Auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), also known as gut fermentation syndrome, is a rarely diagnosed medical condition in which the ingestion of carbohydrates results in endogenous alcohol production. The patient in this case report had fungal yeast forms in the upper small bowel and cecum, which likely fermented carbohydrates to alcohol. Treatment with antifungal agents allowed subsequent ingestion of carbohydrates without symptoms. He had been exposed to a prolonged course of antibiotics before this occurred. We postulate that the antibiotic altered his gut microbiome, allowing fungal growth. This diagnosis should be considered in any patient with positive manifestations of alcohol toxicity who denies alcohol ingestion. The aim of this case report was confirmation and treatment of ABS using a standardised carbohydrate challenge test followed by upper and lower endoscopy to obtain intestinal secretions to detect fungal growth. These fungi were speciated and antifungal sensitivity performed. This allowed the use of appropriate therapy. The patient was kept on a carbohydrate-free diet during the initial 6-week period of therapy. A single-strain probiotic for competitive inhibition of fungal growth was given to the patient. This probiotic was later replaced by a multistrain bacterial probiotic hoping that the multiple bacteria would inhibit fungi better than a single-strain. The beneficial role of probiotics in this condition has not been studied. The patient was rechallenged for endogenous alcohol production prior to reintroducing carbohydrates in his diet.

Auto-brewery syndrome is caused by alcohol brewing inside the human body; it is a rare clinical condition where the patient becomes inebriated without exogenous alcohol use. Yeast is responsible, and treatment requires an appropriate antifungal agent. If undiagnosed, the patient's life becomes a misery. We present a case of a 45-year-old male who suffered from this condition for over three years with two arrests for driving under the influence prior to being diagnosed. The patient stated that he felt the episodes were related to his meal intakes; therefore, he would skip most meals of the day. The patient visited several centers where he was told there was not much they could offer him and he was left without a diagnosis. A carbohydrate challenge test in a monitored setting showed elevated blood alcohol levels. He was treated with antifungals and a low carbohydrate diet which resulted in the resolution of his symptoms. Hence the importance of awareness among physicians is necessary along with a high index of suspicion.

Burkitt lymphoma is an aggressively growing tumor commonly found in African children, involving the jaw and facial bones. Most non-Hodgkin lymphoma tumors involve extra nodal sites like the nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. A rare variant of this type of lymphoma is found in immunocompromised patients specifically in the gastrointestinal tract with accompanying gastrointestinal symptoms. Burkitt lymphoma is a malignancy that has commonly presented in GI tract but rarely in the duodenum. This clinical variant can commonly involve stomach, ileum, and cecum. However, there is very limited data available regarding the duodenal growth of this tumor. Duodenal involvement of Burkitt lymphoma is extremely rare and accounts for < 1% of all lymphomas. We present a case report of an older patient with a duodenal Burkitt lymphoma diagnosed by biopsy. A high suspicion should be present while treating immunocompromised patients with chronic abdominal symptoms especially with complications such as bleeding or occult positive testing. Early endoscopy intervention with biopsy can help identity and treat these conditions with improved outcomes for the patients.

Esophagitis dissecans superficialis (EDS) is a rare esophageal disease with a wide spectrum of presentations from asymptomatic to debilitating symptoms. There is a strong association of EDS with autoimmune diseases, smoking, and medications, but it can also be idiopathic. Due to the sporadic occurrence of EDS, identification requires a high index of suspicion to avoid frequent misdiagnoses. Herein, we present a case of EDS associated with the long-standing use of oral diclofenac with a favorable outcome after therapy with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI).

Ibuprofen-induced acute pancreatitis, a diagnosis secondary to the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), is an extremely rare occurrence. Common culprits, such as gallbladder obstruction, alcohol consumption, infection, direct trauma, and medication (i.e. NSAIDs), can be attributable to the majority of cases reported. This case report describes a patient with acute pancreatitis that developed due to a three-week course of daily ibuprofen use for chronic shoulder pain. Alternative causes of acute pancreatitis were excluded through the patient’s clinical history, laboratory findings, and diagnostic imaging. Although a rare risk factor, our aim is to further demonstrate that patients with chronic NSAIDs use can develop these complications and this should be considered among the differential diagnoses.

INTRODUCTION: Energy Therapy has been a well known non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment option for symptomatic grades I and II internal hemorrhoids. This treatment has not yet been studied in anal fissures refractory to medical therapy. Anal fissures, like hemorrhoids, can severely disrupt the quality of life for patients. Currently, only a few non-surgical treatments are available for anal fissures which involve conservative and supportive measures that include: increasing dietary fiber intake, stool softeners, sitz baths, topical analgesics or vasodilators. The gold standard for chronic anal fissures (CAF) refractory to medical therapy is treatment with internal sphincterotomy. Unfortunately with this treatment there is a chance of relapse and a risk of anal incontinence. We propose the use of hemorrhoid energy therapy (HET) with bipolar cautery as a safer, less invasive and effective therapy for recurrent anal fissures refractory to conservative management. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: 53 year old obese heterosexual man presented with bright red blood per rectum for two months managed outpatient for chronic constipation. Rectal examination revealed a large clot with anal tenderness and few internal hemorrhoids. Colonoscopy revealed 3 internal non-bleeding hemorrhoids and slow oozing bleeding anterior anorectal fissure. The anal fissure exhibited characteristics of chronicity with base exposing to the internal anal sphincter, hypertrophic anal papilla and sentinel pile. HET therapy with bipolar cautery was applied to the bleeding anal fissure. The tissue consisting of anal fissure in bowel wall was compressed in a parallel fashion and bipolar radiofrequency energy was delivered until the temperature reached 55 C or 131 F (5-20 seconds) for approximately 1.5 to 2 seconds. DISCUSSION: The delivery of energy to a targeted region with temperatures between 50 to 55 C along with compression of the tissue can help obtain homeostasis for bleeding or CAF along with change of histology to mild scarring with fibrosis and occlusion of blood supply which would result in healing of the fissure. This intervention using bipolar cautery which could be an alternative treatment as a safer, less invasive and effective therapy for recurrent anal fissures refractory to conservative management prior to considering surgery. Our patient was followed up 2 years after the procedure with no recurrences of anal fissures or rectal bleeding, and reported improved quality of life with no complications from the procedure.

Gastric emphysema is a rare medical condition in which air penetrates any layer of the gastric wall (mucosa, submucosa, muscle layer, or serosa) due to a noninfectious source. It is essential to differentiate this from a life-threatening condition known as emphysematous gastritis. These two conditions have a similar presentation, and therefore, it is difficult to differentiate the two on imaging. Bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) is a noninvasive intervention for selected patients in respiratory distress. This intervention uses positive airway pressure to prevent endotracheal intubation. The commonly noted side effects of positive airway pressure are dry mouth and oral irritation. This is the first case, to our knowledge, of gastric emphysema directly originating from BiPAP administration. It was diagnosed on imaging as pneumatosis intestinalis and emphysematous gastritis but clinical presentation was benign. The condition resolved immediately after discontinuation of BiPAP.

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SNEC) is a high grade and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumor which typically presents as a primary pulmonary neoplasm near the bronchial region. Due to the aggressive nature of the tumor, there are many ways it can initially present, mostly involving the lungs. We present a case of a 68-year-old male patient who initially presented with new-onset of severe thrombocytopenia with superimposed pneumonia. It was late in the progression of the disease that histopathology from the bone marrow confirmed SNEC, which presented only after it metastasized to the bone marrow by way of a rare paraneoplastic syndrome. Furthermore, the bone marrow biopsy revealed atypical markers not commonly seen in SNEC. Since this was such an atypical presentation of SNEC, management was limited to stabilization of the patient. The patient expired two weeks later.