Detection ofClostridioides difficileinfection by assessment of exhaled breath volatile organic compounds.

Clostridioides difficileinfection (CDI) is the leading cause of hospital-acquired infective diarrhea. Current methods for diagnosing CDI have limitations; enzyme immunoassays for toxin have low sensitivity andClostridioides difficilepolymerase chain reaction cannot differentiate infection from colonization. An ideal diagnostic test that incorporates microbial factors, host factors, and host-microbe interaction might characterize true infection. Assessing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath may be a useful test for identifying CDI. To identify a wide selection of VOCs in exhaled breath, we used thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to study breath samples from 17 patients with CDI. Age- and sex-matched patients with diarrhea and negativeC.difficiletesting (no CDI) were used as controls. Of the 65 VOCs tested, 9 were used to build a quadratic discriminant model that showed a final cross-validated accuracy of 74%, a sensitivity of 71%, a specificity of 76%, and a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.72. If these findings are proven by larger studies, breath VOC analysis may be a helpful adjunctive diagnostic test for CDI.

Acquired Tracheoesophageal Fistulas: A Case Report and Review of Diagnostic and Management Challenges.

Acquired, nonmalignant tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEFs) often occur in the setting of prolonged use of endotracheal or tracheostomy tubes due to trauma and erosion of the tracheal wall inflicted by tube cuffs or direct tracheal contact. In this report, we present a patient with a tracheostomy who presented with recurrent aspiration pneumonia and was found to have a large TEF that was difficult to treat. We also discuss the diagnostic and management challenges concerning TEFs. TEFs, especially if large, lead to recurrent aspiration pneumonia and can be challenging to manage. Definitive management of TEFs involves surgical repair; meanwhile, endoscopic or bronchoscopic stenting to bypass the fistula can be performed. The fistula location, size, and concurrent positive pressure ventilation make its treatment challenging in those with chronic ventilatory dependence. Early recognition and multidisciplinary management involving gastroenterologists, interventional pulmonologists, and thoracic surgeons are necessary to decide on the best treatment strategy.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis With Subsequent Eosinophilic Colitis: Keeping a High Index of Suspicion.

The prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has significantly increased, while, in comparison, eosinophilic gastroenteritis and colitis remain rare entities. The diagnosis and management of eosinophilic gastrointestinal (GI) disorders can be challenging given the non-specific manifestations and variable treatment response. Symptoms refractory to initial therapies (e.g., proton pump inhibitors, dietary modifications, topical steroids) should raise suspicion for distal involvement of the GI tract. In this case report, we describe a patient with EoE with a subsequent diagnosis of eosinophilic colitis and symptom response to systemic corticosteroids. In addition, we review recent updates regarding the management of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders.

Cannabis Use and Stroke: Does a Risk Exist?

AIMS: Cannabis use has been reported as a risk factor for stroke. We systematically review the prevalence and outcomes of stroke in people with cannabis use. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE and 6 other databases from inception to January 2020 for studies on the relationship between cannabis use and stroke. We followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. Two independent reviewers extracted the data. Study quality was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort and case-control studies. RESULTS: Seventeen studies involving 3,185,560 people with cannabis use were included. Descriptive statistics demonstrated 18,676 (median 1.1%, interquartile range [IQR] 0.3%-1.3%) experienced stroke compared with 0.8% of those without use (Odds Ratio 1.17, 95% CI 1.10-1.25). Among people with cannabis use, median age was 26.2 years (IQR 25.2-34.3 years) and mostly male (median 57.8%). Of stroke subtypes, ischemic stroke was most prevalent (median 1.2%, IQR 0.4%-1.9%), followed by undefined stroke subtype (median 1.2%, IQR 1.1%-1.2%) and hemorrhagic stroke (median 0.3%, IQR 0.1%-0.6%). The majority of people with cannabis use who experienced stroke survived (median: 85.1%, IQR 83%-87.5%) and 64.0% of people experienced a good neurologic outcome, defined as modified Rankin Scale of 0 to 3. Few studies included outcomes of vasospasm or seizure. CONCLUSIONS: In people with cannabis use, the prevalence of ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke was 1.2% and 0.3%, respectively, higher than the prevalence of people without use (0.8% and 0.2%). There is insufficient information on timing, exposure, duration, and dose-responsive relationship.

Does Targeted Temperature Management Improve Neurological Outcome in Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR)?

PURPOSE: Targeted temperature management (TTM) is a standard of care in patients after cardiac arrest for neuroprotection. Currently, the effectiveness and efficacy of TTM after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is unknown. We aimed to compare neurological and survival outcomes between TTM vs non-TTM in patients undergoing ECPR for refractory cardiac arrest. METHODS: We searched PubMed and 5 other databases for randomized controlled trials and observational studies reporting neurological outcomes or survival in adult patients undergoing ECPR with or without TTM. Good neurological outcome was defined as cerebral performance category <3. Two independent reviewers extracted the data. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to pool data. RESULTS: We included 35 studies (n = 2,643) with the median age of 56 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 52-59). The median time from collapse to ECMO cannulation was 58 minutes (IQR: 49-82) and the median ECMO duration was 3 days (IQR: 2.0-4.1). Of 2,643, 1,329 (50.3%) patients received TTM and 1,314 (49.7%) did not. There was no difference in the frequency of good neurological outcome at any time between TTM (29%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 23%-36%) vs. without TTM (19%, 95% CI: 9%-31%) in patients with ECPR (P = 0.09). Similarly, there was no difference in overall survival between patients with TTM (30%, 95% CI: 22%-39%) vs. without TTM (24%, 95% CI: 14%-34%) (P = 0.31). A cumulative meta-analysis by publication year showed improved neurological and survival outcomes over time. CONCLUSIONS: Among ECPR patients, survival and neurological outcome were not different between those with TTM vs. without TTM. Our study suggests that neurological and survival outcome are improving over time as ECPR therapy is more widely used. Our results were limited by the heterogeneity of included studies and further research with granular temperature data is necessary to assess the benefit and risk of TTM in ECPR population.

Novel Agents in the Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy: A Review.

Hepatic encephalopathy is an often devastating complication of chronic liver disease, associated with high mortality and increased burden on patients and healthcare systems. Current agents (such as nonabsorbable disaccharides and oral antibiotics) are often only partially effective and associated with unpleasant side effects. With our improved understanding of the pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy, multiple treatment modalities have emerged with promising results when used alone or as an adjunct to standard medications. The mechanisms of these agents vary greatly, and include the manipulation of gut microbial composition, reduction of oxidative stress, inhibition of inflammatory mediators, protection of endothelial integrity, modulation of neurotransmitter release and function, and other novel methods to reduce blood ammonia and neurotoxins. Despite their promising results, the studies assessing these treatment modalities are often limited by study design, sample size, outcome assessment heterogeneity, and paucity of data regarding their safety profiles. In this article, we discuss these novel agents in depth and provide the best evidence supporting their use, along with a critical look at their limitations and future directions.

Timing of Acute Stroke in COVID-19-A Health System Registry Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and stroke remains unknown. We aimed to compare the characteristics of stroke patients who were hospitalized with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on the timing of stroke diagnosis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of adult patients in a health system registry of COVID-19 who were hospitalized and had imaging-confirmed acute stroke during hospitalization. Baseline characteristics and hospital outcomes were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 882 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized between March 9 to May 17, 2020, 14 patients (2% of all COVID-19 patients and 21% of those who underwent imaging) presented with stroke or developed stroke during hospitalization. Eleven had acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and 3 had acute hemorrhagic stroke. Six patients (43%) presented to the hospital with acute stroke symptoms and were found to have SARS-CoV-2. Compared to patients who presented with AIS, more patients with AIS during hospitalization were male, of older age, had pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, were severely ill, and had high inflammatory and thrombotic markers (including C reactive protein, D dimer, ferritin, and fibrinogen). Among all patients, hospital mortality was high (50%) and the majority of patients who were discharged had poor neurological outcome. CONCLUSIONS: A distinction should be made between patients who present with acute stroke with concurrent SARS-CoV-2 infection and those who develop stroke as a complication of severe COVID-19. It is likely that a subset of stroke patients will incidentally test positive for the virus given the widespread pandemic.

Surgical infective endocarditis and concurrent splenic abscess requiring splenectomy: a case series and review of the literature.

Splenic abscess is an uncommon but serious complication of infective endocarditis (IE). The timing of surgical management of splenic abscess can be challenging when valve surgery is required. The American Heart Association (AHA) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) currently recommends splenectomy before valve replacement due to fear of reinfection of the heart valve; however, published data to support this recommendation are limited. In this series, we report outcomes for 5 patients with IE and splenic abscess who underwent valve replacement first, followed by splenectomy at a median of 19 days (range: 10-77 days) after valve surgery, with no recurrent infection of the new valve. Our experience and review of the available literature provide reassurance for splenectomy after valve surgery for IE.