The American journal of the medical sciences
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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.
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Review
Immunoregulation mechanism of VEGF signaling pathway inhibitors and its efficacy on the kidney.
Angiogenesis and immunosuppression are closely related pathophysiologic processes. Widely prescribed in malignant tumor and proliferative retinal lesions, VEGF signaling pathway inhibitors may cause hypertension and renal injury in some patients, presenting with proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome, renal failure and thrombotic microangiopathy. VEGF signaling pathway inhibitors block the action of both VEGF-A and VEGF-C. ⋯ This review summarizes the expression and function of VEGF-A and VEGF-C in the kidney. The current immunoregulation mechanisms of VEGF signaling pathway inhibitors are reviewed. Finally, combinate strategies are summarized to highlight the proposal for VEGF signaling pathway inhibitors.
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Pulmonary embolism is a significant complication of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate, commonly known as histoacryl, used to sclerose bleeding gastroesophageal varices. We present a 50-year-old female with seronegative chronic liver disease who was managed with endoscopic histoacryl injection sclerotherapy for bleeding gastric fundal varices. ⋯ On subsequent outpatient follow-up, the patient showed no signs of any long-term consequences. Our aim is to alert physicians regarding the uncommon occurrence of acute respiratory distress secondary to pulmonary embolism following histoacryl injection sclerotherapy, as well as to describe its clinical and radiological manifestations.
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Review Case Reports
Significant CA 19-9 Elevation in IgG4-Related Autoimmune Pancreatitis - A Diagnostic Dilemma.
IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic fibroinflammatory disorder characterized by dense infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells in the affected tissue along with characteristic storiform fibrosis that can lead to the development of tumefactive lesions in any organ. CA19-9 is a marker for pancreato-biliary malignancy, however mild to moderate elevation of CA 19-9 can also be observed in IgG4-RD autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC). Therefore, it becomes difficult to differentiate between these entities. ⋯ Patient underwent ERCP and biopsy, which ruled out pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma. He was diagnosed with IgG4-RD autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and sclerosing cholangitis. Treatment with steroids and rituximab resulted in significant improvement in the bilirubin and a dramatic decrease in CA19-9 levels.
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Review Case Reports
Prolonged course of eravacycline leading to acute pancreatitis.
Eravacycline is the newest member of the broad-spectrum class of tetracycline antimicrobials. Pancreatitis has been previously associated with the tetracycline class of antibiotics, but, to our knowledge, we believe that this is the first reported case of eravacycline-induced pancreatitis. We describe a 46-year-old male who received eravacycline for treatment of a perirectal abscess. ⋯ Based on the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale, eravacycline was the probable etiology of acute pancreatitis given improvement immediately after discontinuation. Clinicians should be aware of this potential adverse effect of eravacycline and should not initiate eravacycline in those with risk factors for acute pancreatic injury. However, acute pancreatitis should be suspected in all patients complaining of symptoms followed by immediate discontinuation of eravacycline.