Articles: function.
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Review Case Reports
Primary clostridium difficile infection in patients with ulcerative colitis: Case report and literature review.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic immune-mediated disorder characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Patients with IBD are susceptible to various complications, including the coexistence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). The incidence of IBD combined with difficile infection is higher in patients with compromised immune function, which can lead to increased mortality. ⋯ We illustrate the potential effectiveness of this medication by presenting an in-depth case report of a patient with early-stage UC. The report outlines the patient inclusion of infliximab to better manage UC inflammation alongside an adjunct vancomycin regimen, given the ineffectiveness of mesalazine therapy and the concurrent presence of Clostridium difficile infection. This case prompts consideration of therapeutic approaches for complex UC and contributes to advancing both research and clinical practice. Nonetheless, we should remain attentive to the variations and potential risks unique to each patient in order to formulate personalized treatment strategies.
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Evidence regarding the use of Korean medicine (KM) for the conservative treatment of meniscus tears remains lacking. We aimed to evaluate clinical effectiveness and long-term follow-up outcomes in patients undergoing integrative KM treatment for meniscus tears. We analyzed the electronic medical records (EMRs) of 86 patients with meniscus tears and administered a follow-up survey. ⋯ The WOMAC decreased by an average of 15.52 (95% CI: 10.14-20.89) during hospital stay and 30.72 (95% CI: 24.58-36.87) at follow-up. The EQ-5D score increased by an average of 0.06 (95% CI: -0.14 to 0.02) at discharge and 0.19 (95% CI: -0.29 to -0.09) at follow up. KM treatment effectively reduced knee pain, improved knee joint function, and enhanced the quality of life in patients with a meniscus tear for a relatively long period after treatment.
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While some systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients may experience varying degrees of liver function abnormalities, only a small portion of these cases have clinical significance, and the majority of patients typically exhibit low levels of serum bilirubin. However, in this article, we present a case of a middle-aged female patient with SLE who exhibited persistent skin jaundice as her initial symptom, offering a fresh perspective on diagnosing and treating patients who exhibit unexplained liver dysfunction and SLE combined with liver injury. ⋯ Most clinicians overlook that liver function abnormalities are the main manifestation of SLE, resulting in many patients not receiving timely treatment. This study highlights the importance that SLE is also a cause of abnormal liver function.
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Pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS) has been shown to be related to pulmonary artery pressure in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between functional capacity and echocardiographic indices of PAS in patients with PAH. This cross-sectional study was performed on patients with PAH who were confirmed by right heart catheterization and referred to Imam Reza PAH clinic for routine follow-up between November 2019 and January 2020. ⋯ There was no significant correlation between PAS and 6-minute walk test, pulmonary vascular resistance, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (P > .05). There was a significant correlation between V2 and pulmonary vascular resistance (r = 0.359, P = .049). PAS and first pulmonary valve pulse Doppler velocity are simple, noninvasive, available tools for the evaluation of pulmonary vascular beds and diagnosis of presymptomatic clinical status in patients with PAH.
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Optic neuritis frequently occurs during the clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS). In this condition, demyelination of the optic nerve occurs, which electrophysiologically causes a delay in P100 wave latency. Sensitive cholesterol homeostasis is critical for the formation of the myelin sheath and for myelin to become functionally mature. ⋯ PON values were significantly lower, whereas the MPO/PON ratios were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (P = .025; P = .028, respectively). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the elevated MPO/PON ratio, representing dysfunctional HDL, and both the mean and maximum PRVEP-P100 wave latencies (P < .001, R = 0.690; P < .001, R = 0.815, respectively). A dysfunctional form of HDL may lead to poor deactivation of remyelination-limiting factors and may ultimately be associated with poor outcomes in optic neuritis.