Gastric lactobezoars (GLBs) are the most common form of bezoars in neonates and consist of aggregations of undigested milk constituents. GLB can present with a variety of intra-abdominal clinical symptoms, and occasionally, extra-abdominal symptoms. Conservative management, with a period of bowel rest and intravenous fluids, is the most common treatment regimen for uncomplicated GLB. Surgical measures are reserved for the rare complications of obstruction and/or perforation. Although limited, utilization of the protein-cleaving enzyme N-acetylcysteine has been described for the disintegration of GLB in toddlers. In this paper, we discuss the first documented use of N-acetylcysteine for a neonatal GLB. Supporting literature, the infant's unusual presentation, and details of the treatment regimen are discussed.

Psyllium supplementation might be an additional therapeutic option for people with T2DM who are already receiving diabetes medication and who still experience elevated PPG concentrations. Further well-designed clinical trials and adjustment for confounding variables are needed to determine the role of a low glycemic index diet in the treatment of T2DM.

The purpose of this prospective cross-sectional cohort pilot study is to explore the initial microbial community of gastric aspirate fluid as collected immediately after birth and its relationships with mode of delivery and preterm birth. Twenty-nine gastric aspirate samples collected immediately after birth from infants born between 24-40 weeks gestation were analyzed for microbial composition. Total microbial content was low in many samples, with a substantial number sharing taxonomic composition with negative controls. qPCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene showed that infants delivered vaginally had a higher microbial load than infants delivered by C-section. Some pre-term samples showed high relative abundance of genus Ureaplasma, consistent with previous literature that has implicated infections with this taxon as a potential cause of pre-term birth. Vaginally born term infant samples, by contrast, had significantly higher levels of genus Lactobacillus with Lactobacillus crispatus the most dominant species. Microbial evaluation showed that vaginally born term infant gastric aspirate samples had higher levels of lactobacilli than preterms. Samples from many infants had low microbial load near the edge of the detection limit.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac dysrhythmia. Its prevalence, risk factors, course, and complications are not well described in critically ill trauma patients. This was a retrospective, single-center, cohort study at an academic, level 1 trauma center. Trauma patients >18 years, identified from the trauma registry and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), were sequentially screened for AF. A matched cohort was created by selecting patients consecutively admitted before and after the patients who experienced AF. Of 2591 patients screened, 191 experienced AF, resulting in a prevalence of 7.4%. There was no difference in injury severity score (ISS) between those with and without AF, but patients with AF had higher observed mortality (15.5% vs 6.7%, P < .001). Patients with a history of AF (n = 75) differed from new-onset AF (n = 106) in their mean age, 78.9 ± 8.4 versus 69.2 ± 17.9 years; mean time to AF onset, 1.1 ± 2.3 versus 5.2 ± 10.2 days; median duration of AF, 29.8 (1-745.2) versus 5.9 (0-757) hours; and rate of AF resolution, 28% versus 82.1%, respectively. Despite a higher ISS, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment and length of stay, the new-onset AF group experienced a similar rate of mortality compared to the history of AF group (14.7% vs 16.0%). Patients with AF had a higher mortality when compared to those in sinus rhythm. The course of AF in the new-onset AF group occurred later was shorter and was more likely to convert; however, these patients had a longer ICU stay when compared to those who had a history of AF.