Chronic Cavitary Pulmonary Histoplasmosis in an Immunocompetent Patient.

Histoplasma capsulatum is a fungal organism that causes systemic histoplasmosis. It is commonly asymptomatic in healthy immunocompetent individuals. The clinical symptoms of chronic cavitary histoplasmosis are typically seen in the immunodeficient population, particularly in smokers with pre-existing structural lung disease. We report a case of chronic cavitary histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patient from an endemic area without pre-existing structural lung pathology. She presented complaining of right hypochondrial pain and had no history of respiratory symptoms nor history suggestive of immunosuppression, tuberculosis, or recent travel. CT scan revealed a cavitary lung lesion and a hilar mediastinal mass. Biopsies obtained by bronchoscopy revealed signs of necrosis, granulomas, and the presence of fungal organisms consistent with histoplasmosis. Histoplasma antibodies by complement fixation for yeast antibodies test were positive establishing the diagnosis of chronic cavitary pulmonary histoplasmosis (CCPH). She was then started on itraconazole with good tolerance. On follow-up three months later, a chest CT done along with measurement of inflammatory markers and liver enzymes demonstrated complete clinical recovery. This case emphasizes the importance of expanding our current understanding of the clinical presentation and manifestations of histoplasmosis beyond the conventional assumption that severe disease only affects immunocompromised individuals.

Massive hemoptysis as a sole presentation of left atrial myxoma.

Diagnosis of myxoma can be difficult given its variable presentation and while adopting common sense in diagnosing this condition, physicians should also be aware of atypical presentations. Herein we present a 47-year-old heavy smoker presented with massive blood-stained expectoration. He was later diagnosed with cardiac myxoma and managed accordingly.

The Impact of Information Sources on COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among University Students: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

COVID-19 is an emerging respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus accompanied by a tsunami of misinformation and fake news. This can weaken the public health responses by affecting the COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the public. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was designed during the early stage of the pandemic to evaluate the KAP of Palestinian university students and their commonly used information sources. We found that the most trusted information source among students was the World Health Organization (WHO), followed by the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) briefings and healthcare workers, whereas social media was the most frequently used source of information. The participants exhibited a high level of COVID-19-related knowledge, having an average score of 8.65 (range: 0-10). In total, 76% avoided going to crowded places, and only 33% wore a mask while being outdoors. The vast majority (93%) checked the accuracy of COVID-19-related information before publishing it, 56% used the WHO and MoH briefings for fact-checking, and only 8% relied on healthcare workers. This was particularly the case for those who lived in refugee camps. This study provides an insight into the information sources used by Palestinian university students, the sources they trust, and the information formats they prefer. These results may help public health authorities to locate the information sources through which university students should be targeted. Efforts should be made to recommend healthcare workers as credible information sources. In this way, they will be able to prevent the spread of misleading information and provide high-quality information, especially within unconventional settings such as refugee camps.

Atypical CML with TET2 mutation, associated with NRAS and KRAS: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (BCR-ABL1 negative) is a rare myeloid neoplasm with poor prognosis and no current standard of treatment. It features both myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative characteristics with little data regarding mutations playing a role in the disease. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present a case of a 55-year-old female complaining of fever, cough, general weakness and night sweats. Examinations showed leukocytosis with a left shift, thrombocytopenia, hypercellular bone marrow with marked granulocytic hyperplasia and a negative BCR-ABL. After ruling out myelodysplastic and other myeloproliferative diseases the patient was finally diagnosed as aCML according to the WHO criteria with mutations in the TET2 gene, the NRAS gene and in the KRAS gene. The patient was started on Hydroxyurea for a duration of 9 months with an excellent initial response leading to normalization of her platelets and WBCs. However, in the last month she stopped responding to therapy and her state of health started declining once again. CONCLUSION: Atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (BCR-ABL1 negative with presence of TET2 gene mutation) is an unusual finding in myeloid neoplasms, have unknown prognosis and no current standard of treatment. It features both myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative characteristics with little data regarding mutations playing a role in the disease.