General Medicine Assignment
Pulmonology (Case-1)
1Q) what is the evolution of the symptomatology in this patient interms of an event timeline and where is the anatomical localisation for the problem and what is the primary etiology of the patient problem ?
1Ans)Evolution of symptomatology
1st episode of sob - 20 yr back
2nd episode of sob - 12 yr back
From then she has been having yearly episodes for the past 12 yrs
Diagnosed with diabetis - 8yrs back
Anemia and took iron injections - 5yr ago
Generalised weakness - 1 month back
Diagnosed with hypertension - 20 days back
Pedal edema - 15 days back
Facial puffiness- 15 yrs back
Anatomical location of problem - lungs
Primary etiology of patient- usage of chulha since 20 yrs might be due to chronic usage
2Q)what r the mechanism of action indication and efficacy over placebo of each of the phramacological and nonphramacological interventions used for this patient?
2Ans)~Head end elevation :# MOA;
.improves oxygenation
.decreases incidence VAP
.increases hemodynamic performance
.increases end expiratory lung volume
.decreases incidence of aspiration
#Indication: .head injury
.meningitis
.pneumonia
~ oxygen inhalation to maintain spo2
~Bipap:non invasive method
#MOA :assist ventilation by delivering positive expiratory and inspiratory pressure with out need for ET incubation9
3. Cause for current acute excerbation - it could be due any infection
4.could the ATT affected her symptoms if so how?
Yes ATT affected her symptoms
Isoniazid and rifampcin -nephrotoxic - raised RFT was seen
Cardiology (Case-2a)
QUESTION: What are the possible causes for heart failure in this patient?
the patient has various comorbidities which could have led to a heart failure
1. The patient was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus 30 years ago and has been taking human mixtrad insulin daily and was also diagnosed with diabetic triopathy indicating uncontrolled diabetes which is major risk factor for heart failure
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5494155/
2. The patient was also diagnosed with hypertension 19 yrs. ago which is also a risk factor for heart failure
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31472888/
3. He is a chronic alcoholic since 40 years which is a risk factor towards heart failure
https://www.nmcd-journal.com/article/S0939-4753(19)30360-6/fulltext
The findings in this article provide longitudinal evidence that moderate and heavy alcohol consumption are associated with decreased LVEF and trend towards a higher risk of incident LV systolic dysfunction, compared to light drinkers.
4. The patient has elevated creatinine and AST/ALT ratios is >2 and was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease stage IV. CKD is also one of the risk factors for heart failure
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2900793/
QUESTION: what is the reason for anaemia in this case?
The patient has normocytic normochromic anaemia. it could be anaemia of a chronic disease as the patient is diagnosed with CKD stage IV.
Chronic kidney disease results in decreased production of erythropoietin which in turn decreases the production of red blood cells from the bone marrow.
Patient’s with anaemia and CKD also tend to have deficiency in nutrients like iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid essential in making healthy red blood cells
QUESTION: What is the reason for blebs and non-healing ulcer in the legs of this patient?
The most common cause for blebs and non-healing ulcer in this patient is diabetes mellitus. CKD is also known to cause delay in healing of wounds along with poorly controlled diabetes. Anaemia can also slow down the process of healing due to low oxygen levels.
QUESTION: What sequence of stages of diabetes has been noted in this patient?
There are 4 stages in type 2 diabetes- insulin resistance, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and type 2 diabetes and vascular complications, including retinopathy, nephropathy or neuropathy and, or, related microvascular events.
The patient is diagnosed with diabetic triopathy exhibiting sequence of neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy
The patient has been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, CKD stage IV and shows signs of diabetic neuropathy such as numbness
Cardiology (Case-2b)
1) What is the evolution of the symptomatology in this patient in terms of an event timeline and where is the anatomical localization for the problem and what is the primary etiology of the patient's problem?
Ans: *the anatomical site is BLOOD VESSELS;
* ETIOLOGY:
The physical stress of hypertension on the arterial wall also results in the aggravation and acceleration of atherosclerosis, particularly of the coronary and cerebral vessels. Moreover, hypertension appears to increase the susceptibility of the small and large arteries to atherosclerosis.
The most likely cause of arterial thrombosis is artery damage due to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis occurs when a person has a buildup of plaque on the walls of their arteries. The arteries then begin to narrow and harden, which increases a person's risk of developing arterial thrombosis.
2) What are mechanism of action, indication and efficacy over placebo of each of the pharmacological and non pharmacological interventions used for this patient?
Ans: PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS
1. TAB. Dytor
mechanism: Through its action in antagonizing the effect of aldosterone, spironolactone inhibits the exchange of sodium for potassium in the distal renal tubule and helps to prevent potassium loss.
2. TAB. Acitrom
mechanism: Acenocoumarol inhibits the action of an enzyme Vitamin K-epoxide reductase which is required for regeneration and maintaining levels of vitamin K required for blood clotting
3. TAB. Cardivas
mechanism:Carvedilol works by blocking the action of certain natural substances in your body, such as epinephrine, on the heart and blood vessels. This effect lowers your heart rate, blood pressure, and strain on your heart. Carvedilol belongs to a class of drugs known as alpha and beta-blockers.
4. INJ. HAI S/C
MECHANISM:Regulates glucose metabolism
Insulin and its analogues lower blood glucose by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake, especially by skeletal muscle and fat, and by inhibiting hepatic glucose production; insulin inhibits lipolysis and proteolysis and enhances protein synthesis; targets include skeletal muscle, liver, and adipose tissue
5.TAB. Digoxin
mechanism:
Digoxin has two principal mechanisms of action which are selectively employed depending on the indication:
Positive Ionotropic: It increases the force of contraction of the heart by reversibly inhibiting the activity of the myocardial Na-K ATPase pump,
an enzyme that controls the movement of ions into the heart.
6. Hypoglycemia symptoms explained
7. Watch for any bleeding manifestations like Petechiae, Bleeding gums.
8. APTT and INR are ordered on a regular basis when a person is taking the anticoagulant drug warfarin to make sure that the drug is producing the desired effect.
3) What is the pathogenesis of renal involvement due to heart failure (cardio renal syndrome)? Which type of cardio renal syndrome is this patient?
Ans: *cardiorenal syndrome type 4 is seen in this patient.
4) What are the risk factors for atherosclerosis in this patient?
Ans: effect of hypertention
They can also impair blood vessels' ability to relax and may stimulate the growth of smooth muscle cells inside arteries. All these changes can contribute to the artery-clogging process known as atherosclerosis.
5) Why was the patient asked to get those APTT, INR tests for review?
Ans: APTT and INR are ordered on a regular basis when a person is taking the anticoagulant drug warfarin to make sure that the drug is producing the desired effect.
Here, an INR of 3-4.5 is recommended. Warfarin should be started in conjunction with heparin or low molecular weight heparin when the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism is confirmed, although local protocols may vary in their starting doses and titration schedule.
Cardiology (Case-2c)
1) What is the evolution of the symptomatology in this patient in terms of an event timeline and where is the anatomical localization for the problem and what is the primary etiology of the patient's problem?
Ans: *the anatomical location ofetiology is BLOOD VESSELS.
*myocardial infarction is usually due to thrombotic occlusion of a coronary vessel caused by rupture of a vulnerable plaque. Ischemia induces profound metabolic and ionic perturbations in the affected myocardium and causes rapid depression of systolic function
2) What are mechanism of action, indication and efficacy over placebo of each of the pharmacological and non pharmacological interventions used for this patient?
Ans: PHARMACOLOGICAL INNTERVENTION
1.TAB. ASPIRIN
mechanism:Aspirin inhibits platelet function through irreversible inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) activity. Until recently, aspirin has been mainly used for primary and secondary prevention of arterial antithrombotic events.
2.TAB ATORVAS
mechanism:Atorvastatin competitively inhibits 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. By preventing the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, statin medications decrease cholesterol production in the liver.
3.TAB CLOPIBB
mechanism:The active metabolite of clopidogrel selectively inhibits the binding of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) to its platelet P2Y12 receptor and the subsequent ADP- mediated activation of the glycoprotein GPIIb/IIIa complex, thereby inhibiting platelet aggregation. This action is irreversible.
4.INJ HAI
mechanism:Regulates glucose metabolism
Insulin and its analogues lower blood glucose by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake, especially by skeletal muscle and fat, and by inhibiting hepatic glucose production; insulin inhibits lipolysis and proteolysis and enhances protein synthesis; targets include skeletal muscle, liver, and adipose tissue
5.ANGIOPLASTY
mechanism:Angioplasty, also known as balloon angioplasty and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), is a minimally invasive endovascular procedure used to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries or veins, typically to treat arterial atherosclerosis.
3) Did the secondary PTCA do any good to the patient or was it unnecessary?
Ans:the second PCI was NOT necessary in this patient.
PCI performed from 3 to 28 days after MI does not decrease the incidence of death, reinfarction or New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV heart failure but it is associated with higher rates of both procedure-related and true ST elevation reinfarction.3 A retrospective analysis of the clinical data revealed The Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) Risk Score of 4 predicting a 30-day mortality of 7.3% in this patient. Late PCI leads to the increased risks of periprocedural complications, long-term bleeding, and stent thrombosis.
The high incidence of CAD and the increasing need for PCI provides an opportunity to evaluate its appropriate use and highlight potential overuse. PCI is frequently reported to be overused and inappropriately recommended. Behnke et al defined overuse as ‘use of unnecessary care when alternatives may produce similar outcomes, resulting in a higher cost without increased value’.8Overuse causes a heavy financial burden on people living in countries, where fee-for-service and ill-regulated private healthcare provides much of the patient care. As a result, cost of healthcare increases and causes potential harm to the patients.
Cardiology (Case-2d)
) What is the evolution of the symptomatology in this patient in terms of an event timeline and where is the anatomical localization for the problem and what is the primary etiology of the patient's problem?
TIMELINE OF EVENTS-
• Diabetes since 12 years - on medication
• Heart burn like episodes since an year- relieved without medication
• Diagnosed with pulmonary TB 7 months ago- completed full course of treatment, presently sputum negative.
• Hypertension since 6 months - on medication
• Shortness of breath since half an hour-SOB even at rest
Anatomical localisation - Cardiovascular system
Etiology: The patient is both Hypertensive and diabetic , both these conditions can cause
- Atherosclerosis: there is build up of fatty and fibrous material inside the wall of arteries.(PLAQUE)
2) What are mechanism of action, indication and efficacy over placebo of each of the pharmacological and non pharmacological interventions used for this patient?
Pharmacological interventions:
TAB MET XL 25 MG/STAT-contains Metoprolol as active ingredient
MOA: METOPROLOL is a cardiselective beta blocker
Beta blockers work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. Beta blockers cause your heart to beat more slowly( negative chronotropic effect)
and with less force( negative inotropic effect). Beta blockers also help open up your veins and arteries to improve blood flow.
Indications: it is used to treat Angina, High blood pressure and to lower the risk of hear attacks .
EFFICACY STUDIES.
Patients were randomized to one of four treatment arms: placebo or ER metoprolol (0.2 mg/kg, 1.0 mg/kg, or 2.0 mg/kg). Data were analyzed on 140 intent-to-treat patients.
Results: mean baseline BP was 132/78 +/- 9/9 mmHg. Following 4 weeks of treatment, mean changes in sitting BP were: placebo = -1.9/-2.1 mmHg; ER metoprolol 0.2 mg/kg = -5.2/-3.1 mmHg; 1.0 mg/kg = -7.7/-4.9 mmHg; 2.0 mg/kg = -6.3/-7.5 mmHg. Compared with placebo, ER metoprolol significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) at the 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg dose (P = .027 and P = .049, respectively), reduced diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at the 2.0 mg/kg dose (P = .017), and showed a statistically significant dose response relationship for the placebo-corrected change in DBP from baseline. There were no serious adverse events or adverse events requiring study drug discontinuation among patients receiving active therapy.
Non pharmacological intervention advised to this patient is: PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION.
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention is a non-surgical procedure that uses a catheter (a thin flexible tube) to place a small structure called a stent to open up blood vessels in the heart that have been narrowed by plaque buildup ( atherosclerosis).
3) What are the indications and contraindications for PCI?
INDICATIONS:
Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
Non–ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS)
Unstable angina.
Stable angina.
Anginal equivalent (eg, dyspnea, arrhythmia, or dizziness or syncope)
High risk stress test findings.
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
Intolerance for oral antiplatelets long-term.
Absence of cardiac surgery backup.
Hypercoagulable state.
High-grade chronic kidney disease.
Chronic total occlusion of SVG.
An artery with a diameter of <1.5 mm.
4) What happens if a PCI is performed in a patient who does not need it? What are the harms of overtreatment and why is research on overtesting and overtreatment important to current healthcare systems?
Although PCI is generally a safe procedure , it might cause serious certain complications like
A)Bleeding
B) Blood vessel damage
C) Allergic reaction to the contrast dye used
D) Arrhythmias
E) Need for emergency coronary artery bypass grafting .
Because of all these complications it is better to avoid PCI in patients who do not require it.
⁃ OVER TESTING AND OVER TRAETMENT HAVE BECOME COMMMIN IN TODAY’S MEDICAL PRACTICE.
⁃ Research on overtesting and overtreatment is important as they are more harmful than useful.
Harms to patients
. Performing screening tests in patients with who at low risk for the disease which is being screened.
For example:Breast Cancer Screenings Can Cause More Harm Than Good in Women Who Are at Low Risk. A harmless lump or bump could incorrectly come up as cancer during routine breast screenings. This means that some women undergo surgery, chemotherapy or radiation for cancer that was never there in the first place.
.Overuse of imaging techniques such as X- RAYS AND CT SCANS as a part of routine investigations.
Overuse of imaging can lead to a diagnosis of a condition that would have otherwise remained irrelevant - OVERDIAGNOSIS.
Also the adverse effects due to this are more when compared to the benefits.
.Overdiagnosis through overtesting can psychologically harm the patient.
Hospitalizations[41] for those with chronic conditions who could be treated as outpatients[ can lead to economic burden and a feeling of isolation.
Harms to health care systems
The use of expensive technologies and machineries are causing burden on health care systems.
Gastroenterology (Case-3a)
1) What is causing the patient's dyspnea? How is it related to pancreatitis
1ans:the cause of dyspnea might be PLEURAL EFFUSION
2) Name possible reasons why the patient has developed a state of hyperglycemia
2 ans:
*This hyperglycemia could thus be the result of a hyperglucagonemia secondary to stress
* the result of decreased synthesis and release of insulin secondary to the damage of pancreatic β-cells
* elevated levels of catecholamines and cortisol
3) What is the reason for his elevated LFTs? Is there a specific marker for Alcoholic Fatty Liver disease?
A: LFT are increased due to hepatocyte injury
*If the liver is damaged or not functioning properly, ALT can be released into the blood. This causes ALT levels to increase. A higher than normal result on this test can be a sign of liver damage.
*elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), usually one to four times the upper limits of normal in alcoholic fatty liver.
The reasons for a classical 2:1 excess of serum AST activity compared to serum ALT activity in alcoholic hepatitis have been attributed to
(i) decreased ALT activity most likely due to B6 depletion in the livers of alcoholics
(ii) mitochondrial damage leading to increased release of mAST in serum.
4) What is the line of treatment in this patient?
For the master chart to the "pancreatitis thesis project" please get in touch with Dr Shashikala PGY1 and Dr Divya PGY2 and share their insights into the above project problem they are working on.
A: Plan of action and Treatment:
Investigations:
✓ 24 hour urinary protein
✓ Fasting and Post prandial Blood glucose
✓ HbA1c
✓ USG guided pleural tapping
Treatment:
• IVF: 125 mL/hr
• Inj PAN 40mg i.v OD
• Inj ZOFER 4mg i.v sos
• Inj Tramadol 1 amp in 100 mL NS, i.v sos
• Tab Dolo 650mg sos
• GRBS charting 6th hourly
• BP charting 8th hourly
Gastroenterology (Case-3b)
1) What is the most probable diagnosis in this patient?
àDifferential Diagnosis:
· Ruptured Liver Abscess.
· Organized collection secondary to Hollow viscous Perforation.
· Organized Intraperitoneal Hematoma.
· Free fluid with internal echoes in Bilateral in the Subdiaphragmatic space.
· Grade 3 RPD of right Kidney
àThe most probably diagnosis is there is abdominal hemorrhage. This will give reasoning to the abdominal distention, and the blood which is aspirated.
2) What was the cause of her death?
àAfter leaving the hospital, the patient went to Hyderabad and underwent an emergency laparotomy surgery. The patient passed away the next day. Cause of her death can be due to complications of laparotomy surgery such as, hemorrhage (bleeding), infection, or damage to internal organs.
3) Does her NSAID abuse have something to do with her condition? How?
àNSAID-induced renal dysfunction has a wide spectrum of negative effects, including decreased glomerular perfusion, decreased glomerular filtration rate, and acute renal failure. Chronic NSAIDs use has also been related to hepatotoxicity. While the major adverse effects of NSAIDs such as gastrointestinal mucosa injury are well known, NSAIDs have also been associated with hepatic side effects ranging from asymptomatic elevations in serum aminotransferase levels and hepatitis with jaundice to fulminant liver failure and death.
Neurology (Case-4a)
1.Is there any relationship between occurrence of seizure to brain stroke. If yes what is the mechanism behind it?
seizures after ischaemic strokes. An increase in intracellular Ca2+ and Na+ with a resultant lower threshold for depolarisation, glutamate excitotoxicity, hypoxia, metabolic dysfunction, global hypoperfusion, and hyperperfusion injury
Seizures after haemorrhagic strokes are thought to be attributable to irritation due to (hemosideri. Deposits)caused by products of blood metabolism
Late onset seizures are associated with the persistent changes in neuronal excitability and gliotic scarring is most probably the underlying cause.
2. In the previous episodes of seizures, patient didn't loose his consciousness but in the recent episode he lost his consciousness what might be the reason?
Initially the patient might have had Simple partial seizures (no loss of consciousness) and might have progressed to Generalised Tonic Clonic seizures (loss of consciousness)
Neurology (case-4b)
a)what is myelopathy hand? There is loss of power of adduction and extension of the ulnar two or three fingers and an inability to grip and release rapidly with these fingers. These changes have been termed "myelopathy hand" and appear to be due to pyramidal tract involvement.
b)what is finger escape?
Finger escape
Wartenberg's sign is a neurological sign consisting of involuntary abduction of the fifth (little) finger, caused by unopposed action of the extensor digiti minimi. . This finding of weak finger adduction in cervical myelopathy is also called the "finger escape sign".
c)what is Hoffman's sign?
Hoffman's sign or reflex is a test used to examine the reflexes of the upper extremities. This test is a quick, equipment-free way to test for the possible existence of spinal cord compression from a lesion on the spinal cord or another underlying nerve condition
NEUROLOGY (Case-4c)
A 40year old male presented with chief complaints of irrelevant talking and decreased food intake since 9days.
He was conscious but oriented to time, person and place only from time to time.
He also had short term memory loss since 9days, where he couldn't recognize family members from time to time
Previously, he had 2-3episodes of seizures, one being one year ago and the most recent being 4months ago. The most recent one, he had developed seizures following cessation of alcohol for 24hours.
1) what is the evolution of the symptomology in this patient in terms of an event timeline and where is the anatomical localization for the problem and what is the primary etiology of the patient's problem?
Ans: The patient is a chronic alcoholic, he drinks about 3-4quarters/day.he had developed seizures following the cessation of alcohol for 24hours it is due to the following reason:-alcohol affects the way in which nerve cells communicate. receptors are specialized proteins on the surface of nerve cells that receive chemical signals from one another. With long-term alcohol consumption, receptors affected by alcohol undergo adaptive changes in an attempt to maintain normal function.
Two important brain communication systems affected by alcohol involve the neurotransmitters:gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate.
The GABA system:
GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps to regulate brain function by rendering nerve cells less sensitive to further signaling. single doses of alcohol facilitate the inhibitory function of the GABA receptor, contributing to alcohol intoxicating effects. During withdrawal, brain GABA levels fall below normal and GABA activity declines. The combination of reduced brain GABA levels and GABAa receptor sensitivity may be contributed an adaptation to the presence of alcohol. In the absence of alcohol, the resulting decrease in inhibitory function may contribute to Symptoms of nervous system hyperactivity associated with both acute and protracted AW.
The glutamate system:
The major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain is glutamate, which communicates with three major subtypes of glutamate receptors. Among these, the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor plays a role in memory, learning, and the generation of seizures. Alcohol inhibits the excitatory function of the NMDA receptor in laboratory studies at concentrations associated with mild to moderate alcohol intoxication in humans. As with the increased inhibitory function of the GABAA receptor, the decreased excitatory function of the NMDA receptor is consistent with alcohol’s general sedative effect. Long-term alcohol administration produces an adaptive increase in the function of NMDA receptors. Acute AW activates glutamate systems. In turn, AW seizures are associated with increased NMDA receptor function. Persistent alterations in NMDA receptor function may potentiate the neurotoxic and seizure-inducing effects of increased glutamate release during withdrawal.
The symptom: irrelevant talking, decreased food intake, tremors, sleep disturbance is due to the following reason: chronic alcohol consumption causes thiamine deficiency due to impaired absorption of thiamine from the intestine, a possible genetic predisposition, inadequate diet, reduced storage of thiamine in the liver and other nutritional deficiencies.
THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY:
Thiamine, one of the first B vitamins to be discovered also known as Vitamin B1, is a coenzyme that is essential for intricate organic pathways and plays a central role in cerebral metabolism. This vitamin acts as a cofactor for several enzymes in the Krebs cycle and the pentose phosphate pathway, including alpha-keto-glutamic acid oxidation and pyruvate decarboxylation. Thiamine-dependent enzymes function as a connection between glycolytic and citric acid cycles. Therefore, deficiency of thiamine will lead to decreased levels of alpha-keto-glutarate, acetate, citrate, acetylcholine and accumulation of lactate and pyruvate. This deficiency can cause metabolic imbalances leading to neurologic complications including neuronal cell death. Neuronal death in the mammillary bodies and thalamus were implicated in multiple cases of Wernicke encephalopathy studied. Studies involving computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with Wernicke encephalopathy revealed lesions in the thalamus with dilated ventricles and volume loss in the mammillary bodies. The lesions are usually symmetrical in the midbrain, hypothalamus, and cerebellum.
The kidneys have an important job as a filter for harmful substances .alcohol causes changes in the function of the kidneys and makes them less able to filter the blood .alcohol also affects the ability to regulate fluid and electrolytes in the body. In addition, alcohol can disrupt hormones that disrupt hormones that affect kidney function .people who drink too much are more likely to have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a common cause of kidney disease. The increase in levels of urea, creatinine, uric acid leads to uraemic encephalopathy. which causes asterixis.
the deficiency of thiamine and increase in levels of toxins in the body due to renal disease is the primary etiology of the patient's problem.
2)what are the mechanism of action, indication, and efficacy over placebo of each of the pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions used for this patient?
Ans: I) Thiamine helps the body cells change carbohydrates into energy. It has been used
as a supplement to cope with thiamine deficiency
ii)Lorazepam binds to benzodiazepine receptors on the postsynaptic GABA-A ligand-gated chloride channel neuron at several sites within the central nervous system.it enhances the inhibitory effects of GABA, which increases the conductance of chloride ions into the cell
iii)pregabalin subtly reduces the synaptic release of several neurotransmitters, apparently by binding to alpha2-delta subunits, and possibly accounting for its actions invivo to reduce neuronal excitability and seizures.
iv)Lactulose is used in preventing and treating clinical portal-systemic encephalopathy .its chief mechanism of action is by decreasing the intestinal production and absorption of ammonia.
v)Potchlor liquid is used to treat low levels of potassium in the body.
3)why have neurological symptoms appeared this time, that were absent during withdrawal earlier ? what could be a possible cause for this time?
Due to excess thiamine deficiency and excess toxins accumulation due to renal disease caused by excess alcohol addiction.
4)what is the reason for giving thiamine in this patient?
chronic alcohol consumption causes thiamine deficiency due to impaired absorption of thiamine from the intestine,Thiamine, one of the first B vitamins to be discovered also known as Vitamin B1, is a coenzyme that is essential for intricate organic pathways and plays a central role in cerebral metabolism. This vitamin acts as a cofactor for several enzymes in the Krebs cycle and the pentose phosphate pathway, including alpha-keto-glutamic acid oxidation and pyruvate decarboxylation. Thiamine-dependent enzymes function as a connection between glycolytic and citric acid cycles. Therefore, deficiency of thiamine will lead to decreased levels of alpha-keto-glutarate, acetate, citrate, acetylcholine, and accumulation of lactate and pyruvate. This deficiency can cause metabolic imbalances leading to neurologic complications including neuronal cell death.
5)what is the probable cause for kidney injury in this patient?
The kidneys have an important job as a filter for harmful substances .alcohol causes changes in the function of the kidneys and makes them less able to filter the blood .alcohol also affects the ability to regulate fluid and electrolytes in the body. In addition, alcohol can disrupt hormones that disrupt hormones that affect kidney function .people who drink too much are more likely to have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a common cause of kidney disease.
6)what is the probable cause for the normocytic anaemia?
alcohol causes iron deficiency or iron overload due its affect on production of new blood cells organs i.e,bonemarrow and the metabolism of iron .alocohol causes a affect on progenitor cells of blood causing decreased WBC .RBC.alochol decreases iron absorption from intestine .
7)could chronic alcohlism have aggravated the foot ulcer formation ?if yes and why ?
yes,As the patient is diabetic the chance of ulcer formation increases .in a patient of chronic alcoholic theimmune system is weak due to the affect on blood cells formation and iron absorption.due to this healing of an ulcer dampens.
Neurology (Case-4d)
1) What can be the cause of her condition ?
the cause of her condiion could be IRON DEFICENCY ANEMIA.
2) What are the risk factors for cortical vein thrombosis?
Ans: Risk factors for children and infants include:
Problems with the way their blood forms clots
Sickle cell anemia
Chronic hemolytic anemia
Beta-thalassemia major
Heart disease — either congenital (you're born with it) or acquired (you develop it)
Iron deficiency
Certain infections
Dehydration
Head injury
For newborns, a mother who had certain infections or a history of infertility
Risk factors for adults include:
Pregnancy and the first few weeks after delivery
Problems with blood clotting; for example, antiphospholipid syndrome, protein C and S deficiency, antithrombin III deficiency, lupus anticoagulant, or factor V Leiden mutation
Cancer
Collagen vascular diseases like lupus, Wegener’s granulomatosis, and Behcet syndrome
Obesity
Low blood pressure in the brain (intracranial hypotension)
Inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
3)There was seizure free period in between but again sudden episode of GTCS why?resolved spontaneously why?
Ans: there was a sezuire free period due to administration of antiepileptic drugs as the effect of drugs weans off the sezures appear again followed by administration of phenobarbitone leading to spontaneous resolution of the sezuires.
4) What drug was used in suspicion of cortical venous sinus thrombosis?
Ans: heparin as CLEXANE was given to relive clot in suspission of CVST
Neurology (Case-4e)
1) What could have been the reason for this patient to develop ataxia in the past 1 year?
Ans: the reason for patient to develop ataxia in past one year is ALCOHOL
The toxic effects of alcohol are diverse. Alcohol-related cerebellar degeneration is one of the commonest causes of acquired cerebellar ataxia(ALCOHOL INDUCED TOXIC ATAXIA).
The pathophysiology remains unclear but proposed mechanisms include excitotoxicity, dietary factors, oxidative stress, compromised energy production and cell death
2) What was the reason for his IC bleed? Does Alcoholism contribute to bleeding diatheses ?
Ans: the reason for IC bleed is
CHRONIC ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
↓
ALCOHOL INDUCED TOXIC ATAXIA
↓
REPEATED FALLS
↓
IC BLEEDING
* The impaired platelet function, together with the reduced platelet count, may contribute to the bleeding diathesis associated with chronic alcoholism and to the increased incidence and recurrence of gastrointestinal haemorrhage associated with excessive alcohol intake.
Neurology (Case-4f)
1.Does the patient's history of road traffic accident have any role in his present condition?
A:One cause of stroke after trauma is a tear in the head or neck blood vessels that lead to the brain, which can be a source of blood clots that cause a stroke. If a tear in these arteries can be diagnosed at the time of the trauma, a patient could be treated with an anti-clotting medicine to help prevent stroke
2.What is the drug rationale in CVA?
2ans
Aspirin -antiplatlet drug prevents stroke
Atorvostatin - decreases LDL cholesterol to prevent recurrent attacks of stroke
3.Does alcohol has any role in his attack?
3ans : Excessive alcohol consumption has been associated with a wide range of medical conditions. Moderate alcohol consumption is linked to a lower risk of stroke than abstinence, whereas heavy alcohol consumption has been associated with an increased risk of stroke and stroke mortality. In addition to alcohol consumption, the most important risk factors for stroke are hypertension, coronary artery disease, cardiac insufficiency, atrial fibrillation, type 2 diabetes, smoking, overweight, asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and elevated levels of cholesterol.
4.Does his lipid profile has any role for his attack??
4ans
Yes increased LDL causes atherosclerosis -Blood vessels - ischemia leads to - stroke
Infectious diseases (Case-5a)
QUESTION: What is the evolution of the symptomatology in this patient in terms of an event timeline and where is the anatomical localization for the problem and what is the primary aetiology of the patient's problem?
1. 3 years ago- diagnosed with hypertension
2. 21 days ago- received vaccination at local PHC which was followed by fever associated with chills and rigors, high grade fever, no diurnal variation which was relieved on medication
3. 18 days ago- complained of similar events and went to the the local hospital, it was not subsided upon taking medication(antipyretics)
4. 11 days ago - c/o Generalized weakness and facial puffiness and periorbital oedema. Patient was in a drowsy state
5. 4 days ago-
a. patient presented to casualty in altered state with facial puffiness and periorbital oedema and weakness of right upper limb and lower limb
b. towards the evening patient periorbital oedema progressed
c. serous discharge from the left eye that was blood tinged
d. was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus
6. patient was referred to a government general hospital
7. patient died 2 days ago
patient was diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis and was unaware that he was diabetic until then. This resulted in poorly controlled blood sugar levels. The patient was diagnosed with acute oro rhino orbital mucormycosis . rhino cerebral mucormycosis is the most common form of this fungus that occurs in people with uncontrolled diabetes ( https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/mucormycosis/definition.html ) the fungus enters the sinuses from the environment and then the brain.
The patient was also diagnosed with acute infarct in the left frontal and temporal lobe. Mucormycosis is associated with the occurrence of CVA ( https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(19)33482-8/fulltext#:~:text=There%20are%20few%20incidences%20reported,to%20better%20morbidity%2Fmortality%20outcomes. )
QUESTION: What is the efficacy of drugs used along with other non-pharmacological treatment modalities and how would you approach this patient as a treating physician?
The proposed management of the patient was –
1. inj. Liposomal amphotericin B according to creatinine clearance
2. 200mg Iitraconazole was given as it was the only available drug which was adjusted to his creatinine clearance
3. Deoxycholate was the required drug which was unavailable
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23729001/ this article talks about the efficacy and toxicity of different formulations of amphotericin B
along with the above mentioned treatment for the patient managing others symptoms is also done by-
I. Management of diabetic ketoacidosis –
(a) Fluid replacement- The fluids will replace those lost through excessive urination, as well as help dilute the excess sugar in blood.
(b) Electrolyte replacement-The absence of insulin can lower the level of several electrolytes in blood. Patient will receive electrolytes through a vein to help keep the heart, muscles and nerve cells functioning normally.
(c) Insulin therapy- Insulin reverses the processes that cause diabetic ketoacidosis. In addition to fluids and electrolytes, patient will receive insulin therapy
QUESTION: What are the postulated reasons for a sudden apparent rise in the incidence of mucormycosis in India at this point of time?
Mucormycosis is may be being triggered by the use of steroids, a life-saving treatment for severe and critically ill Covid-19 patients. Steroids reduce inflammation in the lungs for Covid-19 and appear to help stop some of the damage that can happen when the body's immune system goes into overdrive to fight off coronavirus. But they also reduce immunity and push up blood sugar levels in both diabetics and non-diabetic Covid-19 patients.
With the COVID-19 cases rising in India the rate of occurrence of mucormycosis in these patients is increasing
Infectious diseases (HIV virus, mycobacterium, pulmonology)
(Case-6a)
a) clinical history and physical finding in this paient that suggest tracheoesophageal fistula is that ,Cough occurs on taking food and liquids
(which was initially non productive then associated with sputum which is white in color , moderate in quantity and non foul smelling)
b)Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) occurs in two forms:
"unmasking" IRIS refers to the flare-up of an underlying, previously undiagnosed infection soon after antiretroviral therapy (ART) is started;
"paradoxical" IRIS refers to the worsening of a previously treated infection after ART is started.
*Patients with mycobacterial disease at the time of initiation of ART are at higher risk of developing IRIS with an approximate risk of 15%. Patients originating from endemic areas for tuberculosis and cryptococcal disease are at higher risk of developing IRIS.
How can immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome be prevented?
*The most effective prevention of IRIS would involve initiation of ART before the development of advanced immunosuppression. IRIS is uncommon in individuals who initiate antiretroviral treatment with a CD4+ T-cell count greater than 100 cells/uL.
*Aggressive efforts should be made to detect asymptomatic mycobacterial or cryptococcal disease prior to the initiation of ART, especially in areas endemic for these pathogens and with CD4 T-cell counts less than 100 cells/uL.
*Two prospective randomized studies are evaluating prednisone and meloxicam for the prevention of paradoxical TB IRIS.
Infectious diseases and hepatology(Case-7a)
1) Cause of liver abcess in this patient ?
1ans:cause of liver abcess in this patient is ENTAMOEBA HISTOLYTICA
2) How do you approach this patient ?
2ans:APPROACH IN THE PATIENT OF AMOEBIC LIVER ABCESS
3) Why do we treat here ; both amoebic and pyogenic liver abcess
3ans:we treat the paient for both amoebic and pyogenic abcess so that we dont rely only on anti-amebic therapy and insure comple treatment of the cause
4) Is there a way to confirmthe definitive diagnosis in this patient?
4 ans: he confirmatory test for amoebic abcess is
*Serologic testing is the most widely used method of diagnosis for amebic liver abscess. In general, the test result should be positive, even in cases when the result of the stool test is negative (only extraintestinal disease).
*The diagnosis of amebic liver abscess was based on four or more of the following criteria:
(i) a space-occupying lesion in the liver diagnosed by ultrasonography and suggestive of abscess,
(ii) clinical symptoms (fever, pain in the right hypochondrium (often referred to the epigastrium), lower chest, back, or tip of the right shoulder),
(iii) enlarged and/or tender liver, usually without jaundice,
(iv) raised right dome of the diaphragm on chest radiograph, and
(v) improvement after treatment with antiamebic drugs (e.g., metronidazole).
NEPHROLOGY(Case-8a)
1. What could be the reason for his SOB ?
ANS:
Being short of breath can be related to the kidneys in two ways. First, extra fluid in the body can build up in the lungs. And second, anemia (a shortage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells) can leave your body oxygen-starved and short of breath.
can it be because of dehydration as the pt. used diuretics ?
here I am assuming kidney failure lead to diastolic dysfunction which lead to pulmonary congestion leading to SOB.
2. Why does he have intermittent episodes of drowsiness ?
ANS:
A decrease in the renal clearance of waste nitrogenous products accompanies with their continuous generation leads to diverse uremic retention products such as urea, creatinine, guanidine and homocysteine. Many of these toxins affect functioning of cells and organs, resulting in endothelial vascular injury, neurotoxicity and cognitive dysfunction.
Taken from the following article -
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6312775/
3. Why did he complaint of fleshy mass like passage in his urine?
ANS:
The fleshy mass like passage in his urine might be due to excessive pus cells in the urine (according to the reports) and the frothy appearance may be due to the presence of proteins. The urine is pale yellow in colour.
4. What are the complications of TURP that he may have had?
ANS:
A complication of TURP that the patient may have had is 'TURP syndrome'.
It is rare but is life threatening.
Cause- It may occur as a consequence of absorption of fluids used to irrigate the bladder during the operation.
Signs and symptoms are due to fluid overload and electrolyte disturbances and hyponatremia.
Nephrology (Case-8b)
1.Why is the child excessively hyperactive without much of social etiquettes ?
ANS:
One possible Provisional diagnosis of this patient is ADHD (Attention deficit/Hyperactive disorder).
Symptoms may start before the age of 12 and include inattention and hyper active impulsive behavior.
Inattention -
They have trouble to stay focused in tasks or play.
They appear not to listen even when spoken directly.
They are easily distracted.
They avoid or dislike tasks that require mental effort.
Hyper active impulsive -
Have difficulty sitting in one place and are always on the run.
Fidget with their hands or legs.
Talk too much
Have difficulty waiting for their turn.
Academic difficulties are frequent as are problems with relationships.
2. Why doesn't the child have the excessive urge of urination at night time ?
ANS:
It maybe Psychosomatic. The child has the urge to urinate in the morning due to stress or mental conflict. During sleep, the kid is free of stress and may not have the urge to urinate excessively.
3. How would you want to manage the patient to relieve him of his symptoms?
ANS:
The only management is reassurance to the kid and his relaxation by reducing stress. The problem will resolve overtime (most commonly by the time he reaches 10yrs).
There are a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches employed by psychologists and psychiatrists; the one used depends on the patient and the patient's symptoms. The approaches include psychotherapy, cognitive-behavior therapy, support groups, parent training, meditation, and social skills training.
Covid (case-9a)
1) Since patient didn't show any previous characteristic diabetes signs, did the Covid-19 infection aggravate any underlying condition and cause the indolent diabetes to express itself? If so what could be the biochemical pathways that make it plausible?
novel coronavirus enters cell hosts through An- giotensin II Converting Enzyme receptor (ACE2).
ACE2 receptor is found in the pancreas, both on exocri- ne cells and in the endocrine cells, that constitute pan- creatic islets. (8) Interestingly, its expression is also rele- vant in the endothelial cells of the microvasculature supplying beta-cells that produce insulin.
deficiency of this receptor compromises the vasculature in pancreatic islets, thus decreasing its endocrine function.
cytokine storm - caused by the severe inflammatory response taking place in the lungs - also targets the pancreas possibly causing diabe- tes
2) Did the patient's diabetic condition influence the progression of her pneumonia?
COVID-19 and diabetes, but no other comorbidities (n = 24), were at higher risk for severe pneumonia, release of tissue injury-related enzymes, excessive uncontrolled inflammation responses and hypercoagulable state associated with dysregulation of glucose metabolism when compared with patients without diabetes.
3) What is the role of D Dimer in the monitoring of covid? Does it change management or would be considered overtesting?
The D-dimer molecule is a product of the degradation of the fibrin protein. a biomarker-based evaluation which identifies the amount of ongoing coagulation at a given point of time .D-dimer has been shown to be an indicator for cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients in a setting of prothrombotic state
D-dimer may be able to predict which COVID-19 patients have poorer outcomes.
Covid(case-9b)
1) How does the pre-existing ILD determine the prognosis of this patient?
In patients with preexisting ILD, COVID-19 infection has led to acute exacerbation of underlying ILD. The criteria for ILD exacerbation include subacute worsening of dyspnea and hypoxemia, new pulmonary infiltrates on imaging, and absence of pulmonary emboli, cardiac failure, and other non-pulmonary causes. .Thus it leads to a poor prognosis
2) Given the history of autoimmune disease in the patient, how does the administration of steroids for COVID affect her RA and hypothyroidism?
Corticosteroids are the cornerstone of for managing disease flares and for initial treatment of RA
It is identified glucocorticoids as a significant risk factor for bacterial infections. Glucocorticoid use doubled the rate of serious bacterial infections in a dose-dependent manner as compared with methotrexate
It is concluded that there is no evidence to support its use in COVID-19, and it may in fact lead to more harm than good
3) Would this patient have an increased risk for post covid autoimmune response compared to patients without a history of autoimmune disease?
In Covid ,lymphoplasmocyte cell infiltrates are involved (mainly at the lung level), as well as the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL) IL-1, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α, and markers of systemic inflammation such as C-reactive protein or ferritin [34]. A parallelism of events was found with RA, where there are similar infiltrates at the synovial level, with expression of the same group of proinflammatory cytokines and elevation of acute-phase reactants [35]. However, this route is unlikely, given that there has been no increase in exacerbations of RA patients concomitantly suffering from COVID-19
4) Why was she prescribed clexane (enoxaparin)?
Clexane 60mg Injection is an anticoagulant used to prevent and treat harmful blood clots. It stops the existing clots from getting any bigger and restricts the formation of any new clot. It is also helpful in the prevention of blood clots in veins, a condition called deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism.
