Inferential statistics for cardiothoracic surgeons: Part 3 - drawing valid conclusions from clinical data.

Inferential statistics enable researchers to make predictions about a population based on sample data. This involves hypothesis testing where the null hypothesis assumes no effect, and the alternative hypothesis suggests a significant effect. Testing requires assumptions like normality and independence to be validated using tests like Shapiro-Wilk or Levene's for normality and variance.

Tolosa-Hunt syndrome in children and adolescents: A systematic review.

Objective: This systematic review aims to consolidate and analyze the existing evidence on Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) in the pediatric population, focusing on clinical features, diagnostic challenges, treatment outcomes, and prognosis.

Background: Tolosa-Hunt syndrome is a rare headache disorder caused by idiopathic inflammation of the cavernous sinus, orbital apex, or orbit, resulting in neuro-ophthalmological manifestations. It is uniquely characterized by cranial nerve palsies and often responds well to steroids.

Ophthalmic Manifestations of Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis of 86 Cases.

Purpose: This systematic review aims to consolidate evidence on ophthalmological manifestations of angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia, focusing on its presentation, diagnosis, and management.

Methods: Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses-adherent systematic review was conducted across 3 databases from inception until September 2024. Case reports and series detailing angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia in ocular structures were included.

Clinical profile, histopathology, and management of caruncular lesions; a systematic review.

Background: The lacrimal caruncle, a nodular structure located at the inner canthus, contains a variety of tissue types, leading to diverse clinical manifestations of its lesions. Caruncular lesions, though rare, may be benign or malignant, complicating diagnosis and treatment. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the clinical profiles, histopathological features, and management strategies for caruncular lesions.

Descriptive statistics for cardiothoracic surgeons: part 2 - the foundation of data interpretation.

Descriptive statistics are essential for summarizing and interpreting clinical data in cardiothoracic surgery. Understanding measures of central tendency and dispersion, such as mean, median, range, variance, and standard deviation, provides insights into patient outcomes and surgical effectiveness. Confidence intervals offer a range for population parameters, enhancing decision-making precision.

Evisceration and ocular prosthetic implantation following endovascular coiling for the management of endophthalmitis in a long-standing post-traumatic unilateral carotid-cavernous fistula: A case report and review of the literature.

Carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) is a rare condition involving an abnormal communication between the carotid artery and the cavernous sinus. We present a unique case of posttraumatic unilateral CCF initially misdiagnosed as a corneal melt with iris prolapse and orbital cellulitis. The patient, a 25-year-old male, experienced swelling, bleeding, and sudden vision loss in the affected eye following a fall.

Research designs for cardiothoracic surgeons: part 1 - a primer for evidence-based practice.

Understanding research designs is crucial for cardiothoracic surgeons to enhance their clinical practice and decision-making. This article provides a comprehensive overview of different research study types, including observational and experimental studies, and their relevance to cardiothoracic surgery. Detailed explanations of cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies, as well as various types of randomized controlled trials, are presented.

Clinical profile and outcomes in Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome; a systematic review.

Introduction: Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome (THS) stands as a rare headache disorder distinguished by painful ophthalmoplegia, accompanied by headaches and cranial nerve palsies. The syndrome was initially identified by Eduardo Tolosa in Spain in 1954. He observed granulomatous inflammation surrounding a carotid siphon in a patient with an intracavernous carotid aneurysm.

Advanced statistical methods for hazard modeling in cardiothoracic surgery: a comprehensive review of techniques and approaches.

Hazard modeling in cardiothoracic surgery, crucial for understanding patient outcomes, utilizes survival analysis like the Cox proportional hazards model. Kaplan-Meier curves are employed in survival analysis to represent the probability of survival over time. While Cox assumes proportional hazards, the Fine-Gray model deals with competing risks.

Evaluating ChatGPT's efficacy and readability to common pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus-related questions.

Introduction: The rise in popularity of chatbots, particularly ChatGPT by OpenAI among the general public and its utility in the healthcare field is a topic of present controversy. The current study aimed at assessing the reliability and accuracy of ChatGPT's responses to inquiries posed by parents, specifically focusing on a range of pediatric ophthalmological and strabismus conditions.

Methods: Patient queries were collected via a thematic analysis and posed to ChatGPT 3.

Clinical presentation and surgical outcomes in patients with Shone's complex: a systematic review.

Objective: Shone's complex comprises of a combination of congenital cardiac anomalies causing obstructions in the left ventricle's inflow and outflow tracts. This systematic review aims to evaluate the clinical features and surgical outcomes of Shone's complex.

Methods: An electronic literature search of PubMed and Scopus was performed to identify relevant studies related to the presentation, management, and outcomes of Shone's complex.

Anesthetic considerations for joint replacement surgery in hemophilic arthropathy: a comprehensive review.

Managing hemophilia in patients undergoing joint replacement surgery requires a comprehensive approach encompassing preoperative assessment, meticulous intraoperative care, and tailored postoperative management. Evaluation of joint integrity, bleeding history, and inhibitor presence guides surgical planning and hemostatic therapy selection to optimize outcomes. During surgery, careful attention to factor replacement, antibiotic prophylaxis, anesthetic techniques, and orthopedic strategies minimizes bleeding risk and enhances surgical success.

Effect of information delivery techniques in reducing pre-procedural anxiety in computed tomography.

Objectives: Patients undergoing medical procedures often experience heightened anxiety, which can affect their experience and overall health. The current study aimed at looking at a quality improvement initiative to compare written and audiovisual information delivery methods to reduce anxiety prior to Computed Tomography (CT).

Methods: In this prospective interventional study, we assessed state and trait anxiety in patients scheduled for their first CT scan.

Clinicopathologic study of caruncular lesions.

Purpose: The caruncle is a unique anatomical site in the human body, comprising various structures derived from the surface ectoderm and mesoderm. Caruncular lesions can range from benign to malignant and present challenges in accurate diagnosis and timely management due to their hidden nature and proximity to the lacrimal sac. This study aims to provide a comprehensive description of caruncular lesions, presenting the first Indian case series on this topic.

Radio-anatomical evaluation of clinical and radiomic profile of multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging of de novo glioblastoma multiforme.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a fatal, fast-growing, and aggressive brain tumor arising from glial cells or their progenitors. It is a primary malignancy with a poor prognosis. The current study aims at evaluating the neuroradiological parameters of de novo GBM by analyzing the brain multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) scans acquired from a publicly available database analysis of the scans.

The Impact of Prevotella on Neurobiology in Aging: Deciphering Dendritic Cell Activity and Inflammatory Dynamics.

Prevotella species, notably Prevotella copri, significantly populate the human gut. In particular, P. copri is prevalent among non-Western populations with diets high in fiber.

BEYOND TRADITIONAL TOOLS: EXPLORING CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORKS AS INNOVATIVE PROGNOSTIC MODELS IN PANCREATIC DUCTAL ADENOCARCINOMA.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive and lethal form of cancer with limited prognostic accuracy using traditional factors. This has led to the exploration of innovative prognostic models, including convolutional neural networks (CNNs), in PDAC. CNNs, a type of artificial intelligence algorithm, have shown promise in various medical applications, including image analysis and pattern recognition.

Ocular Manifestations in Head and Neck Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Centre from South India.

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) present a significant global health burden, especially in India, where oral cavity cancers, notably affecting the tongue, are prevalent. A substantial portion of global HNCs (57.5%) is concentrated in Asia, India contributing with 30%.