A Case of Persistent Intra-Abdominal Infection Despite Bacteriophage Therapy.

Multidrug resistant infections are a challenge in the health care setting and a cause of patient morbidity and mortality. Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that target and kill bacteria and have been used in patients to treat bacterial infections. We present a case of disseminated infection, with pulmonary, intra-abdominal and bloodstream involvement.

Disseminated cryptococcosis with gastrointestinal involvement and false-negative cryptococcal antigen testing due to postzone phenomenon: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Cryptococcosis is an increasingly common infection given the growing immunocompromised population worldwide. Cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) testing demonstrates excellent sensitivity and specificity and is the mainstay of diagnosis. However, there may be rare instances in which false-negative CrAg results can delay diagnosis and early treatment, which are critical to ensure positive outcomes.

Orbital apex syndrome due to invasive aspergillosis in an immunocompetent patient.

Infection is a rare cause of orbital apex syndrome (OAS) and most commonly occurs in immunocompromised hosts. We report a case of OAS in an elderly immunocompetent female due to invasive aspergillosis and co-infection. The patient required both surgical debridement and prolonged courses of antibiotic and antifungal therapy.

Inguinoscrotal herniation of the bladder: A rare case of obstructive uropathy.

Inguinoscrotal herniation of the bladder is a rare presentation of inguinal hernia that can result in significant complications if untreated. We describe a case of an elderly male with a delayed presentation of bladder herniation resulting in severe acute kidney injury requiring urgent placement of nephrostomy tubes. Ultimately surgery is required for definitive management.

Successful encorafenib desensitization in a patient with recurrent metastatic melanoma.

Type I hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) to dabrafenib are rare but have been previously described. We present a case where a 72-year-old woman with recurrent, metastatic BRAF-mutated melanoma developed a type I HSR to dabrafenib. We, therefore, developed a desensitization protocol with encorafenib, a similar class agent, to allow the patient to continue with treatment.

Group III phospholipase A2 downregulation attenuated survival and metastasis in ovarian cancer and promotes chemo-sensitization.

Background: Aberrant lipogenicity and deregulated autophagy are common in most advanced human cancer and therapeutic strategies to exploit these pathways are currently under consideration. Group III Phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-III/PLA2G3), an atypical secretory PLA2, is recognized as a regulator of lipid metabolism associated with oncogenesis. Though recent studies reveal that high PLA2G3 expression significantly correlates with poor prognosis in several cancers, however, role of PLA2G3 in ovarian cancer (OC) pathogenesis is still undetermined.

Evolving standards of care and new challenges in the management of HER2-positive breast cancer.

The management of human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-positive breast cancer (BC) has rapidly evolved over the last 20 years. Major advances have led to US Food and Drug Administration approval of 7 HER2-targeted therapies for the treatment of early-stage and/or advanced-stage disease. Although oncologic outcomes continue to improve, most patients with advanced HER2-positive BC ultimately die of their disease because of primary or acquired resistance to therapy, and patients with HER2-positive early BC who have residual invasive disease after preoperative systemic therapy are at a higher risk of distant recurrence and death.