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J Emerg Med 2020 Jul 1. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

Background: Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening disease with a high mortality rate. Its clinical manifestations depend on the length of time over which pericardial effusion accumulates. Among those, hiccups are rarely reported. Read More

Brain Dev 2020 Jun 30. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Division of Neurology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan.

Background: Diagnosis of functional (psychogenic) movement disorders is challenging, causing concern for many clinicians. Here, we describe a case in which MRCP (movement related cortical potentials) was useful for understanding pathophysiology.

Case Report: The patient was a 16-year-old male with history of glycogenosis and Crohn's disease. Read More

Respirol Case Rep 2020 Aug 29;8(6):e00605. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Division of Pulmonary Medicine Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York NY USA.

Hiccups are common; however, hiccups caused by sarcoidosis have rarely been reported. An unusual case involving a patient with persistent hiccups possibly caused by hilar/mediastinal lymph node enlargement due to sarcoidosis prompted us to perform a literature search. Eight case reports relating hiccups to sarcoidosis were found and in only one case were the hiccups thought to be due to thoracic lymphadenopathy (LAD). Read More

Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab 2020 20;11:2042018820934307. Epub 2020 Jun 20.

Department of Endocrinology and Nephrology, Chongqing Emergency Medical Hospital, Chongqing University Central Hospital, No.1 Jiankang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and thyroid storm (TS) are severe metabolic and endocrine disorders. Both usually manifest with multiple systemic clinical signs and symptoms, and digestive symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, are most common in these patients. Moreover, the presence of a concurrent severe or rare complication may worsen the condition or even cause death due to misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or inappropriate treatment. Read More

Front Neurol 2020 4;11:396. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

Department of Neurology, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.

To compare the frequency of area postrema syndrome (APS) in adults with anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies. APS is defined as acute or subacute, single or combined, episodic or constant nausea, vomiting, or hiccups, persisting for at least 48 h, which cannot be attributed to any other etiology. The presence of APS was investigated in 274 adults with AQP4 antibodies and 107 adults with MOG antibodies from 10 hospitals. Read More

Acta Neurol Belg 2020 Jun 17. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Department of Neurology, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey.

Acupunct Med 2020 Jun 12:964528420920296. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Department of Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, and Shanghai Ciyuan Rehabilitation Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China.

World Neurosurg 2020 Jun 8;141:64-68. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.

Background: Hiccups are a well-known short-term phenomenon in daily life. If they persist or become intractable, they may be a primary symptom of a disease. Recent studies identified the medulla oblongata as the neuroanatomic center of the hiccup reflex arc. Read More

J Family Med Prim Care 2020 Mar 26;9(3):1749-1751. Epub 2020 Mar 26.

Department of Medicine, Iqraa International Hospital and Research Centre, Calicut, Kerala, India.

Levodopa (L-dopa) is the most effective antiparkinsonian agent and is well tolerated at all stages of the disease. However, both motor and nonmotor adverse events are reported with the use of L-dopa. Electrolyte imbalances such as hyponatremia and hiccups with L-dopa/carbidopa are very rare. Read More

Oxf Med Case Reports 2020 Apr 23;2020(4):omaa030. Epub 2020 May 23.

Department of Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.

Approximately 250 cases of primary adrenal lymphoma have been reported. We describe an unusual presentation of this condition. Our patient is a 65-year-old male whom presented to the emergency department with 4 days of severe persistent hiccups. Read More

Front Neurol 2020 12;11:414. Epub 2020 May 12.

Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

A 25 year-old Nigerian woman with aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) presented with a 6 week history of nausea, vomiting, and refractory hiccups; as well as progressive lower extremity sensory loss, weakness, saddle anesthesia, and urinary incontinence. She had experienced her first NMOSD relapse seven years prior with bilateral lower extremity weakness and area postrema syndrome. After pulse steroids and plasma exchange she made a complete neurologic recovery and was started on azathioprine. Read More

J Anesth 2020 May 23. Epub 2020 May 23.

Department of Anesthesiology, Japan Community Healthcare Organization Tokuyama Central Hospital, Shunan, Japan.

Purpose: LMA ProSeal™ (pLMA) has been used as an alternative to tracheal tubes. It is unclear how many cases are required to achieve proficiency in performing pLMA insertion among novice residents. Therefore, we analyzed the learning curve of pLMA insertion using a cumulative sum (CUSUM) chart and assessed the effects of learning. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 May;99(20):e20131

Beijing Guoao Psychological Hospital, Beijing, China.

Rationale: Hiccups are a common clinical symptom, and persistent hiccups and intractable hiccups severely impair the individual's quality of life. To date, there has been no effective treatment specifically for hiccups. Herein, we report 2 cases with intractable or persistent hiccups that were successfully treated with extracranial acupuncture. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 May;99(20):e19973

Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China.

Background: Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, which lead to sudden contractions of the glottis. CAM, such as acupuncture is commonly used and stimulation of the vagus nerve and interference with phrenic nerve conduction are also used to treat hiccups. However, there is little evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture for cancer-related hiccups. Read More

Turk J Pediatr 2020 ;62(2):343-346

Department of Pediatric Neurology, İzmir Katip Çelebi University, İzmir, Turkey.

Background: Hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD) is a rare degenerative disorder that is thought to occur subsequent to a disruption of the dentate-rubro-olivary pathway.

Case: We report a pediatric case of unilateral HOD presented with persistent hiccups and palatal tremor. Radiological examination of diaphragm was normal considering ultrasound and chest x-ray. Read More

Curr Pediatr Rev 2020 May 8. Epub 2020 May 8.

Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Hong Kong Children's Hospital. Hong Kong.

Background: Hiccups are a universal phenomenon. They are usually benign and self-limited. Persistent or intractable hiccups, although rare, can be debilitating and may indicate the presence of an underlying pathological process. Read More

Iran J Kidney Dis 2020 May;14(3):235-238

Department of Internal Medicine, Loghman- Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.

The initial manifestation of emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) with hiccups is extremely rare. We report a 47-year-old diabetic man with complaint of persistent hiccups as the first manifestation. Class 3B EPN was confirmed based on findings of Contrast-enhanced abdominal multi-slice CT scan. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020 Jul 29;27(20):25450-25460. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Faculty of Business and Economics, Department of Economics, Famagusta, Eastern Mediterranean University, via Mersin 10, Famagusta, North Cyprus, Turkey.

Giving that People's Republic of China is one of the two new frontiers of globalization, the country has continued to contend with the bottleneck of sustaining its economic growth amidst environmental hiccups arising from the drawbacks of globalization and energy consumption. By investigating the challenges of the country's drive toward environmental sustainability, the present study offers a new perspective on the role of electricity consumption and economic growth in a carbon-income function setting. This study also incorporates globalization into CO emissions equation for the experimental period of 1970-2014. Read More

Am J Emerg Med 2020 07 18;38(7):1546.e5-1546.e6. Epub 2020 Apr 18.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Cook County Health, 1950 W Polk Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Electronic address:

Hiccups (singultus) are reflex inspiratory movements that involve the swallowing reflex arc and can be classified as acute (<48 h) or persistent (>48 h). A 62-year-old man with no history of malignancy or pulmonary disease presented to the Emergency Department with a four-day history of persistent hiccups. Other than episodic hiccupping, his physical examination was otherwise unremarkable. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Apr;99(16):e19771

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, People's Hospital of De Yang City, Deyang City, Sichuan, China.

Background: For a long time, postoperative nutritional support for laryngeal cancer patients has depended on the gastric tube for enteral nutrition. Silica gel gastric tube is often used in clinical practice; however, the gastric tube placed in the conventional depth often leads to various complications in the stomach, thus damaging the nutritional status of patients and leading to the poor prognosis.

Methods/design: A total of 80 patients with laryngeal cancer in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery department of Deyang people's hospital from May 2020 to April 2022 will be selected and randomly divided into control group and experimental group according to the numerical table. Read More

Am J Emerg Med 2020 Mar 25. Epub 2020 Mar 25.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.

Hiccup is a condition caused by involuntary contraction of inspiratory muscles, especially the diaphragm. Although it is generally considered as a physiological. response, if hiccup persists for a long time, it can lead to many undesirable conditions such as depression, weight loss, insomnia, and fatigue. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Apr;99(14):e19338

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Introduction: A hiccup is myoclonus of a sudden involuntary contraction of the diaphragm. Hiccups have various causes, and brain stem stroke is one of the causes of central hiccups. Certain types of hiccups are caused by diseases that can be fatal. Read More

Acta Gastroenterol Belg 2020 Jan-Mar;83(1):92-93

Department of Anesthesiology, Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Mult Scler Relat Disord 2020 Jan 13;37:101442. Epub 2019 Oct 13.

University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Neurology, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 673, Rochester, NY, United States.

Background: Aquaporin-4 IgG (AQ4-IgG)-neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune inflammatory CNS disease that is predominantly characterized by severe relapses of optic neuritis and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM). Women are disproportionately affected by AQ4-NMOSD, usually with disease onset occurring between the ages of 35-45. This has significant implications during pregnancy, as disease activity in NMOSD does not remit during gestation. Read More

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 2019 Dec;46(13):2219-2221

Dept. of Surgery, Matsudo City General Hospital.

Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus is a rare malignancy with a perceived poor prognosis. We report a case of long-term survival using chemoradiotherapy. An 80-year-old man visited our hospital complaining of hiccup. Read More

J Neurosci Rural Pract 2020 Jan 3;11(1):202-204. Epub 2020 Mar 3.

Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.

Demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system are diseases that affect the optic nerves, brain, and spinal cord, leading to visual loss, brainstem dysfunction, and locomotor dysfunction. Intractable vomiting is a rare phenomenon seen due to the involvement of the medulla oblongata in neuromyelitis optica, a rare autoimmune demyelinating disorder. We present our experience with a 33-year-old male who presented to our facility with complaints of intractable hiccups. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2020 Mar 4;13(3). Epub 2020 Mar 4.

Department of Paediatrics, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital, Basildon, UK.

We present a case of Sandifer syndrome in a 3-year-old girl who initially presented with a history of recurrent paroxysmal head drops associated with ataxia-like symptoms and recurrent falls sustaining a clavicular fracture on one occasion. She was referred to and seen by the paediatric neurologist. Physical examination, electroencephalogram, MRI brain, electromyograph single fibre study and blood tests were all normal. Read More

Pediatr Neurol 2020 05 4;106:70-71. Epub 2020 Feb 4.

Department of Neurosurgery, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.

Neuroimmunomodulation 2020 Feb 26:1-6. Epub 2020 Feb 26.

Key Laboratory of Oral Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Oral Disease, Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to report 2 cases with overlapping syndromes in autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy.

Methods: Antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Patient data were analyzed retrospectively. Read More

Am J Med 2020 Feb 19. Epub 2020 Feb 19.

Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Health Science University Brooklyn. Electronic address:

Int J Surg Case Rep 2020 13;67:134-138. Epub 2019 Dec 13.

Department of Urology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences Cancer Hospital, Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Introduction: Giant hydronephrosis (GH) is a rare disease that is found in adult patients. Although there are some common symptoms associated with hydronephrosis, such as surrounding organ compressed, its rarer symptoms can render diagnosis very difficult, and treatment should also vary according to the cause.

Presentation Of Case: We here report an 82-year-old man who was admitted to the hospital for repeated intractable hiccups. Read More

Cas Lek Cesk 2019 ;158(7-8):306-309

Singultus (hiccup) is caused by periodic involuntary spastic contractions of the respiratory muscles followed by a sharp inspiration and early glottis closure. This results in typical "hic" sound. Brief episodes of hiccups are quite common experience in general population, and they do not indicate serious disease nor require medical treatment. Read More

Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol 2020 Jan 23. Epub 2020 Jan 23.

Department of Gastroenterology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University Hospital, 3401 N. Broad St., 8th floor Parkinson Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Nearly 4000 patients will be admitted to hospital in the US this year for hiccups. Hiccups are controlled by a complex reflex arc between peripheral receptors and the brainstem. Any disruption along this pathway may produce hiccups. Read More

Cureus 2019 Dec 10;11(12):e6338. Epub 2019 Dec 10.

Internal Medicine, Nawaz Sharif Medical College, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, PAK.

Abdominal hiccups are often masked by abdominal epilepsy (AE) in clinical settings. Spontaneous arrhythmic muscular movements sometimes raise the suspicion for abdominal myoclonus as well. AE is an atypical and rare cause of seizure disorder. Read More

Cureus 2019 Dec 7;11(12):e6317. Epub 2019 Dec 7.

Surgical Gastroenterology and Liver Transplant, Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai, IND.

We describe a case of a symptomatic mucocele of the esophagus following surgical isolation of the diseased esophagus, which needed surgical resection. A 33-year-old male presented to us with shock, high-grade fever, and breathlessness five days after the onset of sudden, severe lower chest and upper abdominal pain preceded by an episode of retching and vomiting. He was initially managed elsewhere by right intercostal drainage for right-sided pleural effusion, broad-spectrum parenteral antibiotics, and total parenteral nutrition. Read More

QJM 2020 Jan 11. Epub 2020 Jan 11.

Medical Division, Manchester Medical Association, Simon Building, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PL.

J Hist Neurosci 2020 Jul-Sep;29(3):286-298. Epub 2020 Jan 8.

College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology , Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Sir Louis Francis Knuthsen (1869-1957), the physician who painstakingly listed almost all treatments known for obstinate hiccough, ascribes the holding of breath method to Philip Henry Pye-Smith, FRS (1840-1914), consultant at Guy's Hospital in London. In fact, the strategy is much older and was mentioned by greats such as Francis Bacon (1561-1626), Aristoteles (384-322 BC), and Eryximachus (late-fifth century bce). Hypoventilation to reduce central nervous system excitability was used in antiquity as evidenced by Cyriacus' treatment of Artemia, the daughter of Emperor Diocletian (≈ 244-311). Read More

J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother 2020 Mar 7;34(1):43-54. Epub 2020 Jan 7.

Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, Kings College London, London, UK.

Hiccup is a recognised symptom amongst the palliative care population. It can be debilitating, with significant impact on quality of life. The pathophysiology is poorly understood and the list of aetiological factors is extensive. Read More

Funct Integr Genomics 2020 Jul 2;20(4):479-496. Epub 2020 Jan 2.

Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Sikkim University, 6th Mile, Samdur, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim, 737102, India.

Sikkim is one of the bio-diverse states of India, which harbors diverse alkaline and sulfur rich hot springs in its vicinity. However, there is a dearth of data present in terms of microbial and its functional diversity as only a few hot springs have been studied in this area. Thus, in this regard, microbial and functional diversity of two hot springs by NGS, PLFA, and culture-independent approaches were carried out. Read More

Cureus 2019 Nov 27;11(11):e6245. Epub 2019 Nov 27.

Internal Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, IND.

Neuromyelitis optica is an inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system. It involves the immune-mediated demyelination of predominantly the optic nerves and the spinal cord, which can lead to optic neuritis and transverse myelitis, respectively. Patients usually present with symptoms related to the eyes or the spinal cord, like loss of vision, pain in the eyes, visual field defects or numbness and weakness of limbs. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 12 27;9(1):20201. Epub 2019 Dec 27.

Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.

Age-related changes in the brain can alter how emotions are processed. In humans, valence specific changes in attention and memory were reported with increasing age, i.e. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Dec;98(51):e18343

Department of Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, China.

Background: A Hiccup is a common disease that often occurs along with other chronic or acute conditions. At present, there is a lack of feasible therapies for hiccups, and acupuncture is a treatment method with enormous clinical practice worldwide.

Methods: Based on a pre-defined search strategy, we searched seven databases and screened them by two independent investigators, without language and publication status restriction from inception to date. Read More

Curr Oncol Rep 2019 12 19;21(12):113. Epub 2019 Dec 19.

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Singultus or hiccups (HU) is a common, usually temporary, event. Its potentially serious consequences are often overlooked. This review explores published evidence describing HU burden (clinical, economic, and quality of life [QoL] consequences) across patient populations. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 12 18;9(1):19382. Epub 2019 Dec 18.

Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

Muscle wasting is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, especially in the haemodialysis (HD) population. Nevertheless, little is known regarding diaphragm dysfunction in HD patients. We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Institute of Nephrology, Southeast University, involving 103 HD patients and 103 healthy volunteers as normal control. Read More

Rinsho Shinkeigaku 2020 Jan 17;60(1):51-56. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Kumamoto Medical Center.

A 73-year-old man with a 5-day history of continuous hiccup, fever, and rapidly progressing paraplegia was admitted to our hospital. On admission, he exhibited dysarthria, complete paraplegia, and insentience of both lower limbs. Head and spine MRI showed abnormal, asymmetric lesions in the white matter, basal ganglia, and brainstem, and multiple spinal cord lesions. Read More

Neurology 2020 01 11;94(2):85-88. Epub 2019 Dec 11.

From the Department of Neurology (A.K., E.P.F., J.J., A.S.L.-C., B.G.W, S.J.P.), Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (A.K., E.P.F., J.J., J.C., S.J.P.) and Department of Radiology (K.N.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Center for MS and Autoimmune Neurology (A.K., K.N.K., E.P.F., J.J., S.L., J.C., B.G.W, S.J.P.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and Department of Ophthalmology (J.J.C), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Nov;98(48):e18096

Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China.

Introduction: Hiccup is usually a benign and self-limited phenomenon. Therefore, if hiccups do not resolve by themselves and even last for a long time, it may be the marker of serious medical conditions.

Patient Concerns: We encountered a case presenting with recurrent abdominal discomfort. Read More

ACG Case Rep J 2019 Aug 8;6(8). Epub 2019 Aug 8.

Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Hyponatremia by colonic irrigation with water is a rare complication, especially in children. We describe a child with chronic constipation who was admitted because of persistent hiccups provoked by severe hyponatremia by water intoxication due to colonic irrigation with tap water. Awareness of complications of colonic irrigation may be crucial for health care providers and parents to rapidly recognize a serious underlying problem. Read More

J Neurol Sci 2020 01 31;408:116517. Epub 2019 Oct 31.

Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Neuroscience Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Circulation 2019 11 11;140(20):1681-1683. Epub 2019 Nov 11.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison.