Nutritional Assessment in Patients after Gastric Electrical Stimulation (GES).

BACKGROUND: Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) is used for patients with drug-refractory gastroparesis (Gp) symptoms. Approximately two-thirds of patients with Gp symptoms are either overweight or obese. We aimed to assess symptoms and nutritional status pre-GES and post-GES placement in a large sample of drug-refractory Gp patients. METHODS: We conducted a chart review of 282 patients with drug-refractory Gp who received temporary followed by permanent GES at an academic medical center. Gastrointestinal symptoms were collected by a traditional standardized PRO (0-4, 0 being asymptomatic and 4 being worst symptoms), baseline nutritional status by BMI plus subjective global assessment (SGA score A, B, C, for mild, moderate, and severe nutritional deficits), ability to tolerate diet, enteral tube access, and parenteral therapy were assessed at baseline and after permanent GES placement. RESULTS: Comparing baseline with permanent, GES was found to significantly improve upper GI symptoms in all quartiles. Of the 282 patients with baseline body mass index (BMI) information, 112 (40%) patients were severely malnourished at baseline, of which 36 (32%) patients' nutritional status improved after GES. Among all patients, 76 (68%) patients' nutritional status remained unchanged. Many patients with high BMI were malnourished by SGA. CONCLUSION: We conclude that symptomatic patients of different BMIs showed improvement in their GI symptoms irrespective of baseline nutritional status. Severely malnourished patients were found to have an improvement in their nutritional status after GES therapy. We conclude that BMI, even if high, is not by itself a contraindication for GES therapy for symptomatic patients.

A Case of Trauma-Induced Arterial Thrombosis Mimicking Vasculitis.

Vasculitis mimickers are structural or pathologic entities that resemble the vasculitis clinical presentation and/or diagnostic findings. Their presence can be a conundrum, and physicians require careful assessment and adequate knowledge physicians when considering a diagnosis of vasculitis. Although they are considered mimickers, the therapeutic approach for most of them differs widely from that of vasculitis as high-dose steroids and potent immunosuppressive regimens are usually indicated in the latter. In fact, steroid therapy is contraindicated and is considered harmful in some of these mimickers (e.g. segmental arterial mediolysis). Therefore, it is important to distinguish them from vasculitis to prevent complications from immunosuppressive therapy. Hereby, we present a challenging case of a 64-year-old man who presented with acute gangrenous changes on his right fingers due to arterial thrombus after trauma resembling vasculitis.

A Rare Cause of Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction: Gastrointestinal Amyloid.

Amyloidosis is characterized by extracellular deposition of the amyloid protein. It can affect multiple organ systems but it most commonly affects the heart, kidney and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It can occur sporadically or in association with other conditions like multiple myeloma, chronic inflammatory diseases, infections etc. Its involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is rare and diffuse. It has variable manifestations in GI tract from involving the stomach to the large bowel including liver. We present a case of 55 year old Caucasian male with recent diagnosis of multiple myeloma who presented with recurrent episodes of small bowel obstruction which was later found to be caused by amyloid deposition.

When Adenocarcinoma Went Hand in Hand with Neuroendocrine Tumor: A Rare Case of Adenocarcinoma Synchronous with Neuroendocrine Tumor in Ampulla of Vater.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of gastrointestinal tract are rare entities. Their presence as synchronous lesions with adenocarcinoma has rarely been described in the literature. Cases of synchronous lesions of adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine component have been described in the colon in the past. However, synchronous presence in the ampulla of Vater is quite uncommon. In the duodenum, NETs constitute 5.7 to 7.9% of the neuroendocrine neoplasms of the gastroenteropancreatic tract. We present a case of 65-year-old male who presented with abdominal symptoms and weight loss, was found to have adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater on biopsy via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), for which he underwent Whipple's surgery and was found to have neuroendocrine component along with adenocarcinoma postoperatively on histology.

Eosinophilic esophagitis presenting with spontaneous esophageal rupture: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic esophagitis, once considered a rare disorder, has been increasingly recognized as a leading cause of dysphagia and food impaction in children and adults over the last few decades. It predominantly occurs in young men with a history of atopy. Dysphagia and food impaction are the most common presentations. However, rarely, spontaneous perforation (Boerhaave's syndrome) may occur in association with eosinophilic esophagitis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 40-year-old white woman with known history of eosinophilic esophagitis, who was non-compliant with treatment, presented with chest pain and developed acute spontaneous transmural esophageal perforation while eating a snack. Surgical repair was required. CONCLUSION: In a relatively young patient who presents with spontaneous esophageal perforation, eosinophilic esophagitis should always be ruled out as subsequent treatment may prevent recurrent perforation.

A Case of Recurrent Thrombotic Microangiopathy Caused by Hypertensive Urgency.

A 26-year-old man presented to the emergency room with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting for four days. His medical history was significant for hypertension and end-stage renal disease managed with hemodialysis. He had been noncompliant with the antihypertensive regimen which included nifedipine, hydralazine, and spironolactone. At presentation, his blood pressure was 231/123 mmHg. Laboratory workup showed white blood count 17.3 × 109/L (normal range: 4.5 to 11.0 × 109/L), hemoglobin 7.8 gm/dL (normal range: 13.5 to 17.5 g/dL), platelet count 46 × 109/L (normal range: 150 to 400 × 109/L), reticulocyte count 7.8%, total bilirubin 1 mg/dL (normal range: 0.1 to 1.2 mg/dL), lactate dehydrogenase 1,235 U/L (normal range: 140 to 280 U/L), haptoglobin < 10 mg/dL, and a direct Coomb's test was negative. Numerous schistocytes were identified on the peripheral blood smear. The patient was diagnosed with thrombotic microangiopathy secondary to severe hypertension and was started on intravenous nicardipine. With appropriate blood pressure control, hematological parameters improved with normalization of the platelet count within 10 days. Notably, the patient had one similar episode of hypertension-induced thrombotic microangiopathy within a period of the last three months and ADAMTS-13 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motif 13) activity was normal on his previous admission.

Survival Analysis of Cancer Patients of Differing Payer Type in South West Virginia, Between 2000 and 2013.

Introduction The effect of insurance coverage on the health of at-risk populations is poorly understood in the Appalachian region of the United States. The goal of this study is to examine how different types of insurance coverage (Private Insurance, Medicare under 65, Medicare 65 or over, Medicaid and Self Pay) may influence cancer survival over time. This study analyzes colon, bladder, as well as combines anal, rectal, and esophageal cancers. Methods We systematically analyzed all West Virginia Cancer Registry patients between the years of 2000 and 2013 who was diagnosed with colon, bladder, anal, rectal, and esophageal cancers. Separate analysis examined colon (n = 927), bladder (n = 269), and combined anal, rectum, and esophageal cancers (n = 398). Cox proportional hazards models investigated the effect of insurance types on survival while controlling for age, sex, tobacco use, alcohol use, and cancer stage. Results Overall, tobacco use marginally significantly decreased colon cancer survival. Tobacco use had a suggestive relationship at hazards ratio at 1.150, 95% confidence interval: 0.9990-1.235, p = 0.052. The type of payer group did not alter survival. Older individuals tend to have a lower survival rate compared to those that are younger at the time of diagnosis. Also, late-stage cancer faced lower survival compared to those with early-stage cancer. Other results within stage groups corresponded to existing literature. Conclusion For the three differing cancer groupings, there was no significant survival difference for patients by insurance type. The effect of tobacco usage on colon cancer survival merits further research. The study design could be improved by considering more risk factors such as patient comorbidities that might affect patient care and survival.

Mitotane-induced dyspnoea: an unusual side effect.

Mitotane is a cytostatic antineoplastic agent that is used in the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma and Cushing's syndrome. The commonly reported side effects associated with mitotane are anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, decreased memory, rash, gynaecomastia, arthralgias and leucopenia. We present a case of a 68-year-old female who developed gradual dyspnoea concurrent with the use of mitotane for the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge and literate review, this is the first reported case of dyspnoea associated with the use of this medication. The purpose of this case report is to raise awareness about this uncommon adverse effect of mitotane that may have gone unrecognised on postmarketing surveillance because of under-reporting, lack of case follow-up or other comorbidities masking shortness of breath.

Varicella zoster meningitis: an atypical case of zoster reactivation in immunocompetent young adult.

Varicella virus is a neurotropic virus that can reactivate later in life to cause zoster or shingles. Typically, it affects elderly, immunocompromised population. We report an unusual case of an immunocompetent young adult presenting with occipital headache and zoster rash, without preherpetic and postherpetic neuralgia, who was diagnosed with varicella meningitis on Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). He was treated with intravenous acyclovir and later discharged on famciclovir. Diagnosis of varicella meningitis is difficult in the absence of typical features of zoster rash and requires high index of suspicion. Rapid diagnostic tests including varicella PCR and antithecal antibody testing can help in the confirmation of varicella zoster meningitis.

The Impact of the Drug Epidemic on the Incidence of Sepsis in West Virginia.

Introduction Drug abuse and overdoses are on the rise in West Virginia. Multiple socioeconomic and prescription-prescribing practices influenced this shift. The shifting burden of intravenous drug use to more rural areas has created unique challenges for patient access (medical attention, addiction education, rehabilitation), as well as created an avalanche of additional costs for hospital networks. Methods We analyzed sepsis cases from 2006 to 2015 to investigate whether different types of drug use have increased the odds of developing sepsis as compared to other forms of drug use. To investigate this aspect, the authors examined this relationship by using a logistical regression and a time series analysis of the total cases of drug use and infections. Results The initial analysis investigated the association between drug use and the number of sepsis cases at Charleston Area Medical Center from 2006 to 2015 using a time series analysis. Results suggest that there are similar relationships between sepsis and sedative usage (p=0.016) and sepsis by mixed/other drug (p= 0.020) use. For logistic regression (n=2284), the infection models of sepsis/skin, endocarditis/skin infection, and osteomyelitis/skin infection showed several exposures significantly increased the risk of different infections. A drug user with a positive urine test for opiates is 80.8 percent more likely to develop sepsis as compared to skin infections (p=0.001). The use of sedatives also significantly increased the odds of developing sepsis by 83.2 percent (p=0.002). Conclusion Sepsis left untreated will result in a high mortality rate. As illicit drug use increases, sepsis cases will increase. Further research is needed to understand the continued relationship between drug use and the incidence of sepsis. Based on the current evidence, sepsis appears to be slightly affected by drug use and seems to be influenced by sedatives and opiates but only at a marginal level.