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Dermatologic immune-related adverse events: The toxicity spectrum and recommendations for management.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a new class of oncologic drugs that act via the inhibition of checkpoints, thereby unlocking the immune system to attack cancer cells. Their emergence has radically changed the concept of therapy in oncologic patients. However, despite their overall favorable profile, their use has been associated with specific toxicities that may potentially affect treatment. The so-called immune-related adverse events (irAEs) mostly correspond to dysimmune reactions that can affect nearly every organ system, in theory, notably with the development of colitis, hepatitis, pneumonitis, or thyroiditis. Dermatologic irAEs are also among the most common, reaching a rate of approximately 40%. They are characterized by a wide phenotypic range, including mainly eczematous or lichenoid rashes, psoriasis, or autoimmune bullous disorders. Pruritus may accompany the aforementioned rashes or develop as an isolated symptom without the presence of skin changes. Depigmentation and hair/nail changes can be also observed in association with immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. In the current article, we present an overview of the clinical spectrum of irAEs and provide tips for early recognition and management of dermatologic irAEs. We highlight the role that dermatologists can play in relieving patients and allowing for oncologic treatment to be maintained and administered more safely.

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Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome: A Diagnostic Conundrum.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease is a vision-threatening autoimmune disease mediated by adaptive immune responses via T helper (Th) 1 and Th17 cell activation. The disease often starts with a flu-like illness followed by eye pain, headache, and dizziness later evolving into vision loss bilaterally. Other symptoms may include vitiligo and hearing loss. Diagnostic criteria include exclusion of other eye diseases, no history of recent penetrating eye trauma or surgery, bilateral ocular involvement with evidence of diffuse choroiditis, auditory and neurological findings (tinnitus and meningismus), and skin findings including depigmentation or alopecia. Retinal examination reveals bilateral uveitis with choroidal thickening (which may be seen as a sub-retinal fluid collection or serous retinal detachment). Treatment includes corticosteroid therapy with the addition of biological and immunosuppressive medications as needed to suppress the disease activity and ensure symptomatic improvement.

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Unravelling the pathophysiology of chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus.

For decades, itch related to chronic kidney disease (CKDaP) has been a clinical problem, but the aetiology and pathophysiology of CKDaP are still not yet fully understood-currently the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are thought to be multifactorial. As new therapeutic targets have recently been identified and clinical trials have shown promising results, our current understanding of the interrelationships has expanded significantly. Here we review the pathophysiology and recent findings on modulation and sensitization of itch contributing to the development of CKDaP, covering hypothesis regarding immune system dysfunction, metabolic changes, uremic toxin deposition, peripheral neuropathy and imbalances in the endogenous opioid system.

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Rare case of visceral myopathy.

Visceral myopathy is a rare bowel disease affecting peristalsis and causing pseudo-obstruction. There is no specific treatment for chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction caused by visceral myopathy. We report a case of a 30-year-old woman with visceral myopathy who, due to unsuccessful conservative treatment, underwent surgery. However, few surgeries did not give the desired result and the patient still suffers from chronic constipation, abdominal distension and pain. The diagnosis of visceral myopathy is complicated. Neither conservative nor surgical treatment of visceral myopathy is associated with good results.

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Pediatric Abdominal Pain in Children Presenting to the Emergency Department.

Undifferentiated abdominal pain is a common pediatric presentation to the emergency department (ED).

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Combined Chiropractic and Podiatric Treatment for Chronic Low Back Pain Concomitant With a Unilateral Pronated Foot: Protocol for a Multicenter Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

The purpose of this article is to describe a protocol to examine the feasibility of combining podiatric orthotic treatment with multimodal chiropractic treatment to treat chronic low back pain (CLBP) in those with a functional short leg on the same side as a unilateral pronated foot.

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Two cases of solitary fibrous tumor/hemangiopericytoma with different clinical features according to the World Health Organization classification: case report and review of the literature.

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) and hemangiopericytomas (HPCs) have been classified as one entity by the World Health Organization in 2016 due to gene fusion between NAB2 and STAT6. In the Central Nervous System (CNS), a hypocellular, collagenized tumor with a classic SFT phenotype is considered grade I, whereas more densely cellular tumors mostly corresponding to the HPC phenotype are classified as grade II or III (anaplastic) depending in mitotic count (<5 >5 mitoses per 10 high-power fields). Herein, we report two cases of targeted SFT/HPC in which pathological differences and WHO grading affect clinical features. A 75-year-old woman presented with headache and had an intradural extramedullary tumor at the C1 to C2 level. The tumor was well-circumscribed and attached only to the dura mater. It was totally removed and diagnosed SFT/HPC grade I. In contrast, a 68-year-old woman presented with numbness in the right upper limb and had an intradural extramedullary tumor at the medulla to C3 levels The tumor was irregularly marginated and strongly adherent to the spinal cord and involved the vertebral artery. It was sub totally removed and diagnosed SFT/HPC grade II. To the best of our knowledge, there are only 12 cases of SFT/HPC at the craniocervical junction, including the present two cases, of which four that were adherent to the spinal cord or involved the vertebral artery were grade II or III. Although the location of the tumor was almost the same, there were significant differences in the intraoperative findings according to the WHO grading.

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Early Anal Protrusion of Distal Ventriculoperitoneal Catheter Due to Iatrogenic Colonic Perforation: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt is one of the most commonly used therapeutic methods for hydrocephalus. And the incidence across the world of VP shunt complications varies from 20% to 45%. One of the rare complications is the catheter perforation of the abdominal viscera and its extrusion through the anal cavity. For the first time in the literature, this report addresses the presentation of iatrogenic perforation of the colon while inserting the peritoneal catheter of VP shunt. Here, we present the case of a 15-year-old boy who is known to have cerebral palsy and congenital hydrocephalus with a VP shunt since birth. He presented to the ER with a history of headache and episodes of vomiting and was diagnosed with VP shunt dysfunction. The patient was taken for an emergency operation for shunt revision and a new shunt was placed. Then the next day he developed signs and symptoms of peritonitis with the distal part of the catheter protruding from the anal cavity, the patient was taken to the operating room for an exploratory laparotomy, the distal catheter was removed and replaced with external ventricular drainage, intra-operatively it was shown that the catheter was inserted directly into the colon causing bowel perforation, This report raises important questions about the nature of VP shunt bowel perforation and discusses management options.

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Traumatic Inferior Glenohumeral Dislocation Associated With Rotator Cuff Avulsion Fracture: Arthroscopic-Assisted Fixation: A Technical Note.

Traumatic inferior glenohumeral dislocation with rotator cuff avulsion fracture rarely occurs and may cause chronic pain and diminished shoulder function. Several treatment options are available for this injury, such as open reduction internal fixation and arthroscopic-assisted reduction internal fixation. This technique describes a step-by-step technique to manage traumatic inferior glenohumeral dislocation with rotator cuff avulsion fracture using the simultaneous closed reduction procedure for traumatic inferior glenohumeral dislocation and the arthroscopic procedure with suture bridge technique for the treatment of rotator cuff avulsion fracture.

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Mesenteric Panniculitis: A Rare Condition in a Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a relatively common chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the synovial joints. Extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis are not uncommon and include a wide range of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurological complications. Gastrointestinal involvement in rheumatoid arthritis is rare, but it can be impactful on the quality of life of patients. We present the case of a 45-year-old woman, with rheumatoid arthritis on methotrexate, who presented with a one-week history of abdominal pain. The patient visited the outpatient clinic earlier and was diagnosed with indigestion and was offered symptomatic treatment which failed to provide any improvement. Abdominal examination revealed a distended abdomen with generalized tenderness and rebound. However, the abdomen was soft with no palpable masses. Initial laboratory examination, including inflammatory parameters, was normal. The patient underwent a computed tomography scan of the abdomen with intravenous contrast which demonstrated inhomogeneous hyperdense mesenteric fat giving a mass-like lesion with a displacement of adjacent bowel loops. Such findings conferred the diagnosis of mesenteric panniculitis. The patient was started on corticosteroid therapy with oral prednisolone 40 mg daily with close follow-up. She developed gradual improvement in her condition and the pain resolved completely after six days. The patient was re-evaluated after six months from discharge and she had no recurrence. The case highlighted a rare association of mesenteric panniculitis and rheumatoid arthritis. Physicians should keep this mesenteric panniculitis in mind when they encounter patients with the autoimmune disorders who presented with abdominal symptoms.

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