Chest
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The association between treatment outcome and the mortality of patients with Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD) with cavitary lesions is unclear. This article assessed the impact of culture conversion on mortality in patients with cavitary MAC-PD. ⋯ The mortality rate of patients with cavitary MAC-PD who did not achieve culture conversion was significantly higher than that of those with culture conversion.
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Immersion pulmonary edema (IPE) is a form of hemodynamic edema likely involving individual susceptibility. ⋯ Changes in RV systolic function induced by immersion (especially with the addition of negative static lung load) vary among divers based on the history of IPE. Analyzing ventricular contractility during immersion, particularly RVGLS, could help to identify individual susceptibility in divers. These findings provide insights for the development of preventive strategies.
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Chylothorax, which accounts for 1% to 3% of pleural effusions, typically results from either surgery (traumatic) or underlying malignancy (nontraumatic). Less common causes of nontraumatic chylothorax are numerous and include congenital lymphatic abnormalities, connective tissue diseases, cirrhosis, and infection, among others.1 We describe what appears to be the first reported case of chylothorax caused by chylous ascites in Crohn disease. This case highlights the importance of using diagnostic evidence to link new symptoms to preexisting diseases whenever possible, as well as the systemic nature of Crohn disease.
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Relatives of patients who are critically ill who die are at high risk for symptoms of complicated grief (CG) with potential individual and social burdens. The prevalence and predictors of CG, and in particular the involvement of individual facets of relatives' coping strategies, are not well understood. ⋯ Almost all relatives of deceased patients who are critically ill exhibit symptoms of CG. Relatives' functional and dysfunctional coping strategies may be associated with their CG symptoms. Knowledge of individual relatives' coping strategies may be helpful in supporting them. Adequate supportive interventions should be developed.