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AMA Research Challenge 2022

Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis in a Caucasian Adolescent Male

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AMA Research Challenge 2025 

Join the AMA Research Challenge poster symposium and semifinals to explore top research posters and score posters in the semifinals (an AMA member exclusive opportunity).

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Welcome to the largest national, multi-specialty research event **featuring research from 750 medical students, residents and fellows, and international medical graduates.**


#### Event Details
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Charles Lopresto, DO

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Welcome to the largest national, multi-specialty research event featuring research from 750 medical students, residents and fellows, and international medical graduates.


Background: Femoral nerve palsy can cause gait deficits and knee instability. For its treatment, nerve transfers are preferred. However, this approach is only applicable for a limited window of time. For patients outside of this window or when nerve transfers are not technically feasible, musculotendinous transfers represent a viable alternative. 

Case Presentation: A 39 years-old female suffered a complete transection of the femoral nerve within the pelvis during proximal thigh schwannoma resection. Three years postoperatively she presented with antalgic gait, atrophy of the quadriceps, 0/5 strength in knee extension, and loss of thigh sensation. EMG revealed complete femoral nerve palsy with no recruitment of the quadriceps, sartorius, and iliopsoas muscles. 
The patient elected to undergo an adductor magnus, gracilis, and TFL musculotendinous transfer to the quadriceps tendon. This approach aimed to balance forces by harvesting a hip flexor and hip adductor while preserving hip adductor function by leaving the adductor longus muscle intact. 
Intraoperatively, the gracilis tendon was weaved into the vastus medialis and medial quadriceps tendon. The adductor magnus was weaved into the rectus femoris and vastus intermedius tendons. The IT band was weaved into the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris. By 11 months post-op she had 4/5 in right knee extension and hip flexion strength. Gait analysis revealed active recruitment of the gracilis, TFL, and adductors with improved walking speed and gait symmetry without requiring assistive devices.

Discussion: 
Given the extent, proximal location, and chronicity of her femoral nerve injury, nerve transfers were not feasible for this patient. Therefore, we opted for a musculotendinous transfer. We used multiple leg muscles to attain sufficient knee extension strength. To simplify surgery and recovery we selected easily mobilized muscles with long tendons innervated by her healthy obturator nerve. This technique also had a shorter recovery time as reinnervation is not needed. 
Nonetheless, to relearn basic motor patterns with a new set of muscles and innervations, the patient underwent rehabilitation involving six weeks of immobilization followed by passive rage-of-motion movements and active strength-building exercises. Our subject’s EMG findings, lack of falls, and functional gait improvements further demonstrate these rehabilitation methods’ efficacy.

Adductor Magnus, Gracilis, and Tensor Fascia Latae Transfer Restores Knee Extension and Stability after Femoral Nerve Palsy

Background
The use of matrices in combination with tissue expanders has become increasingly common in implant-based immediate breast reconstruction. Matrices are often divided into either biological acellular dermal matrices (ADM) or synthetic meshes. Synthetic meshes are made from knitted absorbable or permanent fibers. Surgical mesh functions as a scaffold to facilitate natural tissue healing. To further enhance the scaffolding effect, the synthetic mesh can be enhanced with growth factors to promote better tissue integration. We present a technique that incorporates platelet rich plasma (PRP) into a synthetic mesh to promote healing and aesthetic outcomes in reconstruction, revision, and cosmetic breast surgeries. 

Methods
A retrospective chart analysis of patients who underwent a reconstructive, revision, or cosmetic breast surgery using synthetic mesh enhanced with PRP was performed. All patients were seen by a single plastic surgeon ranging from 2020 to 2021. Details regarding patient past medical history, operative technique, and postoperative outcomes were gathered from provider clinical notes.

Results
Twenty-one (37 breasts) patients underwent reconstruction, revision, or mastopexy procedures using Durasorb mesh enhanced with PRP. One patient developed a seroma (4.8%). One patient developed a hematoma (4.8%) in the early postoperative period. Six patients (28.6%) had necrotic flaps. Furthermore, histological analysis of the biological mesh showed excellent tissue incorporation into the native tissue compared to normal surgical mesh.

Conclusion
The long-term absorbable Durasorb mesh enhanced with PRP has potential as temporary tissue reinforcement in patients undergoing breast reconstruction, revision, or cosmetic surgery. However, further investigation is warranted. By utilizing PRP, it allows for the release of additional growth factors that enhance tissue integration.

The Use of Biological Mesh in Reconstructive, Revision, and Cosmetic Breast Surgery

Use of Omental Flap for the Treatment of Upper Extremity Lymphedema

Background: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a progressive vascular disorder in which the carotid artery becomes narrowed, reducing blood flow to the brain. This most commonly presents as stroke in children and young adults and typically occurs between 5 and 10 years of age in children and between 30 and 50 years of age in adults. MMD survivors have the highest prevalence of mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder {PTSD}. This case aims to increase awareness of an unusual presentation of MMD as a psychiatric disorder. 

Case Presentation: A 16-year-old Dominican boy presented to the psychiatric ER due to mood dysregulation and aggression. He had a medical history of MMD, Sickle cell disease, Frontal lobe epilepsy, and a cerebrovascular accident in 2019. He was all right till 2019; then, he experienced a cerebrovascular accident/stroke, learned of his diagnosis, and underwent immediate neurosurgical intervention. His home medications include Aspirin, Valproate, and Hydroxyurea. He reported recent aggression and stated he started “beating his brother and would not stop.” He said he often had terrible headaches, and his attack worsened. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened his anxiety and depression. The patient was diagnosed with Mood disorder due to a medical condition. His treatment plan included continued outpatient monitoring with a psychiatrist and continuation of medication.

Discussion: Only psychiatric presentations of MMD are rare in literature. The clinical symptoms of MMD include ischemic stroke, TIA’s, hemorrhagic stroke, epilepsy, headache, and cognitive dysfunction, and they vary depending on age. In children, hyperactivity, impaired concentration, anxiety, mood lability, and poor academic performance have also been described. Identifying and treating psychiatric symptoms is essential to improve the quality of life in patients with MMD.


Mental Distress and Medical Illness in Children and Adolescents with MoyaMoya Disease

Background: Paragangliomas are rare extra-adrenal catecholamine-secreting tumors. Since sympathetic symptoms of anxiety and paragangliomas are similar, diagnosis and treatment can be complicated when these pathologies are simultaneously present.
Case Presentation: Mr. V is a 27-year-old Hispanic male with no past psychiatric history who presented to the psychiatric consult liaison service for concerns of anxiety in the setting of paroxysmal episodes of autonomic dysregulation related to a malignant, metastatic thoracic paraganglioma. The patient asked the nursing staff to check his blood pressure more often in the evening to be aware of an upcoming episode of chest palpitations, sweating, and feeling like he was “going to die,” prior to symptom onset. Psychiatry considered differential diagnoses of generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia disorder, and anxiety secondary to a medical condition. Lorazepam 0.25 mg one tab at night reduced symptom frequency and severity.
Discussion: Paragangliomas, closely related to pheochromocytomas, are known to present as episodic hypertension, sweating, and tachycardia. Medical sources for this patient’s symptoms might not explain the clinical aspects of the case. The patient developed anxiety triggered by his anticipation of these episodic symptoms which further enhanced the patient's sympathetic stimulation, resulting in increased frequency of hypertensive episodes. Episodic hypertension due to a psychiatric diagnosis like anxiety or panic disorder, even when unaccompanied by a diagnosis of paraganglioma, can result in an undesirable feedback cycle of hypertension and anxiety. Patients with pheochromocytomas, for which current literature is more robust, are six times more likely to experience anxiety and depression compared to patients without pheochromocytomas. The symptoms these pathologies have in common, including hypertension and tachycardia, can be treated with medications that reduce sympathetic nervous system activity, specifically anxiolytic medications like Alprazolam. One case described a patient with concomitant pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma whose sympathetic symptoms were improved with Citalopram. In order to provide the best treatment and symptomatic relief for the patient, psychiatrists need to discuss the importance of identifying and separating the psychiatric symptoms of a medical condition from the medical diagnosis itself.

Paraganglioma and Anxiety, A Physiologic Feedback Cycle: Case Report and Review of Literature

Psychedelic hallucinogens such as psilocybin has seen a resurgence in popularity as a novel therapeutic in psychiatry. Parkinson Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with both motor and non-motor symptoms, arising from loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Given the limited efficacy of current treatment options especially for non-motor symptoms of PD, psilocybin may offer a promising solution. Here I present a case of a patient with symptomatic improvements in the motor symptoms of PD, depression, and suicidality following the ingestion of 10mg and 25mg of psilocybin on two separate occasions as part of a clinical trial. Psilocybin, a 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor partial agonist, was able to exert therapeutic effects in the patient likely via the restoration of disrupted serotonin signaling in PD, which has been well-established in literature.

Psilocybin as a Potential Novel Therapeutic for Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson Disease

Case Presentation
A 68 year old male navy veteran with past medical history of bipolar I disorder, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hypertension, and hyperlipidemia presented to the ED with a two hour history of right facial droop, right-sided weakness, and aphasia. NIH stroke scale at the time was 7. Stroke alert was called. CT head without contrast and CT angiogram of head and neck showed no acute abnormalities. His wife was informed of a possible cerebrovascular accident (CVA) event; she did not grant consent for Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA) as the
patient has had similar episodes in the past. Psychiatry diagnosed the patient with delirium secondary to bipolar I disorder and PTSD. Patient was admitted and the dosing of his Depakote, Zoloft, Seroquel, and PRN Ativan was adjusted. Neurology ruled out a vascular event and deemed the patient to have retarded catatonia, while recommending continuing his home medications atorvastatin and aspirin. Two weeks later, the patient was back to baseline functions with an NIH score of 0. He was stable enough to be discharged to an outpatient facility.

Discussion
Neuropsychiatry remained a largely unexplored realm until the past few decades. In this case, stroke-like symptoms in the setting of bipolar I disorder and PTSD alluded to retarded catatonia. However, unlike the majority of catatonic patients that show immediate improvement via benzodiazepine therapy, our patient did not respond to Ativan. His symptoms were resolved gradually with elapsed time and by titrating his psychiatric medications. Catatonia, although with unknown pathophysiology, is hypothesized to implicate the basal ganglia-cortex and basal ganglia-thalamus pathways and possess genetic predispositions as well as environmental influences.

Conclusions
The utmost importance of patient history in guiding management is highlighted in this case. Brain areas regulating mood, emotion, cognition, and perception can suffer from neurochemical imbalances and metabolic hyperactivity, which can lead to damages to specific brain regions, resulting in neurological manifestations. Improved characterization of this overlap will shed light on clarification of risk factors, better recognition of stroke-mimetics, efficient usage of diagnostic tests, and optimization of treatment in psychiatric patients, supplying necessary answers to psychiatric patients and lessening the burden on caregivers.

Psychiatric Illness Manifesting as Stroke-like Symptoms - Treading the Unknown Waters

Suicidality Induced by Hoarding Disorder: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract Title: Transient Eosinophilic Colitis in Clozapine Use
Background
Two main pathways have been implicated in the etiology of eosinophilia including an increased cytokine-mediated differentiation of eosinophils evident in extrinsic eosinophilic disorders. A study following 66 patients who remained on clozapine for one year showed a cumulative incidence rate of 5.9% for eosinophilia. This case report illustrates a presentation of Eosinophilic Colitis and the clinical significance of absolute eosinophil thresholds in patients on Clozapine

Case Presentation
A 59-year-old male, with past psychiatric history of schizoaffective disorder, presented following a pretrial evaluation for criminal charges, with delusions and hallucinations. His records showed multiple psychiatric inpatient hospitalizations, 20 electroconvulsive treatments and successful management with Paliperidone. On admission, he voiced delusional statements. Mental status exam revealed delusions but no gross thought disorganization or hallucinations. He received a trial of Clozapine with baseline Complete Blood Count (CBC) with differential showing Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) 7,051cells/uL, Eosinophils 0 and Hemoglobin 12.0g/dL. Clozapine was titrated up to only 150mg given he developed explosive diarrhea. A repeat CBC with differential showed ANC 9,449 cells/uL, Eosinophils 12.0 x 109/L (High) with C-Reactive Protein (CRP) 5.3mg/L. Clozapine was immediately discontinued without any protocol for restarting clozapine following symptom resolution. Following the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) protocol, subsequent monitoring of CBC with differentials, revealed ANC 10,377cells/uL, CRP 9.9mg/L, with eosinophils normalizing within a week. He was started on Aripiprazole for better control of mood and psychotic symptoms. 

Discussion
Eosinophilic colitis (EC) is a rare inflammatory condition with many factors including psychotropic drugs implicated in the pathogenesis of secondary EC. The pathophysiology of eosinophilia induced particularly by clozapine is still unknown, but given almost immediate resolution with continued treatment, the possibility of an acute allergic reaction has been suggested in literature. While EC lacks guidelines with regards to diagnostic criteria, particularly threshold values for eosinophilia, a review article implied that eosinophilia is not a potential ground for clozapine discontinuation. Given it is a diagnosis of exclusion with no standardized monitoring recommendations, exceedingly high values need to be evaluated for setting threshold values as one criterion for clozapine discontinuation.





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Adductor Magnus, Gracilis, and Tensor Fascia Latae Transfer Restores Knee Extension and Stability after Femoral Nerve Palsy

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