A Caucasian male, aged 33 years, with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux presented to a tertiary care center with a two-day history of severe nausea and intractable vomiting. The vomiting began with no identifiable precipitating factor, was bilious but nonbloody, and occurred as frequently as six times per hour. The patient reported abdominal pain and lightheadedness secondary to dehydration but denied any fever, coryza, change in bowel movements, or sick contacts.The patient had been experiencing similar episodes recurrently for the past 2 years, frequently associated with life stressors and requiring five previous hospitalizations. He had received an extensive work-up, including laboratory tests, kidney-ureter-bladder radiograph, computed tomography of the abdomen, abdominal ultrasound, gastric emptying study, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy. All tests returned negative for identifiable pathology, with the exception of electrolyte disturbances secondary to protracted emesis. As a result, the patient was diagnosed with cyclic vomiting syndrome.Notably, however, the patient had been an intermittent, recreational marijuana user for many years prior but had escalated to daily use over the past 2 years for symptom relief, citing the known antiemetic effects of cannabis. In addition, he described a compulsive pattern of bathing, stating that he often felt nauseated when having bowel movements and had discovered that transitioning directly from the toilet to a hot shower helped resolve his nausea. He described turning the shower temperature to a maximum, noting that it felt as though the hot water washed away his nausea. The patient often required several such showers per day and had been doing this for at least one year.His home medications included only citalopram and omeprazole. Family history was non-contributory. The patient drank two beers daily and had a history of Keywords: Cannabis; Cyclic vomiting; Hyperemesis; Marijuana Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States, with lifetime prevalence of use estimated at 42% to 46%. The antiemetic properties of cannabis are well-known by the medical community and the general public; however, less well-recognized is the paradoxical potential for certain chronic users to develop hyperemesis. We describe in this case a patient with prior extensive work-up for nausea and vomiting and previous diagnosis of cyclic vomiting syndrome who presented with characteristic features of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. We review the current literature for this condition and highlight potential mechanisms for its pathogenesis.

Objective To compare three cases of Herpes simplex virus (HSV) hepatitis to increase early diagnosis of the disease. Case  1. A 23-year-old man with Crohn's disease and oral HSV. HSV hepatitis was diagnosed clinically and he improved with acyclovir. Case  2. An 18-year-old G1P0 woman with transaminitis. Despite early empiric acyclovir therapy, she died due to fulminant liver failure. Case  3. A 65-year-old woman who developed transaminitis after liver transplant. Diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy and she had resolution of acute liver failure with acyclovir. Conclusion It is imperative that clinicians be aware of patients at high risk for developing HSV hepatitis to increase timely diagnosis and prevent morbidity and fatality.

Medical students must learn how to practice high‐value, cost‐conscious care. By modifying the traditional SOAP (Subjective‐Objective‐Assessment‐Plan) presentation to include a discussion of value (SOAP‐V), we developed a cognitive forcing function designed to promote discussion of high‐value, cost‐conscious care during patient delivery. The SOAP‐V model prompts the student to consider (1) the evidence that supports a test or treatment, (2) the patient's preferences and values, and (3) the financial cost of a test or treatment compared to alternatives. Students report their findings to their teams during patient care rounds. This tool has been successfully used at 3 medical schools. Preliminary results find that students who have been trained in SOAP‐V feel more empowered to address the economic healthcare crisis, are more comfortable in initiating discussions about value, and are more likely to consider potential costs to the healthcare system. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:217–220. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine

A 52-year-old man was noted to have severe chronic hypokalemia despite discontinuation of diuretic treatment for hypertension and aggressive oral potassium supplementation. His serum potassium normalized temporarily when he was hospitalized, but hypokalemia recurred after discharge. He complained of generalized weakness and fatigue, and occasional loose stools. Physical examination showed mild generalized muscle weakness. Laboratory testing ruled out renal potassium wasting. A dietary history revealed that he was consuming 4 liters of cola per day, with a calculated fructose load of 396 grams per day. Since fructose absorption in the small bowel is relatively inefficient, this probably led to an osmotic diarrhea and GI potassium wasting. Physicians should ask their patients about soft drink consumption when they encounter unexplained hypokalemia.

Acute obstructive suppurative pancreatic ductitis (AOSPD), defined as suppuration from the pancreatic duct without associated pseudocyst, abscess, or necrosis, is a rare complication of chronic pancreatitis. We present the first case of AOSPD in an asymptomatic patient with a polymicrobial infection and review the literature on this rare clinical entity.

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