Post-COVID-19 fatigue as a major health problem: a cross-sectional study from Missouri, USA.

BACKGROUND: Fatigue following acute viral illnesses is a major issue that complicates the clinical course of several epidemic and non-epidemic viral infections. There is a noticeably higher trend of patients with symptoms that persist after initial recovery from acute COVID-19. This study seeks to obtain more data about the prevalence of post-COVID-19 fatigue and the factors associated with higher fatigue frequency among patients who had COVID-19. METHODS: A single center cross-sectional study was performed between May 2021 and January 2022 at University Health, Kansas City, Missouri, USA. The Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) was utilized to measure post-COVID-19 fatigue. Descriptive and comparative statistics were used to describe clinical and sociodemographic features of patients. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), the chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test were used to examine the statistical association between the FAS score and other clinical and sociodemographic factors. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-seven patients who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and diagnosed at University Health were enrolled in our study. Overall, 72% of patients (n = 113) were female. The mean ± standard deviation of the FAS score was 21.2 ± 9.0. The prevalence of post-COVID-19 fatigue among our studied sample was 43.3%. The findings of this study suggest that female patients have a significantly higher fatigue score compared with male patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Post-COVID-19 fatigue is a major issue following the initial acute illness with COVID-19, with a prevalence of 43.3%. We recommend implementing standardized measures to screen for post-COVID-19 fatigue, especially among female patients.

Incarcerated Umbilical Hernia Following Therapeutic Paracentesis in a Cirrhotic Patient.

Umbilical hernia is a relatively common complication developing in patients with liver cirrhosis with recurrent ascites. Abdominal paracentesis is considered the mainstay procedure to manage refractory ascites and to diagnose spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Incarceration of umbilical hernia is a rare but serious adverse event following therapeutic paracentesis that requires prompt management. We describe a case of an incarcerated umbilical hernia following paracentesis requiring surgical repair in a cirrhotic patient.

Use of Laboratory Tests and Their Prognostic Value in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not merely a lung disease as the name indicates. Patients with COPD experience associated complications with systemic inflammation, heart strain, muscle wasting, poor functional performance, and psychological issues. An assessment of these patients based only on lung function tests or functional capacity would be inadequate. Many studies have reported the significance and prognostic value of several laboratory tests. Troponin, C-reactive protein (CRP), hemoglobin, and carbon dioxide are older tests but compared with the newly developed tests, they are relatively inexpensive to measure and widely available. This article will review laboratory tests used for COPD and discuss their prognostic value. The laboratory tests that can identify high-risk patients will be discussed. We will explore the role of these tests in clinical practice.

A Case Report of Life-Threatening Hemopneumothorax as a Result of Spinal Manipulation Performed by Chiropractor.

Chiropractic is a very popular alternative medicine practice in the United States. Despite that, this practice has been associated with several complications raising concerns for its safety. We report the case of an otherwise healthy 36-years-old, tall and thin male who presented with sudden onset shortness of breath associated with chest pain two days after chiropractic spinal manipulation. Chest imaging revealed left-sided hemopneumothorax required treatment with left-sided chest tube placement. Patients with a high risk of developing primary or secondary pneumothorax should consider avoiding chiropractic chest or spinal manipulations due to possible complications.

A Rare Case of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in a Young Healthy Male Without Asbestos Exposure.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor that arises from mesothelial cells of pleural cavity. The main risk factor for MPM is asbestos exposure with most cases discovered in elderly males after a long latency period. However, here we report a rare case of MPM diagnosed in a healthy young male patient without significant asbestos exposure. We report the case of an otherwise healthy 47-year-old male who presented with one week of exertional dyspnea and chest pain. Chest X-ray showed unilateral large pleural effusion. Chest CT scan revealed confluent right hilar mass and pleural thickening. Pleural fluid analysis showed exudative features. Cytology was negative for malignant cells. Core tissue biopsy showed features of epithelioid mesothelioma. Although most cases of MPM have been reported in elderly male patients with significant asbestos exposure, more research is needed to explain the pathogenesis of MPM in young patients without asbestos exposure.

Reactivation cytomegalovirus leading to acute myocardial infarction-A first reported case in an immunocompetent patient.

Reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in immunocompetent patients may lead to increase morbidity and mortality. A clinical suspicion allows timely diagnosis, treatment, and favorable outcome. In a subject without apparent risk factors for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), CMV can be a possibility.

A Case Report of Acquired Factor X Deficiency in a Patient With Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple myeloma is a plasma cell neoplasm characterized by clonal proliferation of immunoglobulin producing terminally differentiated B cells. Classically patients are described to present with bone pain, hypercalcemia, anemia, and/or renal impairment. A less described clinical manifestation related to the myeloma is acquired coagulation abnormalities including paraprotein interfering with the coagulation cascade or exhibiting specific antibody activity. Factor X deficiency is reported in patients with secondary amyloidosis. We describe a patient who presented with bleeding tendency and an abnormal prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times (PT/PTT) due to factor X deficiency. A thorough workup revealed the diagnosis of multiple myeloma with the presence of monoclonal lambda light chain restricted plasma cells with qualifying end-organ damage without evidence of amyloidosis. Prior to the ultimate diagnosis, the patient succumbed to septic shock and acute respiratory distress syndrome due to Streptococcus Pneumonia infection.

Nafcillin-Induced Hepatic Injury: A Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the Western world. While it requires a diagnosis of exclusion, it is exceedingly prevalent in patients taking multiple hepatotoxic agents, the foremost of which are antibiotics, followed by herbal and dietary supplements. Below we will discuss a case of nafcillin-induced liver injury suggested by a thorough work-up and rule-out of other hepatic and biliary pathologies. CASE PRESENTATION:  We report the case of a 66-year-old white male who presented with painless jaundice. Clinical, laboratory and radiographic features demonstrated a cholestatic pattern of liver injury without significant abnormalities in the biliary tract. All workup for viral hepatitis and autoimmune diseases with liver involvement was negative. Liver biopsy showed acute necro-inflammatory changes suggestive of drug-induced liver injury. The patient had received 18 days of IV nafcillin for blood culture positive methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) four weeks prior to his presentation. He showed clinical and laboratory improvement of his liver functions with supportive care only. CONCLUSION: Nafcillin is a safe and effective antibiotic for the treatment of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcal infections. However, physicians and prescribing healthcare professionals should be aware of the rare, but serious side effects, especially one of drug-induced liver injury with emphasis on the need for early cessation of nafcillin if liver function abnormalities develop.

Hypotension: an unusual presentation of vitamin B12 deficiency, with complete recovery following cyanocobalamin therapy.

Vitamin B12 deficiency and its sequelae are well described and reported, especially in vegetarians. However, its association with haemodynamic instability is not well identified. We report a case of a young man, previously healthy, presenting with fever, hypotension requiring vasopressors and pancytopenia. Extensive workup was unrevealing for possible infective, inflammatory or endocrine causes except for vitamin B12 deficiency. Fever and haematological parameters stabilised after adequate supplementation of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12).

Invasive rhinocerebral mucormycosis in a patient with liver cirrhosis leading to fatal massive stroke.

Immunocompromised status is associated with invasive fungal infections including mucormycosis. These infections are challenging to treat and associated with high overall mortality. Here we report a fatal case of invasive mucormycosis in a cirrhotic, diabetic patient. Despite the swift diagnosis and management; the fungal invasion of the right internal carotid artery lead to massive ischemic stroke. Timely diagnosis and management is crucial for management but it seems not always enough and new approaches for treatment must be sought.