The American journal of the medical sciences
-
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the death of millions and many more have been infected worldwide. The causative virus, SARS-CoV-2, affects the lung where it elicits an aggressive inflammatory response leading to respiratory failure in severe cases. This infection has been linked to pulmonary fibrosis, a process characterized by fibroproliferation and the exaggerated deposition of collagen and other extracellular matrices. ⋯ These events may trigger the rapid progression or exacerbation of underlying interstitial lung disorders or promote fibrosis in a previously healthy lung. Although the natural progression of such conditions cannot always be predicted, fibrosis may progress even after the virus has been eliminated or, in cases where it does not progress, may become irreversible, leading to long-standing symptoms like shortness of breath and exercise intolerance resulting from loss of lung function. Although COVID-19 related pulmonary fibrosis is not common, preventive measures like vaccination are encouraged, as they are expected to reduce infection or its severity, thereby decreasing the possibility of life-changing respiratory conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis.
-
Endometriosis-associated pleural effusion is a rare occurrence with poorly defined clinical characteristics. ⋯ The presence of right-sided hemorrhagic pleural effusion in a young woman warrants an assessment for the possibility of endometriosis. Despite conventional treatment, effusion recurs in approximately a quarter of patients.
-
Bing-Neel syndrome, a rare neurological complication of Waldenström macroglobulinemia, is caused by the direct infiltration of malignant lymphoplasmacytic cells into the central nervous system. We report a patient who presented with back pain, weakness, lower extremity numbness, and gait disturbance accompanied by immunoglobulin M paraproteinemia and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma in the bone marrow. ⋯ After chemotherapy, the patient's neurological and radiological findings improved. Magnetic resonance imaging should be considered when the Bing-Neel syndrome diagnosis is unclear.
-
Review
Pseudohyperkalemia in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: prevalence, impact, and management challenges.
The term pseudohyperkalemia refers to a false elevation in serum potassium levels due to potassium release from cells in vitro. Falsely elevated potassium levels have been reported in patients with thrombocytosis, leukocytosis, and hematologic malignancies. This phenomenon has been particularly described in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). ⋯ The prevalence of pseudohyperkalemia is up to 40%, particularly in the presence of a high leukocyte count (>50 × 109/L). The diagnosis of pseudohyperkalemia is often overlooked, which may result in unnecessary and potentially harmful treatment. The use of whole blood testing and point-of-care blood gas analysis, along with thorough clinical evaluation, may help differentiate between true and pseudohyperkalemic episodes.
-
Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) is a serious complication affecting the prognosis of patients with myocardial infarction and can cause cardiac arrest, reperfusion arrhythmias, no-reflow, and irreversible myocardial cell death. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent, peroxide-driven, non-apoptotic form of regulated cell death, plays a vital role in reperfusion injury. ⋯ Here, we summarized the recently discovered knowledge about acetylation and ferroptosis in MIRI. Finally, we focused on the acetylation modification during ferroptosis and its potential relationship with MIRI.