Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists are increasingly prescribed for obesity and type 2 diabetes, demonstrating efficacy in weight loss and glycemic control [1-3]. Beyond metabolic effects, these medications show protective effects against renal disease progression and reduce major adverse cardiovascular events [4]. GLP-1 agonists influence body composition through effects on both fat mass and fat-free [...]

Background: Obesity is associated with many cardiopulmonary comorbidities independently associated with worse health outcomes in acute illness, yet the physiological mechanisms potentially making obese patients more susceptible to COVID-19 remain uncertain. Adiposity-derived immunosuppression, increased thrombogenic potential, and predilection towards inflammatory hyperreactivity have all been postulated as potential mediators of this phenomenon. Yet, the most obvious [...]

Background: Transportation is a social determinant of health that can be a barrier to care and exacerbate disparities. During the COVID pandemic, access to transport was further diminished.Monoclonal antibodies (Mab) are associated decreased hospitalization in high-risk COVID patients. Until 9/2022, the $2000 cost per dose of Mabs was paid by the federal government. However transportation [...]

Background: Individuals with autoantibodies against melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA-5) are reported to have a significant risk of developing rapidly progressive and fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD) in clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis patients (CADM). Previous cohort studies of dermatomyositis patients who have been systematically evaluated for the presence of anti-MDA5 antibodies and associated clinical features and [...]

Background: The treatment of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and comorbid acute kidney injury (AKI) can be quite challenging. Many times the etiology of AKI in this setting is multifactorial and may involve cardiorenal syndrome (CRS). Arterial underfilling, sympathetic nervous system upregulation, and systemic venous congestion contribute to impaired glomerular filtration rate in ADHF patients. [...]

Background: The Antinuclear Antibody test (ANA) is a test often positive in patients with autoimmune rheumatologic disorders. However, ANA testing can also be positive in non-rheumatic conditions and in healthy individuals1. Prior studies have focused on the clinical utility of positive ANA testing in the outpatient setting by non-rheumatologists, but less is known about its [...]

Case Presentation: A previously healthy 13-year-old male presented with a chief complaint of lower back pain and rash for the past 3 weeks. Associated symptoms included profuse sweating and 10/10 lower back pain radiating to his legs that had progressed in severity with inability to ambulate. On additional questioning, other symptoms included nausea, vomiting, diffuse [...]

Case Presentation: Two months after chronic use of an abdominal binder made for weight loss and waist shaping, a 38 year-old woman presented with anuria and amenorrhea. The patient also reported nausea, bilious vomiting, extreme sensitivity to smell, and a chronic penny-like taste in the mouth. She was found to have end-stage renal disease. Workup [...]

Case Presentation: A 39-year-old man presented with several days of worsening lightheadedness, fevers, and joint pains. His temperature was 99.8 Fahrenheit, pulse 122 per minute, and blood pressure 80/51 mmHg. He looked ill and uncomfortable. His palms and soles had multiple tender, purple-to-black macules and patches 3-30 mm in dimension, consistent with embolic infarcts (image [...]

Case Presentation: A generally healthy 36 year old female began experiencing stiffness in her lower back with persistent aching pain. The discomfort progressively worsened over several weeks prompting multiple emergency room visits. She began to complain of severe leg spasm at the time of her admission to the hospital. Her CPK level was markedly elevated [...]