Internal medicine
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Emphysematous cholecystitis has a poor prognosis and necessitates prompt surgery or drainage. Emphysematous cholangitis (EC) is believed to have a similar clinical course, but reports are limited. ⋯ We reviewed the background, causative organisms, treatment, and outcomes of EC through a literature search. Our findings provide insights into its similarities to emphysematous cholecystitis, emphasizing the need for expeditious drainage and anaerobic bacterial coverage during antibiotic therapy.
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An 81-year-old woman presented to our hospital with dyspnea. She had been treated with trastuzumab for nine years. Chest radiography revealed pleural effusion. ⋯ Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed increased native T1 values at the interventricular septum and apex, indicating myocardial edema or fibrosis in these areas. A transthoracic echocardiogram after half a year revealed an increase in LVEF from 25% to 48%. Serial transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging were useful for evaluating the cardiac structure and function in the present case of delayed trastuzumab-induced myocardial injury.
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Direct compression of the oculomotor nerve (OcN) is usually accompanied by OcN palsy (OcNP), with an abnormal pupillary function. We herein present the case of a 76-year-old man with pupil-sparing paresis of the right inferior rectus muscle. ⋯ Decompression of the nerve gradually improved the ocular movement. This unique case offers insights into the potential topographical arrangement of the oculomotor nerve fibers.
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Objective Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) have been widely used as a treatment for heart failure. However, they have only been approved for the treatment of hypertension in a limited number of countries. We investigated the effect of ARNIs on arterial stiffness using the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) in patients with hypertension to reveal the mechanism underlying cardiovascular interaction. ⋯ Forty-eight of the 50 patients (96%) were switched from angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) due to inadequate antihypertensive control. Results The systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP, and CAVI were significantly decreased by ARNI administration (systolic BP: 145 [135, 162] to 131 [123, 143] mmHg [p=0.000]; diastolic BP: 92 [78, 100] to 82 [74, 89] mmHg [p=0.000]; and CAVI: 9.9 [9.1, 10.5] to 9.5 [8.8, 10.2] mmHg [p=0.005], respectively). Conclusion Hypertension treatment with ARNIs may improve not only the blood pressure but also the CAVI, reducing the afterload on the heart.