Ochsner Medical Center

About: Ochsner Medical Center is a healthcare organization based out in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 980 authors who have published 1159 publications receiving 49961 citations. The organization is also known as: Ochsner Hospital & Ochsner Foundation Hospital.

Case report “3 month old infant with fever and irritability”

Abstract: Case report of an unusual presentation of retropharyngeal abscess in a 3 month old infant with fever and irritability.

CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib reduces inflammation in lupus-prone mice.

Abstract: Lupus is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) have been associated with inflammation. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of palbociclib (a CDK4/6 inhibitor) on inflammation in a lupus-prone MRL-lpr mouse model. Twenty mice (10 females and 10 males) were randomized into control group (n=10, treated with vehicle) and treatment group (n=10, treated with 3 cycles of palbociclib at a dose of 120 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks on and 10 weeks off, through oral gavage). Animals were euthanized after the third cycle of treatment. We found that facial skin lesions developed later and smaller in the female mice treated with palbociclib than the female mice in the control group. The lymph node number was less and the lymph node weight was lighter in the female treatment group compared to the female control group. The inflammatory lesions in the kidneys of male mice treated with palbociclib were significantly reduced compared to the male mice in the control group. Our findings suggest that palbociclib treatment reduces inflammation in lupus-prone mice in a gender-specific manner, targeting the facial skin and lymph nodes in the female mice and the kidneys in the male mice.

Multiple Myeloma, Hyperviscosity, Hemodialysis Filter Clogging, and Antigen Excess Artifact: A Case Report

Abstract: Kidney involvement in multiple myeloma can result in kidney failure. Unlike Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, hyperviscosity syndrome is a rare occurrence in multiple myeloma. Timely detection of hyperviscosity syndrome and initiation of plasma exchange to remove paraproteins can significantly alter the clinical course and be potentially lifesaving. We report a case of hospitalized patient with kidney failure due to multiple myeloma not in remission who experienced shortened hemodialysis sessions due to early dialysis filter failure due to hyperviscosity, which was later corrected with plasmapheresis. When confirmation of high levels of serum free light chains (sFLCs) was attempted, sFLC was initially reported as "not detectable." This false-negative result reflected a laboratory artifact caused by a high abundance of sFLCs, known as antigen excess or hook phenomenon. Manual serial dilutions led to unmasking of markedly elevated κ light chain levels. This case exemplifies that patients with multiple myeloma can exhibit clinically challenging kidney manifestations even after becoming dialysis dependent.