Internal medicine
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Rotatory vertigo is known to have not only peripheral causes, e.g., Meniere's disease, vestibular neuritis, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, but also central causes, e.g., stroke, hemorrhage, and tumor. In most cases, central rotatory vertigo is caused by a lesion in the brainstem or cerebellum, but rare cases with a cerebral lesion have also been reported. We herin describe a unique case with acute rotatory vertigo following a small hemorrhage in the left superior temporal gyrus, which probably led to a dysfunction of the visual-vestibular system.
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Case Reports
Four Cases of Desquamative Esophagitis Occurring after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.
We herein report four patients with desquamative esophagitis that developed one to nine days after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Three patients underwent allogeneic PBSCT for leukemia, and the other underwent autologous PBSCT for pineoblastoma. ⋯ These cases indicate that desquamative esophagitis can occur in patients who receive hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Although blood transfusions may be required, it can be resolved within seven days.
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Objective The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between the patient characteristics and the timing of provision of an explanation about "Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR)" by attending physicians to advanced lung cancer patients. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with advanced or postoperative recurrent lung cancer in whom systemic therapy was initiated between 2015 and 2016. Results The data of a total of 74 patients with lung cancer, including 59 patients with non-small cell lung cancer and 15 with small cell lung cancer were analyzed. ⋯ For 48 (64.9%) patients, the explanation was provided after the discontinuation of anticancer treatment, and for 9 (12.2%) patients, it was provided during the course of anticancer treatment. The provision of an explanation about DNAR during the course of treatment was associated with a poor performance status at the start of treatment (p=0.028), the tumor histology (p=0.037), the presence of driver gene mutation in the tumor (p=0.029), and shorter survival after the discontinuation of anticancer treatment (p<0.001). Conclusion The results suggested that the timing of provision of an explanation about DNAR was associated with patient characteristics and the predicted prognosis.
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Case Reports
Recurrent HyperCKemia with Immunological Involvement of the Endomysial Capillaries in Neuromyelitis Optica.
A 55-year-old woman with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) had recurrent myalgias with hyperCKemia. A muscle biopsy suggested nonspecific myopathic changes. Regarding immunohistochemistry, the expression of both major histocompatibility complex class I and myxovirus resistance protein A was observed in the endomysial capillaries, suggesting immunological involvement of these capillaries, whereas both C5b9 (membrane attack complex) and aquaporin 4 immunofluorescence stainings were normal. The present findings led us to conclude that one possible mechanism for hyperCKemia in NMO underlying the immunological involvement of the endomysial capillaries was an as-yet-unidentified factor that triggered damage to the integrity of the sarcolemma and thereby cause CK leakage into the serum.
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Case Reports
A Case of Severe Multiple Sclerosis Manifesting upon GnRH Agonist Therapy for Uterine Fibroids.
This case concerned a 39-year-old woman diagnosed with uterine fibroids. Upon initiation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist therapy, she experienced various neurological deficits but did not seek medical attention because of gradual spontaneous symptom improvement. ⋯ Although her symptoms improved with steroid pulse therapy, serious sequelae remained. GnRH agonist therapy can exacerbate the disease activity of MS; therefore, awareness of the potential emergence of neurological symptoms during GnRH agonist therapy is important.