Real-world clinical outcome of unresectable locally advanced & de-novo metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a multicentre retrospective study.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies, with limited treatment options yielding poor outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the real-world clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of patients with locally advanced unresectable and de-novo metastatic PDAC in Saudi Arabia, providing regional data to compare with international benchmarks.

Methods: This is a retrospective, multicentre study involving 350 patients diagnosed with unresectable locally advanced or de-novo metastatic PDAC between January 2015 and November 2023.

In situ Fe-doped thin carbon wires via AC high voltage arc discharge.

This study explores the controlled, continuous production of thin carbon rods between graphite electrodes (continued electrode deposits) during an arc discharge of high voltage alternating current with a frequency of 50 Hz in liquid paraffin, along with in situ doping of the resulting material using a suspension of liquid paraffin and iron powder ( <10 μm). The surface morphology of the obtained carbon rod nanomaterials was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with EDX chemical composition analysis, X-ray microtomography (micro-CT), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM technique in scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) and conductive probe (CP) modes was employed to determine the temperature and electrical conductivity of the obtained nanostructures.

Prevalence and spectrum of manifestations of tamoxifen retinopathy as assessed by multimodal and ultra-widefield retinal imaging.

Background/objectives: Tamoxifen has well-known retinal toxicity, but the epidemiology of this toxicity is poorly defined. This study aims to 1) evaluate the prevalence of tamoxifen retinopathy in a major northeastern metropolitan area based on multimodal retinal imaging and 2) determine whether the additional peripheral retina captured in ultra-widefield (UWF) imaging aids in the diagnosis of tamoxifen retinopathy.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined female patients initiated on tamoxifen for at least 12 months prior to their first retinal exam.

PREVALENCE OF DIDANOSINE-RELATED RETINAL TOXICITY AT AN URBAN ACADEMIC CENTER AS DIAGNOSED WITH ULTRA-WIDEFIELD IMAGING.

Purpose: Antiretroviral therapy has revolutionized HIV treatment with didanosine (DDI) as a pioneering drug. However, DDI has been associated with retinal toxicity, characterized by peripheral chorioretinal degeneration with macular sparing. Despite its clinical recognition, the prevalence and risk factors for didanosine-induced retinopathy are not well described.

Turning the tide: pembrolizumab's triumph in adjuvant RCC therapy.

In recent years, kidney cancer has shown an increased worldwide incidence of more than 400 000 novel cases annually. Although more than half of patients are diagnosed at a localised stage, this disease presents a high-risk of relapse after surgery. Thus, there is a need for adjuvant therapy post-resection to reduce cancer recurrence and prolong disease-free and overall survival.