Medical Specialties Commons^™

"Role Of Preoperative Echocardiography In Resource-Limited Settings And Delayed Patient Care", Zamanali Khakhar, Shamshudin Mohammedali, Sayed Karar

General Surgery, East Africa

Preoperative echocardiography has long been used as an effective diagnostic tool in the preoperative assessment of surgical candidates. In elderly patients, hip fractures represent a critical medical emergency with a high risk of complications that can occur if not addressed promptly. Unnecessary preoperative investigations may lead to delays and potentially compromise the quality of patient care. The motivation to evaluate the utility of preoperative echocardiography in select clinical scenarios, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where resources are limited, arose from the case of a 72-year-old female who presented to a tertiary hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, with a right-sided …

Acute Schistosomiasis In A Traveler Returning From St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands: A Case Report., John Weis, Mackenzie Caruthers, Megan Buller

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

In this case report, we describe a patient who presented to their primary care provider with abdominal pain after returning from travel to the Caribbean island of St. Croix. The patient reported two weeks of epigastric abdominal pain, dyspepsia, nausea, and night sweats. Following an initial evaluation that revealed eosinophilia with unclear etiology, they were referred to an infectious disease clinic. Through a targeted infectious evaluation and workup, the patient was diagnosed with acute schistosomiasis syndrome and was treated with praziquantel. Treatment resulted in the complete resolution of her symptoms, and follow-up laboratory evaluation showed complete resolution of her eosinophilia. …

From Stemi To Saddle Pulmonary Embolism: Management Challenges And The Role Of Va-Ecmo, Enad Haddad, Irfan Ahsan, Sudeep Nugooru, Gregary D. Marhefka

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Acute pulmonary embolism and acute myocardial infarction are critical conditions with overlapping presentations, and their coexistence can be catastrophic. We report a 45-year-old man with prior mid LAD stent who presented with chest pain and ventricular fibrillation arrest, diagnosed with inferior/posterior STEMI. Emergent PCI to the mid RCA restored stability. The patient developed persistent hypoxia over the next two days requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. Worsening hypoxia and shock prompted urgent transesophageal echocardiography to evaluate for mechanical complications, instead revealing a mobile echo density spanning the right and left main pulmonary arteries, consistent with acute saddle pulmonary embolism, and right …

Benign Transient Hyperphosphatasemia In Adults: Case Report And Literature Review, Jose L. Rodriguez Castro, Grettel Gonzalez Garcia, Daniel Heller, Bernardo J. Reyes

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Benign transient hyperphosphatasemia (BTH) in children is characterized by temporary highly elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in the absence of liver or bone disease and a return to normal within 3 to 4 months. Since its first description in the 1950s, several cases of BTH in infants and children have been reported. Although there is no known etiology for this illness, it has been associated with viral infections. This condition has rarely been seen in the adult population, and there is scarce available information. The sialylation of the ALP isoenzymes decreases their renal clearance from the circulation; however, …

Neonatal Sepsis: Empiric Treatment And Monitoring Of Gentamicin Troughs In The Nicu, Aleese Palfreyman

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Optimizing Electrode Placement And Information Capacity For Local Field Potentials In Cortex, Jace A Willis, Christopher E Wright, Ruoqian Zhu, Yilan Ruan, Joshua Stallings, Amada M Abrego, Takfarinas Medani, Promit Moitra, Arjun Ramakrishnan, Charles E Schroeder, Anand A Joshi, Nitin Tandon, Richard M Leahy, John C Mosher, John P Seymour

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recent neurosurgery advancements include improved stereotactic targeting and increased density and specificity of electrophysiological evaluation. This study introduces a subject-specific, in silico modeling tool for optimizing electrode placement and maximizing coverage with a variety of devices. The basis for optimization is the Shannon-Hartley information capacity of field potentials derived from dipolar sources. The approach integrates subject-specific MRI data with finite element modeling (FEM) used to simulate the sensitivity of subdural and intracortical devices. Sensitivity maps, or lead fields, from these models enable the comparison of different electrode placements, contact sizes, contact configurations, and substrate properties, which are often overlooked factors. …

A Rare And Challenging Polymicrobial Pleural Infection Involving Cupriavidus Pauculus In A Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis And Multiple Complications, Moiz Ahmed Khan, Syeda Samiya Kamal, Muhammad Muneeb, Summaya Zafar

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

A 58-year-old female with a 15-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a history of treatment consisting of methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide, and chronic prednisolone therapy, presented with fever, productive cough, dyspnea, and left leg cellulitis. She developed septic shock complicated by tension pneumothorax requiring emergency thoracostomy and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Pleural fluid culture grew Cupriavidus pauculus, a rare environmental gram-negative bacillus, alongside Burkholderia cepacia and Candida parapsilosis, indicating polymicrobial infection which was most likely predisposed by patient's immunosuppressed state from RA and prolonged steroid use. Treatment consisted of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, meropenem, fluconazole, and cardiopulmonary support, and culminated in …

Assessing Social Determinants Of Health Training In Graduate Medical Education: A Narrative Review Using Kirkpatrick’S Model, Surya Namboodiri, Bharathi Gadad, Juan Lopez-Alvarenga, Chelsea Chang

School of Medicine Publications

Social determinants of health (SDOH) training is a critical component of medical education, equipping physicians to address factors such as economic stability, education, and health care access. Despite its importance, the evaluation of SDOH training often focuses on lower-level outcomes, such as learner satisfaction and knowledge assessment, with limited emphasis on behavioral change and patient outcomes. Kirkpatrick’s model offers a validated framework for addressing this gap by categorizing training outcomes into four levels: Reaction, Learning, Behavior, and Results.

By applying Kirkpatrick’s model in combination with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) quality assessment and bibliometric network analysis, this …

Hallucinations And Diabetes – Could It Be The Hip? An Interesting Case Of Cobalt Poisoning, Mahrukh Tariq, Zauraiz Anjum

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Cobalt (Co) poisoning has been described historically in beer-drinkers when cobalt was used as an additive. In present times, this type of poisoning is usually caused by occupational exposure or metal prosthesis breakdown. We present a case of Co poisoning from metal prosthesis breakdown with exceptionally high levels, and thus, some unique symptoms. Interestingly our patient not only had symptoms commonly associated with Co poisoning, e.g., paresthesia, sensory-neural hearing loss, acute kidney failure, but also developed new onset diabetes, which is not commonly associated with this type of pathology. Moreover, when we had this patient under our care, we had …

A Rare Case Of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Outside The Gastrointestinal Tract, Ashton I. D'Souza, Jasdeep S. Bajwa, Basil George Verghese

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare mesenchymal tumors occurring outside the gastrointestinal tract, comprising ~5% of all gastrointestinal stromal tumors. A 65-year-old man undergoing evaluation for nephrolithiasis was incidentally found to have a 7.2 cm mesenteric mass proven to be gastrointestinal stromal tumors on biopsy. After limited response to imatinib, the patient underwent successful surgical resection. Mesenteric gastrointestinal stromal tumors often present larger and more aggressive, but in this instance, early incidental detection permitted effective intervention. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges posed by extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumors due to their atypical location and nonspecific symptoms. Extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumors should be considered …

Literally Heartburn: A Case Report Exploring Potential Preventive Measures Of Esophageal Injury After Radiofrequency Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation, Venkat Arutla, Chengu Niu, Prajjwol Bhatta, Basil George Verghese

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Esophageal injury (EI) after radiofrequency ablation (RF) for atrial fibrillation (AF) is a feared complication due to its extreme variability in presentation and very high mortality rate. The incidence of EI after RF ablation also varies widely among the literature. The diagnosis and management of EI is a combination of swift clinical recognition, confirmatory computed tomography (CT) imaging, and prompt surgical repair. This case discusses a 56-year-old male with past medical history of AF who presented to the hospital with complaints of chest pain, shortness of breath and nausea after undergoing recent RF ablation for AF. Imaging revealed an esophageal …

Pembrolizumab-Induced Primary Adrenal Insufficiency: A Rare But Life-Threatening Endocrine Irae, Syeda Sarah Raza, Mehr A. Orakzai, Abdullah A. Orakzai

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Pembrolizumab, a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, is widely used in the treatment of various malignancies. While it improves overall survival, it can lead to immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including rare endocrine disorders such as primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI). We present a case of PAI induced by Pembrolizumab in a 75-year-old man, emphasizing the importance of early recognition and timely management.

Worldwide Procedural Variations Of Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention For St-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Insights From The "Stent - Save A Life!" Initiative, Hélder Pereira, Ana Pereira, Rita Calé, Dejan Orlić, Rhena Delport, Sayfollah Abdi, Bagrat Alekyan, Khalid Alhabib, Carolina Artucio, Mzee Ngunga

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background

Methods

Results

Performance Of The Grace Acs Risk Score In Predicting In-Hospital And Six-Month Mortality In Patients With Acs: A Single Center Retrospective Cohort Study, Albert Nyanga, Jeilan Mohamed, Miriam Msunza, James Orwa, Mzee Ngunga

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Introduction: The incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) is rising globally. Despite the high burden of CHD in Africa, little is known about appropriate risk stratification systems that can be used to predict outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in this region.

Methodology: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study conducted at the Aga Khan University hospital. Data was explored descriptively by summarizing categorical variables using frequencies/percentages and continuous variables using medians and interquartile ranges. Risk groups and mortality were compared using Fisher’s exact test or the chi-square test. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), …

Ischemic Stroke As The Initial Presentation Of Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Case Of Marantic Endocarditis., Micah Harris

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE), formerly known as marantic endocarditis, is a rare condition characterized by sterile vegetations on cardiac valves and is often associated with hypercoagulable states such as adenocarcinoma. We describe a patient who presented with multiple embolic cerebrovascular accidents, ultimately found to be secondary to NBTE, which served as the initial manifestation of previously undiagnosed advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This case underscores the importance of considering NBTE in patients with multifocal embolic infarcts, particularly when blood cultures are negative, echocardiography reveals valvular abnormalities without evidence of infection, and clinical suspicion for an underlying malignancy is present.

Utilization Of Evidence-Based Secondary Preventive Therapies Post-Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Heart Registry Cohort Study In Kenya, Anthony Ochola, Jasmit Shah, Jeilan Mohamed, Harun Otieno, Anders Barasa, Felix Barasa, Constantine Akwanalo, Benard Gitura, Mzee Ngunga

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Introduction: cardiovascular disease is a growing concern in Africa, with coronary artery disease emerging as a leading cause of mortality. Despite strong evidence and international guidelines recommending secondary prevention therapy post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS)-including antiplatelet agents, statins, beta blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors-suboptimal use remains a concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to quantify the use of guideline-recommended secondary prevention medications after ACS in Kenya using the data from the Kenya Heart Registry study.

Methods: a cohort study was conducted using data from the Kenya Heart Registry across three hospitals in Kenya from …

Mapping Social Determinants Of Health Data In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review Protocol, Felix Anyiam, Jessica Gjonaj, Ngeresa Osango, Richard Mugo, Peace Aber, Jasmit Shah, Judith Mangeni, Rajesh Vedanthan, Joseph Hogan, Ann Mwangi

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Introduction Research has increasingly underscored the impact of factors such as socioeconomic status, education, healthcare access, housing and environmental conditions in shaping population health outcomes. These factors, collectively called social determinants of health (SDOH), provide crucial context for understanding drivers of health outcomes. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the study of SDOH is critical due to the region’s unique sociocultural and economic conditions. Understanding how SDOH interacts with health systems and capturing SDOH in data is crucial for informing modelling efforts and policies improving population health more effectively. This scoping review aims to map the types of data used to capture …

From A Papule To Friable Papillary Projections: A Case Of Old World Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Zamanali Khakhar, Adil Salyani, Soraiya Manji, Rajiv Patel, Sayed Karar

Internal Medicine, East Africa

This case aims to characterize an unusual cutaneous manifestation in a patient with confirmed cutaneous leishmaniasis, highlighting clinical features that are often underrecognized and may contribute to diagnostic uncertainty. By exploring this atypical presentation, it underscores the potential for misdiagnosis and its implications for patient management. Additionally, it emphasizes the broad spectrum of cutaneous lesions that can mimic Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis, further increasing the risk of diagnostic error.

Investigating The Risk Factors Affecting The Control Of Diabetes And Hypertension In The Refugees Living In Egypt, Noura Seada

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) account for 74% of global deaths, with high prevalence of Diabetes and Hypertension worldwide. Egypt hosts over 1 million registered refugees and asylum seekers, often lacking inclusion in social protection or insurance schemes. This study aimed to assess the factors affecting the control of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and Hypertension (HTN) among Syrian and Sudanese refugees in Egypt, focusing on healthcare access, sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, and health behaviours.

Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design using a self-administered questionnaire and BMI measurement. Data were collected from 246 refugees diagnosed with type T2D and/or HTN in the …

Beyond The Rash: Cutaneous Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma As A Diagnostic Pitfall In Primary Care, Jared Hensley, Aura Calderon, Blake Martin, Cristina Kochi, Andres Suarez Parraga

School of Medicine Publications

Cutaneous manifestations of T-cell lymphomas may resemble common dermatologic or infectious conditions, increasing the risk of delayed recognition. We report a 78-year-old woman with known peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) who presented with a rapidly progressive, diffuse erythematous rash accompanied by cervical lymphadenopathy. Initial evaluation prioritized more common etiologies; however, inpatient medicine broadened the differential diagnosis, prompting early hematology and oncology consultation. Contrast-enhanced CT of the neck demonstrated multiple enlarged, partially necrotic left cervical lymph nodes consistent with disease progression. After multidisciplinary discussions and consideration of prognosis, the patient elected palliative-focused management with oncology follow-up. This case underscores the importance of …

A Strategy For Surge Management: Senior Residents On The Admitting Frontlines, Hamza Saifuddin, Oliver Yockey, Rachelle Pichot, Gwendolyn Brainard, Samantha Labay, Michael S. Wang

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Hospitals adapt to surges in a variety of ways, including expediting admitting and discharge procedures, hiring temporary staff and locums to meet increased demand, and temporarily expanding or creating facilities. To mitigate negative effects associated with surges, a small community-based hospital’s Internal Medicine (IM) residency program and hospitalist program collaborated by shifting senior residents into admitting physician roles with indirect supervision to meet increased surge needs. This shift allowed an admitting attending physician to shift to a newly created rounding service and, on average, the number of rounding services was increased from seven to nine. Over a fifteen-month period (five …

Empowering Residents In Community-Based Internal Medicine Programs: A Structured Framework Integrating Simulation Labs, Ai, And Gamification, Nirmay Sonar, Zaynah Sadiq, Bernie Sergent

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Community-based internal medicine residencies train nearly half of all U.S. IM residents and are essential for staffing underserved areas. These programs often face educational gaps due to limited resources, faculty development, and procedural training opportunities. We designed a 12-month quality initiative for 27 residents at a small community hospital blending new high-fidelity simulation drills (e.g. in-situ rapid-response and procedural labs), restructured didactics (gamified quizzes, NEJM Resident 360™, HumanDx cases), enhanced orientation (“intern survival guide”), research education, wellness retreats, community outreach and AI-driven, individualized case feedback. New interventions were implemented alongside existing activities, with targeted outcomes including clinical competency, board readiness, …

A Case Of Listeria Monocytogenes Bacteremia In A Middle-Aged Woman With A History Of Primary Biliary Cholangitis, Caleb Smack, Jared T. Lausen, Aaron Mills

Eastern Virginia Medical Journal

In this report, we discuss the case of a patient with Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia likely resulting from primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) induced cirrhosis. We aim to bolster the body of literature on Listeria bacteremia and establish PBC as a risk factor for this rare complication. Our patient, who presented with sepsis, was subsequently found to have Listeria bacteremia and received intravenous antibiotic treatment of ampicillin for 3 total weeks with complete resolution of her disease. This is the first case suggesting that cirrhosis as a result of PBC may be an independent risk factor for Listeria bacteremia. In patients at …

Weight-Loss Efficacy Of Glp-1 Receptor Agonists Relative To Lifestyle-Based Interventions, Amy Betterton

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

ABSTRACT

This clinical review compares the effectiveness of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) with traditional lifestyle modifications in managing obesity. This article also examines barriers to accessing the medications in both civilian and veteran populations. This clinical review was conducted through a wide-ranging review of the published literature, including clinical trials, observational studies, and review articles on lifestyle modifications, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and barriers to obesity treatment. While lifestyle modifications are generally considered a first-line approach and are cost-effective, they tend to yield only modest weight loss. In contrast, GLP-1 RAs offer significantly greater reductions in body weight as …

Rapid Inpatient Methadone Induction In The Fentanyl Era: A Systematic Review Of Safety, Efficacy, And Protocols For Hospitalized Patients With Opioid Use Disorder, Lorik Berisha, Sapan Patel, Charlotte Pirquet, Navina Magesh Kumar, Yousef Soliman, Ahsan Ullah, Daniel M. Matassa

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Purpose of Review: The potency of illicit fentanyl has rendered standard methadone inductions inadequate for many hospitalized adults with opioid use disorder. Standard protocols often fail to achieve therapeutic doses quickly enough to manage withdrawal and cravings in fentanyl-tolerant individuals, contributing to poor retention and higher self-discharge rates. This review examines emerging evidence on dosing strategies, outcomes, and safety of rapid methadone inductions in acute-care hospitals. Recent Findings: Nine studies (five retrospective cohorts, four case series/reports) encompassing 380 patients met inclusion criteria. Median starting doses were 30–40 mg (range 20–90 mg), with daily or symptom-triggered increases achieving 60–100 mg within …

After Hours, Faster Reperfusion: A Multidisciplinary Quality Improvement Initiative To Reduce Stemi Door-To-Balloon Time, Suhas Tatapudi, Aarohi Parikh, Jeffrey Lesser, Alexander Rhodes, M Daniel

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Improving Sepsis Order Set Utilization Through Targeted Resident Education: A Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Quality Improvement Project, Sarah Sheikh, Puneeth Shridhar, Bushra Bangash, Valerie Chukelu, Tonya Meirhofer, Arunima Jose, Zainab Shakir, Shane Jenks, Augusto Sepulveda, Trung Nguyen, Rajeev Raghavan

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

A Shocking Case Of Wolf Parkinson White (Wpw) Syndrome, Sarah Hendee, Bailey Reale, Tate Higgens, David Taylor, Dmitriy Scherbak

Continental and Mountain Divisions GME Resarch Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Unwrapping The Candy Cane: An Underrecognized Cause Of Postoperative Abdominal Pain, Priscilla Itua, Uzma Ali, Mohammad Mahdi, Osamah Salim, Sarib Sultan

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Watery Diarrhea And Hypotension: A Missed Clue To Adrenal Crisis In A Patient With Addison's Disease, Wafa Mehboob, Umema Irfan, Keyaben Patel

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.