Bariatric surgery is well established in reducing weight and improving the obesity-associated morbidity and mortality. Hyperammonemic encephalopathy following bariatric surgery is rare but highly fatal if not diagnosed in time and managed aggressively. Both macro- and micronutrients deficiencies play a role. A 42-year-old Hispanic female with a history of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Procedure was brought to ED for progressive altered mental status. Physical exam was remarkable for drowsiness with Glasgow Coma Scale 11, ascites, and bilateral pedal edema. Labs showed elevated ammonia, low hemoglobin, low serum prealbumin, albumin, HDL, and positive toxicology. She remained obtunded despite the treatment with Narcan and flumazenil and the serum ammonia level fluctuated despite standard treatment with lactulose and rifaximin. Laboratory investigations helped to elucidate the etiology of the hyperammonemia most likely secondary to unmasking the functional deficiency of the urea cycle enzymes. Hyperammonemia in the context of normal liver function tests becomes diagnostically challenging for physicians. Severe hyperammonemia is highly fatal. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment can alter the prognosis favorably.

Risk for depression was prevalent and associated with survival outcomes in patients with cancer presenting to the ED with uncontrolled pain. Screening for risk for depression in the ED may identify patients who need referral for clinical assessment of depression. Diagnosis and adequate treatment could improve health outcomes and survival rates for these patients.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), a commonly used antimetabolite and antineoplastic agent, has been approved for treatment of various cancers. Neurotoxicities are considered extremely rare side effects of 5-FU. We present a case of 5-FU-induced encephalopathy with diffusion-restricted reversible lesion of the splenium of the corpus callosum in a patient with colorectal cancer. The patient presented with confusion, dysarthria and agitation after 5-FU infusion. The prognosis of this toxic effects of 5-FU is usually good if recognised and treated in time. Emergency physicians, general practitioners and oncologists should be aware of this rare side effects of 5-FU chemotherapy and its diagnosis and treatment.

Elevated serum ferritin level is a common finding in iron overload syndrome, autoimmune and viral hepatitis, alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases. High transferrin saturation is not a common finding in above diseases except for iron overload syndrome. We encountered a challenging case of 73-year-old female who presented with yellowish discoloration of skin, dark color urine and dull abdominal pain. Initial laboratory tests reported mild anemia; elevated bilirubin, liver enzymes, and transferrin saturation. We came to the final diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis after extensive workups. Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare disease, and the diagnosis can be further complicated by a similar presentation of iron overload syndrome. Markedly elevated transferrin saturation can simulate iron overload syndrome, but a liver biopsy can guide physicians to navigate the diagnosis.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is a condition associated with paradoxical worsening and/or new onset of an opportunistic infection in HIV patients following the initiation of anti-retroviral therapy or switching to more potent antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen. Although IRIS associated with many opportunistic infections (OIs) has been well reported, syphilis has very rarely been mentioned in this regard. A 52-year-old male, diagnosed with AIDS six weeks ago, presented with the disseminated non-pruritic painless skin rash. He denied any fever, cough, shortness of breath, and joint pain or swelling. The patient had no similar symptoms, genital ulcers, or any medical illness in the past. CD4 cell count and viral load were 40 cells/mm and 280,000 copies/ml, respectively, while screening tests for OIs including rapid plasma reagin test, quantiferon, cryptococcal antigen, and toxoplasma tests were negative at the time of HIV diagnosis. After three days of initiation of anti-retroviral therapy, he developed the above-mentioned skin rash. Repeat rapid plasma regain (RPR) test at this time was also negative. Punch biopsy of the skin lesion demonstrated findings suggestive of secondary syphilitic lesions, which was confirmed by immunostain. The repeat RPR, CD4 cell count, and viral load showed a titer of 1:256, 257 cells/mm, and 5000 copies/ml, respectively. His skin rashes faded away, and RPR titer trended down on treatment with benzathine penicillin without discontinuation of ART. The presence of an IRIS response does not predict overall HIV or OI treatment responses, and discontinuation of ART is not generally recommended as the benefits of treating HIV infection outweighs the risk associated with IRIS.