Visual hallucinations may present secondary to neurologic, psychologic, or physiologic disturbances. Certain features and characteristics of visual hallucination are often attributed to various brain regions; however, with a broad list of causes and multifaceted pathophysiology, it is often hard to accurately localize. Overlapping clinical presentations may be due to the pathology of brain interconnections, rather than isolated brain regions themselves. In this study, we discuss a case of isolated, complex visual hallucinations secondary to occipital seizures in the radiologic absence of an ischemic injury. We propose that a network-based localizing lesion is responsible for this unconventional presentation.

Lactococcus garvieae is a pathogen typically acquired from the consumption of raw seafood or unpasteurized dairy products. Here, we present the unique case of a middle-aged gentleman who presented with back pain, originally thought to be muscle spasms due to poor posture and heavy lifting. Initial radiological imaging showed evidence of a lumbar epidural abscess and lung nodule. Upon further work-up, L. garvieae was isolated in blood and abscess cultures. It was later hypothesized that the L. garvieae bacteremia might have an association with adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE), more commonly known as hand-foot syndrome, is a dermatologic complication following chemotherapy with selective agents. In this article, we present the case of a young lady with stage III breast cancer who developed palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia following treatment with Herceptin (trastuzumab), an unusual complication of this particular drug. From our review of literature, this is the second known occurrence of PPE secondary to trastuzumab monotherapy.

Hemoglobinopathies are genetic defects that result in the abnormal formation and composition of globin chains in the hemoglobin molecule. Sickle cell disease is one of the more common forms of genetic malformation, while Hemoglobin (Hb) Arab, Lepore, Korle-Bu, Kansas, D-Punjab, and Hasharon are uncommon presentations. Herein, we describe the case of a young patient who presented with a low hemoglobin level and was subsequently diagnosed with a rare combination of Hemoglobin Korle-Bu, D-Punjab, and sickle cell trait.

Auditory hallucinations are defined as the perception of sensory auditory input in the absence of an external stimulus. It is a multifaceted pathology with a range of symptoms and an even wider range of possible underlying causes. Its lack of true distinctive clinical features along with overlapping symptoms makes distinguishing between etiologies difficult without appropriate workup. Here, we present an unusual case of left frontal lobe ischemic infarction, resulting in complex musical auditory hallucinations in the absence of behavioral changes.

Background: Food insecurity (FI), which is defined as limited or uncertain access to sufficient, nutritious food, disproportionately affects low-income populations and has been linked to poor control of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with North Louisiana having one of the highest rates of FI in the United States. The interaction between FI and neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage has not been well characterized in relation to microvascular diabetic complications. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between FI, socioeconomic disadvantage, and microvascular complications in patients with T2DM. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 163 adult patients with T2DM who received care at Ochsner LSU Health clinics in Shreveport and Monroe, Louisiana, between January 2018 and January 2023 were reviewed. FI status, Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a validated measure on neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage, and microvascular complication outcomes including nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy were obtained from electronic medical records. FI was assessed using the validated two-item Hunger Vital Sign screening tool. Results: The study found that FI alone was not a statistically significant predictor of nephropathy based on microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio (MACR). However, the combination of FI and high ADI (≥7) was significantly associated with neuropathy (p = 0.024) and retinopathy (p < 0.001), particularly among patients with T2DM for more than five years. Additionally, the interaction between FI and high ADI was also found to influence MACR values significantly (p = 0.026), indicating that socioeconomic stressors may exacerbate kidney dysfunction. Conclusions: Food insecurity, coupled with socioeconomic adversity, was associated with an increased risk of microvascular complications in T2DM. These results highlight the importance of integrating FI screening and addressing social determinants of health in high-risk populations. Early identification and targeted interventions could help mitigate disease progression and reduce health disparities.