Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases Commons^™

“Lupus, Marijuana, And Takotsubo: A Perfect Storm”: An Unusual Presentation Of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, Matthew Orap, Parth Patel, Haitham Dib

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a type of myocardial injury that is marked with left ventricular contraction dysfunction. Various regions of the left ventricular wall may exhibit hypokinetic or hypercontractile activity. There is no exact mechanism elucidated for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, but it is often associated with a triggering stressful event that leads to a catecholamine surge. We describe a 38-year-old female who presented with typical Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, likely in the setting of worsening systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exacerbations and excessive cannabis use. The patient described her pain as a tight burning sensation that started on her right side and traveled to the …

A Systematic Review On Belimumab’S Effectiveness, Improved Health Outcomes And Quality Of Life In Patients With Lupus Syndromes, Emily Meale, Alexandra Fontaine

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Autoimmune diseases are prevalent disorders that many individuals within the United States suffer from. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common autoimmune disease that has a high incidence in women of child-bearing age. Management for lupus depends on the anatomical location SLE manifests, the severity of disease, and the tolerance that one has for certain adverse effects. Glucocorticoids are commonly used to manage lupus. Currently, long term glucocorticoid usage is associated with devastating adverse effects, so current treatment options aim to mitigate corticosteroids use to improve quality of life while maintaining favorable health outcomes. New management for SLE include biologics …

Remitting Seronegative Symmetrical Synovitis With Pitting Edema (Rs3pe) - A Hidden Inflammation Unveiled, Tirumala Nischal Jasty, Jon Nesfeder

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

Examining The Matrix: A Case Of Anti-Nuclear Matrix Protein 2 (Nxp-2) Positive Dermatomyositis, Victoria Cuello, Ramiro Oquita, Emilia Dulgheru

Research Symposium

Background: Dermatomyositis is a disease characterized by proximal muscle weakness, elevated muscle enzymes and cutaneous skin findings including heliotrope rash, periungual erythema, Gottron’s papules/sign and shawl-sign. Myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSA) can be used to predict disease manifestations, response to therapy and prognosis. Specifically, patients with dermatomyositis with positive anti-nuclear matrix protein (NXP-2) typically present with classical skin findings, subcutaneous edema, profound muscle weakness, severe dysphagia and hypophonia.

Case Presentation: A 21-year-old Hispanic lady presented to the hospital for severe muscle weakness. She reported soreness in her thighs for three months prior to presentation followed by arm soreness. She also developed a …

Avaren-Fc, A Novel Immunotherapeutic, Recruits Nk Cells In B16f10 Melanoma Tumor Tissue, Sreevatsa Vemuri, Katarina Mayer, Nobuyuki Matoba

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the US, with limited effective immunotherapeutic options available for patients. Avaren-Fc (AvFc) is a novel experimental immunotherapeutic agent with a unique “lectibody” property. It is capable of targeting cancer cells through the selective recognition of high mannose glycans, which are aberrantly overrepresented on the surface of malignant cells. AvFc can interact with circulating effector immune cells equipped with Fc receptors, such as natural killer (NK) cells to induce antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and kill cancer cells. Previous work has shown that AvFc effectively induces ADCC activity against B16F10 cancer cells in vitro …

The Importance Of A Broad Differential Diagnosis: Hepatitis C Virus Associated Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis, Shadi Jafari-Esfahani, Christine E. Loftis, Juan Naranjo, Emilia Dulgheru

Research Symposium

Introduction: Mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome (MCS) is a systemic inflammatory syndrome affecting small-medium sized vessels due to the presence of type II or III cryoglobulins in the serum. MSC can manifest as systemic vasculitis with symptoms varying from weakness, arthralgia, palpable purpura, peripheral neuropathy, and renal involvement. The most common cause of MCS includes lymphoproliferative disorders, autoimmune diseases and viral infections, with hepatitis C virus (HCV) being the most common etiology.

Case Presentation: A 60-year-old lady was referred to our office for evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis. She reported history of bilateral thumb pain, bilateral knee pain associated with episodes of swelling, …

Differential Diagnosis Of Pan-Uveitis: Behçet’S Disease, Peter Blosser, Remil Simon, Courtney Ridner

Appalachian Student Research Forum

This report describes the case of a 56-year-old man who presented with blurry vision, increased intraocular pressure, and conjunctival injection after posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. Initially post-operative endophalmitis and foreign body inflammation were considered as differential diagnoses, but after further examination pan-uveitis was diagnosed. Uveitis is an ocular finding that may indicate several diseases, one of which is Behçet’s Disease. During the interview, the patient mentioned a history of apthous ulcers and genital ulcers which then lead to the clinical diagnosis of Behçet’s Disease. This report emphasizes that Behçet’s Disease is rare in Caucasians. Therefore, is frequently misdiagnosed in …

Beyond Skin Deep: The Traumatic Effects Of Dermatomyositis, Alexander Lorenzo Perez Herrera

Scholarly and Creative Works Conference (2015 - 2021)

Dermatomyositis is a rare autoimmune disease that affects a very small percentage of the population, close to 10 cases per million, according to the National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD). The amount of men that are diagnosed with this disease are even smaller. However, hardly anyone knows what Dermatomyositis is, let alone what its side effects are. The purpose of this research paper is to exploit the severity of Dermatomyositis for those who are unaware of its existence, characteristics and significance within the health community. In doing so, I hope to create awareness throughout society by also telling my father’s …