Medical Specialties Commons^™

Spontaneous Tumor Lysis Syndrome In Undifferentiated Pelvic Solid Tumor With Associated New Onset Atrial Flutter: A Case Report, Sameep Thapa, Md, Max Ruge, Md, Tamar Wolinsky Md

The Medicine Forum

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is an oncologic emergency that is caused by electrolyte derangements from the lysis of malignant tumor cells. The syndrome consists of several laboratory abnormalities including hyperuricemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hypocalcemia1,2. When these lab findings are associated with end-organ damage such as acute renal failure, seizures, or cardiac dysrhythmias amongst others, it is known as clinical TLS3. TLS is more commonly associated with hematological malignancies given their tendency of rapid cellular turnover. The most common culprits include acute lymphocytic leukemia and Burkitt’s lymphoma. It is, however, quite rare for TLS to occur secondary to a solid malignancy4. …

A Case Report Of Methemoglobinemia And Hemolytic Anemia In The Setting Of Covid-19 Pneumonia And G6pd Deficiency, Grant W. Jirka, Md, Travis Hunt, Md, Sushil Ghimire, Md, Rakhshanda Akram, Md, Urvashi Vaid, Md, Ms

The Medicine Forum

It is well known that hereditary or acquired methemoglobinemia can cause hypoxia due to the oxidation of heme, which impairs its ability to offload oxygen (Figures 1 & 2), and that acquired methemoglobinemia is most often caused by exposure to drugs and toxins that oxidize hemoglobin to methemoglobin, directly or indirectly1. Recently, a few case reports have highlighted methemoglobinemia in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Some of these reports were due to treatment with hydroxychloroquine and others from unidentifiable causes2-4. We present a case in which a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia was diagnosed with methemoglobinemia and acute hemolysis from G6PD deficiency …

A Case Of Acute Pancreatitis Associated With Empagliflozin, Tudor Sturzoiu, Md, Sameep Thapa, Md, Ellen Solomon, Suchit Bhutani, Md

The Medicine Forum

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are being prescribed increasingly more often for type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as heart failure. They have not typically been associated with acute pancreatitis, but there has been a steady flow of case reports implicating them in acute pancreatitis over the years since they were initially approved. Here, we present the case of an 82-year-old woman with a past medical history of T2DM, COPD, hyperlipidemia, a remote stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and remote breast cancer now with recurrent localized breast cancer on treatment with ademaciclib and letrozole who presented to the emergency department with …

A Confounding Case Of Acute Hepatitis A, Andrea Molin, Md, Michael Cheung, Md, Timothy Kuchera, Md

The Medicine Forum

Hepatitis A (HAV) is a picornavirus transmitted via fecal-oral route that disproportionately affects homeless persons, men who have sex with men, and individuals who use intravenous drugs. Acute HAV typically presents with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever. It is most commonly self-limited but can progress to fulminant hepatic failure in less than 1% of cases. The following case is a unique presentation of acute HAV infection requiring diagnostic dexterity and critical thinking.

Shocked But Not Surprised: The Philly Cardioversion, Gillian Naro, Md, Med, Naman Upadhyay, Md, Emilie Thompson, Md, Tudor Sturzoiu, Md

The Medicine Forum

Neuromuscular incapacitating devices, colloquially known as ‘tasers’, are typically used by police and security personnel as a non-lethal way to subdue combative assailants. Unfortunately, there are times in the hospital when patients can become assailants, thus potentially necessitating the use of tasers to ensure the safety of staff and other patients. Tasers come in several varieties. However, those typically used by law enforcement have a 50,000-V capacity and deliver 0.36 - 1.76 Joules of energy per pulse, at a rate of ~20 pulses per second, via two barbed projections. This leads to incapacitation of the assailant via the induction of …

A Case Of Patent Foramen Ovale As A Cause Of Persistent Hypoxia, Jaya Janadhyala, Md, Jonathan Foster, Md

The Medicine Forum

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a congenital cardiac variant caused by failure of the closure of a passage in the atrial septum. It is quite common, occurring in as much as 27% of the population based on autopsy studies. Most cases of PFOs are incidentally discovered or found during work-up of cryptogenic strokes as a potential cause of the stroke.1 New research is being conducted on the role PFOs play in hypoxia from intracardiac right-to-left shunting, including in patients with co-existent cardiovascular and pulmonary disease

Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Known Disease With An Unknown Presentation, Svenja Schneider, Md, Tudor Sturzoiu, Md, Tanuka Datta, Md, Yevgeniy Brailovsky, Do, Facc, Sung-Hae Cho, Md, Facc, Paulina Gorodin-Kiliddar, Md

The Medicine Forum

Cardiac amyloidosis is an increasingly recognized entity that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) is present in about 16% of patients with severe aortic stenosis and up to 17% of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction9,10. Though the screening test of choice, echocardiography is not highly sensitive or specific, and it should not be relied upon to rule out cardiac amyloidosis, especially if clinical suspicion is high.

We present a case of a 58-year-old woman with a history of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome who presented with paresthesia and syncope. Extensive workup for neurologic, infectious, and malignant …

Another Case Of Takotsubo Syndrome: Excluded By The Presence Of Significant Coronary Artery Disease, Or Caused By Significant Coronary Artery Disease?, Bharaniabirami Rajaram, Md, Neveda Murugesan, Md, Gregary D. Marhefka, Md

The Medicine Forum

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a reversible condition of abnormal myocardial contraction that was first given this name in Japan by Dr. Sato in 1991. The name comes from the Japanese word for “octopus trap,” which has a similar shape to that of the left ventricle on ventriculography during Takotsubo syndrome. It is also known as broken heart syndrome, stress-induced cardiomyopathy, or apical ballooning syndrome. The first descriptions of this phenomenon date as far back as the 1960s.

TTS typically presents with symptoms and clinical signs suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). It may include ST segment elevations on electrocardiogram (ECG) …

Challenges Of Managing Giant Cell Myocarditis: A Case Report On The Mechanical Support Perspective, Abdul W. Kazi, Md, Mba, Harsh Doshi, Md

The Medicine Forum

Giant cell myocarditis is a rare and fatal disease which may result in heart failure, complete heart block, or ventricular arrhythmias. We describe a patient who previously had been discharged from our institution with a left ventricular assist device and immunosuppressive therapy for management of his giant cell myocarditis. His subsequent course was complicated by further deterioration of heart function which required multiple mechanical circulatory support devices. He successfully received a heart transplant which later had recurrence of giant cell myocarditis. This case highlights the challenges of left and right sided mechanical assist devices in managing giant cell myocarditis.

AG …

From The Chief Residents, Cristina Angelo, Md, Katherine Duffey, Md, Evan Nardone, Md, Michelle Perkons, Md

The Medicine Forum

The four of us have had the unique opportunity to work alongside you and watch you grow throughout the last three years. During an extremely turbulent time at Jefferson, in the city of Philadelphia, and the larger healthcare landscape you all have been the constant presence that has kept the Jefferson IM residency culture alive. Jefferson residents are: Compassionate, intelligent, dedicated, fun, and resilient. But most of all, Jefferson residents look out for each other and have each other’s backs. This is the culture that brings people to our program and the culture that makes residency training which would otherwise …

From The Editors, Shuji Mitsuhashi, Md, Abdul W. Kazi, Md, Matthew Dimeglio, Do, Mba

The Medicine Forum

It is our honor to present the 23rd Annual edition of The Medicine Forum to the Jefferson community. With all the uncertainties and stressors that exist both inside and outside of the hospital walls, it is truly remarkable to see the quality of contributions by our authors. From the multitude of case reports to the collection of artworks, our residents have generated an array of unique and interesting work. We hope that this edition will continue to honor the tradition of The Medicine Forum, which is the celebration of scholarly activity among physicians in training at our institution.

Editorial …

From The Desk Of The Residency Program Director, Emily Stewart, Md, Facp

The Medicine Forum

Our program continues to train the best and brightest residents in the country. As we complete another challenging academic year marred by the ongoing fight against gun violence in Philadelphia and across the United States, the opioid pandemic and the ever present threat of another COVID-19 surge our residents have continued to rise to every challenge and thrive as physicians. During the three years we are fortunate to have them at our program, it is my distinct pleasure to watch them grow into confident, dedicated, compassionate clinicians. The residents are not just outstanding clinicians but excel in all aspects of …

Table Of Contents: The Medicine Forum Volume 23, 2021-2022

The Medicine Forum

Table of Contents: The Medicine Forum Volume 23, 2021-2022

Evaluating The Impact Of Modic Changes On Operative Treatment In The Cervical And Lumbar Spine: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mark J Lambrechts, Parker Brush, Tariq Z Issa, Gregory R Toci, Jeremy C Heard, Amit Syal, Meghan M Schilken, Jose A Canseco, Christopher K Kepler, Alexander R Vaccaro

Rothman Institute Papers

Modic changes (MCs) are believed to be potential pain generators in the lumbar and cervical spine, but it is currently unclear if their presence affects postsurgical outcomes. We performed a systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. All studies evaluating cervical or lumbar spine postsurgical outcomes in patients with documented preoperative MCs were included. A total of 29 studies and 6013 patients with 2688 of those patients having preoperative MCs were included. Eight included studies evaluated cervical spine surgery, eleven evaluated lumbar discectomies, nine studied lumbar fusion surgery, and three assessed …

Interobserver Variability Among Expert Readers Quantifying Plaque Volume And Plaque Characteristics On Coronary Ct Angiography: A Clarify Trial Sub-Study, Rebecca Jonas, Shaneke Weerakoon, Rebecca Fisher, William F Griffin, Vishak Kumar, Habib Rahban, Hugo Marques, Ronald P Karlsberg, Robert S Jennings, Tami R Crabtree, Andrew D Choi, James P Earls

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Background: The difference between expert level (L3) reader and artificial intelligence (AI) performance for quantifying coronary plaque and plaque components is unknown.

Objective: This study evaluates the interobserver variability among expert readers for quantifying the volume of coronary plaque and plaque components on coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) using an artificial intelligence enabled quantitative CCTA analysis software as a reference (AI-QCT).

Methods: This study uses CCTA imaging obtained from 232 patients enrolled in the CLARIFY (CT EvaLuation by ARtificial Intelligence For Atherosclerosis, Stenosis and Vascular MorphologY) study. Readers quantified overall plaque volume and the % breakdown of noncalcified plaque (NCP) …

Effect Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Seizure Control Status In Patients With Epilepsy, A A Asadi-Pooya, Seyed Ali Nabavizadeh, Mohsen Farazdaghi

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Background: Previous studies have shown that patients with epilepsy (PWE) perceived significant disruption in the quality and provision of care due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of this pandemic on seizure control status and changes in seizure frequency in PWE.

Methods:A consecutive sample of adult PWE registered in the database of Shiraz Epilepsy Center (Shiraz, Iran) was included in the study. In July 2021, phone interviews were conducted with all selected patients. Information such as age, sex, last seizure, seizure type, and frequency during the 12 months before the …

The Global Network Socioeconomic Status Index As A Predictor Of Stillbirths, Perinatal Mortality, And Neonatal Mortality In Rural Communities In Low And Lower Middle Income Country Sites Of The Global Network For Women's And Children's Health Research, Archana B Patel, Carla M Bann, Cherryl S Kolhe, Adrien Lokangaka, Antoinette Tshefu, Melissa Bauserman, Lester Figueroa, Nancy F Krebs, Fabian Esamai, Sherri Bucher, Sarah Saleem, Robert L Goldenberg, Elwyn Chomba, Waldemar A Carlo, Shivaprasad Goudar, Richard J Derman, Marion Koso-Thomas, Elizabeth M Mcclure, Patricia L Hibberd

Global Health Articles

BACKGROUND: Globally, socioeconomic status (SES) is an important health determinant across a range of health conditions and diseases. However, measuring SES within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can be particularly challenging given the variation and diversity of LMIC populations.

OBJECTIVE: The current study investigates whether maternal SES as assessed by the newly developed Global Network-SES Index is associated with pregnancy outcomes (stillbirths, perinatal mortality, and neonatal mortality) in six LMICs: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Pakistan, and Zambia.

METHODS: The analysis included data from 87,923 women enrolled in the Maternal and Newborn Health Registry of the NICHD-funded …

The Medicine Forum: Volume 23

The Medicine Forum

The Journal of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital - Department of Internal Medicine, Volume 23, 2021-2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Case Reports

• Cardiology
• Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Hematology and Oncology
• Pulmonary Medicine

Resident Reflection

"I Need More Knowledge": Qualitative Analysis Of Oncology Providers' Experiences With Sexual And Gender Minority Patients, Christina L Tamargo, Edith P Mitchell, Lynne Wagner, Melissa A Simon, Ruth C Carlos, Bruce J Giantonio, Matthew B Schabath, Gwendolyn P Quinn

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Background: While societal acceptance for sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals is increasing, this group continues to face barriers to quality healthcare. Little is known about clinicians' experiences with SGM patients in the oncology setting. To address this, a mixed method survey was administered to members of the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group.

Materials and methods: We report results from the open-ended portion of the survey. Four questions asked clinicians to describe experiences with SGM patients, reservations in caring for them, suggestions for improvement in SGM cancer care, and additional comments. Data were analyzed using content analysis and the constant comparison …

Clinical And Radiologic Factors Associated With Adnexal Torsion In Premenarchal And Menarchal Children And Adolescents., Beth I. Schwartz, Rebecca J. Mercier, Sharon Gould, David Saul, Claire Loiselle, Nimali Weerasooriya, Katrina Marcinkowski, Erin A Teeple, Loren Berman

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Adnexal torsion is a gynecologic emergency in children and adolescents but remains a challenging diagnosis, with no consistent clinical or radiologic diagnostic criteria. Our objective was to identify risk factors associated with adnexal torsion in premenarchal and menarchal patients with surgically confirmed torsion compared with those without torsion.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent surgery between January 2016 and December 2019 for possible adnexal torsion. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, radiologic variables, and operative findings were compared using descriptive statistics. Independent predictors of torsion were then examined in multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS: …

Nocardiosis Of The Central Nervous System: A Rare Complication Of Covid Management?, Matthew Dimeglio, Hamadullah Shaikh, Jennifer Newman, Gustavo Vazsquez-Rubio

Division of Infectious Diseases and Environmental Medicine Faculty Papers

This case report examines a previously immunocompetent male that was treated with a prolonged course of corticosteroids for COVID pneumonia. He then returned with worsening headaches followed by flaccid paralysis of extremities due to cerebral and spinal cord abscesses secondary to Nocardia farcinica. A review of the literature on the mechanism of immunosuppression with COVID infection and corticosteroids is provided.

Standardizing Evaluation Of Patient-Specific 3d Printed Models In Surgical Planning: Development Of A Cross-Disciplinary Survey Tool For Physician And Trainee Feedback, Lauren Schlegel, Michelle Ho, M. Fields, Erik Backlund, Robert S. Pugliese, Kristy M. Shine

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

Background: 3D printed models are becoming increasingly popular in healthcare as visual and tactile tools to enhance understanding of anatomy and pathology in medical trainee education, provide procedural simulation training, and guide surgical procedures. Patient-specific 3D models are currently being used preoperatively for trainee medical education in planning surgical approaches and intraoperatively to guide decision-making in several specialties. Our study group utilized a modified Delphi process to create a standardized assessment for trainees using patient-specific 3D models as a tool in medical education during pre-surgical planning.

Methods: A literature review was conducted to identify survey questions administered to clinicians in …

A Genome-Wide Screen Identifies Pdpk1 As A Target To Enhance The Efficacy Of Mek1/2 Inhibitors, Weijia Cai, Nicole A. Wilski, Timothy J. Purwin, Megane Vernon, Manoela Tiago, Andrew E. Aplin

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Melanomas frequently harbor activating NRAS mutations. However, limited advance has been made in developing targeted therapy options for NRAS mutant melanoma patients. MEK inhibitors (MEKi) show modest efficacy in the clinic and their actions need to be optimized. In this study, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9-based screen and demonstrated that loss of Phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDPK1) enhances the efficacy of MEKi. The synergistic effects of PDPK1 loss and MEKi was validated in NRAS mutant melanoma cell lines using pharmacological and molecular approaches. Combined PDPK1 inhibitors (PDPK1i) with MEKi suppressed NRAS mutant xenograft growth and induced gasdermin E-associated pyroptosis. In an immune-competent …

Grk2 Regulates Adp Signaling In Platelets Via P2y1 And P2y12., Xuefei Zhao, Matthew Cooper, James V Michael, Yanki Yarman, Aiden Baltz, J Kurt Chuprun, Walter J Koch, Steven E. Mckenzie, Maurizio Tomaiuolo, Timothy J Stalker, Li Zhu, Peisong Ma

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

The critical role of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) in regulating cardiac function has been well documented for >3 decades. Targeting GRK2 has therefore been extensively studied as a novel approach to treating cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about its role in hemostasis and thrombosis. We provide here the first evidence that GRK2 limits platelet activation and regulates the hemostatic response to injury. Deletion of GRK2 in mouse platelets causes increased platelet accumulation after laser-induced injury in the cremaster muscle arterioles, shortens tail bleeding time, and enhances thrombosis in adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP)-induced pulmonary thromboembolism and in FeCl3-induced carotid …

A Qualitative Exploration Of The Functional, Social, And Emotional Impacts Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On People Who Use Drugs, Erin L Kelly, Megan K Reed, Kathryn M Schoenauer, Kelsey Smith, Kristina Scalia-Jackson, Sequoia Kay Hill, Erica Li, Lara Weinstein

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

Since 2020, people who use drugs (PWUD) experienced heightened risks related to drug supply disruptions, contamination, overdose, social isolation, and increased stress. This study explored how the lives of PWUD changed in Philadelphia over a one-year period. Using semi-structured interviews with 20 participants in a Housing First, low-barrier medication for opioid use (MOUD) program in Philadelphia, the effects of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on the daily lives, resources, functioning, substance use, and treatment of PWUD were explored. Interviews were analyzed using a combination of directed and conventional content analysis. Six overarching themes emerged during data analysis: (1) …

The Hearst Health Prize: The First Five Years, Alexa M. Waters, Alexis Skoufalos, Emily Frelick, Gregory Dorn, David B. Nash

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

The Hearst Health Prize is the first national annual award for excellence in population health. The prize was established "to discover, support, and showcase the work of an individual, group, organization, or institution that has successfully implemented a population health program or intervention that has made a measurable difference" in health outcomes. Now, 5 years since the award's inception, this article reflects on how submissions for the prize collectively mirror - and may even predict - changes within the field of population health. It examines how the most successful programs demonstrated genuine, measurable improvements in health outcomes and/or health behaviors. …

Feasibility Of The Transport Plus Intervention To Improve The Transitions Of Care For Patients Transported Home By Ambulance: A Non-Randomized Pilot Study, Kevin G Munjal, Sai Kaushik Yeturu, Hugh H Chapin, Nadir Tan, Diana Gregoriou, Daniela Garcia, Corita Grudzen, Ula Hwang, Barbara Morano, Hayley Neher, Ksenia Gorbenko, Glen Youngblood, Anjali Misra, Staley Dietrich, Cyndi Gonzalez, Giselle Appel, Erica Jacobs, Albert Siu, Lynne D Richardson

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

BACKGROUND: The growing population of patients over the age of 65 faces particular vulnerability following discharge after hospitalization or an emergency room visit. Specific areas of concern include a high risk for falls and poor comprehension of discharge instructions. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), who frequently transport these patients home from the hospital, are uniquely positioned to aid in mitigating transition of care risks and are both trained and utilized to do so using the Transport PLUS intervention.

METHODS: Existing literature and focus groups of various stakeholders were utilized to develop two checklists: the fall safety assessment (FSA) and the discharge …

Development Of The Centrifugal Blood Pump For A Hybrid Continuous Flow Pediatric Total Artificial Heart: Model, Make, Measure, Carson S Fox, Thomas Palazzolo, Matthew Hirschhorn, Randy M Stevens, Joseph Rossano, Steven W Day, Vakhtang Tchantchaleishvili, Amy L Throckmorton

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Clinically-available blood pumps and total artificial hearts for pediatric patients continue to lag well behind those developed for adults. We are developing a hybrid, continuous-flow, magnetically levitated, pediatric total artificial heart (TAH). The hybrid TAH design integrates both an axial and centrifugal blood pump within a single, compact housing. The centrifugal pump rotates around the separate axial pump domain, and both impellers rotate around a common central axis. Here, we concentrate our development effort on the centrifugal blood pump by performing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the blood flow through the pump. We also conducted transient CFD analyses (quasi-steady …

Impact Of The Time To Surgery On Visual Outcomes For Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair: A Meta-Analysis, Amirthan Sothivannan, Arshia Eshtiaghi, Arjan S. Dhoot, Marko M. Popovic, Sunir J. Garg, Peter J. Kertes, Rajeev H. Muni

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between time from symptom onset or presentation to repair and visual outcomes for macula-on and macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

DESIGN: Meta-analysis.

METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials and observational studies comparing best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) based on time to RRD repair. Study identifiers, baseline characteristics, intervention characteristics, and visual outcomes were extracted. We conducted a random effects meta-analysis. Sensitivity analyses included leave-1-out and influence analyses. Primary outcomes included mean difference (MD) in final BCVA, MD between preoperative and final BCVA (∆BCVA), and relative risk of final BCVA24 hours. …

A Systematic Review Of Reproductive Counseling In Cases Of Parental Constitutional Reciprocal Translocation (9;22) Mimicking Bcr-Abl1, Zimeng Gao, Stephanie M Rice, Sascha Wodoslawsky, Sara C Long, Zi-Xuan Wang, Mehnoosh Torkzaban, Ana Milena Angarita Africano, Jinglan Liu, Huda B Al-Kouatly

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

We aim to determine the spectrum of cytogenetic abnormalities and outcomes in unbalanced offspring of asymptomatic constitutional balanced t(9;22) carriers through a systematic literature review. We also include a case of a constitutional balanced t(9;22) carrier from our institution. Among the 16 balanced t(9;22) carriers in our review, 13 were maternal and 3 were paternal. Of the 15 unbalanced translocation cases identified, 13 were live births, one was a missed abortion, and one resulted in pregnancy termination. The spectrum of established syndromes reported among the live births was the following: trisomy 9p syndrome (6/13), dual trisomy 9p and DiGeorge syndrome …