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This systematic review examines the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in managing lung disorders through a comprehensive analysis of articles spanning 2014 to 2023. Evaluating AI's multifaceted roles in radiological imaging, disease burden prediction, detection, diagnosis, and molecular mechanisms, this review presents a critical synthesis of key insights from select articles. The findings underscore AI's significant strides in bolstering diagnostic accuracy, interpreting radiological imaging, predicting disease burdens, and deepening the understanding of tuberculosis (TB), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), silicosis, pneumoconiosis, and lung fibrosis. The synthesis positions AI as a revolutionary tool within the healthcare system, offering vital implications for healthcare workers, policymakers, and researchers in comprehending and leveraging AI's pivotal role in lung disease management.

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Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and subaortic membrane (SAS) are distinct cardiac conditions, but their coexistence presents complex diagnostic challenges. We report the case of a 52-year-old male with HOCM and a concurrent subaortic membrane, highlighting the intricacies of diagnosis and management. The patient's presentation included symptoms of dyspnea and chest tightness, and diagnostic evaluations revealed a unique combination of dynamic left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction from HOCM and fixed obstruction from the subaortic membrane. This case emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic workup to guide appropriate treatment decisions when managing multiple cardiac abnormalities.

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Hyperandrogenism is an endocrine disorder characterized by an elevated level of androgen in women, which can be due to several etiologies, including ovarian and adrenal causes. Hyperandrogenism can result in hirsutism and virilization in severe cases. Ovarian etiologies can include ovarian hyperthecosis, hilus cell tumors, arrhenoblastomas, and Leydig cell tumors. Diagnosing the specific cause requires comprehensive work, and management is then tailored to address the specific etiology. Treatment may include bilateral oophorectomy and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs in combination with antiandrogen therapy. Surgery, medical treatment, and radiation therapy are also options for patients with hypercortisolemia. We present the case of a 58-year-old female who presented with clinical features of hyperandrogenism, which were confirmed with biochemical testing. She was found to have a non-functioning adrenal adenoma with no significant abnormality on ovarian imaging and biochemical hyperandrogenemia due to fibrothecoma and Leydig cell tumor, which resolved after bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

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An 83-year-old male with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and liver cirrhosis presented with confusion and dyspnea. On chest X-ray, he had the right mid to lower lung zone white out. Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis drained 1.5 L of milky white pleural fluid which was transudative according to chemical analysis. Transudative chylothorax in liver cirrhosis without ascites is rare, but can happen. When the flow of ascitic chylous fluid into the pleural space equals the rate of ascites production, clinical absence of detectable ascites will occur. Hepatic chylothorax is important and should be kept in differentials when evaluating patients with liver cirrhosis.

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Background: The Southeastern rural areas of the USA have a higher prevalence of heart failure (HF). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is associated with poor outcomes in patients with HF. Our study aimed to compare the outcomes of hospitalized HF patients with and without COVID-19 infection specifically in rural parts of the USA. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of HF patients with and without COVID-19 hospitalized in Southeastern rural parts of the USA by using the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System. Analyses were stratified by waves from April 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021, and from June 1, 2021 to October 19, 2021. Results: Of the 14,379 patients hospitalized with HF, 6% had concomitant COVID-19 infection. We found that HF patients with COVID-19 had higher mortality rate compared to those without COVID-19 (21.8% versus 3.8%, respectively, P < 0.01). Additionally, hospital resource utilization was significantly higher in HF patients with COVID-19 compared to HF patients without COVID-19 with intensive care unit (ICU) utilization of 21.6% versus 13.8%, P < 0.01, mechanical ventilation use of 17.3% versus 6.2%, P < 0.01, and vasopressor/inotrope use of 16.8% versus 7.9%, P < 0.01. A lower percentage of those with COVID-19 were discharged home compared to those without a COVID-19 diagnosis (63.4% versus 72.0%, respectively). There was a six-fold greater odds of dying in the first wave and seven-fold greater odds of dying in the second wave. Conclusions: Our study confirms previous findings of poor outcome in HF patients with COVID-19. There is a need for review of healthcare resources in rural hospitals which already face numerous healthcare challenges.

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BACKGROUND: The sudden urge to urinate, also known as overactive bladder (OAB), may reflect higher sympathetic activity and associate with higher blood pressure (BP). METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis utilized data from sixth follow-up exam (2015-2016) of Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis to examine the association of OAB with systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels, hypertension, and BP control. Information on urinary symptoms was obtained with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ). Sex-stratified regression models were constructed to examine differences in BP, hypertension prevalence, and BP control while adjusting for demographic factors, comorbidities, and medication use. RESULTS: Among the 1,446 men and 1,628 women who completed the ICIQ (mean age 73.7 years [SD 8.4]), OAB was present in 31.6% of men and 38.9% of women. With no antihypertensive medication use, OAB was not associated with SBP or DBP in both men and women after adjusting for covariates. However, among the 894 men and 981 women on antihypertensive medication, OAB was associated with higher SBP among men (4.04 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02, 7.06) but not among women (-0.67 mm Hg; 95% CI -3.79, 2.46) while DBP did not differ by OAB presence in men or women. In addition, OAB was also associated with lower odds of BP control among men (odds ratio [OR] 0.69; 95% CI 0.49, 0.96) but not women (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.71, 1.30). CONCLUSIONS: Among men, OAB is associated with lower odds of BP control which suggests that OAB may impede hypertension management.

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INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a challenge globally. In severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic 60% of patients had hepatic injury, due to phylogenetic similarities of the viruses it is assumed that COVID-19 is associated with acute liver injury. In this meta-analysis, we aim to study the occurrence and association of liver injury, comorbid liver disease and elevated liver enzymes in COVID-19 confirmed hospitalizations with outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from observational studies describing comorbid chronic liver disease, acute liver injury, elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and outcomes of COVID-19 hospitalized patients from December 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020 was extracted following PRISMA guidelines. Adverse outcomes were defined as admission to intensive care unit (ICU), oxygen saturation <90%, invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), severe disease and in-hospital mortality. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were obtained. RESULTS: 24 studies with 12,882 confirmed COVID-19 patients were included. Overall prevalence of CM-CLD was 2.6%, COVID-19-ALI was 26.5%, elevated AST was 41.1% and elevated ALT was 29.1%. CM-CLD had no significant association with poor outcomes (pooled OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.71-1.29; p=0.78). COVID-19-ALI (1.68;1.04-2.70; p=0.03), elevated AST (2.98; 2.35-3.77; p<0.00001) and elevated ALT (1.85;1.49-2.29; p<0.00001) were significantly associated with higher odds of poor outcomes. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis suggests that acute liver injury and elevated liver enzymes were significantly associated with COVID-19 severity. Future studies should evaluate changing levels of biomarkers amongst liver disease patients to predict poor outcomes of COVID-19 and causes of liver injury during COVID-19 infection.

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PURPOSE: We examined the association of race/ethnicity with urinary incontinence subtypes and overactive bladder, and associated bother in older men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis used data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, an observational cohort of 4 racial/ethnic groups. At the sixth followup examination (age 60 to 98 years, 2015 to 2016) urinary symptoms were ascertained with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire. Prevalence ratios of urinary incontinence subtypes and overactive bladder without incontinence by race/ethnicity were calculated while adjusting for demographics, comorbidities and medications. Degree of bother was based on scale of 0 (none) to 10 (most) with bother presence defined as a score of 3 or greater. RESULTS: Among 1,536 men 94% completed the questionnaire. Among completers, race/ethnicity was 40.7% nonHispanic White, 14.3% Chinese, 23.0% nonHispanic Black and 22.1% Hispanic. Urinary incontinence was reported by 11.1% and urgency urinary incontinence accounted for 78.0% of all urinary incontinence. The highest prevalence of urgency urinary incontinence was noted among nonHispanic Black men (13.0%) followed by Hispanic (11.3%), nonHispanic White (6.8%) and Chinese (2.9%) men. NonHispanic Black men showed a higher prevalence of any urinary incontinence (PR 1.62, 95% CI 1.06-2.47) and urgency urinary incontinence (1.63, 95% CI 1.01-2.61) compared to nonHispanic White men after adjustments for covariates. No significant association was noted with other urinary incontinence subtypes by race/ethnicity after adjustment for covariates. More than 70% of urinary incontinence was associated with bother for all racial/ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary incontinence prevalence differs by race/ethnicity but most urinary incontinence is associated with bother regardless of race/ethnicity.

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BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence is influenced by multiple factors, and the prevalence of urinary incontinence subtypes may differ by race and ethnicity. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence subtypes and associated bother among women by race and ethnicity. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional analysis used data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, an observational cohort study of 4 racial and ethnic groups recruited from 6 communities from the United States. At the sixth follow-up examination, urinary symptoms were ascertained with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire. The prevalence rate ratios of stress urinary incontinence, urgency urinary incontinence, and mixed urinary incontinence by race and ethnicity were calculated using generalized linear models for the binomial family while adjusting for covariates. The degree of bother was based on a scale of 0 (none) to 10 (greatest bother), and presence of any bother was defined as a score of ≥3. RESULTS: Among the 1749 female participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis who completed the sixth follow-up examination, 1628 (93%) completed the questionnaire. Women who did not complete the questionnaire were older than those who completed the questionnaire (average age, 82.2 [standard deviation, 9.5] vs 73.7 [standard deviation, 8.4] years; P<.01) and more likely to use diuretics (29.8% vs 18.9%; P<.01). Among those who completed the questionnaire (n=1628), 39.4% were white, 12.5% were Chinese, 27.2% were black, and 20.9% were Hispanic. After adjusting for covariates, stress urinary incontinence (prevalence rate ratio, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-0.86) and mixed urinary incontinence (prevalence rate ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.38-0.89) regardless of bother scores were significantly less prevalent among black vs white women, although no significant racial and ethnic differences in stress or mixed urinary incontinence prevalence were noted for Chinese or Hispanic women vs white women. No racial and ethnic differences in the prevalence of urgency urinary incontinence were noted after the adjustment for covariates. Most women with urinary incontinence reported bother scores of ≥3 regardless of race and ethnicity and urinary incontinence subtype, and bother scores did not differ significantly by race and ethnicity. CONCLUSION: Frequency of urinary incontinence subtypes may differ by race and ethnicity, but older women who report urinary incontinence are likely to have associated bother regardless of race and ethnicity.

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BACKGROUND: Follicular lymphomas are a common type of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). Presentation varies widely from being asymptomatic to painless peripheral lymphadenopathy to classic B symptoms. We present an unusual case of follicular lymphoma where the patient initially presented with signs and symptoms of acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study is to recognize the challenges faced while diagnosing retroperitoneal NHL and the need for timely management of this disease. CASE REPORT: A 66-year-old Hispanic female with a medical history of treatment compliant asthma and hypertension presented to the ER with complaints of abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant with serum lipase >3000 U/L and elevated liver function tests (LFTs), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 139 U/L, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 65 U/L, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) 122 U/L. Abdominal ultrasound identified gall bladder wall thickening and dilation of biliary ducts. CT scan showed soft tissue mass in the retroperitoneum, measuring 9.3x4.8cm which wrapped around the aorta and pushed it off the spine. After two days of conservative management, her pain resolved and lipase levels normalized, she was discharged and scheduled for outpatient endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with biopsy of the retroperitoneal mass. The next day, the patient presented to the ER with similar pain, and labs again showed elevated lipase, EUS, and fine needle biopsy of mass showed CD-10 positive B-cell lymphoma. The patient was discharged after the resolution of pain. A positron emission tomography (PET) scan four weeks after the initial CT scan showed an increase in tumor size without any metastatic lesions. While awaiting core biopsy, the patient presented to the ER for the third time with worsening abdominal pain, lipase >3000 IU/L, and ultrasound showing cholelithiasis with cholecystitis. The patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Core needle biopsy of paraspinal lymph nodes showed grade 1-2 follicular lymphoma. Finally, the patient underwent six cycles of chemotherapy with Bendamustine and Rituximab and after the fourth cycle, a repeat CT scan showed resolution of adenopathy with minimal residual soft tissue attenuation in retroperitoneum. DISCUSSION: NHL rarely occurs in retroperitoneum and its diagnosis is challenging. Our patient presented with the primary and unique occurrence of follicular lymphoma in the retroperitoneum. She presented with symptoms of an acute abdomen with elevated lipase and LFTs. She underwent multiple hospitalization and cholecystectomy before the correct diagnosis was made and until she was treated for follicular lymphoma. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the importance of being vigilant when a patient presents with unusual presentations of a disease in order to diagnose and treat the condition early to decrease the risk of complications and to mitigate the risk of poor outcomes.

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Introduction Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh leading cause of cancer worldwide. Approximately 35%-60% patients with HNC are malnourished from the disease onset, malnutrition being associated with worsened health outcomes among these patients. This study aimed to review and synthesize existing guidelines regarding nutritional interventions in HNC patients and assess providers' knowledge, opinions, and practice of guidelines for the nutritional management of HNC patients. Methods This is a multimethod study that includes a systematic review of guidelines for nutritional intervention in HNC patients and a providers' survey regarding their knowledge and opinions regarding nutrition therapy guidelines for HNC patients. Results Our review yielded seven guidelines. Of the seven guidelines reviewed, all were specific to cancer patients, however, only three were specific for HNC patients. Three of the guidelines recommended using a nutritional screening tool, however, only two mentioned a specific screening tool. Out of 193 surveys included in our analysis, the highest percentage of respondents were physicians (52.4%), followed by registered nurses (33.5%). The majority of respondent (77.5%) worked in a hospital-based practice, while 18.8% worked in clinic-based practice. A large proportion (46.6%) of respondents were not aware of nutritional guidelines for HNC patients; with 23.6% not aware of any, and 23.0% aware of their existence but not aware of their content. The majority (81.5%) of respondents said that a more detailed guideline should be available for HNC patient with regards to nutrition. Conclusion Nutritional deficiencies in HNC patients continue to cause significant complications in treatment and recovery. Existing practice guidelines are limited and lack specific recommendations. A universal standard of care with regard to addressing nutrition in HNC patients is needed to improve healthcare outcomes among NHC patients.

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Introduction Use of computers for doctor-patient communication is increasing. Considering effective doctor-patient communication is important for good health outcomes. This study helps to determine the level of acceptance of telemedicine in general public and factors associated with it. Methods: This survey with cross-sectional analysis comprised a brief survey with 15 questions. The survey was distributed in public places to determine the opinions of the general public. Results Randomly selected 125 participants completed the questionnaire. Synchronous telemedicine was favored by young people (82% in the 18-34 age group vs 37.5% of participants aged >55 years; p<0.01), those with a higher education level (46.7% of non-college-educated persons vs 80.6% of college-educated persons; p<0.01), and frequent computer users (67% who used a computer for less than two hours a month vs 86.5% of those who used a computer more than hours a month; p=0.03). Asynchronous communication, like sending health information to doctors via a safe portal was acknowledged mostly by people who had used patient portals in the past (84.1% vs 65.4%; p=0.02). Use of patient portals was less among older users and senior citizens (20.8% use in the age group >55 vs. 51.3% in the age group 35-53 years vs. 71% in age group 18-34 years). Receiving video education for specific health concerns was favored by those who used a computer frequently (94.6% who used a computer more than two hours a month vs 77% who used a computer less than two hours a month; p =0.02). Conclusion Telemedicine is generally favored, but physicians should be mindful about older people as they may not feel comfortable. Step by step guidance should be provided especially to senior citizens for telemedicine and portal use.