Rejected

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a chronic fibro-inflammatory disease of the pancreas that belongs to the spectrum of immunoglobulin G-subclass 4-related diseases (IgG4-RD). It is sometimes associated with a visible pancreatic mass mimicking pancreatic cancer on imaging. The most common presentations include abdominal pain and obstructive jaundice in elderly men. Similar to other IgG4-RD, it can cause cholangiopathy, nephritis, orbital pseudotumor, and extensive lymphadenopathy. Here, we present the case of a 53-year-old female with abdominal pain and obstructive jaundice, which was diagnosed as AIP in association with significantly elevated tumor marker carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9). She responded to biliary decompression and steroid treatment, potentially avoiding extensive surgical intervention. On follow-up, her CA 19-9 and IgG4 levels were normalized. AIP should be high on the differential diagnosis during the evaluation of a pancreatic mass.

The goal of the current study was to review and meta-analyze the literature on relationships between child distress expression behaviors (e.g., cry) and three clusters of child distress regulation behaviors (disengagement of attention, parent-focused behaviors, and self-soothing) in the first three years of life. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020157505). Unique abstracts were identified through Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO ( = 13,239), and 295 studies were selected for full-text review. Studies were included if they provided data from infants or toddlers in a distress task, had distinct behavioral measures of distress expression and one of the three distress regulation clusters, and assessed the concurrent association between them. Thirty-one studies were included in the meta-analysis and rated on quality. Nine separate meta-analyses were conducted, stratified by child age (first, second, and third year) and regulation behavior clusters (disengagement of attention, parent-focused, and self-soothing). The weighted mean correlations for disengagement of attention behaviors were -0.28 (year 1), -0.44 (year 2), and -0.30 (year 3). For parent-focused behaviors, the weighted mean effects were 0.00 (year 1), 0.20 (year 2), and 0.11 (year 3). Finally, the weighted mean effects for self-soothing behaviors were -0.23 (year 1), 0.25 (year 2), and -0.10 (year 3). The second year of life showed the strongest relationships, although heterogeneity of effects was substantial across the analyses. Limitations include only analyzing concurrent relationships and lack of naturalistic distress paradigms in the literature.

The extent to which sinonasal symptoms impact the likelihood of major depressive disorders in chronic rhinosinusitis patients with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) remains incompletely characterized. In this study, we sought to determine whether individual symptom clusters differentially impact the likelihood of depression in a cohort of CRSwNP patients.

Despite improvement in pain management programs, labor pain is mostly ignored especially in low and middle-income countries.

The metabolite itaconate has both anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. However, its influence on chronic pain is unclear. Here, we demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of the itaconate derivative dimethyl itaconate (DI) alleviates chronic pain symptoms, such as allodynia and hyperalgesia, in spinal nerve ligation (SNL) and inflammatory pain models. Moreover, intraperitoneal DI reduced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines (i.e., interleukin-1β, tumour necrosis factor-alpha) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG), spinal cord and hind paw tissues, suppressed the activation of macrophages in DRG and glial cells in the spinal dorsal horn and decreased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in the DRG and spinal cord. DI boosted nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) levels in the DRG and spinal cord of SNL mice. Intraperitoneal administration of the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 abolished the analgesic effect of DI and decreased the expression of Nrf2 in the DRG and spinal cord. Similarly, administration of DI potently reversed the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory effect in microglia. Reduction of endogenous itaconate levels by pretreatment with immune-responsive gene 1 (IRG1) siRNA blocked Nrf2 expression, which impaired the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of DI in vitro. Therefore, our findings reveal for the first time that intraperitoneal DI elicits anti-inflammatory effect and sustained chronic pain relief, which may be regarded as a promising therapeutic agent for chronic pain treatment.

This corrects the article on p. 225 in vol. 22, PMID: 32901462.

Moderate to severe pain affects up to two-thirds of children with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and is associated with worse fatigue and physical functioning. This research aims to gain a greater insight into pain experienced by these children.

Gastric ischemia is a condition of hypo-perfusion associated with hypotension, vasculitis, and thromboembolism. We report a case of a gastric outflow obstruction due to sizeable visceral artery thrombo-embolism leading to the ischemic conclusion, the frailty, multiple comorbidities deeming general anesthesia (GA) risky, and the patient's decision not to have an open surgery under GA. Invasive procedures in patients with similar profiles like our patient are usually not risk-free, this leads the intervention radiology team to believe a minimally invasive procedure while avoiding GA might be optimal. A 63-year-old female with multiple comorbidities came eight weeks after significant surgery complaining of severe acute epigastric pain, abdominal distention and rigidity, and persistent vomiting. Further investigations showed obstruction in the gastric antrum and pyloric canal. Three separate endoscopic attempts to find and cross the stricture failed. Firstly, gastrostomy access was established, but due to the stomach being massively distended, passing a guidewire through the pylorus failed despite using multiple hydrophilic wires and pre-shaped catheters, this is due to the collapsed pylorus. Subsequently, two attempts under ultrasound guidance to puncture the duodenal bulb and pass a wire and catheter through the antrum stricture were unsuccessful, and another attempt was considered of high risk. An alternative approach through the gallbladder was established, and cholangiography was performed to delineate the anatomy. Then an approach through the right hepatic duct and ampulla of Vater was successfully performed. The attempted passage through the stricture was successful. The dilation was successful, and the patient tolerated both fluid and solids orally. Due to having such a frail patient, interventions of minimal invasiveness and favorable outcome are welcomed. This case report suggests that this technique showed satisfactory results and achieved the goal to improve the overall quality of life where the patient had a good oral intake with no post-operation complications.

Dermatitis herpetiformis is a rare chronic, autoimmune bullous disease linked to gluten sensitivity with intense pruritus and characteristic skin eruptions. Etiopathogenesis is complex and not fully understood. It is currently considered to be a specific cutaneous manifestation of celiac disease. Genetic, environmental and immunological factors influence both conditions. Exposure to gluten is the starting point of an inflammatory cascade leading to the formation of circulating IgA antibodies against tissue transglutaminase and skin immune IgA deposition followed by skin lesions. Binding of the immune complex deposits of IgA transglutaminases and epidermal antibodies with enzymes in the papillary dermis stimulates complement activation, neutrophil influx, proinflammatory cytokine release and overproduction of matrix metalloproteinases. We have collected current knowledge of the pathogenesis of dermatitis herpetiformis.