Medicine
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In patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, common drugs may exacerbate symptoms and negatively impact outcomes. However, the role of chronic medications on COVID-19 effects remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that certain chronic pain medications would influence outcomes in patients with COVID-19. ⋯ There is no numerical data presented, so the conclusions cannot be considered solid at this point. Pain medications are likely to influence severity of COVID-19 and patient survival. Identifying those medications that are most closely associated with severe COVID-19 will provide clinicians with valuable data to guide treatment and reduce mortality rates and the long-term sequelae of the disease.
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Pain is a common health problem for hospitalized patients. It is necessary to understand the factors that affect patients' pain to provide individual and complete pain management. This study explored the severity and incidence of pain in hospitalized patients on the admission day, during the hospitalization, and the discharge day, and explored the predictive factors that affect the patient's pain on the discharge day. ⋯ This study found that the incidence of pain on the discharge day of patients was 46.5%. Previous pain level, disease category, emotional distress, gender, age, and length of hospital stay were important factors affecting patient pain on the discharge day. The influencing factors of patient pain should be fully assessed to provide individual and complete pain management, and improve patient quality of life after discharge.
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Isolation of confirmed or suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases is essential but, as symptoms of COVID-19 are non-specific and test results not immediately available, case identification at admission remains challenging. To inform optimization of triage algorithms, patient flow and patient care, we analyzed characteristics of patients admitted to an isolation ward, both severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) positive patients and patients in which initial suspicion was not confirmed after appropriate testing. Data from patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 treated in an isolation unit were analyzed retrospectively. ⋯ A high proportion of patients (59%) triaged to the isolation unit were tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Of these, many suffered from active malignancy (47%) and were immunosuppressed (20%). Non-infectious diseases were diagnosed in 31%, highlighting the need for appropriate patient flow, timely expert medical care including evaluation for differential diagnostics while providing isolation and ruling out of COVID-19 in these patients with complex underlying diseases.
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The main purpose of this study was to investigate current state of constipation for lung cancer (LC) patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. The relationships between social demography, clinical variables, psychological status, and constipation were analyzed. In addition, quality of life (QoL) in LC patients with constipation was also analyzed. ⋯ Reduced food intake and fatigue were the independent factors. Constipation significantly affects the QoL of the patients. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the risk factors of constipation in LC patients undergoing platinum-based chemotherapy, the earlier intervention was done to these patients, the better to improve their QoL.
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Case Reports
Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma around posterior tibialis tendon in an elderly patient with flatfoot: A case report.
Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma (CAF) is a rare benign fibroblastic tumor that is commonly in the hand or foot of children or adolescents. ⋯ This is the first case of CAF located at PTT presenting with both foot pain and functional disability. In this case, complete excision of the causative structure along with alignment correction can contribute to successful postoperative outcome.