Medical Pathology Commons^™

Is Your Cyst Really A Ganglion Cyst? A Case Report Of Angioleiomyoma Mimicking A Plantar Fascia Cystic Lesion, Christopher Anjorin Ms Dpmc, Joseph Bender Dpm

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Ganglion cysts are among the most common benign soft tissue masses encountered in podiatric clinical practice, and their diagnosis is often presumed based on location, clinical observation, and transillumination. However, this case highlights a diagnostic idiosyncrasy: a lesion clinically presumed to be a ganglion cyst within the plantar fascia was ultimately identified as an angioleiomyoma following surgical excision and histopathological evaluation. This finding underscores the importance of maintaining a broad differential diagnosis when assessing cystic lesions, particularly those that transilluminate, as benign vascular tumors may closely mimic more common entities in both clinical presentation and imaging. More importantly, what if …

Heroes Of Medicine In The Rio Grande Valley: Documentary Interview With Dr. Cynthia Cavazos Gonzalez, Cynthia Cavazos Gonzalez, Raquel Elena Orellana

Heroes of Medicine in the Rio Grande Valley

Cynthia Cavazos Gonzalez PhD is an Associate Professor of Clinical Practice at UTRGV in Edinburg, Texas and she is the clinic director of the UTRGV Psychology training clinic. She completed a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology in Fresno, California. Her doctoral degree is in Clinical Psychology with a major specialization in Neuropsychology and minor specialization in Health Psychology. She completed an APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at UTMB in Galveston with a major emphasis in hospital consultation, outpatient psychotherapy, and psychological and neuropsychological evaluations with diverse populations. She completed an informal neuropsychology post-doctoral residency in Texas …

Corticobasal Syndrome With Mixed Pathology In The Absence Of Grn Mutation: A Clinico-Pathological Case Of Ftld-Tdp With Coexisting Alzheimer’S And Lewy Body Pathology, Hugo Zamarron, David Irwin, Jeffery Phillips, Edward Lee, Matthew Tisdall, Corey Mcmillan

Research Colloquium

Background: Corticobasal syndrome (CBS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by often asymmetric fronto-pariteal and extra-pyramidal features that is traditionally associated with tauopathy, but pathological findings are heterogenous, including other forms of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and mixed pathologies of aging. We present clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of asymmetry in a unique patient with CBS and underlying FTLD with TDP-43 pathology (FTLD-TDP), co-occurring with other age-related pathologies.

Case Presentation: A 76-year-old man presented with progressive cognitive and motor dysfunction including asymmetric parkinsonism, left-sided dystonia and rigidity, apraxia, visuospatial impairment, and a subtle social disorder including apathy and social withdrawal. The …

Delayed Diagnosis Of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Presenting As Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia: A Case For Heightened Clinical Suspicion, Diana Acosta Pozo, Luis Álvarez Pérez

Research Colloquium

Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by multisystem involvement, including hematologic manifestations. Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA), though an established feature, is relatively uncommon and may occur early or in isolation. When AIHA presents without overt systemic symptoms, the underlying autoimmune etiology may be overlooked, resulting in delays in diagnosis and treatment. Prompt recognition is essential to prevent unnecessary interventions and prolonged morbidity.

Case Presentation: A 39-year-old woman residing in Texas presented to the Rheumatology office with persistent synovitis and severe transfusion-dependent anemia, requiring red blood cell transfusions every 48 hours for over three months. She …

Systemic Vascular Dysregulation And Retinal Microvascular Alterations In Glaucoma, Amin Ibrahim, Tori Sayers, Alexa Nichols, Igor Zwir, Andrew Tsin, Lorena Flores-Hernandez, Gladys E. Maestre, Jesus D. Melgarejo

Research Colloquium

Background: Glaucoma is a multifactorial, progressive optic neuropathy, for which both mechanical and vascular mechanisms of pathogenesis have been proposed. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) enables noninvasive visualization of the choroidal and retinal vasculature and may be used to quantify vascular changes associated with glaucoma. Systemic risk factors, including variations in blood pressure (BP), whether low or elevated, have been associated with the vascular pathogenesis of glaucoma. This systematic review aims to synthesize the current evidence on the relationship between systemic vascular dysregulation and OCTA-derived retinal vascular markers in glaucomatous eyes.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic search …

Long-Term Neurocognitive And Behavioral Outcomes In Survivors Of Pediatric Brain Tumors: A Systematic Review, Tori Sayers, Megan W. Szobody, Nina Mourao, Blake C. Martin, Sriya Gullapalli, Kory Punch, Tirath Patel, Murali Yallapu, Bharathi Shrikanth Gadad

Research Symposium

Background: Pediatric populations have an increased susceptibility for brain tumors and suffer from neurocognitive impairment due to the neoplasm itself, and side effect of subsequent treatments. This causes many patients to experience a subpar quality of life (QoL), affecting academic endeavors, social interaction and mental well-being. Increasing our understanding of the long-term effects associated with brain tumors and the side effects from our current treatment methodology will help us formulate better treatment protocols and improve survivors’ QoL. This review aims to investigate different long-term neurocognitive and behavioral outcomes in pediatric brain tumor survivors, as well as evaluate how various treatment …

Exploring The Mechanisms Of Varicella-Zoster Virus Pathogenesis And Its Potential Role In Oncogenesis, Fernando Cisneros, Blake Martin

Research Symposium

Background: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a highly prevalent pathogen primarily recognized for causing chickenpox during primary infection and herpes zoster (HZ), also known as shingles, upon reactivation. While post-infectious complications of VZV, such as encephalitis, pneumonia, and post-herpetic neuralgia, are well-established, recent large population-based studies suggest that HZ may increase the risk of occult cancers. Emerging evidence suggests that VZV may modulate key oncogenic pathways, such as the inhibition of apoptosis, alteration of cell cycle regulatory enzymes, and interference with immunosurveillance, which could potentially promote cancer development. These findings indicate that VZV’s role in cancer biology may involve direct cellular …

Utilidad De La Combinación De Los Biomarcadores: Procalcitonina, Proteína C Reactiva Y Volumen Plaquetario Medio En El Diagnóstico Temprano De Sepsis Neonatal [Usefulness Of The Combination Of Biomarkers: Procalcitonin, C-Reactive Protein And Mean Platelet Volume In The Early Diagnosis Of Neonatal Sepsis], Oscar Manuel Berlanga Bolado Jr, Patricia Rivera Vazquez, Arely Socorro Hernández García, Angelica Lizbeth Martinez Ortiz

Research Symposium

Introducción: La sepsis neonatal es una causa frecuente de morbilidad y mortalidad infantil. Se le ha definido como un síndrome clínico caracterizado por signos sistémicos de infección, acompañado de bacteriemia en el primer mes de vida. Por lo tanto, el diagnóstico temprano es fundamental.

Objetivo: Conocer la sensibilidad y especificidad de la combinación de biomarcadores séricos como procalcitonina, proteína C reactiva y volumen plaquetario medio en el diagnóstico temprano de sepsis neonatal.

Material y métodos: Estudio clínico, de tipo prospectivo, predictivo, observacional, analítico, longitudinal y conveniencia. Se analizaron los biomarcadores como PCT, PCR, VPM para diagnosticar sepsis neonatal. Se incluyeron …

Unveiling The Impact Of Phosphate On Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction In Chronic Kidney Disease, Hiram Garcia, Sowmya Duddu, Erik Hinojosa, Model Zerfu, Nathaniel L. Alvarez, Mohammad Razzaque, Alex Zuo

Research Colloquium

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is characterized by progressive decline in renal function that ultimately culminates in the inability of the kidneys to effectively maintain homeostasis. The kidneys are a key regulator of phosphate, with other organs assisting in regulation including the skeletal system. In CKD, reduced kidney function leads to hyperphosphatemia. While its impact on the skeletal system is moderately studied, its effects on skeletal muscle are less reviewed. In our literature review, we aim to describe the effects of phosphate in the context of patients who have CKD while providing clinical context for this deserving population. We describe …

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, …

Unraveling The Mechanisms By Which Smoking And Alcohol Alter Pancreatic Cancer Pathogenesis, Poornima Devi Shaji, Ana Martinez Bulnes, Vincent P. Diego, Subhash C. Chauhan, Sheema Khan

Research Symposium

Pancreatic cancer is the 3^rd leading cause of cancer in United States with a 5-to-7-year relative survival rate. This can be attributed to the late onset of symptoms and diagnosis of the disease, which makes it unmanageable at its later stage. Ethnic differences in pancreatic cancer incidence have been reported, especially regarding higher incidence in African Americans. African Americans are more likely than Asian, Hispanic, or whites’ people to develop pancreatic cancer. They have highest incidence rate between 28% and 59% higher than other racial groups. The mortality rate for Blacks is 13.3 per 100,000 people, while for Whites …

Neuro-Ophthalmology Diseases In Elderly, Aishwarya Gatiganti

School of Medicine Publications

It is well understood that as the body begins to age, its ability to adapt and sustain itself decreases. The eyes are not immune to this effect, and the complex interplay between the eyes and the brain deteriorates insidiously over time. There has been a notable increase in the elderly population, and diseases such as the ones described above need to be at the forefront of an ophthalmologist's mind when treating this population. Neuro-ophthalmology diseases in the elderly are not well known to general practitioners but should be included in the differential due to the potential of rapid deterioration and …

Healthy Exosomes And Their Effects On Diabetic Cardiomyocytes, Miguel A. Garza, Genaro A. Ramírez-Correa, Maria Lourdes Garza-Rodríguez, Andres J. Medina

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Extracellular Vesicles, and more specifically, exosomes, are essential for effective cell-to-cell communication in a wide variety of tissues. In the last couple of decades, these nanovesicles have been proven to be active participants and regulators in many disease processes; therefore, their therapeutic effects have been widely studied and proven in various cardiovascular diseases both, in vitro and in vivo. Thus, this study aims at assessing the effects of running healthy mice exosomes on cardiomyocyte and cardiac tissue samples obtained from diabetic mice. Here, we successfully extract exosomes from mice plasma and detect their presence through the use of anti-CD9 and …