Search

Although SARS-CoV-2 commonly affects the respiratory system, several other major organ systems can be involved, including the gastrointestinal. The main gastrointestinal manifestations are diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. Few cases of acute pancreatitis along with COVID-19 infection have been reported. Current evidence stresses that both clinical and radiographic studies can be suggestive of acute pancreatitis in COVID-19 patients, even without any respiratory symptoms. We report a case of a female patient who presented with severe epigastric pain and vomiting and was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis on a COVID-19 infection. The patient had an otherwise unremarkable medical history. Upper respiratory symptoms were developed on day 2 of her hospital stay. Acute pancreatitis was attributed to the COVID-19 infection, following the exclusion of other common causes of pancreatitis. Our case points out that acute pancreatitis can be developed in asymptomatic COVID-19-infected patients as well as those with a mild form of COVID-19 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcalegenes faecalis is a gram-negative bacterium that typically causes opportunistic infections in humans. The growing resistance of A. faecalis to different antibiotics makes it difficult to treat in most cases. We present a case of 71-year-old male patient with type II diabetes mellitus who diagnosed with emphysematous cystitis, pyelonephritis and bacteraemia caused by Alcaligenes faecalis. There were not any optimal antibiotics available to initiate based on sensitivities. Intravenous vancomycin and ceftolozane-tazobactam were two of the antibiotics that were used to treat the patient successfully. Once it is found in cultures, it should be treated as a real pathogen rather than just a contaminant. Alcaligenes faecalis infections have become highly resistant to many regularly used antibiotics. A recommended course of antibiotic treatment for A. faecalis infection has not been sufficiently defined in the literature. It is advised to start empirical antimicrobial treatment for the most prevalent bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS) is a rare vascular disorder characterized by a triad of symptoms including capillary malformations known as port-wine stains, venous varicosities, and osseous- or soft-tissue hypertrophy of the affected extremity. The etiology remains ambiguous, although genetic factors have been implicated. We present a case of a 27-year-old female with KTS who presented with progressive right sided paresis. An intramedullary hemorrhage and syringomyelia of the cervical spine, along with a Chiari I malformation were identified in brain and cervical spine MRI. Her laboratory tests revealed significant coagulopathy. Our patient was initially treated conservatively before she discharged for both a scheduled neurosurgical procedure and splenectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening infection in HIV-positive patients. It usually presents with symptoms of lethargy, personality changes, memory disorders and cognitive decline. Fever is a common symptom, while specific meningeal signs such as headache, neck stiffness, and photophobia appear in 25 to 33% of patients. However, these symptoms are non-specific and unreliable in advanced HIV infection where the inflammatory response is impaired. Treatment in HIV-infected patients includes a combination of appropriate antifungal therapy, medical interventions aiming at the reduction of elevated intracranial pressure, and initiation of antiretroviral therapy at the appropriate time to avoid immune reconstitution syndrome (IRIS). We present a case of a patient diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis and newly diagnosed HIV infection in the Department of Internal Medicine at KAT General Hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease with a constantly increasing prevalence worldwide. It is well established that T2DM affects both the macro- and microvasculature, and its presence is associated with a high risk of acute and chronic cardiovascular events. Traditionally, the management of T2DM has been mainly focused on the optimization of blood glucose levels with the use of antidiabetic medications. During recent years, however, an impressive accumulation of evidence has arisen from studies designed to explore the plausible effects of new antidiabetic drugs on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with diabetes. This review article aims to emphasize the findings of these studies and to highlight the substantial role of the newer classes of antidiabetic drugs in treating T2DM in a holistic, cardiorenal-metabolic approach, thus shifting the paradigm from the traditional, simplistic, glucose-lowering approach., Competing Interests: Disclosures: Dimitrios G Chatzis, Konstantinos Kolokathis, Kalliopi Magounaki, Stefanos Chatzidakis, Konstantinos Avramidis, Marianna Leopoulou, Theodoros P Angelopoulos and John Doupis have no financial or non-financial relationships or activities to declare in relation to this article., (© Touch Medical Media 2021.)