Disseminated histoplasmosis in a 4-month-old infant presenting with prolonged fever and pancytopenia: A case report.

Background: Histoplasmosis is the most prevalent endemic mycosis in the United States, typically affecting immunocompromised individuals. Diagnosis of histoplasmosis in immunocompetent patients is rare, particularly among young infants, with only a few cases reported.

Case Presentation: We present a 4-month-old female with a history of prematurity who initially presented with 11 days of fever.

Towards secure and trusted AI in healthcare: A systematic review of emerging innovations and ethical challenges.

Introduction: Artificial Intelligence is in the phase of health care, with transformative innovations in diagnostics, personalized treatment, and operational efficiency. While having potential, critical challenges are apparent in areas of safety, trust, security, and ethical governance. The development of these challenges is important for promoting the responsible adoption of AI technologies into healthcare systems.

Short- versus standard-course antimicrobial therapy for children with urinary tract infection: A meta-analysis.

Aim: To determine if short- (2-5 days) course antimicrobials are as effective as standard- (6-14 days) course antimicrobials in the treatment of symptomatic UTI in children.

Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched from their origin to January 2024. We only considered randomised controlled trials in children <18 years of age.

Beyond the Marrow: Unveiling Uncommon Sites of ALL Relapse with F-FDG PET/CT.

Extramedullary infiltration of acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (ALL) to genital organs is extremely rare. Here, we present a case report of an asymptomatic 49-year-old female, known case of precursor B-cell ALL, who was incidentally detected with thickened and heterogeneously hyperechoic endometrium on sonography. Contrast magnetic resonance imaging detected large polypoidal enhancing lesions showing intense diffusion restriction occupying the endometrial cavity and similar lesions in the left adnexa, left ovary, and fallopian tube which were suspicious for leukemic infiltration because of the clinical history and atypical appearance of the lesions.

Trifecta of Tumors: Simultaneous Detection of Three Primary Malignancies by Different Radiotracers of Nuclear Medicine.

Malignancies are increasing worldwide with changing lifestyle, pollution, increasing life expectancy, and diagnostic advancements. However, multiple primary malignancies (MPMs) detected simultaneously are very rare. Here, we present a rare case of three primary malignancies (sigmoid colon, prostate, and thyroid) detected simultaneously in a 77-year-old male patient, who initially presented with bleeding per rectum and was then found to have a large pedunculated mass in the sigmoid colon on colonoscopy, which further turned out to be adenocarcinoma.

Assessing the accuracy and efficiency of Chat GPT-4 Omni (GPT-4o) in biomedical statistics: Comparative study with traditional tools.

Objectives: To assess the accuracy of ChatGPT-4 Omni (GPT-4o) in biomedical statistics. The recent novel inauguration of Artificial Intelligence ChatGPT-Omni (GPT-4o), has emerged with the potential to analyze sophisticated and extensive data sets, challenging the expertise of statisticians using traditional statistical tools for data analysis.

Methods: This study was performed in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May 2024.

Review of Quality Audit in a Radiation Oncology Department in a Tertiary Care Hospital- 2 Year-Results.

Objectives: This study aimed to report the findings of comprehensive weekly quality audit of radiotherapy procedures conducted at our institute, assessing various domains including clinical notes, contour delineation, treatment planning, prescription accuracy, patient-specific quality assurance, and treatment set-up checks.

Material And Methods: The audit protocol, based on the Peer Review Audit Tool (PRAT) from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, evaluated six critical parameters: clinical decisions, contours, treatment prescriptions, plan evaluation, plan quality assurance, and daily treatment set-ups. Patients were assessed for changes categorized as no change, minor change, or major change.

Relationship of Biochemical and Hematological Markers With Alcohol Withdrawal Severity.

Background Alcohol withdrawal severity is widely assessed and objectified using the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol revised (CIWA-Ar) scale. However, the subjective nature of this scale has led to several studies that scrutinized the relationship of various blood parameters to assess withdrawal severity. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship of various laboratory biomarkers with the severity of alcohol withdrawal.

Accuracy of Screening Tests for the Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infections in Young Children.

Background: The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of available tests for pyuria, including newer automated tests, and to examine the implications of requiring them for the diagnosis of urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Methods: We included children between 1 and 36 months of age undergoing bladder catheterization for suspected UTIs who presented to 1 of 3 pediatric centers. Using a positive urine culture result as the reference standard, we compared the sensitivity of 5 modalities for assessing pyuria at the cutoffs most often used clinically for detecting children with a positive culture result: leukocyte esterase on a dipstick, white blood cell (WBC) count on manual microscopy with and without using a hemocytometer, automated WBC enumeration using flow cytometry, and automated WBC enumeration using digital imaging with particle recognition.

Structural analysis of an Asterias rubens peptide indicates the presence of a disulfide-directed β-hairpin fold.

Sea stars are an abundant group of marine invertebrates that display remarkably robust regenerative capabilities throughout all life stages. Numerous proteins and peptides have been identified in a proteome study on the coelomic fluid (biofluid) of the common sea star Asterias rubens, which appear to be involved with the wound-healing response in the organism. However, the three-dimensional structure and function of several of these injury-responsive peptides, including the peptide KASH2, are yet to be investigated.

Refractive changes in children in the Chicago area during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic caused behavioural changes such as increased screen time and decreased outdoor time. This study aimed to investigate myopia progression in children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study performed among 2064 patients ages 2-17 with cycloplegic refractions in the months of January 2019-March 2021 at a tertiary children's hospital.

Exploratory Evaluation of Personalized Ultrafractionated Stereotactic Adaptive Radiation Therapy (PULSAR) With Central Nervous System-Active Drugs in Brain Metastases Treatment.

Purpose: Brain metastases (BMs) affect an increasing number of cancer patients and are typically managed with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Our institution advocates the use of Personalized Ultrafractionated Stereotactic Adaptive Radiation Therapy (PULSAR), where radiation is delivered in high-dose pulses at extended intervals allowing for treatment adaptation and easy concurrent systemic therapy integration. We explore the integration of PULSAR with central nervous system (CNS)-active drugs (CNS-aDs).

Antibiotic-associated neutropenia is marked by the depletion of intestinal and associated metabolites in pediatric patients.

Prolonged antibiotic exposure causes dangerous hematologic side effects, including neutropenia, in up to 34% of patients. Murine studies established a link between the intestinal microbiota and hematopoiesis. To identify factors that predispose to neutropenia in pediatric patients, we evaluated changes in microbiota-derived metabolites and intestinal microbiota composition after prolonged courses of antibiotics.

Cognitive functions among school-going children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: Matched case-control cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To investigate the cognitive performance of Saudi children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) compared to matched control groups.

Methods: A total of 64 participants (32 T1DM patients and 32 control), matched with age, gender, ethnicity, education, and body mass index were recruited. Cognitive functions were investigated using a highly reliable and valid "Cambridge neuropsychological test automated battery".

Association of OAS1 and MxA variants with COVID-19 in Pakistani patients.

Introduction: Coronaviruses, a family of enveloped RNA viruses, have been implicated in various clinical disorders including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Host genetic factors, including the OAS1 and MxA gene variants may have a role in determining susceptibility to viral infections. Understanding the genetic factors involved in unraveling COVID-19`s diverse clinical outcomes is critical for disease management.

Communication skills of residents: are they as good as they think?

Purpose: To evaluate the current communication skills of resident physicians and identify areas for improvement.

Study Design: Using a cross-sectional design, data from medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty were assimilated at one of the largest academic medical centers in a low-and-middle-income country via a self-administered, validated survey with a 5-point LIKERT scale. One-way ANOVA was used to compare intra-group means, followed by the Bonferroni test, with a p-value <0.

" A stepped care model, with non-specialist workers (NSWs) addressing mental health of young people in urban vulnerable communities across the Mumbai metropolitan region in India.

Research on adolescent mental health in low and middle-income countries cites the paucity of human resources and emphasises non-specialist worker (NSW)-led counselling intervention within school and health-system platforms. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a transdiagnostic stepped care model, for delivering preventive psychological treatment to adolescents through NSWs in urban vulnerable community settings. Conducted in three such settlements in Mumbai and Thane districts of Maharashtra in India, this mixed-methods study engaged 500 young people, their parents and 52 NSWs.

Scleral buckling in retinal detachment due to retinal dialysis - A vitreoretina fellow's perspective.

Purpose: To analyze the efficacy of scleral buckling in the hands of vitreo-retina (VR) fellows under training in eyes with retinal detachment associated with retinal dialysis and analyze the patient and retinal characteristics in these eyes.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective consecutive case review at a tertiary eye care center in North India. Records of all the patients who had undergone scleral buckling (SB) for retinal dialysis-associated rhegmatogenous retinal detachment by VR fellows (with less than 2 years' experience) between January 2017 and January 2020 were reviewed.

Beyond the Genome: Deciphering the Role of MALAT1 in Breast Cancer Progression.

The MALAT1, a huge non-coding RNA, recently came to light as a multifaceted regulator in the intricate landscape of breast cancer (BC) progression. This review explores the multifaceted functions and molecular interactions of MALAT1, shedding light on its profound implications for understanding BC pathogenesis and advancing therapeutic strategies. The article commences by acknowledging the global impact of BC and the pressing need for insights into its molecular underpinnings.