Treatment of Epstein-Barr Induced Hepatitis with High Dose Intravenous Vitamin C: A Case Report.

Introduction: Vitamin C has been previously studied for use with acute and chronic Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and hepatitis C. However, it has never been evaluated for its impact on EBV induced hepatitis. In this case report, we present a patient's history with EBV induced hepatitis treated with high dose vitamin C. Methods: A 36-year-old female presented to the National University of Natural Medicine Health Center with reactivated EBV-induced viral hepatitis. She reported severe fatigue, brain fog, maintenance and initiation insomnia, periocular hyperpigmentation, blurry vision, and decreased concentration. The patient's diagnosis was confirmed with a diagnostic evaluation of her EBV titers and liver enzymes, all of which were elevated. After assessing for contraindications, the patient was treated with intravenous (IV) vitamin C starting at a 10g dose and increasing weekly for 3 weeks to a dose of 25g. Results: After 12 weeks of treatment with high dose IV vitamin C, as well as other immune-supportive nutrient therapy, the patient reported a decrease in fatigue severity, brain fog, vision disturbances, exercise limitations, and insomnia severity. Discussion: We recommend that physicians consider the administration of high-dose IV vitamin C for all concurrent cases of EBV and hepatitis in both acute and chronic conditions. As recognition of reactivated viral infections grows, high-dose IV vitamin C for other latent viral infections such as COVID-19, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, varicella zoster, and HIV should be considered.

Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate Reduces Tremor Severity: A Case Series.

Introduction: Tremors involve involuntary muscle contractions that can occur at rest or during movement. Parkinson's disease (PD), the most common form of resting tremor, is conventionally treated with dopamine agonists, a therapy with a limited window of efficacy as the disease progresses due to levodopa tachyphylaxis. Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) interventions represent low-cost options for a disease which is expected to double in prevalence in the next decade. Based on its use in many conditions, magnesium sulfate may have therapeutic potential for patients with tremors. This case series presents findings on the use of intravenous magnesium sulfate for the management of four patients with tremors. Methods: All four patients were seen at the National University of Natural Medicine clinic and screened for contraindications and safety considerations prior to each treatment using the acronym, ATHUMB: allergies, treatment response, health history, urinalysis, medications, and breakfast/meal timing. Magnesium sulfate is given in an initial dose of 2000 mg increasing in increments of 500 mg over the next one-to-two office visits up to a 3500 mg maximum. Results: Reductions in tremor severity were noticed for each patient during and following treatment. All patients reported a 24-48-hour window of relief and improvement in activities of daily living after each IV; 3 of 4 patients reported that window extended to 5-7 days. Conclusion: IV magnesium sulfate was effective in decreasing tremor severity. Future research should explore the impact of IV magnesium sulfate on tremors using objective and self-reported measures to quantify the size and duration of its effect.

Suspected Recurrence of Cranial Neuralgia Following Infection With SARS-CoV-2: A Case Report.

It is understood that patients infected with the COVID-19 virus can present with headache as an initial symptom, but it is unclear if those with a history of cranial neuralgias may have a different initial COVID-19 presentation, or if infections from SARS-CoV-2 virus may cause a recurrence of previous cranial neuralgias. In this review, we report a case of cranial neuralgia recurrence that was preceded by a SARS-CoV-2 exposure. There is currently a lack of literature describing COVID-19 patients with a recurrence of a previous cranial neuralgia, and this case draws attention to potential reactivation of cranial neuralgia symptoms in COVID-19 patients, highlights key components of the pathophysiology of cranial neuralgias, and underscores the potential need to identify previous history of cranial neuralgia to more appropriately navigate management and treatment of neuralgia causing head pain as a consequence of COVID-19 infection.

Fish Oil and BCQ™ as a Novel Treatment Approach to Primary Erythromelalgia: A Case Study.

Erythromelalgia (EM) is a rare disorder, of which the pathophysiology is poorly understood. Though primary EM is thought to be an autosomal-dominant inherited disorder or of idiopathic origin, secondary EM is associated, most often, with myeloproliferative diseases. Pain management is the primary therapeutic target, however, individual patient responses vary widely, and no single treatment has been determined to be effective. As such, EM is often associated with reduced quality of life and higher morbidity and mortality. This case study examines an 81-year-old Caucasian female patient with a diagnosis of primary EM, for which previous pharmaceutical therapies had proven ineffective. Therapeutic intervention included a novel, daily supplement regimen of fish oil and BCQ™.

Enhancing Advance Care Planning Communication: An Interactive Workshop With Role-Play for Students and Primary Care Clinicians.

Introduction: Increased clinician training on advance care planning (ACP) is needed. Common barriers to ACP include perceived lack of confidence, skills, and knowledge necessary to engage in these discussions. Furthermore, many clinicians feel inadequately trained in prognostication. Evidence exists that multimodality curricula are effective in teaching ACP and can be simultaneously targeted to trainees and practicing clinicians with success. Methods: We developed a 3-hour workshop incorporating lecture, patient-oriented decision aids, prognostication tools, small-group discussion, and case-based role-play to communicate a values-based approach to ACP. Cases included discussion of care goals for a patient with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and one with mild cognitive impairment. The workshop was delivered to fourth-year medical students, then adapted in two primary care clinics. In the clinics, we added an interprofessional case applying ACP to management of dental pain in advanced dementia. We evaluated the workshops using pre-post surveys. Results: Thirty-four medical students and 14 primary care providers participated. Self-reported knowledge and comfort regarding ACP significantly improved; attitudes toward ACP were strongly positive both before and after. The workshop was well received. On a 7-point Likert scale (1 = unacceptable, 7 = outstanding), the median overall rating was 6 (excellent). Discussion: We developed an ACP workshop applicable to students and primary clinicians and saw improvements in self-reported knowledge and comfort regarding ACP. Long-term effects were not studied. Participants found the role-play especially valuable. Modifications for primary care clinics focused on duration rather than content. Future directions include expanding the workshop's content.

Paroxysmal Kinesigenic Dyskinesia Symptoms Markedly Reduced with Parenteral Vitamins and Minerals: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) is a rare movement disorder triggered by sudden voluntary movements. The disorder involves attacks of chorea, which resolve within minutes, that may occur frequently throughout the day. CASE PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old woman presented to the clinic with a 13-year history of PKD first diagnosed in 2002. This patient had frequent episodic attacks of PKD, which were so severe she had difficulty with ambulation and other activities of daily living. The case was complicated by an additional diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. She refused antiseizure medication because of concerns about it exacerbating her fatigue. In the office, she was given weekly parenteral doses of vitamins and minerals, which almost completely eliminated her symptoms between treatments and allowed her to return to activities of daily living. DISCUSSION: Genetic testing, not related to her PKD diagnosis, revealed several mutations that could offer an explanation for the apparent efficacy of parenteral therapy in this patient.

Course of Concomitant Bell's Palsy and Trigeminal Neuralgia Shortened with a Multi-Modal Intervention: A Case Report.

A 60-year-old man presented to the ER with lancinating right-sided facial pain following a URI. He was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, yet returned several days later with right-sided facial paralysis. He was then also diagnosed with Bell's palsy and treated with corticosteroids and antiviral medication. He continued to experience facial pain and paralysis, and sought out integrative medical care including acupuncture, nutritional supplements, diet and lifestyle changes, and parenteral therapy with intravenous vitamins and minerals. Eight weeks later he reported near complete resolution of symptoms. Multi-modal interventions may shorten recovery time in some patients with trigeminal neuralgia or Bell's palsy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report on concomitant trigeminal neuralgia and Bell's palsy. The CARE (CAse REport) guidelines were used in the writing of this case report.