Relationship Between Marijuana Use and Hospitalization for Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND:  Recreational marijuana use is rising, especially among young adults. The cardiovascular (CVD) effect of marijuana remains mostly unknown. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 14,490 patients admitted to our hospital between 2012 and 2014 who had urine toxicology done for various reasons. Patients with a primary diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were queried in both the marijuana-positive group (n = 59) and the marijuana-negative group (n = 195). The risks of having ACS were compared in both groups. RESULTS: There was no difference in the risk of having ACS between the two groups in the population < 54 years of age (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.67-1.20, p = 0.48). However, there was a significant difference in the risk of having ACS in the 18-36 age group (OR: 2.84, 95% CI: 1.14-7.07, p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis performed to adjust for the potential confounding effects of smoking and cocaine use showed that marijuana use (OR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.68-1.25, p = 0.65) did not increase the likelihood of ACS for patients ≤ 54 years or for those in the 37-54 age group (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.79-1.53, p = 0.50). However, among the 18-36 age bracket, marijuana use was independently associated with a higher risk of ACS (OR: 5.24, 95% CI: 1.84-16.93, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: In younger patients (age 18-36 years), marijuana use is independently associated with a five-fold higher risk of ACS.

IgG4-Related Disease Presenting as Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis.

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a multi-organ, immune-mediated inflammatory condition of unknown etiology characterized by infiltration of tissues by IgG4 producing plasma cells. IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) can ideally affect any organs, but the involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) is a rare entity. We present a case of a 67-year-old male who presented with diplopia with imaging showing hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HPM) and was diagnosed with IgG4-RD of the CNS based on histopathology report.

Evaluation of the combined effect of factors influencing bowel preparation and adenoma detection rates in patients undergoing colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Colonoscopy is a commonly used modality for screening and surveillance of colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, it is essential to have adequate bowel preparation (prep) for the procedure which depends on type of bowel regimens, diet before colonoscopy and timing of the procedure. AIMS: The purpose of this study is to analyse the effect of multiple factors on adenoma detection rate (ADR) and prep quality of colonoscopy. This is the also the first study determining outcomes based on various combinations of diet, timing of the procedure and bowel prep regimens. METHODS: This is a retrospective single-centre observational study. Data about diet before procedure, bowel prepprep regimen and timing of the procedure was collected for patients coming for screening colonoscopy. RESULTS: Patients with split prep had higher good prep rates (73.8% vs 56.2%) and higher ADRs (34.2 % vs 29.9%) as compared with non-split prep. The good prep quality (65.8% vs 62.1%) and ADRs (31.9% vs 31.5%) were comparable in patients who received clear liquid diet as compared with low residue diet. The good results of bowel prep were obtained with split prep with either clear liquids or low residue diet irrespective of the timing of procedure. The poor prep was noticed in patients who underwent procedure in afternoon, with a low restrictive diet and non-split bowel regimen. CONCLUSIONS: The current study adds to our knowledge about the combined effect of multiple variables affecting the bowel prep quality and ADR. It is imperative to opt for the best combination required for colonoscopy, as this will influence the effectiveness of colonoscopies regarding timely cancer detection and prevention.

Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage without Extrapulmonary Manifestations: A Rare Presentation of Lupus.

BACKGROUND Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a life-threatening disorder resulting in hemorrhage into the lungs due to a variety of reasons. The underlying etiology for DAH is broadly divided into immune and non-immune mediated causes. Rheumatological disorders account for a small number of cases. Although hemoptysis is one of the alarming symptoms of DAH, it is absent in a third of the cases. Diagnosis often requires a conglomerate of history, clinical, and laboratory investigation and radiological studies. CASE REPORT We describe a case of a 31-year-old female who had an atypical presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with primary lung involvement/DAH and no other organ involvement. CONCLUSIONS This case report illustrates the importance of awareness and early recognition of the complication that can prevent mortality.

Cystic Lymphangioma of the Colon: Endoscopic Removal beyond the Frontiers of Size.

Cystic lymphangiomas are benign colonic neoplasms arising from the submucosa. Traditionally, endoscopic resection has been described for smaller lesions, while surgery is reserved for larger symptomatic lesions. We present a case of a 69-year-old asymptomatic individual noted to have a cystic lymphangioma of the colon measuring 5 cm, which was successfully removed with endoloop endoscopic resection without any complications.

Rare Presentation of Gastroesophageal Carcinoma with Rectal Metastasis: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Gastroesophageal cancers, previously considered rare, are rapidly increasing worldwide. We present here a unique case of gastroesophageal carcinoma with metastasis to the rectum. CASE REPORT A 60-year-old female patient presented with constipation, bloating, and weight loss of 4-month duration. She had undergone sleeve gastrectomy 6 years before. Endoscopies performed revealed a friable-looking mucosa in the lower esophagus and a polypoid rectal mass. Histopathological examination from both the esophageal and rectal lesions revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma cells. Immunohistochemistry stain from both specimens was positive for CK7 supporting the gastric site primary with metastasis to the rectum. Further evaluation also revealed metastasis to bone and malignant pleural effusion. Chemotherapy with palliative intent was initiated. CONCLUSIONS Colorectal metastasis is commonly seen from cancers of the breast, stomach, melanoma, kidney, prostate, and ovaries. However, colorectal metastasis from gastroesophageal cancer has never been reported in the medical literature. Diagnosis relies on histopathologic examination and immunohistochemical staining of the tumor. Treatment depends on the tumor stage. Tumors with widespread metastatic disease are candidates for palliative chemotherapy.