Internal Medicine Commons^™

Rigorous Hand Hygiene Practices Among Health Care Workers Reduce Hospital-Associated Infections During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Rozina Roshan, Anam Shahil Feroz, Zohra Rafique, Nazleen Virani

Section of Internal Medicine

The experiences of these recent months have left us with as many new questions as they have given us new solutions. The main question that infection prevention and control department is having these days is "Why have hospital-associated infections (HAIs) reduced during COVID-19 pandemic?" What is the one unique strategy that has brought decline in increasing HAIs? Would it be appropriate to say that rigorous hand hygiene practices among health care workers (HCWs) have reduced HAIs in a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan? This commentary is written to understand the effect of rigorous hand hygiene among HCWs on number of …

Acute Ischemic Stroke As The Presenting Feature Of Covid-19 In The Young And Pregnant, Nermila A. Ballmick, Jiri F. Kubac, Hossein Akhondi

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an emerging and rapidly evolving public health issue that has become globally widespread and an overwhelming pandemic. Clinical manifestations of the disease include asymptomatic carrier states, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and even multiorgan dysfunction. Here, we present a unique and rare case of an acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in an asymptomatic pregnant woman with no predisposing medical illnesses.

Discussion: An 18-year-old G2P1 African American woman at 7 weeks gestational age with no significant medical or family history presenting to the Emergency Department during the initial phases of the pandemic with complaints of new onset left …

Allogeneic Mesenchymal Cell Therapy In Anthracycline-Induced Cardiomyopathy Heart Failure Patients: The Cctrn Seneca Trial, Roberto Bolli, Emerson C Perin, James T Willerson, Phillip C Yang, Jay H Traverse, Timothy D Henry, Carl J Pepine, Raul D Mitrani, Joshua M Hare, Michael P Murphy, Keith L March, Sohail Ikram, David P Lee, Connor O'Brien, Jean-Bernard Durand, Kathy Miller, Joao A Lima, Mohammad R Ostovaneh, Bharath Ambale-Venkatesh, Adrian P Gee, Sara Richman, Doris A Taylor, Shelly L Sayre, Judy Bettencourt, Rachel W Vojvodic, Michelle L Cohen, Lara M Simpson, Dejian Lai, David Aguilar, Catalin Loghin, Lem Moyé, Ray F Ebert, Barry R Davis, Robert D Simari

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy (AIC) may be irreversible with a poor prognosis, disproportionately affecting women and young adults. Administration of allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (allo-MSCs) is a promising approach to heart failure (HF) treatment.

OBJECTIVES: SENECA (Stem Cell Injection in Cancer Survivors) was a phase 1 study of allo-MSCs in AIC.

METHODS: Cancer survivors with chronic AIC (mean age 56.6 years; 68% women; NT-proBNP 1,426 pg/ml; 6 enrolled in an open-label, lead-in phase and 31 subjects randomized 1:1) received 1 × 10

RESULTS: A total of 97% of subjects underwent successful study product injections; all allo-MSC-assigned subjects received the …

A Case Of Plesiomonas Bacteremia Without Reported Freshwater Exposure, Abigail E. Mcdonald

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction: Plesiomonas shigelloides is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family generally found in freshwater. There is little substantive data about the prevalence or distribution of Plesiomonas within the United States. Plesiomonas are most commonly associated with mild, self-limited watery diarrhea among healthy individuals followed by infective colitis. Bacteremia is the most common extraintestinal manifestation of Plesiomonas. Few cases of Plesiomonas bacteremia can be found in the literature.

Clinical Findings: An elderly female with multiple comorbidities was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of generalized cramping abdominal pain of several days duration. She denied any freshwater or saltwater exposure. The …

Conference Proceedings: Aurora Scientific Day 2020

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Abstracts published in this supplement were among those presented at the 46th annual Aurora Scientific Day research symposium, held virtually on May 20, 2020. The symposium provides a forum for describing research studies conducted by faculty, fellows, residents, and allied health professionals affiliated with Wisconsin-based Aurora Health Care, a part of the Advocate Aurora Health health system, which publishes the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews.

Type Iii Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumor: Case Report Of A Rare Gastric Carcinoma, Christopher L. Orpiano, Michael Quinn, Gurjeet Kang, Aric Tucker, Aric Tucker, Lakshminarasimhan Venu, Joseph Staffetti

Gastroenterology

No abstract provided.

Retrospective Study Examining Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome In Covid+ Patients, Lily Chen, Areeb Masood, Ayman Khaddam, Alyssa Chen, Ildiko Lingvay, Henry Kwang

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected millions of people all over the world with worse proven outcomes in those with certain comorbid conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and pulmonary complications. The Rio Grande Valley located in South Texas with a largely Hispanic population has been hit especially hard during this pandemic with over 3,200 virus-related deaths. This region’s high population of diabetic and obese patients is likely correlated with the especially high mortality rate. While it is understood the impact that obesity has on worsening health outcomes, further research is needed to better understand whether more adverse COVID-19 …

Reorganising For Covid-19 Pandemic: A Review Of Structural Modifications By The Department Of Internal Medicine In Low To Middle-Income Countries, Shakeel Ur Rehman, Muhammad Arslan Ahmed, Ghufran Adnan, Maria Ali Khan

Department of Medicine

Scientists classified the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as a novel coronavirus on January 7, 2020. The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged the SARS-CoV-2 outburst a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020. Since its origin, this virus has disrupted the best healthcare systems, economies, and strained financial resources; and for underdeveloped countries' healthcare systems, the virus has become a crisis. To tackle the potential hazards from this virus, our Department restructured the services that not only helped us to cope with the pandemic, but also provided an example to copy for other contemporary institutes. …

Flash Pulmonary Edema: A Case And Review Of Left Ventricular Non-Compaction Cardiomyopathy, Paula J. Watts, Oliver S. Garbo, Wendy Barrett, Michael Kopstein, Ryan Maybrook, Dmitriy Scherbak

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy is an uncommon type of cardiomyopathy caused by malformation of the myocardium during embryogenesis. This results in trabeculations within the ventricular wall that can affect the left and, less commonly, right ventricles. Presentation ranges from clinically asymptomatic to life-threatening arrhythmias. It is a rare and relatively unknown form of cardiomyopathy, though thought to be underdiagnosed. Prevalence is increasing due to improvements in imaging and awareness. Management is similar to that of other cardiomyopathies including angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, diuretics, automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator placement and cardiac transplantation. We present a case of a …

Erythema Annulare Centrifugum: A Rare Skin Manifestation Of Hashimoto Thyroiditis, Palwasha Jalil, Sadia Masood, Saira Fatima

Section of Internal Medicine

Erythema annulare centrifugum (EAC) is an unusual skin condition appearing as recurrent erythematous annular eruptions associated with autoimmune disorders, infections, and various neoplastic conditions. We present a very rarely reported association of EAC with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) in a young male. A 26-year-old male recently diagnosed as case of HT presented in the dermatology clinic with nine-month history of non-itchy persistent annular lesions on the body. The morphology and biopsy of lesions confirmed the diagnosis of EAC. HT is a part of the spectrum of autoimmune thyroid diseases with its own specific cutaneous manifestations. Our case also depicts the impact …

Development, Expansion And Role Of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells In Post-Sepsis Immune Suppression, Tuqa Alkhateeb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) numbers increase significantly in sepsis and are associated with high mortality rates. These myeloid cell precursors promote immunosuppression, especially in the late (post sepsis) stage. However, the mechanisms that underlie MDSC expansion and programming are not completely understood. To investigate these mechanisms, we used a cecal-ligation and puncture (CLP) mouse model of polymicrobial sepsis that progresses from an early/acute proinflammatory phase to a late/chronic immunosuppressive phase. Previous studies in our laboratory showed that microRNA (miR)-21 and miR-181b elevate levels of the transcription factor nuclear factor 1 (NFI-A) that promotes MDSC expansion. We report here that miR-21 …

The Efficacy Of Different Type Of Phototherapy Light Devices For Neonatal Jaundice Treatment, Ismail Mohammad Hanafi

Student Works (2020-2029)

It has been reported that 60% of term neonates and 80% of the pre-terms develop jaundice in the first week of life and the proportion of jaundice in Malaysia is on the rise. As phototherapy light is the primary source of treatment for jaundice, it is crucial for hospital to have the best phototherapy light devices which can help to treat jaundice effectively. This would help to shorten neonate patient hospital stay, reduce staff workload as well as increasing treatment capacity of the hospital. Hospitals in Malaysia are using several type of phototherapy devices in their wards. The most commonly …

A Fatal Case Of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (Pam) Complicated With Diabetes Insipidus (Di): A Case Report And Review Of The Literature, Zain Mushtaq, Saad Bin Zafar Mahmood, Adil Aziz

Section of Internal Medicine

Naegleria fowleri is a highly infective free-living amoeba usually isolated from soil and fresh water and is primarily found to infect the central nervous system (CNS) resulting in primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). PAM as a cause of meningitis is often overlooked for other, more common causes of meningitis. Despite all the advances in antimicrobial therapy and supportive care systems, the mortality rate of this rare infection remains above 95% with the bulk of the cases being found in developed countries. We are presenting a case of a 44-year-old male with fever, worsening headache, and generalized weakness. Lumbar puncture showed a …

A Fatal Rectus Sheath Hematoma After A Myasthenia Crisis Case Report, Robert G. Michaud, Lesley B. Gordon

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: Rectus sheath hematomas (RSH) generally occur due to damage to the inferior epigastric artery. They are rare causes of abdominal pain or acute blood loss anemia, but are an important diagnostic consideration because they can be cryptic and are potentially fatal.

Clinical Findings: An 85-year-old female who had been admitted to the hospital for 10 days with a myasthenia crisis was found to be abruptly hypotensive with a tender abdominal mass in the left lower quadrant subtly crossing midline. She was on prophylactic anticoagulation during her hospitalization.

Main diagnosis, therapeutics, interventions, and outcomes: The patient was initially stabilized with …

A Rare Case Of Leprosy In West Florida, Adrian Lugo, Taylor Studsrud, Nemer Dabage, James Demaio

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

• Leprosy is caused by acid-fast bacilli of the M. leprae complex, which includes M. leprae and M. lepromatosis.
• Transmission in the U.S. is rare, but has been documented in hunters who handle wild ninebanded armadillo.
• The origins of M. leprae infection among armadillos, the geographic range of the infected animals, and the potential risks infected armadillos present to people have been topics of concern.
• The infection originated amongst armadillos decades before they were ever used in leprosy research, and numerous surveys have confirmed that armadillos in the southern United States are a large natural reservoir for M. leprae; its prevalence …

Towards Effective Management Protocols: A Transnational Review Of The State-Of-The-Art Of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) In Pakistan And The United Arab Emirates, Maryam Ehtesham, Talal Almas, Absam Akbar, Muhammad Ali Niaz, Noreen Zia

Medical College Documents

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has proliferated rapidly in Pakistan, adversely affecting every province. The grave repercussions that the pandemic has elicited in Pakistan have evoked a dire need for drastic measures to be employed at both the governmental and provincial levels. Due to the inequitable appropriation of healthcare resources with respect to the various provinces, however, a stark contrast in terms of morbidity and mortality persists. Furthermore, considering that Pakistani citizens constitute a noteworthy proportion of expatriates residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the close proximity of the two countries, due consideration of the situation in the UAE …

Differences In Angiographic Profile And Immediate Outcome Of Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention In Otherwise Risk-Free Young Male Smokers, Salik Ahmed, Sanam Khowaja, Saher Khowaja, Tariq Ashraf, Kanwal Aamir, Mahesh K. Batra, Musa Karim, Muhammad Anis M. Ahmedani, Syed Z. Jamal

Section of Internal Medicine

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is a well-established risk factor for the development and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD) and it is strongly related to cardiac morbidity and mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the angiographic profile and immediate clinical outcomes in young male smokers and non-smokers without any other cardiac risk factors presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
Methods: This study includes young (≤40 years) male patients presented without cardiac risk factors other than smoking. Angiographic profile and immediate outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were collected from the hospital database.
Results: A total of 580 young male …

A Case Of Pott's Disease: Typical Presentation Of An Uncommon Disease In The United States, Neha Patel, Ravi Patel, Marek Krysztofiak, K V. Sundaresh

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

Pott’s disease (PD), also known as tuberculosis spondylitis, is a rare disease of the spine which is typically caused by extraspinal infection. The basic lesion in Pott's disease is a combination of osteomyelitis and arthritis, usually affecting more than one vertebra. The anterior aspect of the vertebral body adjacent to the subchondral plate is commonly involved. Spinal TB can include any of the following: progressive bone destruction leading to vertebral collapse and kyphosis, cold abscess formation (due to extension of infection into adjacent ligaments and soft tissues), spinal canal narrowing by abscesses, granulation tissue or direct dural invasionresulting in spinal …

Pasteurella Multocida Bacteremia Secondary To Multiple Cat Scratches, Charles Boadu, Andrea Hernandez, Bassem Zeidan, John T. Young, Johnathan Frunzi

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

Pasteurella multocida(P. multocida)is part of the normal gastrointestinal and upper respiratory flora of domestic and wild animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, opossums, boars, tigers, lions and horses ^{(1, 2)}. Transmission of P. multocidais usually through scratches and bites leading to infections of the soft tissue and skin ^(3,4). P. multocida bacteremia is rare, but occurs in individuals with major risk factors including chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, end state renal disease (ESRD), and an immunocompromised state ^(3,4). Non traumatic infections of P. multocida in immunocompromised individuals,are more likely to require care in the intensive care unit …

Kounis Syndrome, Charles Doerner, Mark Sawh, Tamer A. Amer, Konstantinos Marmagkiolis

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

Kounis syndrome, also known as allergic vasospastic angina, is a type of acute coronary syndrome caused by an allergic reaction or immune response to a substance.[1] It is essentially an “allergic angina” which is believed to be caused by mast cell activation and release of cytokines and histamine causing spasm of the artery leading to acute coronary syndrome and acute myocardial infarction. Stress cardiomyopathy (Takotsubo syndrome), which predominantly affects post-menopausal women, may also occur in anaphylaxis where transient ventricular dysfunction associated with regional ventricular wall abnormalities extending beyond the regions of coronary blood supply ensues.[2] The suspected prevalence of Kounis …

Outcomes Of Patients Hospitalized With Community-Acquired Pneumonia With Liver Disease Or Cirrhosis., Bibodh Jung Karki, Sravan K. Ponnekanti, Vidyulata Salunkhe, Nishita Tripathi, Mahder A. Tella, Stephen P. Furmanek, Forest W. Arnold

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Introduction: Liver disease and cirrhosis are common causes of mortality worldwide. Community-acquired pneumonia is recognized as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in this population of adults. There is a lack of data regarding outcomes or prognosis in patients with liver dysfunction who develop CAP. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, incidence, and outcomes of hospitalized patients with CAP and liver disease.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the University of Louisville Pneumonia Study, which was a prospective population-based cohort study of adults hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia. All patients were divided into three …

A Rare Clinical Presentation Of Metastatic Crohn's Disease, Kaitlyn L Streight, Tara L Braun, Nicholas Lowe, Soo Jung Kim

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

A 31-year-old female with a history of systemic lupus erythematous, IgA nephropathy, and psoriasis presented with a one-month history of a painful, pruritic rash under the bilateral breasts and in the genital region. Cutaneous examination revealed a large, tender ulcer under the left breast with a shiny erythematous base and peripheral hypertrophic changes. Small ulcers were present on the bilateral inguinal folds, and the labia majora were edematous with multiple erythematous papules. Histological examination of the left breast revealed ulceration with granulomatous dermatitis, consistent with a diagnosis of metastatic Crohn's disease. Metastatic Crohn's disease is a rare cutaneous manifestation of …

An Atypical Presentation Of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, Rudy Forte, Shiwani Kamath, Debra Angelo, Johnathan Frunzi

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) is a rare, but potentially life threatening condition associated with dopamine blockade, particularly first-generation antipsychotics. The complex pathophysiology of NMS remains somewhat unclear and debatable as the symptoms are not fully explained by dopamine blockade alone.¹ D2 dopamine receptor antagonism remains responsible for most cases of NMS, however a few cases have been reported in which little to no D2 blockade activity was present.¹

This poster is about an atypical presentation of NMS.

Carcinoid Syndrome Arising From The Descending Colon Causing Carcinoid Heart Disease, Julien A. Exposito, Adam Salomon, Oliver Fowler, Christopher Cooke, Joelle Ellis, Patricia Chun, Christiano Caldeira

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

No abstract provided.

Pneumonia: An Unexpected Graveyard Visitor?, Daniel A. Casas, Jigar Chauhan, Melanie Williams, Jan Sambataro, David Sukhai, Pablo G. Dubon, Jorge Perez

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

Community acquired pneumonia caused by Influenza can present with superinfection. On rare occasions, an unexpected organism is discovered.

Idiopathic Chylopericardium: A Rare Entity, Seema Jaga, Joseph Namey, Christiano Caldeira, Salah Al-Andary

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

• Idiopathic chylopericardiumis a rare entity in which the acculumation of chylousfluid surrounds the pericardial space.
• Herein, we present a case of a 50 year old healthy female patient with no known past medical history that was diagnosed with idiopathic chylopericardiumand was successfully treated using a pleurXcatheter drainage for two and a half weeks and a low fat diet.

Giant Splenic Artery Pseudoaneurysm Rupture Presenting As Hemorrhagic Shock, Jaya Sanapati, Parth R. Desai, Locke W. Barber, Johnathan Frunzi, Timothy Lee

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

A 56-year-old Asian male was brought to the emergency department by first responders after he developed severe, sudden-onset headache and chest pain at his home. Past medical history was insignificant. On arrival to the emergency department, the patient was in respiratory distress. Vital signs revealed temperature of 36.0°C, blood pressure of 71/44, heart rate of 90 beats per minute, respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation of 95% with delivery of oxygen at 2 liters per minute via nasal cannula. Examination of the abdomen revealed diffuse tenderness. Laboratory findings and arterial blood gas analysis revealed normocytic anemia …

Cervical Cancer Recurrence In The Colon, Samantha A. Erb, Shreyash Pandya, Johnny Johnson

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cancer worldwide in women, ranking only after breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer. Because it is typically diagnosed at a younger age compared to other major cancer types, it leads to a proportionally greater loss in life-years. Most cancers occur in squamo-columnar junction, the transition point between squamous and columnar cells; squamous cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases. Treatment options vary depending on the stage at diagnosis and include surgery (conization or hysterectomy), radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Prognosis is affected by stage, tumor volume, age and performance …

Iatrogenic Pneumothorax With Subsequent Subcutaneous Emphysema, George Michael, Eric Yuschak, My Myers

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, accounting for 13% of all new cancer diagnoses and 24% of all cancer deaths.1 Transthoracic CT-guided biopsy (CTGB) is commonly used as a diagnostic tool for lung cancer, with high diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. 2 This procedure, however, is not without its risks which include pulmonary hemorrhage and iatrogenic pneumothorax (IPNX). Emergent chest tube placement is standard care of treatment for massive or symptomatic IPNX, commonly with the use of smaller caliber chest tubes. 2 There is, however, a growing discussion over use of larger caliber …

Acute Hypoxic Respiratory Failure Due To Organizing Pneumonia With Lipoid/Cholesterol Component Caused By Thc Vaping With E-Cigarette, Jinal K. Patel, Kiran Tirumalasetty, Jessica Khabra, Imran Khan, Johnathan Frunzi

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

Vaping has been the new and deemed “safer” way to inhale addictive chemicals such as nicotine and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but it does not encompass the detrimental effects of other ingredients in these vaping cartridges that can cause lung injury[1,2]. Similar studies with dabbing (heating THC wax concentrate at high temperatures with butane) showcase rapidly progressing lung injury with massive consolidation and lasting effects on lung parenchyma over a period of time [3]. This case report aims to educate people, especially the younger generation, of the dangers of newer ways of combustible alternatives that have been marketed as a “safer” way …