Emulation of ARISTOTLE and ROCKET AF trials in real-world atrial fibrillation patients results in similar efficacy and safety as original landmark trials: insights from the GARFIELD-AF registry.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the robustness, reproducibility and representativeness of the landmark Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation (AF) (ARISTOTLE) and Rivaroxaban Once Daily Oral Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared with Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in AF (ROCKET AF) randomised trials through replication in an observational AF patient registry.

Methods And Results: Patients from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD (GARFIELD)-AF registry treated with apixaban, rivaroxaban or vitamin K antagonist (VKA) were assessed for eligibility for the ARISTOTLE and ROCKET AF trials. HRs of apixaban and rivaroxaban versus comparator for stroke/systemic embolism, major bleeding and all-cause mortality within 2 years follow-up were calculated using propensity score overlap-weighted Cox models.

Proposed computed tomography severity index for the evaluation of invasive fungal sinusitis: Preliminary results.

Background: Invasive fungal sinusitis (IFS) can present as a mild disease to life-threatening infection. A recent surge in cases was seen due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Many patients require surgical debridement and hence imaging [contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the paranasal sinuses (PNS)] to document the extent of the disease.

Primary thromboprophylaxis in ambulatory symptomatic patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the search for strategies to improve outcomes in affected individuals, including those initially managed in outpatient settings. Thromboembolic events have been reported as a concerning complication.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of primary thromboprophylaxis in outpatients with COVID-19.

Challenges in the Cytodiagnosis of Intraparotid Schwannoma.

Clear cell tumors of parotid gland encompass a wide spectrum of neoplasms, including benign and malignant epithelial neoplasms. Additionally, tumors from adjacent structures such as paraganglioma, and metastatic neoplasms may also show clear cells. Overlapping cytological features may cause difficulty in diagnosis.

Myxoid Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Nasal Vestibule: An Unusual Histological Subtype in the Head and Neck Region.

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are mesenchymal neoplasms associated with the characteristic gene fusion. They frequently occur in extra-thoracic sites and are not uncommon in the head and neck (HN) region. Myxoid SFT is a rare morphological subtype of SFT, the features of which overlap with those of other myxoid-appearing tumors, making the diagnosis challenging.

Deciphering the Intricate Relationship Between Macrophages, Pigmentation, and Prognosis in Uveal Melanoma.

High pigmentation and the abundance of M2 macrophages have been identified as negative predictors in uveal melanoma (UM). Risk factors associated with UM that are prevalent in high-risk White populations are still present, although less common, in relatively low-risk Asian populations. Research indicates that proangiogenic M2 macrophages and monosomy 3 play significant roles in UM progression.

Label-based comparative proteomics of oral mucosal tissue to understand progression of precancerous lesions to oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinomas typically arise from precancerous lesions such as leukoplakia and erythroplakia. These lesions exhibit a range of histological changes from hyperplasia to dysplasia and carcinoma in situ, during their transformation to malignancy. The molecular mechanisms driving this multistage transition remain incompletely understood.

Histomorphology based prediction of p16 immunopositivity and p16/HPV DNA co-positivity in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The histomorphological features predictive of p16 and human papilloma virus (HPV DNA) positivity in oropharyngeal carcinoma have been a matter of much debate. However, only few studies have been done on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) to correlate the histomorphological features with p16 and HPV DNA positivity. Oral squamous cell carcinoma has distinct etiopathogenesis, treatment and prognosis as compared to oropharyngeal carcinomas.

Addressing Challenges in Antibiotic Access: Barriers, Implications and Strategies for Solution.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global public health, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While excessive antibiotic use is often discussed, the issue of access to antibiotics demands attention. This viewpoint explores the multidimensional nature of the issue of access to antibiotics.

Antimicrobial drug pricing.

Despite the constant development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), few new antimicrobials are currently becoming available clinically. Alternative approaches, such as different mechanisms to fund their use, are being explored to encourage development of new antimicrobials.

A systematic review of antibiotic drug shortages and the strategies employed for managing these shortages.

Background: There is a need to examine the impact of increasingly prevalent antibiotic shortages on patient outcomes and on the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Objectives: To: (1) assess patterns and causes of shortages; (2) investigate the effect of shortages on health systems and patient outcomes; and (3) identify strategies for forecasting and managing shortages.

Data Sources: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science.

Shining Light on Rarity: Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Esophagus with Absence of MAML2 Gene Rearrangement.

Primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus is a rare condition characterized by a combination of squamous and mucin-secreting glandular malignant cells. Its clinical recognition is often challenging, pre-operative diagnosis is difficult, and there is a lack of standardized treatment protocols. Here, we present the clinicopathological characteristics of a previously underreported esophageal malignancy found in the distal esophagus of a 58-year-old woman.

Orbital Sarcoma with Genetic Alterations in the Pediatric Age Group.

Pediatric orbital tumors encompass a wide spectrum of neoplasms, many of which are malignant small round cell tumors with overlapping histology. Sarcomas with genetic alterations are undifferentiated round cell sarcomas (URCS) characterized by rearrangements or internal tandem duplications, having distinct clinical features. Being previously unrecognized in the orbit, they have potential for misdiagnosis.

GenSelfDiff-HIS: Generative Self-Supervision Using Diffusion for Histopathological Image Segmentation.

Histopathological image segmentation is a laborious and time-intensive task, often requiring analysis from experienced pathologists for accurate examinations. To reduce this burden, supervised machine-learning approaches have been adopted using large-scale annotated datasets for histopathological image analysis. However, in several scenarios, the availability of large-scale annotated data is a bottleneck while training such models.

Isolated masseter muscle fungal invasion: unmasking the culprit.

This case report focusses on a unique and infrequently observed event where an isolated masseter muscle fungal invasion was seen. The patient's symptoms include facial swelling and restricted mouth opening. The rarity of this particular manifestation is emphasised by the fact that there are no previously reported cases where fungal infection was the cause of isolated masseter muscle involvement.

Enzymes in Addressing Hypoxia for Biomaterials Engineering.

Oxygen is essential for normal cellular functions. Hypoxia impacts various cellular processes, such as metabolism, growth, proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, tumorigenesis, microbial infection, and immune response, mediated by hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). Hypoxia contributes to the progression and development of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, kidney diseases, and infections.

Soft nanoparticles as antimicrobial agents and carriers of microbiocides for enhanced inhibition activity.

Antibiotic resistance continues to pose significant health challenges. Considering severe limitations in the discovery and supply of new antibiotics, there is an unmet need to design alternative and more effective strategies for addressing this global issue. Use of polymeric nanoparticles with cationic shell surfaces offers a highly promising approach to coupling their inherent bactericidal action with sustained delivery of small lipophilic microbicides.

Pre-vascular Facial Nodes: Sentinel Station for Metastasis in Gingivobuccal Complex Cancers.

Background: Pre-vascular facial nodes (PV-FNs; perifacial lymph nodes) are supra-mandibular lymph nodes above the inferior border of the mandible. These are not part of routine neck dissection done for OCSCC. These lymph nodes can be sentinel station for metastatic lymph nodes from gingivobuccal complex cancers and are missed during routine neck dissection.

Superior Parathyroid Masquerading as Retropharyngeal Lymph Node.

Introduction: Ectopic parathyroid glands have been reported with an incidence of 2-22%. Undescended parathyroid glands, defined as glands situated above the carotid bifurcation or > 1 cm cranial to the superior pole of the thyroid gland, comprise 2-7% of all ectopic parathyroid glands. We report a case of incidentally discovered parathyroid gland located in the retropharyngeal space at the level of the oropharynx.