Farzana Hoque

Saint Louis University | SLU · Department of Internal Medicine

A global public health emergency due to the Mpox (monkeypox) epidemic was declaredin July 2022 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Mpox is a double-stranded DNAOrthopoxvirus, belonging to the same family as the smallpox virus. Monkeypox name has beenchanged to “Mpox” to overcome social stigma and discrimination. Although Mpox cases havedecrease...

Mentorship plays a crucial role in the professional development of hospitalists by offering guidance, support, and opportunities for career advancement. Multiple studies have reported that mentorship significantly contributes to improving job performance and cultivating happiness in medicine. Further, mentorship also leads to increased confidence i...

Shared Decision-Making (SDM) is a collaborative process where physicians integrate scientific evidence with patients’ goals, preferences, and values to make healthcare decisions. This approach contrasts with traditional methods, enhancing patient involvement and understanding. The BRAN questions (Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Nothing) effectively...

Hydralazine, a commonly prescribed vasodilator for hypertension, is associated with adverse effects such as vasculitis, glomerulonephritis, and drug-induced lupus. We present a rare case of hydralazine-induced diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) in a 74-year-old male with a history of hypertension. The patient was admitted with symptoms including hem...

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) is a syndrome that presents with classic findings of digital clubbing, arthralgia, and periostosis of tubular bones. When HOA is associated with pulmonary pathologies such as lung malignancies, it is referred to as hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPOA). We present a case of an elderly woman who presents...

Every organization has a unique culture. Organizational culture is a distinguishing factor directly affecting an organization's performance and productivity. Considering the organizational culture is a crucial aspect when formulating a strategy. Culture simply means "how things are done here," often discussed casually among people and newcomers. Ph...

The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores evaluate patient experiences and satisfaction in healthcare facilities. In addition to providing valuable feedback from patients, the survey also impacts Medicare reimbursement rates. Our article explores three intervention strategies associated with or that have b...

Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia is a rare but often fatal condition that occurs due to spasms in the splanchnic arteries leading to hypoperfusion, cellular death, bowel ischemia, and eventually perforation. Having a high clinical suspicion in the correct setting is crucial to identifying and treating the medical condition quickly. This is a uniqu...

Shared decision-making (SDM) represents a collaborative model of healthcare decision-making, contrasting the traditional unidirectional approach where physicians solely determine medical choices. SDM engages patients in evaluating options based on individual goals and values. In various clinical scenarios, SDM proves indispensable, enhancing patien...

Emotional intelligence (EI) is our ability to identify, logically reason, and manage our emotions rather than act impulsively based on our feelings about a situation. Research indicates emotional intelligence positively influences patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. Each trainee has a unique approach to learning. Hospital medicine doctors m...

Over diagnosis, under diagnosis, and inadequate management of asthma are all common issues. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) annually releases an evidence-based strategy for asthma management and prevention, aiming to globally decrease severe asthma exacerbations and asthma-related deaths. This article highlights up-to-date, clinically relev...

In today’s demanding healthcare environment, physician leaders must learn to make well-formed decisions and avoid being misled by their emotions. Research has shown the significant effect of emotional intelligence (EI) on the job satisfaction, influence, and leadership potential of physicians. Although emotional intelligence is not solely an innate...

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) is widely used for various infections, yet its potential to cause neurotoxicity is underreported, typically emerging from case reports and predominantly involving immunocompromised patients. Here, we document a rare instance of TMP/SMX-induced neurotoxicity in a 61-year-old male who developed encephalopathy w...

Calciphylaxis is a rare medical condition that is characterized by calcification, microthrombosis, and fibrointimal hyperplasia within cutaneous arteries. This condition is associated with high morbidity and mortality. However, there are limited management guidelines available. We present a patient case of a woman with a prior prolonged hospital st...

Hypereosinophilia is a rare collection of syndromes of various etiologies that can present incidentally or in some cases, in a life-threatening manner. This is a unique case of a 38-year-old male who presented with acute encephalopathy following a cerebrovascular event and was later found to have elevated eosinophil counts. It is crucial to have hi...

Pericardial effusion presentation is a large spectrum that can vary from asymptomatic to cardiac tamponade. It is a relatively common syndrome and has a diverse set of etiologies including infections, malignancy, radiation/iatrogenic, pericardial injury, metabolic disturbances, endocrine disease, connective tissue disease, autoimmune disorders, tra...

By mastering public speaking skills, physician leaders can convey information more effectively, make a positive impact on healthcare delivery, enhance patient care, and contribute to the advancement of the medical field.

Disseminated herpes zoster is characterized by more than 20 herpetic lesions distributed across other body parts outside the affected dermatome. Disseminated herpes zoster occurs more frequently in immunocompromised patients and only a handful of case reports highlighted itsoccurrence in immunocompetent individuals. Clozapine use has been linked to...

If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself. – Henry Ford. Medicine is not a solo performance; it requires collaborative teamwork. While doctors are indeed central to decision-making, collaboration among various healthcare providers ensures that patients receive holistic and well-coordinated care. According to the Wor...

Postherpetic neuralgia is a well-studied and somewhat common sequala of herpes zoster leading to intense pain episodes. Pain-induced vasovagal episodes can rarely lead to asystole, which is a fatal potential complication. It is crucial to have a high clinical suspicion of asystole when a patient presents with severe herpetic neuralgia leading to sy...

Aplastic anemia because of immunosuppressive drugs such as Colchicine is a rare consequence of a commonly prescribed treatment for various common diseases such as gout. It is crucial to have a high clinical suspicion of aplastic anemia when a patient who has recently started Colchicine presents with nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, o...

The left atrial-esophageal fistula is an exceedinglyrare but lethal iatrogenic complication after atrial fibrillation ablation. Variability in timing of clinical presentation may lead to delayed diagnosis of this fatal complication. It is crucial to have high clinical suspicion when patients present with new neurologic symptoms, chest discomfort or...

Shared decision making (SDM) is an interactive,collaborative process where clinicians focus on the available best scientific evidence and patients’ goals, preferences, and values to make healthcare decisions. This article focus on the real world challenges of SDM for geriatrics patients and practical, actionable stratigies to achieve SDM in clinica...

Twiddler’s syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal cause of pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) malfunction. It happens due to the patient’s unintentional or intentional manipulation of the generator, causing painless torsion and leads dislodgment that results in permanent loss of device function. This case report highlights...

Symmetrical peripheral gangrene is a life threatening complication of norepinephrine which is associated with a high mortality rate. This is a case of multiple toes autoamputation following norepinephrine. This case highlights multiple valuable lessons on patient care.