Daisy Valle

We report a 58‐year‐old woman with bipolar I disorder on long‐term lithium and aripiprazole who developed a progressive asymmetric resting tremor and rigidity. Despite stopping both agents, the tremor persisted for more than a year. Dopamine transporter imaging showed reduced uptake in the left putamen, confirming idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) with superimposed drug‐induced parkinsonism (DIP). Management included discontinuing lithium, switching aripiprazole to quetiapine to limit motor worsening, and starting carbidopa–levodopa. Motor symptoms improved, but hypomanic symptoms emerged and required psychiatric dose adjustments, while apathy remained prominent. The case illustrates diagnostic overshadowing in bipolar disorder (BD) and highlights two practical lessons. When parkinsonian signs are atypical or persist after medication changes, consider idiopathic PD rather than attributing symptoms to side effects. Care is best delivered through close collaboration between psychiatry and neurology to balance dopaminergic therapy with mood stabilization.

Background: Aggression and irritability are common challenges in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), often requiring pharmacological management. Divalproex, an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer, is used off-label for these symptoms, but its effectiveness remains unclear. This systematic review evaluates the efficacy and safety of divalproex in managing aggression and irritability in children with ASD. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251029754). Searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, identifying studies involving children with ASD treated with divalproex, valproic acid, or valproate sodium. Data were extracted on study design, sample size, intervention details, outcomes, and adverse effects. Results: Ten studies met inclusion criteria, comprising three randomized controlled trials, one open-label trial, and six case reports. Intravenous (IV) divalproex demonstrated rapid reductions in aggression, suggesting potential for acute stabilization. However, oral divalproex produced inconsistent results for chronic aggression and irritability. Adverse effects included weight gain, sedation, and behavioral activation, with toxicity risks in polypharmacy settings. Discussion/Conclusion: Divalproex may offer value for acute management of aggression in children with ASD when administered intravenously. Its role in chronic management is less clear, with inconsistent outcomes and notable side effects. Clinicians should prioritize regular serum monitoring and consider alternative options for chronic use. Further research is needed to clarify its clinical role, particularly in diverse patient populations.

Introduction: Recent legislation in Florida, including SB 254, SB 1580, and HB 1557/1069, has created barriers for LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those seeking gender-affirming care (GAC). SB 254 limits access to GAC by restricting Medicaid coverage and allowing only physicians to provide treatment. SB 1580 permits healthcare providers to refuse treatment based on personal beliefs, further reducing access. HB 1557/1069 prohibits discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation in schools, increasing social stigmatization of LGBTQ+ individuals. These legal changes contribute to worsening mental health outcomes in this community, notably depression and anxiety. Methods: A prospective survey of 131 LGBTQ+ individuals and allies in Florida was conducted using convenience sampling at local LGBTQ+ events. The survey assessed the perceived impact of each law on daily life, access to healthcare, and mental health. Depression and anxiety were measured using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales. Results: Transgender and non-binary participants were disproportionately impacted by SB 254, with 85% reporting reduced access to GAC. These participants also reported longer delays in receiving care and heightened fears of future healthcare refusals due to SB 1580. LGBTQ+ participants reported noted increased anxiety due to the broader stigmatizing effects of HB 1557/1069 in educational and social settings. Among gender minorities, 82% reported severe depression. Conclusion: Gender minorities in Florida face severe consequences from recent legislation, including significant barriers to gender-affirming healthcare and heightened mental health challenges. This study showed a disproportionate impact on gender minorities which prompts targeted advocacy and healthcare reforms to support this vulnerable population.

As the average lifespan has increased, memory disorders have become a more pressing public health concern. However, dementia in the elderly population is often neglected in light of other health priorities. Therefore, expanding the knowledge surrounding the pathology of dementia will allow more informed decision-making regarding treatment within elderly and older adult populations. An important emerging avenue in dementia research is understanding the vascular contributors to dementia. This review summarizes potential causes of vascular cognitive impairment like stroke, microinfarction, hypertension, atherosclerosis, blood-brain-barrier dysfunction, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Also, this review address treatments that target these vascular impairments that also show promising results in reducing patient’s risk for and experience of dementia.

Gliomas are common primary brain malignancies that remain difficult to treat due to their overall aggressiveness and heterogeneity. Although a variety of therapeutic strategies have been employed for the treatment of gliomas, there is increasing evidence that suggests ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) can serve as a valuable biomarker and diagnostic tool in the pathogenesis of gliomas. Various LGICs, including P2X, SYT16, and PANX2, have the potential to become altered in the pathogenesis of glioma, which can disrupt the homeostatic activity of neurons, microglia, and astrocytes, further exacerbating the symptoms and progression of glioma. Consequently, LGICs, including purinoceptors, glutamate-gated receptors, and Cys-loop receptors, have been targeted in clinical trials for their potential therapeutic benefit in the diagnosis and treatment of gliomas. In this review, we discuss the role of LGICs in the pathogenesis of glioma, including genetic factors and the effect of altered LGIC activity on the biological functioning of neuronal cells. Additionally, we discuss current and emerging investigations regarding the use of LGICs as a clinical target and potential therapeutic for gliomas.

The assessment and treatment of vertebral primary bone lesions continue to pose a unique yet significant challenge. Indeed, there exists little in the literature in the way of compiling and overviewing the various types of vertebral lesions, which can often have complicated intervention strategies. Given the severe consequences of mismanaged vertebral bone tumors—including the extreme loss of motor function—it is clear that such an overview of spinal lesion care is needed. Thus, in the following paper, we aim to address the assessment of various vertebral primary bone lesions, outlining the relevant nonsurgical and surgical interventional methods. We describe examples of primary benign and malignant tumors, comparing and contrasting their differences. We also highlight emerging treatments and approaches for these tumors, like cryoablation and stereotactic body radiation therapy. Ultimately, we aim to emphasize the need for further guidelines in regard to correlating lesion type with proper therapy, underscoring the innate diversity of vertebral primary bone lesions in the literature.