Pneumomediastinum in patients with COVID-19 undergoing CT pulmonary angiography: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Various complications have been reported in patients with COVID-19 including pneumomediastinum. METHODS: The primary objective of the study was to determine the incidence of pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 positive patients who underwent CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA). The secondary objectives were to analyse if the incidence of pneumomediastinum changed between March and May 2020 (peak of the first wave in the UK) and January 2021 (peak of the second wave in the UK) and to determine the mortality rate in patients with pneumomediastinum. We undertook an observational, retrospective, single-centre, cohort study of patients with COVID-19 admitted to Northwick Park Hospital. RESULTS: 74 patients in the first wave and 220 patients in the second wave met the study criteria. Two patients during the first wave and eleven patients during the second wave developed pneumomediastinum. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of pneumomediastinum changed from 2.7% during the first wave to 5% during the second wave and this change was not statistically significant (p value 0.4057). The difference in mortality rates of patients with pneumomediastinum in both waves of COVID-19 (69.23%) versus patients without pneumomediastinum in both waves of COVID-19 (25.62%) was statistically significant (p value 0.0005). Many patients with pneumomediastinum were ventilated, which could be a confounding factor. When controlling for ventilation, there was no statistically significant difference in the mortality rates of ventilated patients with pneumomediastinum (81.81%) versus ventilated patients without pneumomediastinum (59.30%) (p value 0.14).

Non-Cardiac Chest Pain.

We read with interest "Non-Cardiac Chest Pain: Management in the Ambulatory Clinic setting" (Acute Med 2019;18(3)165-70). It is useful to know about the various musculoskeletal causes of chest pain, especially where specific treatment may be available.

Comparison of the Impact of Wikipedia, UpToDate, and a Digital Textbook on Short-Term Knowledge Acquisition Among Medical Students: Randomized Controlled Trial of Three Web-Based Resources.

BACKGROUND: Web-based resources are commonly used by medical students to supplement curricular material. Three commonly used resources are UpToDate (Wolters Kluwer Inc), digital textbooks, and Wikipedia; there are concerns, however, regarding Wikipedia's reliability and accuracy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Wikipedia use on medical students' short-term knowledge acquisition compared with UpToDate and a digital textbook. METHODS: This was a prospective, nonblinded, three-arm randomized trial. The study was conducted from April 2014 to December 2016. Preclerkship medical students were recruited from four Canadian medical schools. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants through word of mouth, social media, and email. Participants must have been enrolled in their first or second year of medical school at a Canadian medical school. After recruitment, participants were randomized to one of the three Web-based resources: Wikipedia, UpToDate, or a digital textbook. During testing, participants first completed a multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ) of 25 questions emulating a Canadian medical licensing examination. During the MCQ, participants took notes on topics to research. Then, participants researched topics and took written notes using their assigned resource. They completed the same MCQ again while referencing their notes. Participants also rated the importance and availability of five factors pertinent to Web-based resources. The primary outcome measure was knowledge acquisition as measured by posttest scores. The secondary outcome measures were participants' perceptions of importance and availability of each resource factor. RESULTS: A total of 116 medical students were recruited. Analysis of variance of the MCQ scores demonstrated a significant interaction between time and group effects (P<.001, ηg2=0.03), with the Wikipedia group scoring higher on the MCQ posttest compared with the textbook group (P<.001, d=0.86). Access to hyperlinks, search functions, and open-source editing were rated significantly higher by the Wikipedia group compared with the textbook group (P<.001). Additionally, the Wikipedia group rated open access editing significantly higher than the UpToDate group; expert editing and references were rated significantly higher by the UpToDate group compared with the Wikipedia group (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Medical students who used Wikipedia had superior short-term knowledge acquisition compared with those who used a digital textbook. Additionally, the Wikipedia group trended toward better posttest performance compared with the UpToDate group, though this difference was not significant. There were no significant differences between the UpToDate group and the digital textbook group. This study challenges the view that Wikipedia should be discouraged among medical students, instead suggesting a potential role in medical education.

An Unusual Case of Acute Muscle Weakness.

A previously healthy 35-year old man presented to hospital with acute leg weakness following an alcohol binge. On assessment, tachycardia, urinary retention and bilateral upper and lower limb proximal weakness with preserved peripheral power were noted. Biochemistry revealed marked hypokalaemia, which responded to intravenous replacement, and biochemical thyrotoxicosis, leading to the diagnosis of Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis (TPP). Anti-thyroid therapy and beta-blockers were commenced and his neurological symptomatology resolved as he became progressively euthyroid. TPP is a rare acquired subtype of hypokalaemic periodic paralysis, typically causing proximal muscle weakness associated with thyrotoxicosis. It is most common in young Asian males. Acute treatment requires cautious oral potassium supplementation, beta-blockade, and anti-thyroid therapy. TPP is prevented by maintaining euthyroidism; otherwise recurrence is likely.

Dengue fever: a Wikipedia clinical review.

Dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever, is a mosquito-borne infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles. In a small proportion of cases, the disease develops into life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, which results in bleeding, thrombocytopenia, and leakage of blood plasma, or into dengue shock syndrome, in which dangerously low blood pressure occurs. Treatment of acute dengue fever is supportive, with either oral or intravenous rehydration for mild or moderate disease and use of intravenous fluids and blood transfusion for more severe cases. Along with attempts to eliminate the mosquito vector, work is ongoing to develop a vaccine and medications targeted directly at the virus.

Two different presentations, one diagnosis.

Acute confusion and hyponatraemia are common presentations in acute medicine. We report two cases of anti-voltage gated potassium channel (VGKC) antibody-related limbic encephalitis highlighting the variable presentation of this condition. Both patients were thoroughly investigated with MRI scan of brain, lumbar puncture, EEG as well as infective and autoimmune screens for encephalitis. Anti-VGKC antibodies were positive for both patients and prompt treatment with immunotherapy yielded good recovery. Patients presenting with confusion and seizures who have no demonstrable infectious or metabolic cause should have investigation for an autoimmune cause expedited. In addition, psychiatric presentations with atypical features such as drowsiness should prompt similar investigations. The outcome of anti-VGKCrelated limbic encephalitis is improved with early treatment employing steroids or immunotherapy.

Splinter haemorrhages, Osler's nodes, Janeway lesions and Roth spots: the peripheral stigmata of endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis is a serious endo-vascular infection, potentially affecting not only native heart valves, but also intra-vascularly implanted foreign materials such as valvular prostheses and pacemaker electrodes (Westphal et al, 2009).

An evaluation of Wikipedia as a resource for patient education in nephrology.

Wikipedia, a multilingual online encyclopedia, is a common starting point for patient medical searches. As its articles can be authored and edited by anyone worldwide, the credibility of the medical content of Wikipedia has been openly questioned. Wikipedia medical articles have also been criticized as too advanced for the general public. This study assesses the comprehensiveness, reliability, and readability of nephrology articles on Wikipedia. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related problems, 10th Edition (ICD-10) diagnostic codes for nephrology (N00-N29.8) were used as a topic list to investigate the English Wikipedia database. Comprehensiveness was assessed by the proportion of ICD-10 codes that had corresponding articles. Reliability was measured by both the number of references per article and proportion of references from substantiated sources. Finally, readability was assessed using three validated indices (Flesch-Kincaid grade level, Automated readability index, and Flesch reading ease). Nephrology articles on Wikipedia were relatively comprehensive, with 70.5% of ICD-10 codes being represented. The articles were fairly reliable, with 7.1 ± 9.8 (mean ± SD) references per article, of which 59.7 ± 35.0% were substantiated references. Finally, all three readability indices determined that nephrology articles are written at a college level. Wikipedia is a comprehensive and fairly reliable medical resource for nephrology patients that is written at a college reading level. Accessibility of this information for the general public may be improved by hosting it at alternative Wikipedias targeted at a lower reading level, such as the Simple English Wikipedia.

Rhabdomyolysis.

Rhabdomyolysis is the destruction of a significant amount of striated muscle, leading to disruptions in fluid balance, electrolytes and renal function. It may have either traumatic (such as crush injury) or non-traumatic causes. Diagnosis is typically made through the timely determination of the serum creatine kinase activity in a patient with a suggestive history or clinical features. Treatment is supportive, with generous intravenous hydration and correction of electrolyte abnormalities. Sometimes haemofiltration or dialysis is required, but the renal prognosis is generally good.

Wikipedia: a key tool for global public health promotion.

The Internet has become an important health information resource for patients and the general public. Wikipedia, a collaboratively written Web-based encyclopedia, has become the dominant online reference work. It is usually among the top results of search engine queries, including when medical information is sought. Since April 2004, editors have formed a group called WikiProject Medicine to coordinate and discuss the English-language Wikipedia's medical content. This paper, written by members of the WikiProject Medicine, discusses the intricacies, strengths, and weaknesses of Wikipedia as a source of health information and compares it with other medical wikis. Medical professionals, their societies, patient groups, and institutions can help improve Wikipedia's health-related entries. Several examples of partnerships already show that there is enthusiasm to strengthen Wikipedia's biomedical content. Given its unique global reach, we believe its possibilities for use as a tool for worldwide health promotion are underestimated. We invite the medical community to join in editing Wikipedia, with the goal of providing people with free access to reliable, understandable, and up-to-date health information.

Abnormal IgD and IgA1 O-glycosylation in hyperimmunoglobulinaemia D and periodic fever syndrome.

In order to determine the glycosylation pattern for IgD, and to examine whether there are changes in the pattern of IgD and IgA1 O-glycosylation in patients with hyperimmunoglobulinaemia D and periodic fever syndrome (HIDS) during acute febrile attacks and during periods of quiescence, serum was obtained from 20 patients with HIDS and 20 control subjects. In the HIDS group, serum was obtained either during an acute febrile episode (n = 9) or during a period of quiescence (n = 11). The O-glycosylation profiles of native and desialylated IgA1 and IgD were measured in an ELISA-type system using the lectins Helix aspersa and peanut agglutinin, which bind to alternative forms of O-glycan moieties. IgD is more heavily O-galactosylated and less O-sialylated than IgA1 in healthy subjects. HIDS is associated with more extensive O-galactosylation of IgD and a reduction in O-sialylation of both IgD and IgA1. These changes are present both during acute febrile attacks and periods of quiescence. The T cell IgD receptor is a lectin with binding affinity for the O-glycans of both IgD and IgA1. The observed changes in IgD and IgA1 O-glycosylation are likely to have a significant effect on IgD/IgA1-T cell IgD receptor interactions including basal immunoglobulin synthesis, and possibly myeloid IgD receptor-mediated cytokine release.

O-glycosylation of serum IgD in IgA nephropathy.

In IgA nephropathy (IgAN), serum IgA1 with abnormal O-glycosylation preferentially deposits in the glomerular mesangium. The control of O-glycosylation is poorly understood. Among Ig isotypes, only IgD, produced early in B cell development, and IgA1, produced by mature B cells, are O-glycosylated. For investigation of the stage of B cell maturation at which the defect seen in IgAN arises, the O-glycosylation of serum IgA1 and IgD was studied in IgAN and controls. Serum was obtained from 20 patients with IgAN and 20 control subjects. The O-glycosylation profiles of native and desialylated IgA1 and IgD were measured in an ELISA-type system using the lectins Helix aspersa and peanut agglutinin, which bind to alternative forms of O-glycan moieties. The lectin-binding patterns of the two immunoglobulins differed in all participants, with that of IgD suggesting that it is more heavily galactosylated than IgA1. Defective O-glycosylation of IgA1, probably taking the form of reduced galactosylation, was confirmed in IgAN in this study. This undergalactosylation was not shared by IgD; in contrast, IgD carried more galactosylated O-glycans in IgAN than controls. The contrasting lectin-binding patterns of IgA1 and IgD shows that Ig O-glycosylation is differentially controlled during B cell maturation. Compared with controls, O-glycosylation in IgAN is incomplete in IgA1 but more complete in IgD. These observations show that abnormal IgA1 O-glycosylation in IgAN is not due to an inherent defect in glycosylation mechanisms but arises only at a later stage in B cell development and may be secondary to aberrant immunoregulation.