Adherence to First-Line Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Therapy in the Context of Guideline Recommendations for US Patients With High-Risk Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) can reduce recurrence and delay progression among patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), but is associated with a substantial emotional, physical, and social burden. This study evaluated the adequacy of first-line intravesical BCG treatment among high-risk NMIBC patients in the United States, including the subgroup with carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the bladder. Adults with high-risk NMIBC treated with BCG were selected from de-identified MarketScan® Commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid Databases (1/1/2010-2/28/2021).

Atraumatic Splenic Rupture Unveiling Mumps With an Underlying B-cell Lymphoid Hyperplasia: A Diagnostic Conundrum.

Atraumatic splenic rupture (ASR) is an unfamiliar entity that is potentially life-threatening if there is a delay in the diagnosis. Due to its rarity and its non-specific presentation, it can be a challenge to diagnose early. In this report, we present a case of a 42-year-old male patient who presented to the emergency department with nonspecific abdominal pain and had no past medical history.

Agreement between patient-reported and clinician-rated speech and swallowing outcomes - Understanding the trend in post-operative oral cavity cancer patients.

Aim: To find the agreement between clinician-rated and patient-reported speech and swallowing outcomes in post-operative oral cavity cancer patients.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, a total of 53 post-operative oral cavity cancer patients were recruited. The Speech Handicap Index - Kannada (SHI-K) and the Dysphagia Handicap Index - Kannada (DHI-K) were used as the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability-Cancer (MASA-C) and Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech & Hearing Disabilities (DIVYANGJAN) AYJNISHD(D)'s speech intelligibility rating scale were used as the clinician-rated scales to evaluate speech and swallowing status.

Analysis of Expression and Regulation of AKR1C2 in HPV-Positive and -Negative Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), particularly Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC), is a major global health challenge due to its increasing incidence and high mortality rate. This study investigates the role of aldo-keto reductase 1C2 (AKR1C2) in OPSCC, focusing on its expression, correlation with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) status, oxidative stress status, and clinical outcomes, with an emphasis on sex-specific differences. We analyzed AKR1C2 expression using immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 51 OPSCC patients.

Fungal Peptidomelanin: A Novel Biopolymer for the Chelation of Heavy Metals.

Melanin is an amorphous, highly heterogeneous polymer found across all kingdoms of life. Although the properties of melanin can greatly vary, most forms are insoluble and strongly absorb light, appearing dark brown to black. Here, we describe a water-soluble form of melanin (peptidomelanin) secreted by the spores of (strain: melanoliber) during germination.