An inflammatory process involving the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, can be categorized as either acute or chronic and may present in one of many ways. The clinical manifestations of acute pancreatitis are generally limited to epigastric or right upper quadrant pain, while manifestations of chronic pancreatitis are broader and may include abdominal pain in tandem with signs and symptoms of pancreatic endocrine and exocrine insufficiency. An understanding of the initial insult, proper classification, and prognosis are all factors that are of paramount importance as it pertains to managing patients who are afflicted with this disease. Our review delves into the depths of pancreatitis by exploring the embryology and anatomy of the pancreas, the pathophysiology and etiology of acute and chronic pancreatitis, and the medical and surgical management of acute and chronic pancreatitis.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with a complex pathology that is not completely understood. Over time, AD reduces one's cortical and subcortical functioning. The incidence and prevalence of AD is projected to increase as the worldwide population continues to grow older. While advances in the field of neurology and medicine continue to improve, there are presently no novel therapeutic agents to prevent, halt, or cure patients suffering from AD. The utilization of biomarkers that aid the diagnostic algorithm, drug response monitoring and disease progression that add to further our understanding of the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disease is vastly expanding. The significance of amyloid plaque deposition, tau pathology, and neurofibrillary tangle accumulation have been well-studied in the realm of neurodegenerative diseases for decades and are proposed biomarkers. However, it has been difficult to stratify physiological biomarkers of blood/plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva/urine/hair/nail for diagnostic utility and overall understanding in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration. We aim to review the most relevant, up-to-date biomarkers and their implications in AD.

Corynebacterium species is a Gram-positive bacillus endogenous to human integument that has previously been associated with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis. The diagnosis and treatment of this bacteria may be complicated by inability to distinguish colonization from contamination and infection. We present an uncommon case of granulomatous mastitis associated with negative wound cultures requiring surgical intervention.

No abstract

A 71-year-old male, diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was admitted to the medical-surgical floor for supportive treatment. The patient received bag-mask ventilation (BMV) secondary to severe hypoxia and reendotracheal intubation in the hospital on day eleven. A chest X-ray following reintubation noted concern for intra-abdominal air. Significant abdominal distention and subsequent diagnostic imaging showed pneumoperitoneum and a possible perforation of the stomach. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy with omental patching for a gastric perforation. Amidst the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, several important findings have been made through the disease sequelae of this individual patient.