Síndrome de enterocolite induzida por proteína alimentar como diagnóstico diferencial das alergias alimentares: relato de caso / Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome as a differential diagnosis for food allergies: a case report

A síndrome da enteropatia induzida por proteína alimentar, aguda ou crônica, é um tipo de alergia alimentar não mediada por IgE, que surge entre os 5 e 9 meses de idade, e é caracterizada por episódios de vômitos que começam aproximadamente 1 a 4 horas após a ingestão do alérgeno, algumas vezes acompanhados de letargia, palidez cutânea e diarreia com sangue, resultando em instabilidade hemodinâmica e choque em 15% dos casos. Sua epidemiologia em larga escala é desconhecida, assim como o mecanismo imunopatológico, no entanto, sugere-se um papel importante das células T no processo inflamatório. As manifestações e a gravidade dependem da frequência e da dose do alimento desencadeante, bem como do fenótipo e da idade de cada paciente. A suspeita se dá com base principalmente na história clínica e nos sintomas característicos da doença, que tendem a melhorar após a retirada do alimento suspeito. O teste de provocação oral é o padrão ouro para o diagnóstico, mas deve ser reservado para os casos em que a história é confusa e a hipótese incerta. A abordagem de primeira linha no tratamento visa corrigir a desidratação ou estabilizar o choque quando presente, e interromper imediatamente a oferta de alimentos com potencial indutor de reação alérgica. Relatamos o caso de uma lactente de 2 meses de idade com diagnóstico da síndrome, cujo objetivo é atentar o leitor quanto as suas particularidades, auxiliando-o no diagnóstico precoce e adequado a fim de evitar a depleção progressiva e a evolução para sua forma potencialmente grave.

Acute or chronic food protein-induced enteropathy syndrome is a type of non-IgE-mediated food allergy occurring between 5 and 9 months of age. It is characterized by episodes of vomiting that begin approximately 1 to 4 hours after allergen intake, sometimes accompanied by lethargy, skin pallor, and bloody diarrhea, leading to hemodynamic instability and shock in 15% of cases. Its epidemiology is largely unknown, as well as its immunopathological mechanism; however, an important role of T cells in the inflammatory process is observed. Manifestations and severity depend on the frequency and dose of the triggering food, as well as the phenotype and age of each patient. Suspicion is based mainly on clinical history and characteristic symptoms of the disease, which tend to improve after the removal of the suspect food. Oral provocation testing is the gold standard for diagnosis, but it should be reserved for cases whose history is confusing and hypothesis is uncertain. The first-line treatment approach seeks to correct dehydration or to stabilize shock, if present, and to immediately stop the supply of food that potentially induce an allergic reaction. We report the case of a 2-month-old infant diagnosed with the syndrome, with the aim of drawing the readers' attention to its particularities, thus assisting in early and adequate diagnosis in order to avoid progressive depletion and deterioration to its potentially severe form.

Síndrome de Enterocolite Induzida por Proteína Alimentar (FPIES): um novo diagnóstico diferencial para alergia alimentar / Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES): a new differential diagnosis for food allergy

A síndrome de enterocolite induzida por proteína alimentar, conhecida como "FPIES" (do inglês: Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome) é uma das apresentações da alergia alimentar não IgE mediada. Tema antes considerado raro, torna-se cada vez mais frequente nos pronto-atendimentos pediátricos. Através dos dados disponíveis na literatura, buscou-se relatar apresentação, diagnóstico e manejo da FPIES. Foi realizada busca ativa na base de dados PubMed do termo "food protein-induced enterocolitis" entre 2014 e 2019. Foram selecionados os artigos cuja população em estudo compunha a faixa etária pediátrica, e artigos completos que estavam disponíveis. Os pacientes usualmente descritos são lactentes com vômitos incoercíveis, diarreia, palidez, letargia e desidratação. Destes, alguns casos evoluem para choque hipovolêmico e acidose metabólica, podendo levar a diagnósticos equivocados. A proteína do leite de vaca, soja e arroz compõem os principais desencadeantes da doença. Entretanto, há diversos alimentos descritos neste processo. O diagnóstico dá-se através de história clínica compatível associada à reprodutibilidade dos sintomas quando ocorre reexposição ao alimento suspeito. O manejo agudo fundamenta-se na expansão volêmica, ondansetrona e corticoide, nos casos graves. Devido aos múltiplos fenótipos existentes, curto período de estudo, prevalência e patogenia incerta, a FPIES apresenta muitas lacunas a serem preenchidas. Assim, o presente estudo apresenta os consensos disponíveis e divergências atuais.

Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a non-IgE mediated food allergy. Previously considered a rare event, it has become more frequent in pediatric care. This study aimed to report current literature findings on clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of FPIES. An active search was conducted using PubMed database for the term "food-induced enterocolitis" in studies published between 2014 and 2019. Articles were selected if they involved a pediatric population and were available as full text. Samples usually consist of infants presenting with uncontrollable vomiting, diarrhea, pallor, lethargy, and dehydration. Some cases progress to hypovolemic shock and metabolic acidosis, leading to misdiagnosis. Milk, rice and soy proteins are the main triggers of the disease. The suspicion of FPIES is raised by clinical history associated with reproducible symptoms when re-exposure occurs. Acute management is based on volume infusion, ondansetron and corticosteroids in severe cases. Many gaps still exist in the knowledge of FPIES because of its multiple phenotypes, short-term studies, and uncertain prevalence and pathogenesis. The present study presents the available guidelines and current controversies.

Acute Tubular Necrosis associated with the Ketogenic Diet in a Child with Intractable Epilepsy

The ketogenic diet (KD) has been used as an effective antiepileptic therapy for intractable childhood epilepsy. However, various adverse effects have been reported with use of the KD. We report a case of a child who developed acute tubular necrosis subsequent to therapy with KD. A 5-year-old girl had myoclonic epilepsy with developmental delay. She was under the treatment with antiepileptic drugs since the age of 3 months and on the KD during the past 18 months. Proteinuria persisted intermittently with the initiation of the KD and subsequently increased in the past 2 months. She was admitted with intermittent mild fever, vomiting, and lethargy for the past 3–4 weeks. At the time of admission, she presented with hypertriglyceridemia, heavy proteinuria, renal Fanconi syndrome, and acute kidney injury. Renal sonography showed a marked increase in the size and parenchymal echogenicity of both kidneys. A renal biopsy revealed acute tubular necrosis accompanied by early interstitial fibrosis. After the withdrawal of the KD and supportive therapy, without changing other anticonvulsants and their dosages, improvement of renal function was observed. Proteinuria had disappeared after 1 month and kidney size returned to normal after 8 months. It is hypothesized that the KD can induce and/or aggravate the renal tubulointerstitial injury in some patients who are under the treatment with anticonvulsants.

A Child of Severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia with Multiple Organ Failure Treated with ECMO and CRRT

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is the most common causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia in school-aged children. An 8-year-old boy who had been diagnosed with autism looked severely ill when he presented to our hospital due to dyspnea and lethargy. He had fever and cough 7 days prior to hospitalization. He had signs and symptoms of severe respiratory distress. The percutaneous oxygen saturation was 88% at high oxygen supply. Chest radiography showed diffusely increased opacity with moderate pleural effusion. He was intubated immediately and admitted to the intensive care unit. Under the clinical impression of mycoplasmal pneumonia, intravenous clarithromycin was started. Laboratory findings showed leukocytosis, hepatitis, decreased renal function, and presence of serum MP immunoglobulin (Ig) M (+) IgG (+) and sputum MP polymerase chain reaction (+). On hospital day 2, the patient developed multiple organ failure with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was performed with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and was weaned successfully. This is the first reported case of an ARDS due to MP infection complicated by multiple organ failure that was successfully treated with ECMO and CRRT in South Korea.

Status and Awareness of Excessive Heat Exposure among Agricultural Workers / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: This study was to assess the status and awareness of excessive heat exposure among agricultural workers. METHODS: We selected a total of 90 farmers from a villages of Gyeongju-si, during August, 2015. We carried out the temperature measurement for nine times and derived Health Index (HI) and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index. We compared the HI, WBGT and excessive heat warnings. Status of high temperature exposure, lifestyle, medical history, and awareness about excessive health related exposure illness assessed using survey questionnaires. RESULTS: The matching rates between the WBGT and the HI during excessive heat warning were high, but when it was a non-excessive heat warning, there were days of excessive HI or WBGT. Out of 90 farmers surveyed, 78 cases (86.7%) were in their 60s and older age group. Slightly more than two third (71.1%) farmers were farming in the dawn-morning (71.1%), and the daily working hours were less than 4 hours (54.4 %), but only 23.3% among farmers took regular breaks. Of total, 14.4% farmers experienced excessive heat exposure related illness in order of tiredness, lethargy, dizziness, headaches, and sweating. Overall, the awareness of the danger for excessive heat and the heat wave warnings were high at 70.0% and 74.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Politically, the excessive heat warnings should not be taken into account the simple temperature measurement but, have to consider WBGT and HI standards at the same time. Farmers need to be promoted and educated to prevent the excessive heat related illness by periodically increasing their rest time during farming.

Parasomnia as an Initial Presentation of Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations. Only a few studies have focused on non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and REM parasomnias in narcolepsy. We report a narcolepsy without cataplexy patient presenting parasomnia as an initial symptom. A 18-year-old boy was admitted to hospital for abnormal behavior of sitting up during sleep over 2 years. He had a symptom of lethargy without cataplexy and subjective excessive daytime sleepiness, but his family found him often asleep during daytime. He underwent 3 times of polysomnography (PSG) including 1 multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) after the last PSG. The last PSG showed 1 episode of abrupt sitting. Three sleep REM onset period was observed in MSLT which was not detect in PSG. Parasomnia as an initial symptom of narcolepsy is a rare clinical entity. The MSLT may be useful in the evaluation of patients with parasomnia and unexplained hypersomnia.

Idiopathic type-4 hiatal hernia in a middle-aged cat / 대한수의학회지

A 6-year-old female domestic short hair cat presented with acute onset of vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, and tachypnea. The cat was apparently healthy prior to presentation without history of trauma. On diagnostic imagings, the entire stomach and spleen were detected in the thoracic cavity. An emergent celiotomy was performed, and a type-4 hiatal hernia was confirmed; the stomach, spleen, pancreas, and duodenum were herniated through the esophageal hiatus. It was corrected using phrenicoplasty, esophagopexy, and left-sided gastropexy and there was no recurrence 16 months after surgery. This is the first case report of an idiopathic type-4 hiatal hernia in a cat.

Candida albicans urinary tract infection in a Shih Tzu dog with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia

An 8-year-old castrated male Shih Tzu dog (weighing 7.0 kg) presented with anemia and lethargy. Initial diagnosis indicated immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. During therapy, a secondary urinary infection, probably due to the immune suppressive therapy, was diagnosed. Subsequent diagnostic tests, including urinalysis and urine culture, indicated candidal cystitis. Despite ketoconazole therapy for candidal cystitis, the dog died suddenly. A Candida albicans infection was confirmed upon postmortem evaluation. Prolonged immunosuppressive therapy might be the cause of this infection. This is the first case report describing a Candida albicans urinary tract infection accompanied by hemolytic anemia in a dog in Korea.

Amyloidosis in a Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus)

Two Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) died after suffering from pododermatitis, lethargy, and ataxia; necropsy was performed. Grossly, the liver was swollen and firm. The kidney and spleen were also enlarged and a pale tan color. On histopathologic examination with Congo red staining, amyloidosis was noted in liver, spleen, and kidney. In addition, marked osseous metaplasia was present in the liver. Based on these results, systemic amyloidosis involving liver, spleen, and kidney with osseous metaplasia in the liver was diagnosed. Study results indicate that an inflammatory reaction associated with pododermatitis had a role in the amyloidosis in this particular case.

Diagnosis of Lymphoid Malignancy by PCR for Analysis of Antigen Receptor Rearrangement after Blood Transfusion in a Dog with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is uncommon lymphoid malignancy in dogs, and its diagnosis is challenging. A 14-year-old spayed female mixed breed dog was transferred to a veterinary medical teaching hospital for an immediate blood transfusion. The dog showed lethargy, pale mucous membranes, and a weak femoral pulse. Complete blood count revealed non-regenerative anemia and severe leukopenia with thrombocytopenia. ALL was tentatively diagnosed based on the predominance of immature lymphoblasts on blood film examination. For confirmation of lymphoid malignancy, PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement (PARR) on a peripheral blood sample and flow cytometry analysis were performed after blood transfusion. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that lymphocyte subsets were of normal composition, but PARR detected a T-cell malignancy. The dog was diagnosed with ALL and survived 1 wk after diagnosis. In conclusion, after blood transfusion, flow cytometry was not a reliable diagnostic method for an ALL dog, whereas PARR could detect lymphoid malignancy. Our results suggest that PARR should be the first-line diagnostic tool to detect canine lymphoid malignancy after a blood transfusion.

The Medicinal Usage and Restriction of Ginseng in Britain and America, 1660–1900 / 의사학

This article demonstrates the medicinal usage of ginseng in the West from 1660 to 1914. Asian[Korea] ginseng was first introduced into England in the early 17th century, and North American ginseng was found in the early 18th century. Starting from the late 17th century doctors prescribed ginseng to cure many different kinds of ailments and disease such as: fatigue general lethargy, fever, torpidity, trembling in the joints, nervous disorder, laughing and crying hysteria, scurvy, spermatic vessel infection, jaundice, leprosy, dry gripes and constipation, strangury, yellow fever, dysentery, infertility and addictions of alcohol, opium and tobacco, etc. In the mid-18th century Materia Medica began to specify medicinal properties of ginseng and the patent medicines containing ginseng were widely circulated. However, starting in the late 18th century the medicinal properties of ginseng began to be disparaged and major pharmacopoeias removed ginseng from their contents. The reform of the pharmacopoeia, influenced by Linnaeus in botany and Lavoisier in chemistry, introduced nomenclature that emphasized identifying ingredients and active constituents. Western medicine at this period, however, failed to identify and to extract the active constituents of ginseng. Apart from the technical underdevelopment of the period, the medical discourses reveal that the so-called chemical experiment of ginseng were conducted with unqualified materials and without proper differentiation of various species of ginseng.

Identification of a novel frameshift mutation (L345Sfs*15) in a Korean neonate with methylmalonic acidemia

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder characterized by an abnormal accumulation of methylmalonyl-CoA and methylmalonate in body fluids without hyperhomocysteinemia. Cardiac disease is a rarely known lethal complication of MMA, herein, we report a Korean neonate diagnosed with MMA on the basis of biochemical and genetic findings, who developed cardiomyopathy, resulting in sudden death. The patient presented vomiting and lethargy at 3 days of age. Initially, the patient had an increased plasma propionylcarnitine/acetylcarnitine concentration ratio of 0.49 in a tandem mass spectrometry analysis and an elevated ammonia level of 537 µmol/L. Urine organic acid analysis showed increased excretion of methylmalonate. Subsequent sequence analysis of the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MUT) gene revealed compound heterozygous mutations c.323G>A (p.Arg108His) in exon 1 and c.1033_1034del (p. Leu345Serfs*15) in exon 4, the latter being a novel mutation. In summary, this is the first case of MMA and cardiomyopathy in Korea that was confirmed by genetic analysis to involve a novel MUT mutation.

Isolation and Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in Brazilian Dogs

Strains of Toxoplasma gondii in Brazil are highly genetically diverse compared to strains from North America and Europe. Dogs are epidemiologically important because they act as sentinels for T. gondii infections in humans and are good indicators of environmental contamination. The aim of this study was to isolate and genetically characterize T. gondii strains from tissues of naturally infected Brazilian dogs. For this study, 21 blood samples were collected from dogs at the Zoonosis Control Centers of Ilhéus and Itabuna cities, Bahia, Brazil. The sera were examined for T. gondii antibodies using the indirect hemagglutination test. Brains and hearts of seropositive dogs were bioassayed in mice to isolate and characterize T. gondii parasites by PCR-RFLP using 10 genetic markers (SAG1, newSAG2, SAG3, BTUB, c22-8, c29-2, GRA6, PK1, APICO, and L358). However, T. gondii was isolated from only 4 (57.1%) dogs, designated TgDgBr6, 13, 17, and 21. All strains were virulent, causing clinical changes (rough hair coat, lethargy, and abdominal distention) and the death of all mice within 8–20 days after inoculation. Genetic analysis of these 4 T. gondii isolates revealed 4 distinct genotypes with different clonal lineage combinations (types I, II, and III) and 2 atypical alleles. Using PCR-RFLP with several markers, this study contributes to evaluations of the genetic diversity of strains circulating in Brazil.

Clinical and laboratory signs associated to serious dengue disease in hospitalized children / Sinais clínicos e laboratoriais para o dengue com evolução grave em crianças hospitalizadas

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the validity of clinical and laboratory signs to serious dengue disease in hospitalized children. Methods: Retrospective cohort of children (<18 years) hospitalized with dengue diagnosis (2007-2008). Serious dengue disease was defined as death or use of advanced life support therapy. Accuracy measures and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were calculated. Results: Of the total (n = 145), 53.1% were female, 69% aged 2-11 years, and 15.9% evolved to the worse outcome. Lethargy had the best accuracy (positive likelihood ratio >19 and negative likelihood ratio <0.6). Pleural effusion and abdominal distension had higher sensitivity (82.6%). History of bleeding (epistaxis, gingival or gastrointestinal bleeding) and severe hemorrhage (pulmonary or gastrointestinal bleeding) in physical examination were more frequent in serious dengue disease (p < 0.01), but with poor accuracy (positive likelihood ratio = 1.89 and 3.89; negative likelihood ratio = 0.53 and 0.60, respectively). Serum albumin was lower in serious dengue forms (p < 0.01). Despite statistical significance (p < 0.05), both groups presented thrombocytopenia. Platelets count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin parameters had area under the curve <0.5. Conclusions: Lethargy, abdominal distension, pleural effusion, and hypoalbuminemia were the best clinical and laboratorial markers of serious dengue disease in hospitalized children, while bleeding, severe hemorrhage, hemoconcentration and thrombocytopenia did not reach adequate diagnostic accuracy. In pediatric referral hospitals, the absence of hemoconcentration does not imply absence of plasma leakage, particularly in children with previous fluid replacement. These findings may contribute to the clinical management of dengue in children at referral hospitals.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar a validade dos sinais clínicos e laboratoriais para o dengue com evolução grave em crianças hospitalizadas. Métodos Coorte retrospectivo de crianças (<18 anos) internadas com dengue (2007-2008). Evolução grave foi definida como óbito ou pelo uso de terapia de suporte avançado de vida. Foram calculadas medidas de acurácia e área sob a curva ROC. Resultados Do total (n = 145), 53,1% casos eram do sexo feminino, 69% de 2 a 11 anos e 15,9% evoluíram para gravidade. Letargia obteve a melhor acurácia (razão de verossimilhança positiva RVP > 19 e RV negativa RVN < 0,6). Derrame pleural e distensão abdominal apresentaram maior sensibilidade (se = 82,6%). Relato de sangramentos (epistaxe, gengivorragia ou gastrointestinal) e hemorragia grave (pulmonar ou gastrointestinal) presente no exame físico foi mais frequente nos casos com evolução grave (p <0,01), porém com baixa acurácia (RVP = 1,89 e 3,89; RVN = 0,53 e 0,60, respectivamente). Os níveis de albumina sérica foram mais baixos nas formas graves (p <0,01). Ambos os grupos apresentaram trombocitopenia, apesar da diferença estatística (p <0,05). Contagem de plaquetas, hematócrito e hemoglobina apresentaram área sob a curva ROC < 0,5. Conclusões Letargia, distensão abdominal, derrame pleural e hipoalbuminemia foram os melhores marcadores clínicos e laboratoriais de dengue com evolução grave em crianças hospitalizadas, enquanto sangramento, hemorragia grave, hemoconcentração e trombocitopenia não tiveram boa acurácia diagnóstica. Em hospitais de referência pediátricos, a ausência de hemoconcentração não implica ausência de extravasamento plasmático, particularmente quando há reposição anterior de volume. Esses resultados podem contribuir para o manejo clínico do dengue em crianças em hospitais de referência.

Biochemical findings in the first Filipino child confirmed to have nonketotic hyperglycinemia: A case report

@#<p style="text-align: justify;">This is a report of the biochemical findings in the first diagnosed case of Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia (NKH) in the Philippines. Urine metabolic screening by high voltage electrophoresis showing grossly increased glycine necessitated  confirmation of NKH. Confirmatory analysis was done by paired plasma-cerebrospinal fluid quantitative amino acid analysis using Ultrahigh Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC). The result was compatible with the clinical picture of the patient who presented primarily with apnea, seizures, hypotonia and lethargy. This paper emphasizes the importance of locally available biochemical genetic tests in the diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism.</p>

Neonatal Group B Streptococcal Meningitis Complicated with Secondary Hypopituitarism: A Case Report

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) commonly causes neonatal meningitis and sepsis. In infants with late-onset meningitis, fever, irritability or lethargy or both, poor feeding, and tachypnea are common initial signs. Major neurologic sequelae are observed in 29% of children, the most serious including global or profound mental retardation, spastic quadriplegia, cortical blindness, deafness, uncontrolled seizures, hydrocephalus, and hypothalamic dysfunction. We report a 14-day-old full-term female infant who presented with grunting and irritability to the emergency room and was diagnosed with GBS meningitis subsequently complicated with central diabetes insipidus and secondary hypopituitarism. Central diabetes insipidus should be ruled out in infants with complicated GBS meningitis.

Isolation and molecular identification of Vibrio harveyi from the look down fish (Selene vomer)

Gradual mortality of look down fish (Selene vomer) was observed in a private aquarium in Seoul, showing abnormal swimming behavior and lethargy. A bacterial pathogen from kidney was cultured, identified, and confirmed as Vibrio harveyi using Vitek System 2 and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A predominant bacterial strain, SNUVh-LW2 was proved to be most closely related to isolates from China by phylogenetic analysis with minimum evolution method. Also, tetracycline was considered as the most sensitive antibiotic agent via antibiotic usceptibility test. The group of fish was treated according to the diagnostic result and no more mortality was observed.

Symptomatic Hypermagnesemia in Normal Kidney Function with a Colonic Cleansing Agent / 대한내과학회지

Most reported cases of hypermagnesemia are related to laxative abuse and impaired renal function, while hypermagnesemia is uncommon without iatrogenic magnesium administration and decreased renal function. Magnesium-containing bowel-cleansing agents are widely used before colonoscopy, usually without complications. However, we experienced a case of symptomatic hypermagnesemia with normal renal function after using a bowel-cleansing agent. A 74-year-old man with normal renal function complained of lethargy and motor weakness after taking a bowel-cleansing agent containing 14 grams of magnesium before a colonoscopy for hematochezia. His magnesium level was 12 mg/dL. Fluid stasis in the gut due to colonic obstruction might have caused the hypermagnesemia. He was treated successfully with a bowel enema and intravenous calcium. We should be cautious when prescribing drugs for colonoscopy if colonic obstruction is suspected.

Intestinal rupture due to small bowel volvulus in a captive American black bear (Ursus americanus)

Intestinal rupture caused by small bowel volvulus was diagnosed in a captive 13-year-old male American black bear. The animal presented with decreased appetite, depression, lethargy, and mild abdominal distention for 3 days. The animal was treated with antibiotics, hypermetabolites, and digestive medicine daily; however, it died on the third day of treatment. The clinical symptoms included hemorrhagic ascites, gaseous extension of the small intestine, and intestinal rupture caused by small bowel volvulus. Hemorrhagic signs were observed in the lungs and heart. This is the first case to describe small bowel volvulus in mammals of the family Ursidae.

Milk-alkali syndrome secondary to the intake of calcium supplements / 영남의대학술지

Milk-alkali syndrome (MAS), a triad of hypercalcemia, metabolic alkalosis, and renal failure, is associated with ingestion of large amounts of calcium and absorbable alkali. MAS is the third most common cause of hypercalcemia in hospital, after primary hyperparathyroidism and malignant neoplasm. MAS is not often reported in the Korean literature. We describe MAS secondary to intake of calcium citrate for the treatment of osteoporosis with thoracic spine compression fracture. A 70-year-old man presented to our hospital with a 1-week history of general weakness and lethargy. He was found with acute kidney injury (serum creatinine, 4.6 mg/dL), hypercalcemia (total calcium, 14.8 mg/dL), and alkalosis. Laboratory evaluation excluded both hyperparathyroidism and malignancy. Mental status and serum calcium level was normalized within a week after proper hydration and intravenous administration of furosemide. However, he developed aspiration pneumonia, pseudomembranous colitis, and sepsis with multi-organ failure. Despite intensive treatment including inotropics, mechanical ventilation, and renal replacement therapy, he expired with no signs of renal recovery on the 28th hospital day.