I am a
Home I AM A Search Login

YokoCo

Share this

[Methimazole Tablets-Induced Algospasm: Two Cases Report].

Here, we reported two cases with hyperthyroidism who complained of myalgia and muscle cramps during treatment with methimazole tablets (or Thyrozol, the brand name). One case experienced muscle cramps after taking Thyrozol for 6 months, and by this time the patient's thyroid function had returned to normal. In the other case, pain caused by muscular cramps began after the patient took Thyrozol for two weeks and the patient's thyroid function had not returned to normal yet at the time. In both cases, pain caused by muscle cramps appeared while the patients were taking Thyrozol. The myalgia persisted in spite of a reduction in the Thyrozol dose, but was significantly relieved with the discontinuation of Thyrozol. Myalgia and muscle cramps did not recur after the patients were switched to methimazole ointment. There was a strong temporal association between oral administration of Thyrozol and pain caused by muscle cramps, which may indicate that myalgia and muscle cramps are adverse reactions of Thyrozol. Looking into the relevant literature on the topic, we explored in this report the possible mechanisms of the onset of muscle cramps associated with Thyrozol, and compared the adverse reactions of two different formulations of methimazole, intending to provide more clinical experience for the treatment of hyperthyroidism and the management of rare adverse reactions related to antithyroid drugs.

Intravenous Dexamethasone Reduces Pain in Middle Ear Surgery.

Few studies evaluated the treatment of postoperative pain in middle ear surgery.

COVID-19 induces gastrointestinal symptoms and affects patients’ prognosis.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection caused the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Gastrointestinal (GI) involvement is common among patients with COVID-19, and GI symptoms can appear earlier than respiratory symptoms. Except for direct infectious effects, patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at risk of complications requiring gastroenterological management. Diarrhea is the most common GI symptom in patients with COVID-19 and occurs in up to half of them. Other GI symptoms, such as anorexia, discomfort, nausea, abdominal pain, loss of taste sensation, and vomiting, have been reported. GI symptoms are associated with a poor prognosis. Fecal viral excretion may have clinical significance because of the possible fecal-oral transmission of infection. In the present narrative review article, six different aspects of studies published to date are summarized as follows: GI manifestations of COVID-19, the roles of fecal-oral transmission, poor prognosis of GI symptoms; abnormal abdominal imaging findings, COVID-19 in patients with irritable bowel disease, and prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the digestive endoscopy room. Timely understanding of the association between COVID-19 and the digestive system and effective preventive measures are critical to improve this disease and help clinicians take appropriate measures to mitigate further transmission.

A Survey-Based Study Examining Differences in Perception of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Between Patients and Primary Care Physicians.

Introduction Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is an underdiagnosed and undertreated dysautonomia. We hypothesize that there are differences between primary care physicians (PCPs) and patients' perceptions of POTS and that correcting these discrepancies may improve patient care.  Methods Two groups were surveyed: Patients who received care for POTS symptoms from a Cleveland Clinic neurologist or nurse practitioner and patients who received care from Cleveland Clinic family medicine or internal medicine physicians.  Results PCPs (81%) rated lightheadedness as the symptom with the most significant negative impact on patient's quality of life with POTS, while patients rated fatigue (32%) as their worst symptom. PCPs were somewhat comfortable managing POTS but were less confident recommending cardiac rehabilitation and daily behavioral measures.  Conclusion PCPs may need to continue review the negative impact of fatigue on the quality of life of POTS patients as well symptoms of body pain and lightheadedness. Although they are relatively comfortable managing POTS, PCPs may benefit from training on several aspects of POTS treatment.

Protective effect of selenium on vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy in PC12 cell line.

Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN) is the main side effect and major reason for neuropathic pain in cancer survivors treated with vincristine. Vincristine, a chemotherapeutic antimitotic drug, is used frequently in combination chemotherapy. The primary purpose of the current study was to assess the protective effect of sodium selenite (SSe) on VIPN in vitro. Cytotoxicity effects of vincristine were evaluated using PC12 cells as a neuronal model. The cell culture studies were conducted in three groups based on the various treatments, including vincristine, SSe, and co-exposure to both compositions. Cell viability and cell cycle analyses were performed using MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The level of mRNA expression of and was determined using qRT-PCR. According to the results, vincristine decreased the survival rate of PC12 cells. After 24 and 48 h exposure to different concentrations of vincristine (0.1-20 μΜ), the survival rate of PC12 cells decreased as compared to the control group. The results showed that treatment with 5 μΜ of vincristine resulted in apoptosis of PC12 cells. Interestingly,co-incubation of these cells with SSe significantly reduced the cell damage induced by vincristine. Furthermore, vincristine induced the inhibition of the G2 phase in PC 12 cells, and using SSe in combination with vincristine eliminated the inhibition of the cell cycle in the G2 phase. Briefly, our in vitro preliminary study showed that SSe might protect PC12 cells from vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy during chemotherapy.

Persistent headaches sometimes concern incidental findings: A rare case of internal jugular vein agenesis in a 32-year-old man.

Absence of an internal jugular vein at birth is infrequent. These developmental anomalies affect approximately 0.05 percent to 0.25 percent of the population in the general community. Avascular abnormalities emerging from the internal jugular vein were detected during radiographic studies of chronic headache in an adult male patient. A dull headache troubled a 32-year-old man for more than 20 years. After taking most of NSAIDs and other medications for the condition, which persisted, a diagnosis of left internal jugular vein agenesis was made, which was most likely the cause of the headaches. When treating recurrent, persistent headaches in the emergency room and outdoor medical services, keep in mind that agenesis of the jugular venous system can play a role-one of the uncommon causes of headaches we have observed in our cases.

Road to a rare diagnosis: Description of novel unbalanced translocation causing partial trisomy 17p.

Trisomy 17 is a rare chromosomal disorder. Existing literature on the topic is limited and mostly refer to mosaic Trisomy 17 cases. Our report summarizes the 70-day clinical course of a late preterm neonate with partial Trisomy 17p karyotype 46,XY,der(14)t(14;17)(p11.1;p11.2) dpat. Trisomy 17 due to unbalanced translocation is rare, and our case elaborates the clinical presentation with intestinal malfunction without any anatomical pathology and urethral diverticulum and the ethical dilemma in decision-making. The male proband was born at 35 weeks with antenatal findings of multiple neurological and other abnormalities such as cystic hygroma, absent corpus collosum, high riding third ventricle, absent cavum septum pellucidum, indented occiput, absent ductus venous, and intrauterine growth restriction. The postnatal findings included significant facial dysmorphisms with short palpebral fissures, hypertelorism, low set ears, micrognathia, hirsutism, and single palmar creases, central hypotonia, and hyperreflexia of upper limbs bilaterally. Genital-urinary assessment revealed a urinary diverticulum and significantly underdeveloped scrotum with undescended testes. Infant had excessive irritability and resistance to sleep despite increasing doses of analgesia and sedation, and persistent respiratory and feeding difficulties. Enteral nutrition could not be established due to profuse and persistent diarrhea, necessitating use of total parenteral nutrition. Microarray assay exhibited a pathogenic copy number gain of approximately 21.4 Mb of chromosome region 17p13.3p11.2. Follow-up chromosome analysis and FISH revealed an abnormal male karyotype with a derivative chromosome 14, resulting from an unbalanced translocation between the short arm of one chromosome 14 and the short arm of one chromosome 17, effectively resulting in trisomy 17p11.2. It was derived from a paternal balanced t(14;17)(p11.1;p11.2) as shown by chromosome analysis and FISH studies. The rarity of this chromosomal disorder contributed to difficulty with prognosis and led to bioethical dilemma regarding life-sustaining measures and quality of life. Through shared decision-making processes and in consideration of poor prognosis, parents decided to withdraw life-sustaining care and the proband died at postnatal day of life 70.

Managing migraine on the frontline: Identifying disease, understanding burden, and incorporating CGRP pathway-targeting therapies in primary care.

Migraine is a common neurologic disorder with clinical phenotypes encompassing a variety of symptoms which all contribute to the burden felt by patients. In addition to negative impacts on a patient's quality of life, migraine has both direct medical costs and indirect costs related to missed work and decreased productivity that affect individuals as well as society at large. Unfortunately, migraine diagnoses are often missed, and many patients do not receive appropriate treatment. Primary care providers are in a key position to provide timely diagnosis and effectively manage migraine for many patients. This review aims to be a guide for improving migraine management in the primary care setting by providing strategies to overcome common challenges in migraine diagnosis; summarizing current knowledge on the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway-targeting therapies; and reviewing approaches to incorporate traditional and emerging treatment options into a patient-centric migraine management strategy.

Manual development for a multi-modal, dyadic intervention for persistent pain: A Qualitative Study.

People who experience persistent pain often require help from a family member, partner, or friend. These caregivers frequently have pain but are often not included in interventions. Caregivers and care receivers who both experience pain are more likely to be socially isolated, and experience communication conflict and decreased quality of life. Interventions should target caregiving dyads to help them manage their pain together. However, there are few intervention manuals or research protocols developed to support the dyad.

Feeling the music: The feel and sound of songs attenuate pain.

Extensive research has demonstrated that music and touch can separately attenuate perceived pain intensity. However, little research has investigated how auditory and tactile stimulation can synergistically enhance pain attenuation by music. In the current study, we investigated whether tactile stimulation can enhance music-induced analgesia for noxious force stimulation on the fingertip.

Search