Hypothyroidism with elevated pancreatic amylase and lipase without clinical symptoms: A case report

BACKGROUND Hypothyroidism is an endocrine disorder that has worldwide prevalence and can affect multiple organ systems.We report a case of hypothyroidism with elevated pancreatic amylase and trypsin without acute pancreatitis.No such case has been previously reported.CASE SUMMARY A 29-year-old woman did not pay much attention to a fever 4 d prior.During this time,she experienced anorexia and only drank a small amount of water every day.She did not present with abdominal distension,postprandial nausea,vomiting,cough or expectoration.After physical and laboratory examinations,the patient was diagnosed with hypothyroidism.During the course of the disease,hypothyroidism was generally accompanied by constantly increased pancreatic amylase and trypsin.After admission,the possible etiology of the patient was excluded and the concentrations of pancreatic lipase and amylase in serum were>2000U/L(reference range 23-300 U/L)and 410 U/L(reference range 30-110 U/L),respectively.So we highly suspected that it may be acute pancreatitis.Interestingly,she never developed any complications associated with acute pancreatitis despite high levels of serum pancreatic amylase and trypsin,and she reported no symptoms of abdominal pain.Serum amylase and lipase decreased gradually after active thyroxine supplementation,and the patient was discharged from the hospital after active treatment.CONCLUSION This case suggests that clinicians should pay attention to hypothyroidism with elevated pancreatic amylase and trypsin,even if no complications of acute pancreatitis are reported.

Analysis of Clinical Symptoms Improvement in Treatment of Severe Pneumonia Caused by Multi-drug Resistant Bacterial Infection by Bronchoscopy Alveolar Lavage

Objective:To explore the effects of bronchoscopy alveolar lavage in the treatment of severe pneumonia caused by multiple drug bacterial infection.Methods:A total of 84 patients with severe pneumonia infected by multi-drug resistant bacteria were randomly selected from Kunming Second People's Hospital,which is our hospital from January 2019 to December 2020 for this research.They were divided into a reference group and a study group using a digital table method,with 42 cases in each group.The reference group was given the routine treatment,the research group performed bronchoscopy alveolar lavage on this basis to observe the curative effect.Results:Before treatment,there was no significant difference in serum factor indexes and blood gas analysis indexes between the two groups of patients,P>0.05.After treatment,the time of fever,cough,moist rales disappearing and infection control time in the study group were shorter than those in the reference group,P<0.05.Serum tumor necrosis factorα(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6)and interleukin-8(IL-8)levels were lower than the reference group,and the arterial partial pressure of oxygen(PO2)and oxygen saturation(SO2)were both lower than the reference group,P<0.05.The effective rate of the treatment in the study group was higher than that in the reference group,P<0.05.Conclusion:Bronchoscopic alveolar lavage treatment can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of patients with severe pneumonia caused by multi-drug resistant bacterial infection,and the effects are significant.

Omicron Infections in Otolaryngology Practice: A Retrospective Observational Study on Testing, Symptoms and Vaccination Status

Background: With the appearance of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant the high rate of vaccination breakthroughs showed that current vaccines against COVID-19 can no longer provide adequate protection against infection. However, it is still assumed that vaccination might have a positive effect on the course of the disease. In Germany, general practitioners and specialists are usually the first treatment providers for acute illnesses. In addition, patients with infections of the upper respiratory tract often primarily consult an ear, nose and throat specialist. Most of the Omicron-infected people have a mild course of the disease and, if necessary, receive medical care on an outpatient basis. Little is known about the effectiveness of corona vaccinations on Omicron infections in relation to the clinical symptoms. In our outpatient office, we recorded a sharp increase of corona positive Omicron-infections in the beginning of 2022, despite of vaccinations against COVID-19. In a retrospective analysis, we evaluated the data of our SARS-CoV-2 tested patients with regard to clinical symptoms reported and vaccination status. The focus was particularly on the question to what extent the vaccination status in the case of Omicron infections influences the symptoms of the disease. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the data of all patients in the first quarter of 2022 who were suspected for COVID-19. At that time, the Omicron variant was dominant in Germany. Clinical symptoms, cycle threshold (Ct) values, and the vaccination status were recorded. Symptomatic patients who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 served as a control group. Results: Of the total cohort (n = 353), 241 (68%) patients were tested SARS-CoV-2 positive. The symptoms of the corona-positive patients were essentially similar to those of a mild to moderate cold, but compared to SARS-CoV-2-negative patients (n = 69) with a clear shift in favor of fever (35% versus 16%), cough (76% versus 52%) and increased feeling of illness (59% versus 43%), respectively. Ct values revealed no difference between unvaccinated (mean 19.15;SD 3.52) and vaccinated cases (mean 18.15;SD 3.87;p = 0.272). There was no significant correlation between the vaccination status and clinical symptom score in different age groups (age 12 to 17, r (28) = 0.26, p = 0.26;age > 18 to 60, r (191) = 0.06, p = 0.378). Conclusions: According to our results with infections with the Omicron variant, there were no differences between unvaccinated and vaccinated patients concerning clinical symptoms or potential infectivity, especially in children and adolescents. This might have impact on further vaccination programs.

Clinical Manifestations of Cytokine Storm and Immune Response to COVID-19: Literature Review

Spreading COVID-19 disease caused by coronavirus 2 causes tremendous health challenges worldwide. Owing to a high transmission rate, fast-spreading disease, asymptomatic carriers, and high infectivity, we observe a pandemic status that we follow today. Although there are different reports of case fatality rates around the globe, the primary determinant of mortality is age. Symptoms of COVID-19 disease vary from asymptomatic individuals to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and death. The most common complication of COVID-19 is ARDS. Hyperinflammation due to excessive immune response to coronavirus is the leading cause of severe symptoms seen in the course of COVID-19. The virus enters cells utilizing the S1 subunit through the ACE2 receptor. The innate immune response is the primary immune reaction to virus entry. RNA viruses, including corona-virus, replicate in the cytoplasm, assemble, and then exit by exocytosis. Some suggest that SARS-Cov2 uses cell-cell fusion to infect adjacent cells. Different sensors detect the virus particles in the endosomal compartment and cytoplasm, and infected cells induce an immune response to surrounding cells. As a result, the production of cytokines and chemokines such as interferons (INFs) will be augmented. Since coronavirus uses different means to evade the immune system, it is difficult for immune cells to “sense” them;thus, the coronavirus response is not adequate. It has been showing that even a sufficient level of immunoglobulin response couldn’t neutralize virus replication. Therefore, the innate immune response is unable to eradicate SARS-Cov2, causes overexpression of cytokines and chemokines that cannot eliminate the virus. Diminished INFs secretion and apoptosis of regulatory T cells (Treg) are the leading cause of dysregulated immune response in a cytokine storm. Inflammatory cells attack infected and uninfected cells, causing more inflammation and apoptosis of endothelial and epithelial cells. In the end, organ failure occurs due to immune cells’ overactivity, cell proliferation, hemorrhage, microthrombi, and remodeling of tissue cells. This review discusses the immune response and pathomechanisms of the associated symptoms in COVID-19.

Leukoaraiosis is associated with clinical symptom severity,poor neurological function prognosis and stroke recurrence in mild intracerebral hemorrhage:a prospective multi-center cohort study

Leukoaraiosis(LA)results from ischemic injury in small cerebral vessels,which may be attributable to decreased vascular density,reduced cerebrovascular angiogenesis,decreased cerebral blood flow,or microcirculatory dysfunction in the brain.In this study,we enrolled 357 patients with mild intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH)from five hospitals in China and analyzed the relationships between LA and clinical symptom severity at admission,neurological function prognosis at 3 months,and 1-year stroke recurrence.Patients were divided into groups based on Fazekas scale scores:no LA(n=83),mild LA(n=64),moderate LA(n=98)and severe LA(n=112).More severe LA,larger hematoma volume,and higher blood glucose level at admission were associated with more severe neurological deficit.More severe LA,older age and larger hematoma volume were associated with worse neurological function prognosis at 3 months.In addition,moderate-to-severe LA,admission glucose and symptom-free cerebral infarction were associated with 1-year stroke recurrence.These findings suggest that LA severity may be a potential marker of individual ICH vulnerability,which can be characterized by poor tolerance to intracerebral attack or poor recovery ability after ICH.Evaluating LA severity in patients with mild ICH may help neurologists to optimize treatment protocols.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University(approval No.12)on March 10,2011.

The neuroprotective effects of oxygen therapy in Alzheimer’s disease:a narrative review

Alzheimer’s disease(AD)is a degenerative neurological disease that primarily affects the elderly.Drug therapy is the main strategy for AD treatment,but current treatments suffer from poor efficacy and a number of side effects.Non-drug therapy is attracting more attention and may be a better strategy for treatment of AD.Hypoxia is one of the important factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of AD.Multiple cellular processes synergistically promote hypoxia,including aging,hypertension,diabetes,hypoxia/obstructive sleep apnea,obesity,and traumatic brain injury.Increasing evidence has shown that hypoxia may affect multiple pathological aspects of AD,such as amyloid-beta metabolism,tau phosphorylation,autophagy,neuroinflammation,oxidative stress,endoplasmic reticulum stress,and mitochondrial and synaptic dysfunction.Treatments targeting hypoxia may delay or mitigate the progression of AD.Numerous studies have shown that oxygen therapy could improve the risk factors and clinical symptoms of AD.Increasing evidence also suggests that oxygen therapy may improve many pathological aspects of AD including amyloid-beta metabolism,tau phosphorylation,neuroinflammation,neuronal apoptosis,oxidative stress,neurotrophic factors,mitochondrial function,cerebral blood volume,and protein synthesis.In this review,we summarized the effects of oxygen therapy on AD pathogenesis and the mechanisms underlying these alterations.We expect that this review can benefit future clinical applications and therapy strategies on oxygen therapy for AD.

Efficacy and safety of ivermectin in patients with mild and moderate COVID-19:A randomized controlled trial

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ivermectin in patients with mild and moderate COVID-19.Methods:This study was a single-center,randomized,open-label,controlled trial with a 2-arm parallel-group design on 68 patients with COVID-19.According to the 1:1 ratio between the study groups(ivermectin group and standard treatment group),patients were randomly admitted to each intervention arm.Results:The mean age of the participants in the ivermectin group was(48.37±13.32)years.Eighteen of them were males(54.5%)and the participants in the control group had a mean age of(46.28±14.47)years,with nineteen of them being males(59.4%).As a primary outcome,after 5 days of randomization,there was no significant difference between the ivermectin group and the control group in the length of stay in the hospital(P=0.168).ICU admission(P=0.764),length of stay in ICU(P=0.622),in-hospital mortality(P=0.427),adverse drug reactions,and changes in the mean difference of laboratory data had not any significant difference between the two groups(except for urea change).In addition,the radiologic findings of the two groups of patients were not significantly different.Linear regression analysis showed that for every 10 years increase of age,0.6 day of hospitalization duration was increased.There was no statistically significant association between other variables and clinical outcomes.Conclusions:Among adult hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19,there was no significant relationship between the administration of ivermectin single dose in a five-day course and clinical improvement,and mortality of the participants.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, sex hormones and cognitive decline in male patients with schizophrenia receiving continuous antipsychotic therapy

BACKGROUND There are systematic differences in clinical features between women and men with schizophrenia(SCZ).The regulation of sex hormones may play a potential role in abnormal neurodevelopment in SCZ.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and sex hormones have complex interacting actions that contribute to the etiology of SCZ.AIM To investigate the influence of BDNF and sex hormones on cognition and clinical symptomatology in chronic antipsychotic-treated male SCZ patients.METHODS The serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone(LH),estradiol(E2),progesterone,testosterone(T),prolactin(PRL)and BDNF were compared between chronic antipsychotic-treated male(CATM)patients with SCZ(n=120)and healthy controls(n=120).The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was used to quantify SCZ symptoms,while neuropsychological tests were used to assess cognition.Neuropsychological tests,such as the Digit Cancellation Test(DCT),Semantic Verbal Fluency(SVF),Spatial Span Test(SS),Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test(PASAT),Trail Making Task(TMT-A),and Block Design Test(BDT),were used to assess executive functions(BDT),attention(DCT,TMT-A),memory(SS,PASAT),and verbal proficiency(SVF).RESULTS Although E2 levels were significantly lower in the patient group compared to the healthy controls,T,PRL,and LH levels were all significantly higher.Additionally,the analysis revealed that across the entire sample,there were positive correlations between E2 Levels and BDNF levels as well as BDNF levels and the digital cancellation time.In CATM patients with SCZ,a significant correlation between the negative symptoms score and PRL levels was observed.CONCLUSION Sex hormones and BDNF levels may also be linked to cognitive function in patients with chronic SCZ.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Montelukast Sodium in Managing Pulmonary Infections in Lung Cancer Patients

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of montelukast sodium in the treatment of lung cancer patients with pulmonary infections.Methods:A total of 330 patients diagnosed with lung cancer and pulmonary infection,who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical University from 2020 to 2022,were selected as research subjects.They were randomly divided into two groups:a control group receiving conventional treatment and an observation group receiving conventional treatment combined with montelukast sodium.Each group consisted of 165 cases.The time required for clinical symptom improvement,the resolution of lung infection signs,and the levels of serum inflammatory factors before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.Results:The observation group exhibited significantly faster improvement in clinical symptoms compared to the control group(P<0.001).ELISA assays were conducted to detect the expression levels of IL-1β,IL-6,IL-8,and TNF-αin the serum of both groups at 1 week and 2 weeks into the treatment.The results indicated that,as the treatment progressed,the observation group displayed significantly lower levels of the four serum inflammatory factors compared to the control group(P<0.001).Conclusion:Montelukast sodium demonstrates efficacy in the treatment of patients with lung cancer complicated by pulmonary infections.These findings suggest its potential for further verification and clinical application.

Considerations on the concept, definition, and diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The concept, definition, and diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) currently present some problems. This article systematically reviews the literature on the history, current concepts, definition, and diagnosis of ALS, and discloses the present problems based on the retrieved literature and the authors' clinical experience. The current concepts and definitions of ALS have not yet been unified or standardized in clinical practice, and are sometimes vague or inaccurate, which can cause difficulties for neurologists in the clinical treatment of ALS. The concept and definition of ALS need to be further ascertained, and the current diagnostic criteria for ALS require further development. The identification of effective and objective biomarkers may be a feasible method for the early and accurate diagnosis of ALS. Therefore, future research should focus on the identification of reliable biomarkers—especially neuroimaging biomarkers—through autopsy. Standardizing the concept and definition of ALS and formulating clear diagnostic criteria will largely avoid many uncertainties in the future clinical research and treatment of ALS, which will greatly benefit patients.

Examination of Huntington's disease in a Chinese family

We report brain imaging and genetic diagnosis in a family from Wuhan, China, with a history of Huntington＇s disease. Among 17 family members across three generations, four patients （Ⅱ2, Ⅱ6, Ⅲ5, and Ⅲ9） show typical Huntington＇s disease, involuntary dance-like movements. Magnetic resonance imaging found lateral ventricular atrophy in three members （Ⅱ2, Ⅱ6, and Ⅲ5）. Moreover, genetic analysis identified abnormally amplified CAG sequence repeats （〉 40） in two members （Ⅲ5 and Ⅲ9）. Among borderline cases, with clinical symptoms and brain imaging features of Huntington＇s disease, two cases were identified （Ⅱ2 and Ⅱ6）, but shown by mutation analysis for CAG expansions in the important transcript 15 gene, to be non-Huntington＇s disease. Our findings suggest that clinical diagnosis of Huntington＇s disease requires a combination of clinical symptoms, radiological changes, and genetic diagnosis.

Schwannomatosis patient who was followed up for fifteen years:A case report

BACKGROUND Schwannomatosis is a rare disease characterized by multiple schwannomas of the whole body.Although benign,schwannomatosis that occurs in important areas of the body,such as the brain and spinal canal,can cause considerable disability and mortality.The disease is rare,frequent and relapsing,and this poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.CASE SUMMARY A 40-year-old male had multiple masses all over his body,starting at the age of 19.Four years prior,he started to experience a progressive decrease in muscle strength in both lower limbs and developed urinary and defecation dysfunctions,and gradual paralysis.One month prior,the patient developed pain and numbness in his left forearm.The patient had undergone five surgical procedures for this disease in our department.Based on the family history,imaging examinations,pathological biopsy and molecular biological examinations,the diagnosis of schwannomatosis was confirmed.This time,the patient was admitted to our hospital again for a 6th operation because of the pain and numbness in his left forearm.After the operation,the patient's symptoms improved significantly;the patient recovered and was discharged from the hospital.At the last telephone follow-up,the patient reported a poor general condition but was alive.CONCLUSION Here,we report a rare case of schwannomatosis.We conducted 15 years of patient follow-up and treatment,and analyzed the timing of surgery and patient psychology.This case will further extend our overall understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of this rare tumor.

Diagnosis and Prevention of Colibacillosis in Chickens

The characteristics of chicken colibacillosis are introduced from the aspects of pathogen,epidemiology,clinical symptoms and necropsy,and clinical comprehensive diagnosis and laboratory diagnosis methods are given.The disease is distinguished from diseases with similar symptoms such as chicken chlamydia,chicken streptococcus,chicken necrotic enteritis,broiler ascites syndrome and chicken paratyphoid infections.Eventually,the preventive and therapeutic measures against the disease are put forward.

Diagnosis and Prevention of Duck Virus Enteritis

The characteristics of duck virus enteritis(DVE)are introduced from the aspects of pathogen,epidemiology,clinical symptoms,autopsy pathological changes,etc.,and clinical comprehensive diagnosis and laboratory diagnosis methods are given.The disease is distinguished from similar diseases including duck necrotic enteritis,duck candidiasis,duck hemorrhage,duck coccidiosis and duck vitamin A deficiency.Eventually,the prevention and treatment measures of the disease are put forward.

Clinical Analysis on 205 Cases of COVID-19

Objective To understand basic features of the epidemic of novel coronavirus(COVID-19),and to provide a scientific basis for its prevention and to formulate reasonable measures for its prevention and control.Methods The history of epidemiology,clinical features,laboratory results,and imaging results of 205 cases of COVID-19 that were admitted and confirmed in the Third People’s Hospital of Yichang city from January to March 2020 were collected,and a database was set up and a retrospective analysis was conducted.Result The mean age of the 205 confirmed cases was 56.0±16.2 years old.Most confirmed cases at the early phase had the contact history with Wuhan epidemic region;most confirmed cases at the later phase were from the local with unclear contact history;and most of these cases were of the general type and minor ailment.Using statistical analysis,the age,gender,occupation,and contact history all had no statistically significant correlation with the severity of the disease(P>0.05).There was a statistical significant correlation between the underlying diseases and the severity of the disease(χ~2=31,P<0.05).Conclusion Major clinical symptoms of the disease are fever and cough;critically ill patients were related to their underlying diseases;and procalcilonin had no reference value to the disease.Features of the disease include pneumonia,pleural thickening and adhesion,and increased lactic acid.So far,the epidemic al Yichang city has been under control,but the special emphasis on prevention and control still has to be made in the future.

Clinical and Molecular Characteristics in 100 Chinese Pediatric Patients with m.3243A〉G Mutation in Mitochondrial DNA

Background： Mitochondrial diseases are a group of energy metabolic disorders with multisystem involvements. Variable clinical features present a major challenge in pediatric diagnoses. We summarized the clinical spectrum of m.3243A〉G mutation in Chinese pediatric patients, to define the common clinical manifestations and study the correlation between heteroplasmic degree of the mutation and clinical severity of the disease. Methods： Clinical data of one-hundred pediatric patients with symptomatic mitochondrial disease harboring m.3243A〉G mutation from 2007 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Detection of m.3243A〉G mutation ratio was performed by polymerase chain reaction （PCR）-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Correlation between m.3243A〉G mutation ratio and age was evaluated. The differences in clinical symptom frequency of patients with low, middle, and high levels of mutation ratio were analyzed by Chi-square test. Results： Sixty-six patients （66%） had suffered a delayed diagnosis for an average of 2 years. The most frequent symptoms were seizures （76%）, short stature （73%）, elevated plasma lactate （70%）, abnormal magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography （MRI/CT） changes （68%）, vomiting （55%）, decreased vision （52%）, headache （50%）, and muscle weakness （48%）. The mutation ratio was correlated negatively with onset age （r = -0.470, P 〈 0.001）. Myopathy was more frequent in patients with a high level of mutation ratio. However, patients with a low or middle level of m.3243A〉G mutation ratio were more likely to suffer hearing loss, decreased vision, and gastrointestinal disturbance than patients with a high level of mutation ratio. Conclusions： Our study showed that half of Chinese pediatric patients with m.3243A〉G mutation presented seizures, short stature, abnormal MRI/CT changes, elevated plasma lactate, vomiting, and headache. Pediatric patients with these recurrent symptoms should be considered for screening m.3243A〉G mutation. Clinical manifestations and laboratory abnormalities should be carefully monitored in patients with this point mutation.

Morphology of bacterial flora in root canals associated with apical abscesses

Background Apical abscess is an inflammatory process in the peri-radicular tissues caused by biofilms in the necrotic root canal systems. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of the bacterial colonization is required for a better understanding of the pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the patterns of bacterial infection of root canals of teeth with apical abscesses and to determine whether histological and microbiological findings correlated with clinical conditions. Methods Eighteen samples from 18 teeth with apical pathological lesions were analyzed. Nine patients with acute apical abscesses experienced severe pain, and nine patients were asymptomatic with a sinus tract. After extraction, each affected root was divided into two halves. One half was processed for histobacteriologic analysis and examined using light microscopy, and the other half was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy （SEM） to determine the patterns of microbial colonization of the root canals. Results The appearance of each sample subjected to SEM was consistent with the histobacteriologic findings despite the presence or absence of clinical symptoms. Intraradicular biofilms comprising cocci, rods, and/or filaments of amorphous materials were observed in the apical third of the main root canals in all samples. The bacterial biofilms covering the main root canal walls also penetrated the dentinal tubules to varying depths. The morphologies of biofilms varied, and a unique pattern of intraradicular infection was not identified. Conclusion Intraradicular infections formed complex and variable multispecies biofilms and their presence did not correlate with clinical symptoms.

A giant Müllerian duct cyst in the perineum:a case report

The authors present a case report of a giant Müllerian duct cyst in the perineum.A 37-year-old man presented with a mass with the size of 50 cm×40 cm×30 cm in the perineum.Computed tomography(CT)scan and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)of the pelvis and perineum found a huge multilocular cystic mass.X-ray film of the pelvis showed a giant soft-tissue shadow of high density in the perineum.Voiding cystourethrogram did not show any cyst interlinked to posterior urethra.After related examinations,the patient underwent open surgical resection of the cyst.Pathologic examination confirmed the presence of a Müllerian duct cyst.Huge Müllerian duct cyst is uncommon in clinic.Treatments of Müllerian duct cysts depend on their sizes and symptoms.