Internal Medicine Commons^™

Unexpected Biliary Duct Dilation, A Wise Decision-Making Case., Mario A. Trujillo, Mathew R. Peynado, Muhammad Ali Siddiqui, Laura P. Ackerman

Research Colloquium

Background: Common bile duct dilation is expected in certain healthy populations with specific factors like age or post procedure status. When a size larger than expected is found in an acute setting further investigation is required. In the setting of acute abdominal pain in a patient with past medical history of cholelithiasis, the study protocol for patients with more than expected enlarged common bile duct and no apparently underlying disease in the biliary tree is not well elucidated.

Case: A 68-year-old female with past medical history but not limited to cholelithiasis, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, end stage renal …

Viral Party Gone Wrong: Polyviral Pericarditis Masquerading As Gastritis, Maria Eugenia Torres Perez, Joan Beatrice Capellan, Deanna Yamamura

Research Colloquium

Background: Acute pericarditis is a rapid inflammatory condition of the pericardium with both infectious and non-infectious etiologies. Diagnosis is usually based on clinical criteria with typical symptoms including chest pain that worsens with deep inspiration and decreases by leaning forward, and distinctive electrocardiographic changes. Pericarditis is typically self-limiting however, complications like pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade may arise.

Case presentation: A 31-year-old male presented to the emergency department due to severe epigastric pain radiating to the right upper abdomen; the pain was associated with subjective fever and inability to eat due to its severity. His physical exam revealed tachycardia …

Stealthy Intrusion: Multivalve Culture-Negative Infective Endocarditis, Jennifer Rojas Huen, Carlos Luis Alejos Aguero, Duc Khiem Ngo, Maria E. Torres Perez

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Infective endocarditis (IE) typically targets a single valve, with involvement of more valves being rare. Timely targeted therapy hinges on identifying the responsible microorganism through blood culture. However, blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE), representing 5% of all endocarditis cases, poses diagnostic challenges and is associated with higher long-term mortality rates compared to blood culture-positive endocarditis (BCPE).

Case Presentation: A 53-year-old male with a history of congestive heart failure (CHF), end stage renal disease on peritoneal dialysis, and 30- years of cocaine use presented with an abnormal echocardiogram. The patient reported a two-week history of chills, sweat, generalized weakness, and exertional …

Navigating Economic Constraints In The Management Of Hfref - A Case Study Of An Uninsured Patient, Vamsikalayan Borra, Diana Othon Martinez, Barbara Malaga-Espinoza, Martha Solis, Nestor Gerardo Astorga, Prakhar Jain, Cesar Gutierrez

Research Colloquium

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a significant health concern, resulting in more than 500,000 new cases, 1.9 million hospitalizations, and a cost of $31 billion in the US. HF treatment aims to decrease hospitalizations, improve quality of life, and extend survival through GDMT. Social determinants of health (SoDH) have been associated with poor outcomes and higher readmission rates in HF patients. Addressing SoDH is crucial for achieving health equity and improving overall population health outcomes, per the CMS Framework for Health Equity 2022-2023. In the Rio Grande Valley, immigration is a common SoDH. It is estimated that 100,000 people are …

Heart Failure In The Setting Of Cocaine Abuse… Cause Or Progression? A Case Report., Diana Othon Martinez, Kashif Ali, Elimar Gonzalez Morales, Barbara Malaga-Espinoza, Jian Garcia, Cesar Gutierrez

Research Colloquium

Background: 1 out of 3 substance abuse emergency department visits are related to cocaine. In the US (United States), >5.5 million people consume cocaine. Hospitalizations for heart failure have a similar amount, with 5.7 million. Cocaine's cardiovascular adverse effects arise secondary to sympathetic nervous system stimulation, including decreased myocardial oxygen supply, coronary vasoconstriction, acceleration of atherosclerosis and thrombus formation. Studies have demonstrated contradictory information regarding cardiac anatomical changes (dilation/hypertrophy) secondary to chronic cocaine use. Cocaine cessation and guideline- directed medical therapy (GDMT) for HF are mainstay management. We present a case of a patient with HF and cocaine abuse.

Case …

Late Tamponade After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, Jian Garcia Cruz, Roy Kondapavuluru, Diana Othon Martinez, Julio Perez Rodriguez

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Pericardial effusion (PE) incidence can go up to 85% after cardiac procedures, however, not every pericardial effusion causes hemodynamic instability. Progression to Pericardial Tamponade (PT) occurs in 0.1 to 8.8% and may be either early (within 24 h post-cardiac surgery) or late (presenting within a week post-procedure). Both presentations may be attributed to anticoagulant use, inadequate mediastinal drainage, coagulopathy, post-pericardiotomy syndrome (recurrent pericardial effusion).

Patient presentation time might be misleading, as pericardial effusion’s clinical symptoms are varied, ranging from asymptomatic, to shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort, hypotension, tachycardia, or other non-specific symptoms like cough, fever, and malaise. …

Multiple Intracardiac Thrombi In A Patient With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy, Jian Garcia Cruz, Julio Perez Rodriguez

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Ischemic cardiomyopathy is defined by the American Heart Association (AHA) as cardiomyopathy caused by ischemic heart disease. The most common complication of ischemic cardiomyopathy is systolic congestive heart failure. Heart failure patients are in a hypercoagulable state that predisposes them to develop intracardiac thrombus. The incidence of LV thrombus in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and sinus rhythm is 13% with the clot in the left atrial appendage in 68% of these cases. The thrombus formation results from impaired blood flow within the 4 chambers of the heart and can present as a life-threatening complication of end stage heart failure. …

Cardiac Tamponade Secondary To Purulent Pericarditis With Mrsa, Jian Garcia Cruz, Julio Perez Rodriguez

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a nosocomial pathogen that causes severe morbidity and mortality worldwide. MRSA pericarditis is a rare life-threatening condition that can cause purulent pericarditis with only 7 cases having been reported so far. Several reasons why a patient may develop MRSA pericarditis are healthcare-associated infection, weakened immune system, invasive procedures and spread from other infections. Although not typically associated with tamponade, if MRSA were to cause an infection in the pericardial space, it could potentially lead to inflammation and fluid accumulation, resulting in tamponade. We present a case of a woman that developed tamponade secondary …

Unveiling The Neurological Aftermath: Pres After Cardiac Arrest, Oyinlola O. Fasehun, Jessica Daza, Sriharsha Koneru, Victor Tran, Eunbee Cho, Fatimah Bello

Research Colloquium

Background: Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES), also known as ‘Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS)’, is a clinical radiographic syndrome originally described by Hinchey et al in 1996. PRES has been significantly underdiagnosed due to difficulty in confirmation. As such, there is currently no epidemiological data regarding its incidence, but it has been diagnosed in all age groups with a preponderance in females. A variety of medical conditions have been implicated as causes of PRES, including severe hypertension, immunosuppressive therapy, sepsis, renal diseases and autoimmune disorders. The mechanism of PRES is thought to be related to disordered cerebral autoregulation and endothelial …

Pernicious Anemia Presenting With Pancytopenia And Hemolysis: A Case Report From South Texas, Yareli Durazo, Victor Tran, Sriharsha Koneru, Andres Suarez Parraga

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Pancytopenia is a commonly encountered hematologic entity with varying clinical presentations. It results from various disease processes ranging from simple to life-threatening. The most common cause of pancytopenia is megaloblastic anemia, and the most common causes of megaloblastic anemia are deficiencies of vitamin B9 or B12. Thus, folate and B12 deficiency should be high in the differential diagnosis when patients present with pancytopenia. Hemolytic anemia, anemia due to the shortened survival of circulating erythrocytes, often represents a more difficult diagnostic challenge for the clinician. While recognition of ongoing hemolysis is usually rapid and relatively simple, establishing the cause can …

Gastrointestinal Bleed In The Context Of Hemophilia A In An Incarcerated Patient In The Rio Grande Valley, Cameron B. Caldwell, Hector Trejo, Andres Suaez-Parraga

Research Colloquium

Background: Hemophilia A, the most common X-linked hereditary hemostasis disorder, has an incidence of approximately 1 in 5600 male live births worldwide. It results from a deficiency of clotting factor VIII, crucial for fibrin generation in the coagulation cascade, leading to inadequate fibrin generation and defective secondary hemostasis. Hemophilia can cause life-threatening bleeding, characterized as severe (<1% factor VIII activity), moderate (2-5%), or mild (6-40%). Social determinants of health pose significant challenges in managing hemophilia in underserved populations. This case presents gastrointestinal bleeding in a mild hemophilia A patient in the Rio Grande Valley.

Case Presentation: A 24-year-old Hispanic male with mild hemophilia A presented with a three-day history of melena, headaches, dizziness, and mild abdominal discomfort. Despite recent normal colonoscopy and EGD results, he had a history of intermittent black stool episodes. On admission, …

Polyp Puzzle, Get To Know Your Family. An Unfortunate Late Diagnosis Of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis: A Case Report., Jorge A. Aboytes, Aura Calderon

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) is a rare genetic condition affecting the APC gene characterized by the development of hundreds to thousands of colorectal polyps increasing the risk of cancer. Diagnosis usually occurs between ages 20 and 40. We present the unfortunate case of a patient with FAP that developed colon cancer and many years of complications. Had her family history been properly obtained at a younger age with early screening and testing, outcome and prognosis could have been different.

Case Report: A 34-year-old woman diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016 had total proctocolectomy with chemoradiation. From 2018 to 2024 …

Atypical Clinical Presentation Of Murine Typhus Infection In Relative Immunosuppressed Patient In South Texas, Johanna Mora, Kirhyn Stein, Hernan Guanajuato, Sobia Memon, Laura Garcia, Jose Campo Maldonado

Research Colloquium

Background: Murine typhus, caused by Rickettsia typhi, is a zoonotic infection transmitted to humans via fleas. It typically begins with nonspecific symptoms such as fever, headache, and nausea. Most cases resolve without complications after a 7–14-day incubation period. The primary reservoirs are rats, opossums, cats, and dogs. This case highlights an atypical presentation of murine typhus in an immunosuppressed patient in South Texas.

Case Presentation: 34-year-old female with ankylosing spondylitis treated recently with secukinumab presented to her Primary Care Physician (PCP) due to fevers. PCP ordered laboratory workup which was unrevealing. Four days later, the patient went to the …

Antibodies Gone Rogue: Autoimmunity Pairs With Antibiotic Allergy, Shubhank Goyal, Jose Jonathan Loayza Pintado, Cesar Uribe

Research Colloquium

Background: Autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG) is a rare and complex disorder marked by severe dysautonomia, profoundly affecting a patient's quality of life. Treatment typically involves immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions, which play a critical role in managing symptoms and improving patient outcomes. Managing AAG alongside acute infections such as cystitis, especially in patients with complicated drug allergies and sensitivities, presents unique clinical challenges. This case is noteworthy due to the patient’s rare combination of autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy, chronic orthostatic hypotension, and a history of severe allergic reactions to antibiotics, complicating both infection management and treatment planning. The use of immunoglobulins in the …

Assessing Quality Of Health-Related Social Needs Screening Across Jefferson Hospital’S Clinical Sites, Aparna Sarin, Md, Mph, Olivia Quinn, Mph, Nolan Chiles, Bs

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Objectives

• Assess the rate of completed health-related social needs (HRSNs) screenings at different TJUH sites
• Compare screening outcomes across TJUH clinical sites

Background

- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) is mandating Health Related Social Needs (HRSNs) screening for all admitted patients

- First-year Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC) students screen patients at four different Jefferson clinical sites alongside Community Health Workers (CHWs) as part of their ‘Clinical Experience’ curriculum

- SKMC screens 7 domains

• Food*
• Housing*
• Utilities*
• Transportation*
• Medication expenses
• Primary care
• Insurance
  
  *Screened by CMS, as well as interpersonal safety

- The data is gathered from:

• inpatient floors …

Procedural Realignment To Ensure Superb Hypertension Regulation: The Presher Study, Eleni Florakis, Md, Emily Khantses, Md, Bret Mccarty, Md, Jeffrey White, Md, Jason Ojeda, Md

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Problem Definition

Hypertension (HTN), defined by the American Heart Association as systolic blood pressure (SBP) over 130 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) over 80 mm Hg, remains a major health concern worldwideas it leads tocongestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and stroke. Blood pressure control is an important task for the primary care physician (PCP). However, adequate management remains suboptimal as nearly half of US adults have uncontrolled high blood pressure.

After reviewing selected patients in our primary care office and discussing with our stakeholders, we found that more than two-thirds (69%) of uncontrolled hypertensive patients from a …

Increasing Hpv Vaccination Rates In Residents' Primary Care Clinics, Normonique Dyer, Do, Amman Bhasin, Md, Abdul Ekiyoyo, Md, Umma Fatema, Md, Ilana Goldberg, Md, Chukwuemezie Mamanu, Md, Tamar Wolinsky, Md

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Background

• The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was approved in 2014 for the prevention of anogenital, cervical, and oropharyngeal cancers in female and male adolescents up to 26 years of age^1,2
• Data compiled from multiple clinical trials performed between 2006 and 2018 sought to evaluate benefit from extending the vaccination age given the implications on improving quality of life, morbidity/mortality, and reducing overall healthcare costs for preventable diseases³
• Results showed that increasing the vaccination age up to 45 in both males and females could offer additional protections against high-risk oncogenic strains of the HPV virus3
• Current recommendations from the …

Effect Of Education Level On Adequacy Of Bowel Preparation Prior To Colonoscopy, Anna Chen, Md, Michael Dimarino, Md, Akash Patel, Do, Katherine Duffey, Md, Gregory Habig, Md, Aaron Martin, Md, Cuckoo Choudhary, Md, Stephanie Moleski, Md

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Background

• Adequate bowel preparation is crucial for obtaining a high-quality colonoscopy.
• Inadequate preparation leads to impaired visualization, which can lower adenoma detection rate, increase the risk of complications and potentially necessitate repeating the procedure.¹
• Patients with higher health literacy and a higher level of education have been associated with better bowel preparation quality.^2,3,4,5

Impact Of Diabetic Education On Reducing Hospital Readmission Rates: A Literature Review Of Adults With Diabetes, Frank Camarda

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

According to 2018 data from the Diabetes Institute Foundation, adults in the U.S. diagnosed with diabetes accounted for 17 million emergency department visits. The readmission rate for patients with diabetes far exceeds the general readmission rates for hospitalized patients. While there is recognition of the need for diabetic education to reduce hospital readmissions, optimizing long-term self-management of diabetics remains a focus of ongoing research.

Splenic Artery Aneurysm Masquerading As Chest Pain: A Case Report Of A Rare Clinical Presentation, Emily Forester, Anjeanette Brown Md

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Splenic artery aneurysms most commonly present with vague epigastric or left upper quadrant abdominal pain that may radiate to the left shoulder. Chest pain associated with splenic artery aneurysm is an unusual phenomena. This case presents a rare occurrence of a splenic artery aneurysm originally presenting as atypical chest pain. Case Presentation: A 46 year old G3P2 AAF patient with family history of hypertension presented to the ER with pleuritic left chest pain, episodes of shortness of breath, and new onset hypertension. Chest x-ray and ECG were unremarkable. Pertinent labs included a hemoglobin of 10.6 and D-dimer of 4.10. …

Cva In Patient With Systemic Sclerosis On Aspirin Therapy: A Case Report, Rahyan Mahmud, Bianna Koutsenko, Kenneth Goich, Usaid Hasan

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by microvascular damage and multiorgan fibrosis. These patients have a higher risk of cerebrovascular events, but it is difficult to develop strategies for prevention due to limited understanding of underlying pathophysiology.

Case Presentation

A 76-year-old female with a history of systemic sclerosis presented to the emergency department with acute onset slurred speech, facial droop, and left arm pain with a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Stroke Scale of 1. She was outside the thrombolytic window. Other history includes hypertension and hyperlipidemia; both were well controlled. MRI confirmed right frontal lobe ischemic stroke …

Chronic Schizophrenia Presenting With Psychogenic Polydipsia Masking Stage Iv Uterine Adenocarcinoma, Dakota B. Pastore, Kamayel Jaludi, Angelo Sica

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Psychogenic polydipsia (PPD) is a condition of excessive water intake and seeking behavior with a 6-20% prevalence among patients with psychiatric illnesses, commonly Schizophrenia. It remains unknown how often concomitant disease can mask other, more serious conditions in psychiatric patients.

Case Description: The patient is a 58-year-old Hispanic, white female with chronic schizophrenia complicated by multiple hospitalizations for hyponatremia secondary to PPD. The patient initially presented to the emergency department (ED) in 2016 with abdominal pain, was treated symptomatically and discharged. From 2020 to 2023, the patient was readmitted seven more times, with two suspected aspirin overdoses, an Ambien …

Relationship Between Gut Microbiota And Dementia, Saad Ahmed, Zackary Harris, Russell David Levi

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

This paper explores the complex relationship between gut microbiota, dietary habits, and dementia, focusing particularly on Alzheimer's disease (AD). Growing evidence suggests a significant link between the composition of gut bacteria, dietary choices, and susceptibility to dementia. Notably, individuals with dementia demonstrate a noticeable reduction in gut bacteria diversity, highlighting the crucial role of a balanced microbiome in maintaining cognitive health. Conversely, dietary preferences characterized by excessive consumption of processed foods and sugars are associated with an increased risk of dementia, emphasizing the critical influence of diet on shaping gut microbiota and subsequent neurocognitive outcomes. Importantly, dietary interventions featuring a …

Strategies For Combating Vaccine Hesitancy In Primary Care, Elizabeth Perkins Hayes

Student Scholar Showcase

This article will summarize methods for providers to effectively combat vaccine hesitancy in their patient populations. Vaccine hesitancy is a growing concern in the medical field, as new cases of vaccine preventable diseases arise. However, vaccine hesitancy is more common than vaccine resistance and can be converted into vaccine acceptance with effective communication strategies.

There is no easy solution to the complex problem of vaccine hesitancy. Most studies demonstrate that effective conversion to vaccine acceptance requires tailoring vaccine information to the patient and listening to their concerns. Other methods include exposing patients to survivors of vaccine preventable diseases, or using …

Typhlitis In A Neutropenic Patient, Alice He Bs, Wern Lynn Ng Md, Lay She Ng Md, Si Yuan Khor Md, Chandi Garg Md

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

Hiding In Plain Sight; Dermatologic Manifestation Of A Systemic Disease, Christopher Ignatz, David Young Do, Brian Chwiecko Md

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

The Silent Culprit: Factor V Leiden’S Covert Role In Recurrent Miscarriages And First-Time Thromboembolism, Tanner Aldous, Sarah Almarzooqi, Mingran Yu, Jeremy Ellis

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

Hypermetabolic Lymphadenopathy Following The Administration Of Covid-19 Vaccine And Immunotherapy In A Lung Cancer Patient: A Case Report, Shreya Tripathy, Nathaniel Alvarez, Shubham Jaiswal, Ryan Williams, Munaf Al-Khadimi, Sarah Hackman, William Phillips, Supreet Kaur, Sherri Cervantez, William Kelly, Josephine Taverna

Research Symposium

Background: Given the current climate of the pandemic, lung cancer patients are especially vulnerable to complications from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. As a high-risk population group, these patients are strongly advised to receive coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination in accordance with Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to minimize morbidity and mortality. In recent years, immunotherapy has taken a preeminent role in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with dramatic improvement in overall survival. Reactive lymphadenopathy following the administration of a coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination can confound the radiographic interpretation of positron emission tomography-computed tomography or …

Too Yellow: An Idiopathic Case Of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia, Shreel Patel, Kashif Ali, Donnel Dockery-Joseph, Eunbee Cho, Sriharsha Koneru, Taha Al Hassan, Aramide Tijani, Elimar Gonzalez Morales

Research Symposium

Background: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is caused by autoantibodies that react with self red blood cells and cause them to be destroyed. Warm AIHA, due to antibodies that are active at body temperature, is the most common type of the AIHA. It is mostly caused by the underlying disease like infections, autoimmune disorders, lymphoproliferative disorders, immunodeficiency or physiologic state like pregnancy. Rarely it happens that there is no underlying cause. Therefore, here we present a case of idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia without any underlying cause.

Case Discussion: A 77 year old lady with known history of the diabetes mellitus type 2, …

Spontaneous Tumor Lysis Syndrome In A Patient With Recent Diagnosis Of Multiple Myeloma — An Unusual Presentation, Taha Al Hassan, Olga G. Cantu-Rodriguez, Eunbee Cho, Edgar G. Dorsey Trevino

Research Symposium

Background: Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is an oncologic emergency that surfaces as a constellation of metabolic imbalances due to the rapid destruction of cancer cells and subsequent dissemination of their contents. However, a markedly rare subtype of TLS, known as spontaneous TLS (STLS), occurs without an evident trigger, such as cytotoxic therapy, and carries a similar mortality risk. It is paramount to recognize high-risk cases early and implement therapeutic measures to prevent complications of STLS.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 74-year-old gentleman with a recent diagnosis of Kappa-restricted multiple myeloma who presented with worsening weakness, tremors, ataxia, …