Internal medicine
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Objective Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) can predict severe disease in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, no reports have addressed the predictive value of TARC with the widespread use of vaccines and medications for COVID-19 during the Omicron variant period of the pandemic. Methods This single-center prospective cohort study enrolled COVID-19 patients admitted to our institution between December 1, 2021, and August 15, 2022. ⋯ A multivariate analysis showed that 2 vaccination doses were associated with non-severe disease, and TARC ≤174 pg/mL was associated with severe disease. Conclusion TARC was a predictive factor for severe disease, but its cutoff value was higher and its predictive accuracy lower than those in previous reports. We surmised that during the Omicron variant period of the pandemic, the widespread use of vaccines and medications for COVID-19 decreased the predictive accuracy of TARC.
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Case Reports
A 53-year-old Man with Idiopathic Bilateral Chylothorax Refractory to Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis: A Case Report.
A 53-year-old man with chronic dyspnea and bilateral pleural effusion was subsequently diagnosed with idiopathic chylothorax. Lymphatic scintigraphy confirmed lymphatic fluid leakage at the left venous angle, prompting management with lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA). ⋯ Approximately three years and three months after the presentation, the patient succumbed to CO2 narcosis and renal failure. It is crucial to study additional cases in order to uncover new causes and develop pathology-based treatments for this condition.
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We report the case of a 42-year-old man with bronchiectasis who had a history of infertility treatment for obstructive azoospermia. Young's syndrome was suspected based on the triad of obstructive azoospermia, sinusitis, and bronchiectasis. He had normal electron microscopy findings, normal nasal nitric oxide levels (116 nL/min), and no situs inversus. ⋯ This led to a diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Distinguishing PCD from Young's syndrome in patients with the triad of obstructive azoospermia, sinusitis, and bronchiectasis is challenging. Young's syndrome may be a phenotype of PCD.
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Case Reports
Two Cases of Gastric Adenocarcinoma with Enteroblastic Differentiation which Demonstrated Rapid Progressive Courses.
We herein report two extremely rare cases of gastric adenocarcinoma with enteroblastic differentiation (GAED) that underscore the aggressive nature of GAED. Case 1: endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was scheduled for early-stage gastric cancer, however, the tumor increased in size drastically and the morphology changed to type "0-I + IIc" in one month. Surgery was performed and the patient was diagnosed with GAED. ⋯ The horizontal margin was positive for clear cells in the muscularis mucosa. Additional surgery was performed; however, recurrence occurred one year later. Therefore, the treatment strategies should be carefully considered for GAED.
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Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare form of non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Although 20% of patients with RDD have spontaneous remission, some cases with central nervous system (CNS) involvement require surgery or systemic treatment. ⋯ Repeated intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) administration resolved and stabilized the hypertrophic pachymeningitis without any sequelae. If surgery or anticancer medications are contraindicated, repeated IVMP may be a good therapeutic option for CNS-associated RDD.