviews were performed with 17 surgical patients with PGE cancer. Interview transcripts were analyzed and symptoms were ranked by frequency. An expert panel assessed the relevance of these symptom inventory items.
RESULTS
Of the 17 patients included, 35% (n = 6) underwent gastrectomy, 30% (n = 5) underwent esophagectomy, and 35% (n = 6) underwent pancreatectomy; 76% (n = 13) received neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy and/or chemoradiation. Overall, 32 symptoms were reported, and 19 were reported by over 20% of patients. An expert panel rated nine symptoms to be relevant or very relevant to PGE surgical patients. These symptoms (difficulty swallowing, heartburn/reflux, diarrhea, constipation, flushing/sweating, stomach feeling full, malaise, dizziness, or feeling cold) were added to the core MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) if they were commonly reported or reached a threshold relevancy score.
CONCLUSIONS
In this qualitative study, we developed a provisional symptom inventory for patients undergoing surgery for PGE cancer. This symptom inventory module of the MDASI for PGE surgical patients will be psychometrically tested for validity and reliability.
PubMed: 38798277
DOI: 10.1002/jso.27687 -
The Journal of the Royal College of... May 2024'Imagine my surprise to discover ME/CFS is definitely not rare, but inexplicably and infuriatingly unacknowledged'. Fifth year medical student, Scotland.
Medical students highlight the importance of medical education, kindness, compassion and belief when learning about patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.
'Imagine my surprise to discover ME/CFS is definitely not rare, but inexplicably and infuriatingly unacknowledged'. Fifth year medical student, Scotland.
PubMed: 38798174
DOI: 10.1177/14782715241255977 -
International Journal of Environmental... Apr 2024This study investigated the impact of home care, health status, and cognition. A qualitative and quantitative approach was employed through a cross-sectional study with...
This study investigated the impact of home care, health status, and cognition. A qualitative and quantitative approach was employed through a cross-sectional study with a sample of 60 elderly individuals in need of home care in the municipality of Itatiba, São Paulo, Brazil. The analysis utilized the Discourse of the Collective Subject (DCS), EQ-5D, EQ VAS, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The sample consisted of 40.0% male and 60.0% female individuals. The majority (61.6%) received weekly visits, mainly from community health agents, who were responsible for the majority of the care (45%). Positive considerations were highlighted, with 36.6% emphasizing the contribution to treatment continuity. The EQ VAS assessment indicated a moderately good perception of health. The EQ-5D analysis revealed significant differences between genders in personal care ( = 0.04). There were significant differences between clinical characteristics and EQ-5D dimensions, such as neoplasia and reduced mobility ( = 0.04), and arthritis/osteoarthritis/rheumatism and a limitation in common activities ( = 0.01). The presence of anxiety/depression was significant in cases of neoplasia ( = 0.006), arthritis/osteoarthritis/rheumatism ( = 0.01), and stroke ( = 0.04). The logistic regression analysis showed associations between usual activities and arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism ( = 0.034), pain/malaise and arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism ( = 0.038), and anxiety/depression and stroke (= 0.028). The average MMSE scores (17.52) suggested a mild cognitive impairment, with no statistical differences between genders. Based on these results, it can be concluded that home care can provide a comprehensive approach and continuous assistance, emphasizing the importance of personalized care based on perceived and clinical differences.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Aged; Quality of Life; Home Care Services; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cognition; Aged, 80 and over; Brazil; Health Status; Middle Aged; Perception
PubMed: 38791748
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21050539 -
Cureus Apr 2024Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is a clinical disease caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Common presenting symptoms include sore throat, lymph node enlargement,...
Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is a clinical disease caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Common presenting symptoms include sore throat, lymph node enlargement, fever, and malaise. Although severe upper airway obstruction is uncommon, it is a potentially fatal complication that requires immediate intervention. We describe the case of an 18-year-old Hispanic man who presented with a progressive sore throat and difficulty speaking, requiring endotracheal intubation for airway protection. CT images showed diffuse swelling of Waldeyer's tonsillar ring, multiple enlarged lymphadenopathies, and splenomegaly. Acute EBV infection was confirmed considering clinical presentation and using the heterophile antibody, anti-nuclear and anti-viral capsid antigens, and quantitative PCR. The patient was managed with ventilatory support, empirical antibiotic therapy, and systemic corticosteroids, achieving a positive outcome. Our case illustrates the use of corticosteroids in managing severe upper airway obstruction complicating IM.
PubMed: 38779228
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58735 -
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity May 2024Chronic multisymptom illnesses (CMI) such as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long-COVID, and Gulf War Illness (GWI) are associated with an elevated...
UNLABELLED
Chronic multisymptom illnesses (CMI) such as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long-COVID, and Gulf War Illness (GWI) are associated with an elevated risk of post-exertional malaise (PEM), an acute exacerbation of symptoms and other related outcomes following exercise. These individuals may benefit from personalized exercise prescriptions which prioritize risk minimization, necessitating a better understanding of dose-response effects of exercise intensity on PEM.
METHODS
Veterans with GWI (n = 40) completed a randomized controlled crossover experiment comparing 20 min of seated rest to light-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity cycling conditions over four separate study visits. Symptoms, pain sensitivity, cognitive performance, inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and plasma cytokines) were measured before and within 1 h after exercise and seated rest. Physical activity behavior was measured ≥ 7 days following each study visit via actigraphy. Linear mixed effects regression models tested the central hypothesis that higher intensity exercise would elicit greater exacerbation of negative outcomes, as indicated by a significant condition-by-time interaction for symptom, pain sensitivity, cognitive performance, and inflammatory marker models and a significant main effect of condition for physical activity models.
RESULTS
Significant condition-by-time interactions were not observed for primary or secondary measures of symptoms, pain sensitivity, cognitive performance, and a majority of inflammatory markers. Similarly, a significant effect of condition was not observed for primary or secondary measures of physical activity.
CONCLUSIONS
Undesirable effects such as symptom exacerbation were observed for some participants, but the group-level risk of PEM following light-, moderate-, or vigorous-intensity exercise was no greater than seated rest. These findings challenge several prior views about PEM and lend support to a broader body of literature showing that the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks.
PubMed: 38777281
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.05.026 -
Hematology (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Dec 2024T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL) are highly malignant and aggressive hematologic tumors for which there is no standard first-line...
OBJECTIVES
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL) are highly malignant and aggressive hematologic tumors for which there is no standard first-line treatment. Chidamide, a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, shows great promise. We assessed the efficacy and safety of an irradiation-containing conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and post-transplantation chidamide maintenance in patients with T-ALL/LBL.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of six patients with T-ALL/LBL who underwent allo-HSCT with a radiotherapy-containing pretreatment regimen and post-transplant chidamide maintenance therapy. The endpoints were relapse, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), transplant-related mortality (TRM), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs).
RESULTS
All of the patients had uneventful post-transplant hematopoietic reconstitution, and all achieved complete molecular remission within 30 days. All six patients survived, and two relapsed with a median relapse time of 828.5 (170-1335) days. The 1-year OS rate was 100%, the 2-year PFS rate was 66.7%, and the TRM rate was 0%. After transplantation, two patients developed grade I-II acute GVHD (2/6); grade III-IV acute and chronic GVHD were not observed. The most common AEs following chidamide administration were hematological AEs, which occurred to varying degrees in all patients; liver function abnormalities occurred in two patients (grade 2), and symptoms of malaise occurred in one patient (grade 1).
CONCLUSION
Chidamide maintenance therapy after T-ALL/LBL transplantation is safe, but the efficacy needs to be further investigated.
Topics: Humans; Retrospective Studies; Male; Female; Aminopyridines; Adult; Benzamides; Transplantation Conditioning; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Middle Aged; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Young Adult; Adolescent; Graft vs Host Disease
PubMed: 38776229
DOI: 10.1080/16078454.2024.2356300 -
Cureus Apr 2024Methotrexate (MTX), a cornerstone treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is associated with drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS), including rare instances of...
Methotrexate (MTX), a cornerstone treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is associated with drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS), including rare instances of methotrexate-induced pneumonitis. We report a significant case of a 65-year-old woman with RA, treated with MTX for over two decades, who presented with fever, headache, nausea, and malaise and was later diagnosed with DIHS, manifesting as pneumonitis and hepatosplenomegaly. Despite initial suspicion of bacterial pneumonia, her condition deteriorated, leading to the consideration of DIHS. The diagnosis was confirmed through a drug lymphocyte stimulation test (DLST), and she responded well to prednisolone. This case underlines the complexity of long-term MTX therapy, emphasizing the need for vigilance towards DIHS even after years of treatment. The findings prompt a reconsideration of ongoing treatments for RA, particularly in settings where long-term MTX use is prevalent. Early intervention and diagnostic tests like the DLST are crucial for preventing severe outcomes. This case adds to the growing evidence of MTX's potential for causing DIHS even in long-term usage. It stresses the importance of balancing therapeutic benefits with the risks of significant adverse reactions in stable RA patients.
PubMed: 38770448
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58659 -
PloS One 2024Fatigue can lead to several health issues and is particularly prevalent among elderly individuals with chronic inflammatory conditions. Ninjin'yoeito, a traditional...
Fatigue can lead to several health issues and is particularly prevalent among elderly individuals with chronic inflammatory conditions. Ninjin'yoeito, a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, is used to address fatigue and malaise, anorexia, and anemia. This study aimed to examine whether relieving inflammation in the brain and skeletal muscle of senescence-accelerated mice prone 8 (SAMP8) could reduce fatigue-like conditions associated with aging. First, SAMP8 mice were divided into two groups, with and without ninjin'yoeito treatment. The ninjin'yoeito-treated group received a diet containing 3% ninjin'yoeito for a period of 4 months starting at 3 months of age. At 7 months of age, all mice underwent motor function, treadmill fatigue, and behavioral tests. They were then euthanized and the skeletal muscle weight, muscle cross-sectional area, and concentration of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) in both the brain and skeletal muscle were measured. The results showed that the ninjin'yoeito-treated group had higher motor function and spontaneous locomotor activity than the untreated group did and ran for significantly longer in the treadmill fatigue test. Moreover, larger muscle cross-sectional area, lower IL-1β concentrations, and higher IL-1RA concentrations were observed in both the brain and skeletal muscle tissues of the ninjin'yoeito-treated group than in the untreated group. The results suggest that ninjin'yoeito improves age-related inflammatory conditions in both the central and peripheral tissues and reduces fatigue.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Muscle, Skeletal; Aging; Fatigue; Brain; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Male; Inflammation; Interleukin-1beta
PubMed: 38768175
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303833 -
Dermatology Online Journal Mar 2024Steven-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare immunologic hypersensitivity reaction to stimuli that presents as widespread eruption with...
Steven-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare immunologic hypersensitivity reaction to stimuli that presents as widespread eruption with mucocutaneous detachment and involvement of other organs. Multiple causes have been noted in literature, including numerous medications. In this report, we present a 52-year-old woman who arrived at the emergency department with a complaint of rash, malaise, and pruritus. She subsequently developed diffuse cutaneous and mucosal detachment. Work-up supported a diagnosis of SJS/TEN secondary to her thyroid replacement therapy, derived from desiccated pig thyroid glands. The patient's natural thyroid medication was discontinued and she responded well to appropriate treatment. This case is unique in that thyroid replacement therapy is not a commonly reported trigger of SJS/TEN. Providers should be aware of the potential for natural thyroid and other animal-derived natural medications to cause adverse reactions such as SJS/TEN.
Topics: Stevens-Johnson Syndrome; Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Animals; Swine; Thyroid Gland
PubMed: 38762864
DOI: 10.5070/D330163294