Development of IgE-mediated food allergies in children with history of food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis: a series of five cases.

Food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) is a non-IgE-mediated allergic condition that presents with hematochezia in otherwise healthy infants. It is most commonly induced by cow's milk protein via breast milk or formula. The prognosis for FPIAP is generally considered favorable with most infants achieving symptomatic resolution after diet modification. Most infants go on to tolerate the offending foods by 1-3 years of age. Over 8 years at our institution, five patients were identified and noted to have FPIAP to cow's milk during infancy with subsequent development of IgE-mediated allergic reaction to cow's milk and other foods. All five cases developed other atopic disorders (atopic dermatitis in four cases). IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy has persisted beyond the preschool years in at least two patients (currently 8 and 16 years old). For three of the patients, the IgE-mediated reaction to cow's milk was severe with development of anaphylaxis or angioedema. In addition, three patients experienced anaphylaxis or angioedema to allergens other than milk. While FPIAP is a non-IgE-mediated process traditionally thought not to progress past the first year of life, some infants with FPIAP develop severe, persistent IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed clinical description of such patients.

Pinch Grafting: A Systematic Review of Modern Perspectives and Applications in Dermatologic Surgery and Wound Healing.

BACKGROUND: Pinch grafting has experienced a resurgence in interest in recent years, stemming from its simplicity, safety, and potential in restoring tissue integrity. While historically employed for chronic nonhealing wounds, pinch grafts have shown promise following surgical procedures, particularly those involving the lower extremities. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the literature and present an updated overview of the current applications of pinch grafting. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. In collaboration with a medical reference librarian, the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies reporting on the use of pinch grafting from 2000 onward. The references of each included article were also screened. RESULTS: Ten articles met final inclusion criteria. In total, 300 patients underwent pinch grafting for treatment of skin ulceration, while an additional 35 cases were performed as an alternative to primary closure following skin cancer resection. Overall, pinch grafting was safe and well tolerated, with minimal adverse outcomes reported. CONCLUSION: Pinch grafting is a safe, straightforward, and effective technique to promote the healing of chronic wounds. While the procedure shows early promise in emerging applications within dermatologic surgery, only about 10% of the reported cases involved this indication, reflecting a need for further research in this area.

Hidradenocarcinoma: A Case Series From the Scripps Clinic With a Systematic Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenocarcinoma (HAC) is a rare adnexal carcinoma. To the best of the authors' knowledge, there are no published systematic reviews on HAC. OBJECTIVE: To incorporate a case series from the authors' institution and systematically integrate reported information to provide a reference tool for optimization of diagnosis and management. METHODS: A comprehensive MEDLINE search was conducted from database inception to 2021 using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. This yielded 225 studies with 165 cases of HAC. References of included articles were also searched. In addition, 9 patients with HAC were identified from the authors' institution over the past 10 years. RESULTS: The mean age of HAC presentation is 60 years with a slight male predilection (60%). The head and neck is the most commonly affected region. Over 36% of cases either presented with metastatic disease or went on to metastasize. The most common treatment type was wide local excision, followed by Mohs micrographic surgery. CONCLUSION: Early detection with accurate histologic interpretation is prudent in all cases of HAC. Wide local excision is the current first-line treatment. However, Mohs micrographic surgery offers complete marginal analysis with evidence of reduced risk of metastasis and better outcomes compared with wide local excision. Currently, there are no National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for the treatment of HAC, and consensus guidelines are limited to tumor and nodal metastasis staging provided by the American Joint Committee on Cancer, eighth edition. Thus, this case series and systematic review integrates important aspects of diagnosis, workup, and management of HAC.

Liposomal and Nonliposomal Bupivacaine for Mohs Surgery: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Lidocaine is the most commonly used local anesthetic for Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), but given its limited half-life, postoperative pain remains a significant concern for patients. Bupivacaine is used in various surgical subspecialty procedures and has demonstrated improved pain control compared with lidocaine. However, its role in MMS is insufficiently explored. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the current literature for reports on use of bupivacaine, traditional nonliposomal and newer liposomal formulations, for MMS. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. The MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE databases were queried for articles presenting original data on the use of bupivacaine for MMS. RESULTS: Of 483 potentially relevant articles, 3 studies met final inclusion criteria, capturing a total of 253 patients involved in primary investigations comparing bupivacaine to traditional local anesthesia for MMS. Bupivacaine was well-tolerated and associated with comparable or modestly reduced intraoperative and postoperative pain and opioid use. CONCLUSION: Bupivacaine may have a role in prolonging intraoperative anesthesia, reducing acute postoperative pain, and reducing postoperative opioid use after MMS. However, large, prospective studies are needed to solidify the generalizability and clinical utility of these findings.

Experimental Analysis of the Efficiency and Usability of Tylke Versus Magill Forceps.

INTRODUCTION: The procedure of nasotracheal intubation (NI) has long been performed utilizing the Magill forceps as developed by Sir Ivan Magill in the 1920s. While used for nearly a century, several serious patient safety concerns remain including torn tube cuffs, vocal cord trauma, and inefficient tube placement. The Tylke forceps have been developed as a modification to the largely unchanged form of Magill forceps. METHODS: In the present investigation we compared the efficacy, number of clasps, and muscle activation involved in NI using the Tylke forceps versus the Magill forceps in previously untrained individuals. RESULTS: Tylke forceps showed faster successful NI over the standard Magill forceps at an average intubation time of 6.54s vs. 13.73s, respectively. Tylke forceps also had fewer clasps per intubation over the Magill. The trapezius, deltoid, and brachioradialis muscle activation was also compared in Tylke vs Magill forceps intubation trials. Tylke forceps required less lower muscle activation in the brachioradialis and trapezius over the Magill forceps with Tylke forceps resulting in higher deltoid muscle activation. CONCLUSION: Tylke forceps were more efficacious and reduced the number of clasps over the Magill forceps when used in successful NI with different muscle activation patterns.

Effects of Premedication With Midazolam on Recovery and Discharge Times After Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy.

Background Midazolam is commonly used preoperatively for anxiety. Adverse effects data in pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A) is limited. Aims We hypothesized that preoperative midazolam increases the time to emergence from anesthesia and postoperative discharge. Secondary objectives assessed if patients receiving midazolam experienced increased side effects or complications from treatment. Methods This study was a retrospective chart review of patients undergoing T&A from July 2014 to December 2015. Midazolam receiving patients (midazolam group: MG) were compared to patients who did not (non-midazolam group: NMG). Multivariable analyses were performed and adjusted for predefined potential cofounder variables. Results Emergence and discharge times were 5.2 minutes (95% CI [-7.1, 17.4]; p=0.41) and 10.1 minutes (95% CI [-6.7, 26.8]; p=0.24) longer in MG. These results were not statistically significant. Comparing by OSA status, there was no statistical difference in emergence and discharge times between mild, moderate and severe OSA groups or between MG and NMG within each OSA group. Emergence and discharge times in moderate OSA was 6.1 minutes (95% CI [-17.6, 29.8]; p=0.61) and 18.8 minutes (95% CI [-16.4, 53.9]; p=0.29) longer than mild OSA, and in the severe OSA group, 2.6 minutes (95% CI [-19.9, 25.1]; p=0.82) shorter and 2.8 minutes (95% CI [-30.3, 35.9]; p=0.87) longer. The incidence of postoperative complications was comparable between MG and NMG groups. Conclusions Premedication with midazolam was not associated with prolonged emergence or discharge time or higher incidence of complications after anesthesia for T&A in patients with OSA.

Review of the Current State of Urine Drug Testing in Chronic Pain: Still Effective as a Clinical Tool and Curbing Abuse, or an Arcane Test?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Therapeutic use, misuse, abuse, and diversion of controlled substances in managing chronic non-cancer pain remain a major concern for physicians, the government, payers, and patients. The challenge remains finding effective diagnostic tools that can be clinically validated to eliminate or substantially reduce the abuse of controlled prescription drugs, while still assuring the proper treatment of those patients in pain. Urine drug testing still remains an important means of adherence monitoring, but questions arise as to its relevance and effectiveness. This review examines the role of UDT, determines its utility in current clinical practice, and investigates its relevance in current chronic pain management. RECENT FINDINGS: A review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Literature was searched from year 2000 to present examining the relevance and role of UDT in monitoring chronic opioid therapy along with reliability and accuracy, appropriate use, overuse, misuse, and abuse. There are only a limited number of reviews and investigations on UDT, despite the fact that clinicians who prescribe controlled medications for chronic states commonly are expected to utilize UDT. Therefore, despite highly prevalent use, there is a limited publication base from which to draw in this present study. Regardless of experience or training background, physicians and healthcare providers can much more adequately assess opioid therapy with the aid of UDT, which often requires confirmatory testing by a laboratory for clinical and therapeutic prescribing decisions. It has become a strongly recommended aspect of pain care with controlled substances locally, regionally, and nationally. Incorporating UDT for all patients in whom chronic opioid therapy is undertaken is consistent with state and national guidelines and best practice strategies. Practice standards vary as to the frequency of UDT locally, regionally, and nationally, however.

Preoperative, Multidisciplinary Clinical Optimization of Patients with Severely Depressed Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Who Are Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains a routine operation despite major advancements in angioplastic procedures. Around 200,000 CABG procedures are performed annually in the U.S. Patients who are not candidates for angioplasty intervention often have advanced coronary disease and comorbidities that raise the risk of heart failure with decreased ejection fraction to around 25%. Over the years, significant developments in various preoperative interventions have occurred; in this paper, we suggest a multidisciplinary preoperative algorithm that can be included in a regularly scheduled multidisciplinary care plan.

Management of Acute and Chronic Pain Associated With Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Comprehensive Review of Pharmacologic and Therapeutic Considerations in Clinical Practice.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic, inflammatory, recurrent cutaneous disorder of the hair follicles, is debilitating and has substantial morbidity. Hidradenitis suppurativa-related pain has a profound effect on patient quality of life, yet at present, there are no established pain management algorithms. This comprehensive review provides an update on current treatment of HS-associated pain, including a summary of existing literature surrounding pharmacologic treatments of acute, perioperative, and chronic pain. Additionally, the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical features of the disease are summarized.

Management of Cutaneous Calciphylaxis.

Calciphylaxis is a deadly, painful disease with a 1-year mortality of up to 50%. The disease is commonly associated with patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), but it can manifest in non-uremic patients as well. In patients who are undergoing dialysis, the incidence of calciphylaxis can range from 0.04% to 4%. The progressive arterial calcification seen in calciphylaxis can affect multiple body organs, including the skin, brain, lungs, and muscle. In cutaneous calciphylaxis, painful and non-healing nodules, plaques, and ulcers may appear, increasing morbidity for patients. Diagnosis can be difficult, and the condition can clinically appear similar to other dermatological diseases, especially in non-uremic patients. Currently, skin biopsy with histological analysis is the most reliable method to help diagnose the condition. In certain cases, the use of medical imaging may be helpful. Treatment of pain in this condition can be difficult and should be multimodal and include wound care as well as modification of risk factors. Analgesic options include opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as well as analgesic options that are targeted for specific patients. There are currently multiple clinical trials underway that are studying targeted therapies for this condition.

Folic Acid Supplementation in Patients with Elevated Homocysteine Levels.

INTRODUCTION: Folic acid is the most important dietary determinant of homocysteine (Hcy). Hcy serves as a critical intermediate in methylation reactions. It is created from methionine and either converted back to methionine or transformed into cysteine. This process is aided through several enzymes and three vitamins, folic acid, B12, and B6. Daily supplementation with 0.5-5.0 mg of folic acid typically lowers plasma Hcy levels by approximately 25%. Hyperhomocysteinemia is a known risk factor for coronary artery disease. In this regard, elevated levels of Hcy have been found in a majority of patients with vascular disease. METHODS: A literature review of folic acid supplementation for various disease states including cardiovascular disease was conducted. This article is based on previously conducted studies and does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. RESULTS: In this review, we discuss the biochemistry of folic acid, Hcy biosynthesis, Hcy and hydrogen sulfide bioavailability, pathogenesis of hyperhomocysteinemia and its role as a risk factor for disease, and treatment studies with folic acid supplementation in disease states. CONCLUSION: Folic acid supplementation should be recommended to any patient who has an elevated Hcy level, and this level should be measured and treated at an early age, since folic acid is easily obtained and may likely reduce vascular disease and other deleterious pathologic processes in high-risk populations.

Platelet Dysfunction Diseases and Conditions: Clinical Implications and Considerations.

INTRODUCTION: Platelet diseases and dysfunction are taught early in medical school to all future physicians. Understanding of the coagulation cascade and hemostatic mechanisms has allowed for targeted pharmacological therapies that have been significantly impactful in clinical practice. Platelets are an early participant in hemostasis physiologically and under pathophysiological states. METHODS: A review of literature involving platelet disfunction. RESULTS: Various presentations of platelet diseases and dysfunction challenge clinicians and require a firm understanding of normal platelet function, drugs that mediate or modulate platelet effectiveness, and nonpharmacologic etiologies of platelet diseases and dysfunction with corresponding best practice treatment approaches. CONCLUSION: This review summarizes normal and abnormal states associated with platelets and treatment strategies.