Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Inverted Paralysis Post-Operatively in a Patient With Ulcerative Colitis.

Rapidly progressive and life-threatening, the pharyngeal-cervical-brachial (PCB) variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) poses a unique perspective on the complications that may arise post-operatively, especially in patients with an underlying autoimmune disease like ulcerative colitis. GBS is an immune-mediated polyneuropathy typically consisting of ascending flaccid muscle paralysis and areflexia. There are several variants of GBS, which can present atypically and be misdiagnosed. We intend to focus on PCB, a rare, localized variant of GBS. Herein, we report an uncommon case of a recent post-surgical patient, with underlying ulcerative colitis, who developed the PCB variant of GBS.

Combined Parietal-Insular-Striatal Cortex Stroke with New-Onset Hallucinations: Supporting the Salience Network Model of Schizophrenia.

Brain imaging studies have identified multiple neuronal networks and circuits in the brain with altered functioning in patients with schizophrenia. These include the hippocampo-cerebello-cortical circuit, the prefrontal-thalamic-cerebellar circuit, functional integration in the bilateral caudate nucleus, and the salience network consisting of the insular cortex, parietal anterior cingulate cortex, and striatum, as well as limbic structures. Attributing psychotic symptoms to any of these networks in schizophrenia is confounded by the disruption of these networks in schizophrenic patients. Such attribution can be done with isolated dysfunction in any of these networks with concurrent psychotic symptoms. We present the case of a patient who presents with new-onset hallucinations and a stroke in brain regions similar to the salience network (insular cortex, parietal cortex, and striatum). The implication of these findings in isolating psychotic symptoms of the salience network is discussed.

A Case of Septum Pellucidum Agenesis in a Patient with Psychotic Symptoms.

Agenesis of the septum pellucidum is a rare congenital defect that has been associated with psychiatric disorders, cognitive deficits, learning disabilities, seizures, and neuropsychiatric disturbances. We present the case of a patient with partial agenesis of the septum pellucidum who exhibits disorganized behavior and paranoid and persecutory delusions. We add to the literature of incidental neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with partial agenesis of the septum pellucidum which is an area that requires further exploration and study. We discuss the implications of these findings in light of previous literature findings.

Chronic Atypical Depression as an Early Feature of Pituitary Adenoma: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Pituitary adenomas are often diagnosed as incidental findings on brain imaging. We present the case of a 52-year-old African American female patient with long standing depressed mood prior to the incidental finding of a pituitary adenoma. We explore the possibility of certain mood symptoms prompting an early diagnosis of pituitary adenoma.

On Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of Basal Ganglia Injury: A Report of Three Cases and Literature Review.

The basal ganglia have been considered to primarily play a role in motor processing. A growing body of theoretical and clinical evidence shows that in addition to the motor functions the basal ganglia play a key role in perceptual and visual disturbances. This role may be evident in patients with basal ganglia pathology and subsequent manifestation of symptoms that include cognitive, perceptual, and affective disturbances. We present three cases with basal ganglia pathology that demonstrate affective and psychotic symptoms. Two of the cases presented with late onset psychotic disturbances suggesting likely neurological etiologies. The third case presented with treatment refractory psychosis and symptoms that are rare for a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The role of incidental bilateral basal ganglia calcifications in all the cases is discussed. A review of current literature highlighting various neuropsychiatric manifestations of basal ganglia pathologies in various patients with psychiatric symptoms is presented.

Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of Partial Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Agenesis of the corpus callosum is a rare congenital defect that has been linked to psychiatric disorders, cognitive deficits, learning disabilities, and developmental delays. We present the case of a patient with partial agenesis of the corpus callosum who exhibits depressed mood, transient loss of memory, and history of cognitive, social, and behavioral disturbances that developed during his childhood. Recent and pertinent literature was reviewed and the agenesis of the corpus callosum and its associated neuropsychiatric manifestations are discussed.