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Steroids have long been used in inducing remission of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Chronic use, defined as therapy greater than 3 months, has been implicated in complications including increased hospital length of stay (LOS), infections, and even death. In our retrospective study, we aim to identify the complications of chronic steroid use in patients with IBD.The fourth quarter of 2015-2019 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used in this study. International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes were used to identify patients with a diagnosis of IBD and chronic steroid use. Adverse outcomes of chronic steroid use in IBD patients were analyzed, such as osteoporosis, opportunistic infections, mortality rate, and LOS. Cohorts were weighted using an algorithm provided by the NIS allowing for accurate national estimates.A total of 283 970 patients had a diagnosis of IBD. Of those, 18 030 patients had concurrent chronic steroid use. Racial disparities existed, with 77.4% White, 12.7% Black, and 6.0% Hispanic. Patients with a history of IBD and chronic steroid use were found to have higher odds of developing osteoporosis, opportunistic infections, and acute thromboembolic events but did not have higher odds of mortality.There is much controversy about whether IBD patients should be on chronic steroids for maintenance therapy and this study highlights the importance of this decision as patients on chronic steroid use had higher odds of developing adverse effects. These results stress the importance of monitoring patients on steroids and avoiding chronic use.

The efficiency of simulation-driven design optimization based on surrogate models, depends strongly on the suitability of the surrogate model for the simulation data on which it is based. We investigate adaptive surrogate modelling methods that maximize the efficiency and the robustness for any optimization problem. Specific techniques include: adaptive sampling, noise filtering by metamodel tuning, and small initial datasets to give maximum freedom to the adaptation. These methodological advancements are demonstrated for an analytical test problem, as well as the shape optimization of the DTMB 5415 ship model for calm-water resistance.

Objectives: With an ever-expanding medical knowledge base and requirements for clinical training, medical schools struggle to incorporate subspecialty education, such as otolaryngology (OTO), into curricula. This study aims to assess the current state of OTO education, and evaluate factors contributing to the extent of OTO teaching in United States (U.S.) medical schools. Methods: A 48-question survey evaluated the extent and practices of OTO teaching. The survey was distributed by email to all 155 LCME accredited U.S. allopathic medical schools in 2020 and 2021. Results: Sixty-eight unique responses were received (43.9% of U.S. allopathic medical schools). 36.8% (n = 25) of schools reported having formal expectations of OTO knowledge in their core curriculum. Only 1 school (1.5%) had a required OTO rotation; the majority of schools offered an optional third or fourth year clerkship rotation (76.5% and 95.6%, respectively). Schools with residency programs and who employ their faculty through an OTO or surgery department were more likely to have otolaryngologists teach basic science lectures and the Head & Neck exam, offer an optional third year rotation, and have formal expectations of rotating students. Conclusions: Medical schools with residency programs and who employ their faculty through an OTO or surgery department have more robust OTO curricula. Despite the ubiquity of OTO presentations across specialties, incorporation of OTO knowledge in U.S. medical school curricula remains variable, and at times limited.

Il presente rapporto sintetizza le attività di ottimizzazione numerica svolte all'interno della commessa 01CT19 per la Marina Militare Italiana

ObjectiveIn early 2019, a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 emerged and changed the course of civilization. Our study aims to analyze the association between acute liver failure (ALF) and mortality in patients infected with COVID-19. A retrospective analysis of 864 COVID-19-infected patients admitted to Nassau University Medical Center in New York was performed.DesignALF is identified by acute liver injury (elevations in liver enzymes), hepatic encephalopathy and an international normalised ratio greater than or equal to 1.5. These parameters were analysed via daily blood work and clinical assessment. Multivariate logistic regression model predicting mortality and controlling for confounders such as age, coronary artery disease, intubation, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and acute kidney injury were used to determine the association of ALF with mortality.ResultsA total of 624 patients, out of the initial 864, met the inclusion criteria—having acute hepatitis and COVID-19 infection. Of those 624, 43 (6.9%) patients developed ALF during the course of their hospitalisation and their mortality rate was 74.4%. The majority of patients with ALF were male (60.6%). The logistic model predicting death and controlling for confounders shows COVID-19 patients with ALF had a nearly four-fold higher odds of death in comparison to those without ALF (p=0.0063).ConclusionsFindings from this study suggest that there is a significant association between mortality and the presence of ALF in patients infected with COVID-19. Further investigation into patients with COVID-19 and ALF can lead to enhanced treatment regimens and risk stratification tools, which can ultimately improve mortality rates during these arduous times.

Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (CCB) commonly used to treat hypertension. In the United States, approximately 9,500 cases of CCB intoxication due to deliberate or inadvertent overdose were reported to poison centers in 2002. We present a case of a patient who presented with CCB overdose complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and recalcitrant shock all of which resolved with methylene blue therapy. We present a case of a 56-year-old African American woman who presented to the emergency department (ED) after intentional ingestion of large amounts of multiple pills likely consisting of cyclobenzaprine, amlodipine, losartan, and ibuprofen following an argument with her boyfriend. Treatment included insulin drip, 10% dextrose, and norepinephrine drip which was titrated up. First insulin drip and 10% dextrose were titrated up; however, vasopressor-resistant hypotension persisted, and the decision was made to administer methylene blue. Over 9,500 cases of CCB toxicity were reported to poison centers in the US in 2002. Although no definitive treatment is outlined, first-line therapy consists of IV calcium, high-dose insulin, and vasopressor support with either norepinephrine or epinephrine. Traditionally, methylene blue is used for methemoglobinemia and in cardiothoracic ICUs for post coronary artery bypass vasoplegia. It acts by selectively inhibiting nitric oxide-activated cyclic guanylate cyclase leading to decreased vasodilation of arteriolar smooth muscles improving vascular tone and systemic vascular resistance. In severe amlodipine overdose, experimental models demonstrate methylene blue improves HR and mean arterial pressure (MAP), improving survival rate. With few adverse side effects (green-tinged discoloration of urine, saliva, tears, and bodily fluids), methylene blue should be explored and implemented in the treatment of CCB overdose with refractory hypotension and ARDS.

Vasculitis, by definition, causes changes in the walls of blood vessels, including thickening, weakening, narrowing, and scarring, leading to inflammation and necrosis of the blood vessel walls. Small-vessel vasculitis is commonly associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), which activate cytokine-primed neutrophils and monocytes that express ANCA antigens proteinase 3 (PR3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) on their surface. The continuous injury and inflammation of these small vessels characterized by circulating immune complexes and antinuclear antibodies result in clinical features standard in all types of vasculitis. When a 59-year-old male with a history of heart failure, hypertension (on hydralazine 100 mg every eight hours for more than ten years), diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia presented to the hospital, he was complaining of hematuria, intermittent periumbilical abdominal pain, and 40-lb weight loss over four months. Initial evaluation showed symptomatic anemia and large blood cells with proteinuria on urine analysis. During his clinical course, the patient developed a new diffuse purpuric rash. Imaging showed systemic involvement with ground-glass opacities, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, and peripancreatic inflammatory changes, consistent with small-vessel vasculitis. Immunological tests confirmed ANCA-associated vasculitis, and kidney biopsy showed ANCA-mediated pauci-immune glomerulonephritis supported by the salvage technique used by pronase immunofluorescence, which provides evidence against the glomerular disease of the complex immune type in the setting of MPO-ANCA seropositivity. Despite the withdrawal of hydralazine and prompt initiation of immunosuppressive therapy and alternating sessions of plasmapheresis, the patient succumbed to acute massive pulmonary hemorrhage and subsequent demise. We recommend that patients on the common antihypertensive, hydralazine, should be monitored with non-specific inflammatory markers and, if warranted, with qualitative and quantitative assessment tools to measure inflammatory disease activity for possible complications of hydralazine drug-induced vasculitis or hydralazine ANCA-associated vasculitis (HAAV). Furthermore, cumulative dosages may be a predisposing factor for HAAV to present as a pulmonary-renal syndrome, which can be fulminant and fatal, despite aggressive efforts. Therefore, screening, revisiting therapy, early diagnosis, and prompt discontinuation of the drug are imperative.

Infective endocarditis (IE), commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, can affect multiple cardiac structures and lead to significant morbidity and mortality. We present a case of IE with extensive mitral valve involvement causing perforation and hemodynamic compromise. A 66-year-old Caucasian female presented to the emergency department for progressive altered mental status and lethargy. The patient and family denied history of intravenous drug use (IVDU) on interview. Physical exam revealed tachypnea, tachycardia, lethargy, and fluctuance in the right antecubital fossa draining serous fluid. Initial studies revealed a urinary tract infection, patchy bilateral opacities on chest x-ray, hypoxic respiratory failure, elevated lactate and cardiac markers, leukocytosis, and positive urine toxicology for opioid and benzodiazepine. She was intubated and admitted to the ICU, and later developed acute respiratory distress syndrome with requirement for vasopressors. Antibiotics were started, and blood cultures ultimately grew methicillin-sensitive S. aureus. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) results were negative. Cardiology was consulted for elevated cardiac markers that were due to myocardial injury in the setting of septic shock. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed a large mobile mass on the anterior mitral leaflet. Further evaluation with transesophageal echocardiogram revealed a large, mobile, and centrally necrotic vegetation on the medial portion of the mitral annulus extending to both the anterior and posterior leaflets. Doppler of the valve showed holosystolic retrograde ejection into the left atrium confirming a perforation. The patient was transferred urgently to a cardiothoracic surgery capable center for operative intervention on the mitral valve. IE is most commonly caused by S. aureus and seen in highest rates among patients with a prosthetic valve, congenital heart disease, and intracardiac device. However, roughly 50% of IE occurs in patients without any valvular disease. Other risk factors include IVDU, valvular disease, and prior history of endocarditis. Clinical diagnosis of IE is made using the Duke’s criteria, with echocardiogram and bacteremia playing a major role. The initial management involves empiric antibiotics until a pathogen is identified. Surgical consult is also suggested, and indications for surgery include heart failure due to valve dysfunction, uncontrolled infection, prevention of embolism, and hemodynamic compromise. Prompt recognition and intervention is crucial in the prevention of mortality in patients with IE leading to mitral perforation and hemodynamic compromise.

We aim to study the impact of pulmonary hypertension on acutely exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). We used the 2016 and 2017 National Readmission Database with an inclusion criterion of AECOPD as a primary and pulmonary hypertension as a secondary diagnosis using ICD 10-CM codes. Exclusion criteria were age under 18 years, non-elective admission, and discharge in December. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality during the index admission. Secondary outcomes were 30-day readmission rate, resource utilization, and instrument utilization including intubation, prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation >96 h (PIMV), tracheostomy, chest tube placement, and bronchoscopy during the index admission. A total of 627,848 patients with AECOPD were included in the study, and 68,429 (10.90%) patients had a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension was more common among females (61.14%) with a mean age of 71 ± 11.66, Medicare recipients (79.5%), higher Charlson comorbidity index, and treatment in an urban teaching hospital. Pulmonary hypertension was associated with greater mortality (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.89, p

We aimed to study the impact of Hepatic Cirrhosis (HC) on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Our study is a retrospective cohort study using the 2016-2017 National Readmission Database (NRD). NRD is part of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), organized and supported by means of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Patients were included if they were 18 years or older and had a principal diagnosis of COPD based on International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10- CM) codes and had a secondary diagnosis of HC. A total of 505,004 patients were included in the study with a diagnosis of COPD, 6196 (1.23%) of whom had HC. HC was found to be more common amongst male patients between the ages of 50 and 65 years. Medicare beneficiaries with high comorbidity burden, lower socioeconomic status, and those who received treatment in a large urban teaching hospital also had higher rates of HC. Patients with HC and COPD correlated to an increase of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio (aOR: 2.21, p

Wallenberg syndrome is the most common stroke of the posterior circulation. Diagnosis of Wallenberg syndrome is often overlooked as initial MRI may show no visible lesion. We present an atypical case of Wallenberg syndrome in which the initial MRI of the brain was normal. Our patient is a 65-year-old male who was brought in by emergency medical services complaining of right-sided facial droop, slurred speech, and left-sided weakness for one day. Physical examination showed decreased left arm and leg strength compared to the right side, decreased left facial temperature sensations, decreased left arm and leg temperature sensations, and difficulty sitting upright with an associated leaning towards the left side. An initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain with and without contrast revealed no abnormality. In light of such a high suspicion for stroke based on the patient’s neurologic deficits, a repeat MRI of the brain was performed three days later and exposed a small focus of bright signal (hyperintensity) on T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the left posterior medulla. Wallenberg syndrome, also known as lateral medullary syndrome or posterior inferior cerebellar artery syndrome, is a constellation of symptoms caused by posterior vascular accidents. The neurological deficits associated with this disease are due to damage of the lateral medulla, inferior cerebellar peduncle, nucleus of trigeminal nerve, nucleus and fibers of vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves, descending sympathetic tract, spinothalamic tract, and/or vestibular nuclei. MRI with DWI is the gold standard to confirm the diagnosis. Wallenberg syndrome has the potential to leave patients extremely debilitated. Early detection, management, and rehabilitation are critical for improving post-stroke recovery.

Benign proliferations of smooth muscle cells are known as leiomyomas; these proliferations can occur in the colon and are typically found incidentally. Colonic leiomyomas are very rare and are most commonly found in the descending or sigmoid colon. A 59-year-old Hispanic female presented to the gastroenterology clinic for surveillance colonoscopy. The biopsy showed a submucosal microscopic leiomyoma in the transverse colon. The treatment of choice for most colonic leiomyomas is surgical excision. This rare case favors the notion that endoscopic polypectomy may be superior to surgical excision, ultimately providing a less-invasive and less-costly procedure without complications or recurrence.

The undergraduate medical student educational experience was greatly altered this year due to coronavirus disease 2019. Many otolaryngology departments increased use of telemedicine technologies to avoid the need for in-person contact. Medical student incorporation into telemedicine clinics is important to increase their comfort with this format of patient care and to continue student exposure to the field of otolaryngology. The technical and logistical aspects of student inclusion in telemedicine clinics at our institution are detailed. While telemedicine is still an evolving tool for experienced practitioners, there are likely advantages to the use of telemedicine patient visits for student learning. These may include closer working relationships between student and preceptor, as well as increased opportunities for student observation and feedback. Medical students should not assume telemedicine experiences are of inferior educational quality to in-person patient interactions. Future research should investigate ways telemedicine could enhance student learning.

Clozapine is a Food and Drug Administration-approved, second-generation antipsychotic used to treat treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Known for its benefits in reducing extrapyramidal symptoms typically seen with antipsychotics, this drug carries a risk of agranulocytosis and, to a lesser-known extent, myocarditis. A 49-year-old patient, who was initially admitted to psychiatry with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia, was started on clozapine. After three weeks of being on clozapine, the patient developed fevers and was admitted under internal medicine for further workup of presumed systemic inflammatory response syndrome due to noninfectious etiology. The patient was also asymptomatic. He was subsequently found to have elevated cardiac markers and C-reactive protein levels as well as decreased left ventricular ejection fraction and findings consistent with myocarditis using echocardiography. Clozapine was discontinued and the patient was transferred to the cardiology service for guideline-directed medical management of myocarditis and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The overall mechanism of clozapine cardiotoxicity is not well understood. Proposed hypotheses include IgE-mediated acute hypersensitivity and cardiac myocyte damage via the release of proinflammatory cytokines. However, when suspecting myocarditis after initiating clozapine, continuous monitoring and cessation of the medication are crucial in preventing permanent damage to the myocardium. Given the cardiac risk of medication and potential lethality of myocarditis via progression to heart failure, it is important to observe physical examination findings as well as symptoms of the condition when initiating a patient on clozapine.

Dual left anterior descending artery (LAD) is a rare phenomenon that occurs in less than one percent of the population. To date, 12 variants have been identified. Proper identification of coronary vessels is crucial in emergent situations that require prompt action, such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We propose that our case highlights a novel 13th (type XIII) variant. We present the case of a 57-year-old African American woman with a past medical history of hypertension, glaucoma, cerebral vascular accident, dyslipidemia who presented to the ED complaining of atypical chest pain for one day duration. Electrocardiography showed normal sinus rhythm at 60 beats per minute (bpm), normal axis, normal intervals, no acute ischemic changes, and an isolated T wave inversion in DIII. Cardiac markers were within normal limits. The patient was started on aspirin 81mg, atorvastatin 40mg, and restarted on amlodipine 5mg. Echocardiography showed a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): 65%, normal right ventricular size and systolic function, mild mitral valve regurgitation, and mild aortic regurgitation. Computed tomographic (CT) angiography showed a novel subtype of dual LAD, the left circumflex and right coronary arteries were patent. The patient was discharged once stabilized and advised to follow up with cardiology. Dual LAD describes a rare anatomic variant in which two coronary branches, known as short and long LAD arteries, supply the territory normally supplied by the solitary LAD artery. To date, 12 variants of dual LAD, classified by origin and course of the short and long LAD arteries, have been described in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, the current case describes a novel subtype of dual LAD, variant XIII. The LAD originates as usual from the left main coronary artery (LMCA) and initially runs in the anterior interventricular groove for a short course before bifurcating into two long LADs which both leave the interventricular groove and course out to the apex. One of the vessels courses laterally and the other courses medially of the interventricular groove. It is pertinent to identify the coronary vessels accurately before certain interventions are taken. Acknowledgement of this phenomenon can help guide accurate management in the future for patients with this condition.

A multi-fidelity Gaussian process (MF-GP) is presented for the forward uncertainty quantification (UQ) of the performance of an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) subject to uncertain operating conditions. The ASV is a shallow water autonomous multipurpose platform (SWAMP), designed for the acquisition of the environmental parameters in the extremely shallow waters of wetlands. The quantity of interest (QoI) is the hydrodynamic resistance of the SWAMP subject to variable payload and longitudinal position of its center of mass. The QoI is assessed by a linear potential-flow solver coupled with the rigid body equations of motion. Multiple fidelity levels are defined based on the computational grid size and the level of coupling between hydrodynamic loads and motions. The MF-GP is based on a low-fidelity surrogate, corrected with an additive function, representing the error between higher and lower fidelity solutions. The MF-GP provides the prediction with the associated uncertainty. The latter is used to adaptively train the MF-GP, adding points where the prediction uncertainty is maximum. Finally, the UQ of the QoI is performed by Monte Carlo sampling on the MF-GP surrogate. The first four statistical moments, the 95th percentile, and the probability density function of the QoI are assessed. MF-GP is compared to its single-fidelity (high-fidelity based) counterpart, showing overall better results.

The present work deals with a 10 × 10 array of (Lu0.7Y0.3)AP:Ce 2 × 2 × 10 mm3 pixels, manufactured by Crytur (Cz), that has been utilized in a previous paper. The crystal-array has been coupled to an 8 × 8 anodes H10966 model Hamamatsu (Jp) Position-Sensitive Photo Multiplier Tube (PSPMT) connected to electronics for single events scintillation read-out. The response of such a detector has been studied under Co-57, or Ba-133, or Cs-137 gamma-ray emissions, as well as with Lu-176 self-activity only. The present work is aimed at characterizing the individual crystal-pixels’ single-event responses in terms of pulse-height and of spreads of the 2-D charge-distributions. In particular, the charge-spread characterization pointed out several defects in the crystal-array assembly, not detected by usual pulse-height studies. The diagnostic method based on charge-spread analysis seems also well suited for scintillation array characterizations for gamma-ray detectors studies, as well as for quality controls of such pixelated devices during the lifetime of systems in the field of radionuclide medical imaging (SPECT and PET). The method is also appropriate for other applications where gamma-ray spectroscopy is required, like nuclear physics, astrophysics, astroparticle physics, homeland security, and non-proliferation.

BackgroundPatients with autoimmune systemic diseases (ASDs) can be counted among frail populations as regards the predisposition to COVID-19 due to the frequent visceral organ involvement and comorbidities, as well as the ongoing immunomodulating treatments.ObjectivesOur long-term multicenter telephone survey prospectively investigated the prevalence, prognostic factors, and outcomes of COVID-19 in Italian ASD patients during the first 3 pandemic waves.MethodsA large series of 3,918 ASD patients (815 M, 3103 F; mean age 59±12SD years) was consecutively recruited at the 36 referral centers of COVID-19 & ASD Italian Study Group. In particular, ASD series encompassed the following conditions: rheumatoid arthritis (n: 981), psoriatic arthritis (n: 471), ankylosing spondylitis (n: 159), systemic sclerosis (n: 1,738), systemic lupus (172), systemic vasculitis (n: 219), and a miscellany of other ASDs (n: 178). The development of COVID-19 was recorded by means of telephone survey using standardized symptom-assessment questionnaire (1).ResultsA significantly increased prevalence of COVID-19 (8.37% vs 6.49%; pInterestingly, a significantly higher COVID-19-related death rate was observed in systemic sclerosis patients compared to the Italian general population (6.29% vs 2.95%; p=0.018). Other adverse prognostic factors to develop COVID-19 were the patients’ older age, male gender, pre-existing ASD-related interstitial lung involvement, and chronic steroid treatment. Conversely, patients treated with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) showed a significantly lower prevalence of COVID-19 compared to those without (3.58% vs 46.99%; p=0.000), as well as the chronic administration of low dose aspirin in a subgroup of SSc patients (with 5.57% vs without 27.84%; p=0.000).ConclusionThe cumulative impact of COVID-19 on ASD patients after the first 3 pandemic waves revealed less severe than that observed during the first phase of pandemic (1), especially with regards to the death rate that was comparable to the Italian general population in spite of the increased prevalence of complicating COVID-19 in the same ASD series.Ongoing long-term treatments, mainly csDMARDs, might usefully contribute to generally positive outcomes of in this frail patients’ population.Of note, a significantly increased COVID-19-related mortality was recorded in only SSc patients’ subgroup, possibly favored by pre-existing lung fibrosis. Among different ASD, SSc deserves special attention, since it shares the main pathological alterations with COVID-19, namely the interstitial lung involvement and the endothelial injury responsible for diffuse microangiopathy.Besides SSc, the patients’ subgroups characterized by older age, chronic steroid treatment, pre-existing interstitial lung disease, and/or impaired COVID-19 vaccine response (1-3), may deserve well-designed prevention and management strategies.References[1]Ferri C, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020 Oct 14 doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-219113.[2]Ferri C et al. J Autoimmun. 2021 Dec;125:102744. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2021.102744.[3]Visentini M et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2021 Nov 24. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-221248Disclosure of InterestsNone declared

Objective Granular cell tumors of the larynx are exceedingly rare in the pediatric population. The purpose of this review is to further characterize features of these tumors and trends in their management. Methods A search of the PubMed, Ovid Medline and Cochrane Collaboration databases was undertaken using the terms: pediatric, child, laryngeal, larynx, granular cell tumor, granular cell myoblastoma, benign mass. Results A total of 38 children with laryngeal granular cell tumor were identified. Their ages ranged from 4 to 16 years. The most common presenting symptom was dysphonia. Five patients were previously treated for asthma. Within the laryngeal subsites, 49% presented with subglottic tumors, while 43% were found at the level of the glottis. Subglottic tumors were found anteriorly 42% of the time and posteriorly 53% of the time. Multifocal disease was present in four patients. Around half of patients were treated by cold steel excision and/or CO2 laser, 31% through laryngofissure, and two required laryngectomy. There were four documented cases of recurrence ranging from 4 months to 3 years after treatment. Conclusions Laryngeal granular cell tumor during childhood occurs most commonly in the subglottis. Posterior laryngeal tumors were more frequent than anterior tumors. Patients should be carefully evaluated for multifocal disease. Long-term surveillance for recurrence is recommended.

This extended abstract is a summary of [4], where a comparison of two methods for the forward uncertainty quantification (UQ) of complex industrial problems is presented. Specifically, the performance of Multi-Index Stochastic Collocation (MISC) and adaptive multi-fidelity Stochastic Radial Basis Functions (SRBF) surrogates is assessed for the UQ of a rollon/roll-off passengers ferry advancing in calm water and subject to two operational uncertainties, namely the ship speed and draught. The CFD simulations needed by both methods are performed by a multi-grid Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes solver.

Hypertriglyceridemia is a well-established cause of acute pancreatitis. Initial treatment for hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis has consisted of supportive measures; however, triglyceride levels can remain high, causing prolonged organ failure and sepsis. Plasmapheresis has been proposed as a treatment option to effectively reduce triglyceride levels. We present a patient case of hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis that was treated with standard acute pancreatitis interventions along with plasmapheresis, after which triglyceride levels reduced significantly. Further research is necessary to determine the clinical benefits of plasmapheresis in treating this type of pancreatitis.

TOPIC: Critical Care TYPE: Medical Student/Resident Case Reports INTRODUCTION: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a medication used in the treatment of malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The drug gained popularity during the early stage of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as an emergency use therapy. It has since been shown in numerous studies that HCQ can actually cause more harm than good. However, its media attention has led to an increase in overdose cases, which can be fatal due to cardiac complications. We present a case of a patient with access to HCQ for COVID-19 prophylaxis who overdosed in a suicide attempt with a favorable outcome. CASE PRESENTATION: A 38-year old Asian American female with no significant history was found 4-6 hours after ingesting approximately 27 grams of oral HCQ. She was admitted to the intensive care for shock and severe hypokalemia (1.7 mmol/L). The pills were obtained from an overseas third party vendor for COVID-19 prophylaxis. Vitals on arrival were BP 60/30 mmHg, HR 66 bpm, temperature 94.9 fahrenheit. Based on previous case reports and studies on chloroquine, the patient was started on an epinephrine and versed drip, including 2 doses of 60mg diazepam. A single dose of activated charcoal was administered. Initial electrocardiogram revealed conduction abnormalities with QT interval of 549ms (629ms with Bazett's correction). The patient received 240 meq of potassium in a span of 25 hour and began to develop hyperkalemia of up to 6.4 mmol/L. After 48 hours, the patient's blood pressure and potassium levels normalized. On hospital day 4, she was successfully extubated with a favorable remaining hospital course. DISCUSSION: The most life threatening sequelae seen in HCQ overdoses are cardiac arrhythmias due to electrolyte imbalances, mainly potassium. Hyperkalemia after initial severe hypokalemia has been observed in numerous case reports of HCQ overdose and thought to be intracellular shifts rather than relative depletion. Thus, caution should be taken in the correction of initial hypokalemia. A review of previous cases shows an inverse relationship between potassium and HCQ levels, as with our case. Reported toxicity half-life ranges between 11.6 and 31 hours. Our case had an approximate peak concentration of 27 µg/ml after 4-6 hours after ingestion with an estimated observed half-life of 27 hours based on recorded concentrations over 45 hours, assuming 1st order elimination. Our patient's hypokalemia began to reverse during the 2nd half-life period which is also consistent with other reported cases. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that during the 2nd half-life, when more than 50% of the drug is eliminated, is the period when correction of hypokalemia should be taken with more caution. While these are only observations based on a few case reports, they can provide more insight on how to better manage electrolyte imbalances which can avoid fatal arrhythmias and circulatory arrest. REFERENCE #1: de Olano, J., Howland, M. A., Su, M. K., Hoffman, R. S., & Biary, R. (2019). Toxicokinetics of hydroxychloroquine following a massive overdose. The American journal of emergency medicine, 37(12), 2264-e5. REFERENCE #2: Jordan, P., Brookes, J. G., Nikolic, G., Le Couteur, D. G., & Le Couteur, D. (1999). Hydroxychloroquine overdose: toxicokinetics and management. Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology, 37(7), 861-864. REFERENCE #3: Palatnick, W., Meatherall, R., Sitar, D., & Tenenbein, M. (1997). Hydroxychloroquine kinetics after overdose. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol, 35, 496.Miller, D., & Fiechtner, J. (1989). Hydroxychloroquine overdosage. The Journal of rheumatology, 16(1), 142-143. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Fatima Anjum, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by James Kang, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Hyfaa Mashaal, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by James Pellegrini, source=Web Response