Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like symptoms (MELAS) is a rare mitochondrial disorder that typically presents before the age of 40 with most patients diagnosed before the age of 20. Symptoms and signs typically include mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy with stroke-like episodes, seizures and/or dementia, and lactic acidosis. We present a case of a 56-year-old lady presenting with recurrent ischaemic strokes and seizures associated with non-territorial low attenuation areas on brain imaging. Together with a raised serum lactate and background history of Syndrome of Inappropriate secretion of Anti-Diuretic Hormone (SIADH), genetic analysis was carried out that confirmed the presence of the most common mutation associated with MELAS syndrome which is m.3243A>G mutation. This case raises the importance of considering a diagnosis of inherited mitochondrial disorder when faced with recurrent atypical stroke-like episodes, when neuro-imaging is inconsistent with ischemic infarction, even in adults or elderly individuals. It also highlights the importance of background history and associated conditions that should be put into consideration when thinking about differential diagnosis.

The British Society of Thoracic Imaging (BSTI) has published clear guidance on the classification of chest X-ray (CXR) findings in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, which are summarised in four main categories: COVID-classical, COVID-indeterminate, COVID-normal, or non-COVID. We report the case of a 34-year-old lady who is otherwise fit and well. She presented with typical COVID-19 symptoms requiring supplemental oxygen, with normal CXR and COVID-19 reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) swab on admission. Her condition deteriorated after 24 hours with severe hypoxia requiring up to 60% oxygen. Repeat CXR was normal, which was followed by computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) that ruled out pulmonary embolism; however, CTPA confirmed multi-lobar pneumonia consistent with COVID-19. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit for non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and ongoing care. Extended respiratory screening confirmed positive COVID-19 antibodies and positive adenovirus swabs. The patient also developed COVID-19 related hepatocellular injury and myocarditis in the absence of other causes. These were treated by a multidisciplinary team, and the patient achieved full recovery after three weeks. This case highlights the fact that normal CXR does not rule out COVID-19 pneumonia even in the severely hypoxic patient requiring NIV. Also, it is important to investigate for other potential causes of hypoxia in a deteriorating patient, such as pulmonary embolism and non-COVID causes of pneumonia.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder often accompanied by complicated medical conditions. It often results in increased serum levels of liver enzymes, especially transaminases, and affects both males and females. Here, we describe the cases of two patients admitted to our District General Hospital. The patients presented with malnourishment secondary to AN and severely deranged liver function tests. According to our literature review, patients who are malnourished are particularly susceptible to liver injury, and small insults can amount to exaggerated liver inflammation with transaminitis. Once other aetiologies are excluded, this can be interpreted as a benign clinical event and is not associated with adverse events or higher mortality.

Clostridium ramosum, despite being a common enteric bacterium, is not commonly identified as the cause of pathologic infections in humans. It was first identified by Veillion and Zuber in 1898 from a patient with pulmonary gangrene and appendicitis. After performing an extensive literature search of major databases, only a few cases of pathologic C. ramosum infection were found in the medical literature. In this piece of work, we add to existing research by presenting a case report of an 83-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain, fever, and shortness of breath, requiring ICU admission due to mesenteric ischemia and C. ramosum bacteremia.