Publications by authors named "Vanessa I Rodriguez"

Background: Risk factors for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) include tobacco/alcohol abuse, genetic predisposition, insulin resistance, and pancreatic cysts. Despite these well-established risk factors and the screening of high-risk individuals, some people still develop PDAC. This study aims to explore a potential risk factor for PDAC by investigating the association between fungal toxins (FT) and environmental toxins (ET) and the disease.

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Introduction: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Mucosal healing (MH) is a therapeutic goal in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Current data suggest that Black patients may experience worse clinical outcomes than White patients with IBD.

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Bladder cancer with cutaneous metastasis is a rare manifestation of the advanced stage of the disease. It can result from direct invasion, lymphatic or hematogenous spread, or iatrogenic implantation. We present a case of a 67-year-old patient initially diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma (UC) in situ of the bladder, who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor, along with induction and maintenance Bacillus Calmette-Guerin immunotherapy.

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Drug-induced lupus is an autoimmune phenomenon characterized by the development of systemic lupus erythematosus-like clinical features after drug exposure. The entity is a clinical diagnosis. Evaluation consists of recognizing systemic lupus erythematosus-like features, identifying an appropriate causative agent, observing elevations of characteristic autoantibodies, and obtaining positive response with drug discontinuation.

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Micronutrient deficiencies may develop as a long-term complication of bariatric surgery due to alteration of gut anatomy and disruption of normal gut absorption. Inadequate repletion of essential vitamin and mineral deficiencies can lead to multisystem dysfunction. We present a case of a woman in her 50s, with a history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass over 10 years ago, who presented with generalised weakness and a diffuse desquamating rash.

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Sarcoidosis is an immune-mediated inflammatory disorder with unknown aetiology that is marked by non-caseating granulomas in affected organs. Pulmonary sarcoidosis is the most common manifestation, but gastrointestinal involvement, particularly in the small bowel, is exceedingly rare. While symptom-driven treatment guidelines that are steroid based are well established for pulmonary and few extrapulmonary manifestations (ie, cardiac, neurologic, renal), gastrointestinal sarcoidosis treatment is largely extrapolation with optimal management under investigation.

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