The Relationship between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is commonly seen in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), although data on the relationship between these conditions are still limited. We aimed to explore whether CKD is related to a higher prevalence of GERD and its complications. National Inpatient Sample data were used in this retrospective analysis, including 7,159,694 patients. Patients who had a diagnosis of GERD with and without CKD were compared with patients without GERD. Complications associated with GERD that were analyzed included Barrett's esophagus and esophageal stricture. Risk factors of GERD were used for variable adjustment analysis. Different stages of CKD were evaluated in patients with and without GERD. Bivariate analyses were performed using the chi-squared test or Fisher exact test (2-tailed) for categorical variables as appropriate to assess the difference. There were significantly different demographic characteristics between GERD patients with and without CKD regarding age, sex, race, and other co-mobilities. Interestingly, a greater prevalence of GERD was seen in CKD patients (23.5%) compared to non-CKD patients (14.8%), and this increased prevalence was consistently seen in all CKD stages. CKD patients also had 1.70 higher odds of risk of having GERD compared with non-CKD after adjustment. The association between different stages of CKD and GERD showed a similar trend. Interestingly, patients with early-stage CKD were found to have a higher prevalence and odds of risk of esophageal stricture and Barrett's esophagus than non-CKD patients. CKD is associated with a high prevalence of GERD and its complications.

Ascending Cholangitis Caused by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Species in a Patient With Cystic Fibrosis.

Ascending cholangitis is a bacterial infection of the extra-hepatic biliary system and presents as a life-threatening systemic condition. Increased bacterial loads and biliary obstruction favor bacterial translocation into the vascular and lymphatic systems. Common organisms isolated are Escherichia Coli, Klebsiella, Enterococcus species, and Enterobacter species. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a rare isolate in ascending cholangitis. We present a case of a 24-year-old patient with cystic fibrosis who presented with epigastric abdominal pain, low-grade fever, jaundice, dark urine, and nausea for two days. Initial workup revealed elevated liver enzymes, hyperbilirubinemia, leukocytosis, and an ultrasound which showed common bile duct dilation to 14 mm with choledocholithiasis. He underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with stone extraction and bile fluid culture. Cultures grew out MRSA and the patient was treated with appropriate antibiotic therapy. The mainstay of therapy for ascending cholangitis is adequate hydration, antibiotics, and biliary decompression. Early recognition of the offending organism is critical in guiding therapy. Current guidelines focus on the empiric treatment of Gram-negative and anaerobic bacteria. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of less common pathogens (such as MRSA), especially in a patient who is decompensating despite antibiotic therapy.

Systematic review of nephrotoxicity of drugs of abuse, 2005-2016.

BACKGROUND: The United States is faced with an unprecedented epidemic of drug abuse. Every year thousands of Americans visit the emergency departments all over the country with illicit drug related complaints. These drugs have been known to be associated with a range of renal pathologies, from reversible acute kidney injuries to debilitating irreversible conditions like renal infarction. So far, no comprehensive study or systematic review has been published that includes the commonly used street drugs and designer drugs with potential nephrotoxic outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of published case reports, case series, and cross sectional studies of nephrotoxicities related to drugs of abuse. Literature review was conducted using PubMed/Medline from January 1, 2005 -December 31, 2016 to search for publications related to drug abuse with a defined renal outcome. Publications which reported renal injury in relation to the use of illicit drugs were selected, specifically those cases with raised creatinine levels, clinically symptomatic patients, for instance those with oliguria and proven renal biopsies. RESULTS: A total of 4798 publications were reviewed during the search process and PRISMA flow chart and Moose protocol regarding systematic reviews were followed. 110 articles were shortlisted for the review. A total of 169 cases from case reports and case series, and 14 case studies were analyzed. Renal manifestations of specific illicit drug abuse were included in this review. CONCLUSION: Based on the evidence presented, a wide range of renal manifestations were found to be associated with drug abuse. If the trend of increasing use of illicit drug use continues, it will put a significant percentage of the population at an elevated risk for poor renal outcomes. This study is limited by the nature of the literature reviewed being primarily case reports and case series.

Dementia Care: Confronting Myths in Clinical Management.

Every day, patients with dementia, their families, and their physicians face the enormous challenges of this pervasive life-changing condition. Seeking help, often grasping at straws, victims, and their care providers are confronted with misinformation and myths when they search the internet or other sources. When Persons with Dementia (PWD) and their caregivers believe and/or act on false information, proper treatment may be delayed, and ultimately damage can be done. In this paper, we review commonly misunderstood issues encountered in caring for PWD. Our goal is to equip Primary Care Practitioners (PCPs) with accurate information to share with patients and families, to improve the outcomes of PWD to the greatest extent possible. While there are innumerable myths about dementia and its causes and treatments, we are going to focus on the most common false claims or misunderstandings which we hear in our Internal Medicine practice at Marshall Health. We offer suggestions for busy practitioners approaching some of the more common issues with patients and families in a clinic setting.