Internal medicine
-
Case Reports
A Case of a Lotus Root-like Appearance in the External Iliac Artery Detected by Intravascular Ultrasonography.
A lotus root-like appearance on blood vessels is a rare abnormality. The multiple channels within arteries may represent the recanalization or neovascularization of the thrombus. This abnormality is most frequently found in coronary arteries. ⋯ We subsequently performed an endovascular treatment six months later due to intermittent claudication. A lotus root-like appearance was found on intravascular ultrasound. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report a case of lotus root-like appearance in lower-extremity arteries.
-
Case Reports
Amelanotic Malignant Melanoma with a BRAF V600E Mutation Mimicking Primary Lung Cancer.
Amelanotic melanoma is a rare type of melanoma that shows little or no melanin pigmentation. When tumor lesions are not detected in cutaneous sites, the presence of melanin is the hallmark sign of malignant melanoma. ⋯ The current case suggests important caveats for the differential diagnosis of patients with BRAF V600E mutation-positive poorly differentiated lung tumors. In terms of the pathological diagnosis, routine immunohistochemical staining may be useful, especially in patients with a poorly differentiated lung tumor without TTF-1 expression.
-
Case Reports
Immunoglobulin G4-related Pleuritis Complicated with Minimal Change Disease: A Case Report.
A 70-year-old woman with bilateral pleural effusion and respiratory failure was admitted to our hospital. Nephrotic syndrome due to minimal change disease had been diagnosed four months before admission. Because blood tests and a pleural fluid analysis did not reveal the etiology of her condition, we performed a video-assisted thoracoscopic pleural biopsy. ⋯ The pathological findings revealed an increase in immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-positive cells; IgG4-related pleuritis was diagnosed. Her pleuritis improved with oral corticosteroid therapy. A further investigation was performed on previous kidney samples; however, the etiology of the nephrotic syndrome was not IgG4-related disease but minimal change disease.
-
Objective To evaluate the change in the prevalence of burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic among internists and primary care physicians in Japan, and to identify factors associated with the exacerbation of burnout among these populations during this period. Methods This was a cross-sectional study based on two web-based surveys conducted in January 2020 (before the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic) and June 2020 (during the pandemic). The participants were internists and primary care physicians of the Japanese Chapter of the American College of Physicians. ⋯ Only the experience of self-quarantine was associated with the exacerbation of burnout [odds ratio (OR) 3.12; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.49-6.50; p=0.002], while being a woman, being a resident physician, and an experience of having worked in a prefecture under a state of emergency were not. Conclusions No marked change in the prevalence of burnout among internists and primary care physicians in Japan was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic as a whole. However, self-quarantine was associated with the exacerbation of the burnout level.
-
The use of biologic agents has enabled control of severe asthma, but there is a risk that eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) may be masked in some cases. We herein report a 71-year-old man who was administered dupilumab for 2 years to stabilize his asthma symptoms. ⋯ Based on pathology, he was diagnosed with EGPA. EGPA in this case was considered to have become apparent due to the discontinuation of dupilumab administration.