Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features for Distinguishing High-Grade From Low-Grade Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Soft tissue sarcomas are malignant tumors characterized by heterogeneity and are associated with a high mortality rate. Histopathological grading is considered a pivotal factor in prognostication and treatment planning. While core needle biopsy exhibits high accuracy in determining tumor histology, it fails in some cases, potentially misclassifying high-grade tumors as low-grade.

Impact of Genetic Testing on the Diagnosis, Management, and Prognosis of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a hereditary cardiovascular condition marked by heart muscle thickening, fibrosis, and myocardial disorders. It is often inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Symptoms include dyspnea, fatigue, palpitations, dizziness, syncope, and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD).

A Review and Bibliometric Analysis of Studies on Advances in Peripheral Nerve Regeneration.

Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) pose significant clinical challenges due to their complex healing processes and the often incomplete functional recovery. This review and bibliometric analysis aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of advancements in peripheral nerve regeneration research, focusing on trends, influential studies, and emerging areas. By analyzing 2921 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection, key themes such as nerve regeneration, repair, and the critical role of Schwann cells were identified.

Post-Dengue Parsonage-Turner Syndrome: A Case Report.

Parsonage-Turner syndrome (PTS) is a non-traumatic disorder of the shoulder girdle, marked by sudden-onset neuropathic pain, spontaneous improvement, and progression to paralysis, muscle weakness, and atrophy. Various etiological factors have been linked to PTS. This clinical case report documents the development of PTS following dengue virus exposure.

A Systematic Review of the Cardiotoxic Effects of Targeted Therapies in Oncology.

Cancer therapy advancements have improved survival rates but also introduced significant cardiotoxic risks. Cardiotoxicity, a critical adverse effect of cancer treatments such as doxorubicin, trastuzumab, and radiotherapy, poses substantial challenges. This systematic review synthesizes findings from studies on cardiotoxicity induced by cancer therapies, focusing on detection and management.

The Role of Ventricular Assist Devices in Patients With Heart Failure Due to Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a prevalent heart muscle disease characterized by ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction, leading to severe heart failure (HF) and often requiring heart transplantation (HTx). This systematic review aimed to synthesize information regarding the role of ventricular assist devices (VADs) in managing HF patients due to DCM. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases for studies published between 2014 and 2024.

The Role of Alternative Medicine in Managing Type 2 Diabetes: A Comprehensive Review.

Diabetes, a chronic metabolic disorder marked by elevated blood glucose levels, is increasingly prevalent globally, significantly impacting health-related quality of life. Type 2 diabetes (T2DM), characterized by insulin resistance and inadequate insulin production, presents a substantial public health challenge, necessitating comprehensive management strategies. Conventional treatments, including lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy, are essential for glycemic control and preventing complications.

Decadal Analysis of Age-Adjusted Mortality Rates for Acute and Chronic Kidney Disease in Brazil, 2000-2021.

Introduction Renal failure, comprising acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), involves a decline or loss of kidney function. AKI is sudden and reversible, with a rapid decline in function over hours to days, while CKD involves persistent abnormalities lasting at least three months. Developing countries are seeing a rise in AKI cases, especially in critically ill patients.

Neuropathic Pain Secondary to Multiple Sclerosis: A Narrative Review.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). Neuropathic pain in MS is a debilitating symptom that significantly impairs the quality of life for a substantial proportion of MS patients. Neuropathic pain in MS stems primarily from demyelination, axonal loss, CNS inflammation, and direct damage to the myelin sheath, leading to pain manifestations such as ongoing extremity pain, Lhermitte's phenomenon, and trigeminal neuralgia (TN).

Exploring the Thalamus as a Target for Neuropathic Pain Management: An Integrative Review.

Neuropathic pain (NP), resulting from damage to the somatosensory system, is characterized by either spontaneous or evoked pain. In the context of NP, wherein aberrant signaling pathways contribute to the perception of pain, the thalamus emerges as a key player. This structure is integral to the pain network that includes connections to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, highlighting its role in the affective-motivational aspects of pain perception.

The Role of the Insula in Chronic Pain and Associated Structural Changes: An Integrative Review.

Chronic pain affects a substantial portion of the global population, significantly impacting quality of life and well-being. This condition involves complex mechanisms, including dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, which plays a crucial role in pain perception. The insula, a key brain region involved in pain processing, plays a critical role in pain perception and modulation.

Pericardial Diseases Mortality Trends in Brazil From 2000 to 2022.

Background Pericardial diseases manifest in various clinical forms, including acute pericarditis, constrictive pericarditis, pericardial effusion, and cardiac tamponade, with acute pericarditis being the most prevalent. These conditions significantly contribute to mortality rates. Therefore, this article aimed to analyze mortality trends in the Brazilian population based on age and sex, shedding light on the impact of pericardial diseases on public health outcomes.

A Comprehensive Narrative Review of Neuropathic Pain: From Pathophysiology to Surgical Treatment.

Neuropathic pain is a challenging condition. Despite the immense progress made in the pathophysiology and treatment of such conditions, so much work still has to be done. New frontiers previously unexplored are now objects of study with exciting results, mainly regarding neuromodulation and optogenetics.

Cingulotomy for Intractable Pain: A Systematic Review of an Underutilized Procedure.

Pain management is a critical aspect of cancer treatment and palliative care, where pain can significantly impact quality of life. Chronic pain, which affects a significant number of people worldwide, remains a prevalent and challenging symptom for patients. While medications and psychosocial support systems play a role in pain management, surgical and radiological interventions, including cingulotomy, may be necessary for refractory cases.

Assessing short-term and long-term security and efficacy of anterior nucleus of the thalamus deep brain stimulation for treating drug-resistant epilepsy: A systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT) is a widespread invasive procedure for treating drug-resistant epilepsy. Nonetheless, there is a persistent debate regarding the short-term and long-term efficacy and safety of ANT-DBS. Thus we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hypoplasia of C1's posterior arch: Is there an ideal anatomical classification?

Background: Congenital anomalies of the atlas are rare and usually occur in conjunction with other congenital variants. They include a wide spectrum of anomalies ranging from clefts to hypoplasia or aplasia of its arches that may contribute to spinal cord compressive syndrome.

Case Description: A 54-year-old male presented with the sudden onset of a severe quadriparesis and loss of proprioception after a minor fall.

Lead-DBS: an additional tool for stereotactic surgery.

Objective: Use Lead-DBS software to analyze stereotactical surgical outcome of an operated population and demonstrate that small target deviations do not compromise the stimulation of desired structures, even with small amperages.

Methods: Image exams of patients submitted to deep brain stimulation for movement disorders treatment were processed in Lead-DBS software. Electrode stereotactic coordinates were subtracted from the planned target and those deviations, compared among different anatomical targets and sides operated firstly and secondly.

Prevalence of distinct types of hardware failures related to deep brain stimulation.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment of several types of neurological conditions, including Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and epilepsy. Despite technological progress in the past 10 years, the number of studies reporting side effects of DBS has increased, mainly due to hardware failures. This review investigated studies published between 2017 and 2021 to identify the prevalence of distinct types of hardware failures related to DBS.

Tailored Anterior Clinoidectomy: Beyond the Intradural and Extradural Concepts.

Anterior clinoidectomy (AC) is a key microsurgical step for the safe and successful management of parasellar pathologies that involve the anterior clinoid process (ACP) and the optic canal. Traditionally, extra and intradural ACs are performed separately according to the surgeon's experience or preference. The objective is to present and discuss the tailored AC concept through illustrative cases.

Spontaneous resolution of chronic subdural hematoma: Does only the size matter?

Background: Chronic subdural hematomas (CSDHs) usually occur late in adults and older after mild head trauma. Surgical intervention is the first treatment option in CSDH with conservative management being adopted in few cases.

Case Description: We report a case of a 71-year-old man who presented a spontaneous resolution of a large CSDH.