Vitamin B12 plays an essential role in fetal and infant development. In regions where animal source food consumption is low and perinatal supplementation is uncommon, infants are at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. In this secondary analysis, we measured total vitamin B12 concentrations in maternal and infant serum/plasma and breast milk among two samples of mother–infant dyads in Canada (assessed at 8 weeks post-partum) and in Cambodia (assessed between 3–27 weeks post-partum). Canadian mothers (n = 124) consumed a daily vitamin B12-containing multiple micronutrient supplement throughout pregnancy and lactation; Cambodian mothers (n = 69) were unsupplemented. The maternal, milk, and infant total vitamin B12 concentrations (as geometric means (95% CI) in pmol/L) were as follows: in Canada, 698 (648,747), 452 (400, 504), and 506 (459, 552); in Cambodia, 620 (552, 687), 317 (256, 378), and 357 (312, 402). The majority of participants were vitamin B12 sufficient (serum/plasma total B12 > 221 pmol/L): 99% and 97% of mothers and 94% and 84% of infants in Canada and Cambodia, respectively. Among the Canadians, maternal, milk, and infant vitamin B12 were all correlated (p < 0.05); only maternal and infant vitamin B12 were correlated among the Cambodians (p < 0.001).
The abdominal cavity has long been used for absorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with hydrocephalus. Although the procedure is quite common, there are complications that can potentially arise following ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion. Here, we report a case of a 39-year-old female patient in which a large abdominal pseudocyst was developed as a complication of VP shunt placement. Ultrasonographical evaluation of the abdomen showed a well-defined cystic mass lesion later confirmed on CT abdomen. She subsequently underwent surgical excision of the pseudocyst with resolution of previous symptoms. Clinicians should be aware of this complication since early diagnosis improves outcome and reduce patient's suffering and distress.
To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a transudative pleural effusion with positive
Cryptococcal
antigen and culture. We describe a 32-year-old male with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) who presented to an outside hospital with dyspnea and a large pleural effusion. An initial pleural fluid analysis was positive for
Cryptococcal
Ag. However, the infection was eventually found to be widespread as he had positive
Cryptococcal
Ag and cultures in his pleural fluid, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). His antimicrobial regiment was escalated from fluconazole to amphotericin B and flucytosine. His medical condition deteriorated, and the patient passed away. Due to its rarity and range of clinical severity, diagnosis of disseminated
Cryptococcosis
can be delayed. We present this case to bring awareness of this diagnosis as a differential in immunocompromised patients regardless of a transudative pleural effusion.
Malakoplakia is a rare chronic granulomatous disease with potential to affect multiple organs. Gastrointestinal involvement is considered one of the most common locations outside of the urinary tract. Herein, we present the case of a man who presented to our clinic with painless hematochezia. Physical examination findings were unremarkable; however, colonoscopy revealed a frondlike/villous, fungating, and polypoid nonobstructing circumferential mass in the rectum. Histopathological examination of the lesion revealed findings consistent with malakoplakia.
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