The American journal of the medical sciences
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Review Case Reports
1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D Mediated Hypercalcemia in Seminoma.
Hypercalcemia has rarely been associated with seminomas. Due to the limited data available, the pathophysiology of hypercalcemia in seminoma has not been established in literature. We present a case of a 59-year-old male who presented with weakness, abdominal fullness, fatigue, constipation, and a 14 lb unintentional weight loss. ⋯ However, few cases present sufficient data to conclude the pathophysiology of hypercalcemia. In all four cases that presented 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, the levels were elevated, suggesting seminomas are associated with 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D mediated hypercalcemia. Interestingly, one case was associated with increased 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D and increased PTHrP levels, suggesting there may be multiple mechanisms of hypercalcemia in seminomas.
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Infliximab is a first-line biologic agent for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD), in which loss of response (LOR) remains a challenge in the treatment of patients with CD. The study aimed to explore the association between body composition parameters and LOR to infliximab in CD patients. ⋯ Sarcopenia was identified as a risk factor for developing LOR in infliximab-treated patients.
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Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) plays an important role in liver failure and causes mortality. Patients with DILI compatible with Hy's law are associated with poorer outcomes. However, the predictive accuracy of Hy's law is not good enough in clinical practice. This study aimed to investigate the optimal values of biomarkers associated with the prognosis of DILI. ⋯ Total bilirubin >15 mg/dL, ALT >1000 U/L, and PT-INR >2 are useful biomarkers in predicting DILI-related mortality. DILI patients with sepsis, malignancy, or end-stage renal disease are associated with worse overall survival.
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Acute urticaria (AU), characterized by sudden skin wheals, has been associated with various triggers. While chronic urticaria's cardiovascular comorbidities have been studied, AU's associations remain largely unexplored. ⋯ This study's findings underscore the importance of recognizing cardiovascular comorbidities in AU patients and considering their implications for management. The observed associations provide insight into potential shared mechanisms between AU and cardiovascular diseases, though further research is needed to validate and expand upon these findings.
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Whether Astragalus membranaceus is an effective drug in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) is unknown and how it exhibits activity in UC is unclear. ⋯ Astragalus membranaceus may be an effective drug in the treatment of UC by acting on targets with anti-UC effect via its antioxidant action and by regulating the balance of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors.