Safety of Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants on Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

The existing evidence on the use of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgery is inconclusive and contradictory. Likewise, major society guidelines remain ambivalent about NOAC use around the time of TAVR. The objective of our meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of NOACs in comparison to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in lowering complications following TAVR.

The Rolling Stones: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Management of Gallstone Ileus.

Gallstone ileus is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition resulting from the migration of gallstones into the gastrointestinal tract, which often necessitates surgical intervention. Three surgical procedures are well known and are practiced in clinical medicine; they include entero-lithotomy alone, entero-lithotomy with cholecystectomy, and enterolithotomy with fistula closure. However, there is no consensus regarding the best surgical approach as far as mortality, morbidity, and operative outcomes are concerned.

PLAstic Surgery Teaching In the Undergraduate Curriculum of Medical Students-United Kingdom (PLASTICS-UK): A UK national collaborative survey of plastic surgery in the undergraduate medical curriculum.

Objective: To undertake a United Kingdom national medical student survey investigating undergraduate plastic surgery exposure and specialty perceptions.

Background: Plastic surgery incorporates all anatomical regions, age groups and tissue types; clinical challenges vary from trauma and burns to congenital defects and cancer and although around 50% of the workload is trauma, it is often misperceived to revolve around cosmetic surgery.

Method: Following ethical approval, a national survey was conducted across 27 included UK medical schools (31/03/23-07/07/23).

Gender-Affirming Surgery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

Fewer than one-fifth of all studies on gender-affirming care originate from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This is the first systematic review to examine surgical demographics and outcomes following gender-affirming surgery (GAS) in LMICs. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, five databases were systematically searched for original studies and case series on GAS within LMIC settings.

A cost-effectiveness analysis of the use of oral ibrexafungerp versus fluconazole for acute vulvovaginal candidiasis in the UK NHS primary care service.

Background: Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) is a fungal infection causing inflammation of the vagina and/or the vulva. Symptoms include itching, irritation, and discharge. VVC presents commonly across primary care and, despite its mild symptoms, carries psychological burden and has a significant impact on women's quality of life.

The Presence of Chronic Total Occlusion in Noninfarct-Related Arteries Is Associated With Higher Mortality and Worse Patient Outcomes Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for STEMI: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression.

Reperfusion therapy with percutaneous coronary intervention improves outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the impact of chronic total occlusion (CTO) in noninfarct-related artery on the outcomes of these patients. Comprehensive searches were performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, and EMBASE.

Autologous breast reconstruction in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): a systematic review of current practices and challenges.

Introduction: Efforts to improve global healthcare persist, yet LMICs face challenges accessing surgical care, especially breast reconstruction amidst rising breast cancer cases. This review evaluates the present state and challenges of autologous breast reconstruction in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Evidence Acquisition: Utilizing the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Collaboration's standards, databases such as EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane, PubMed, and Google Scholar were examined for studies on breast reconstruction in LMICs (based on the World Bank's 2022-2023 definitions) up to August 2022.

Association between Acute and Chronic Inflammatory States: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Fever is the hallmark of efficient acute inflammatory response, which may be disrupted in chronic inflammatory conditions. The "continuum theory" proposes that the return of acute inflammatory states with high fever predicts improvement in chronic diseases during treatment. Our objective was to investigate the observation made, during classical homeopathic treatment, that such an association exists between chronic inflammation and efficient acute inflammation.

Medical student perceptions of mental illness: a cross-sectional transnational study in two medical schools.

Background: Despite shifting global attitudes, mental illness remains highly stigmatised amongst practicing doctors. This has wider implications on doctors' training to care for patients with mental illness. There is need for exploration of the presence and mitigation of stigma in early medical education to prevent such attitudes propagating into clinical practice.

Readout-Segmented Echoplanar (RESOLVE) Diffusion-Weighted Imaging on 3T MRI in Detection of Cholesteatoma-Our Experience.

 Several research studies have demonstrated the utility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in detecting middle ear cholesteatomas, especially with the non-echoplanar imaging (non-EPI) DWI technique. REadout Segmentation Of Long Variable Echo trains (RESOLVE), a multishot-EPI DWI, has better spatial resolution at a thinner section acquisition with reduced image distortion compared to the single-shot-EPI DWI technique.  In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic ability of RESOLVE -DWI in middle ear cholesteatomas with surgical and histopathological support.

Outcomes of COVID-19 amongst patients with ongoing use of inhaled corticosteroids - a systematic review & meta-analysis.

Background: WHO quoted the numbers for the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as of August 2021 were 200 million cases with over 4 million deaths globally. COVID-19 is associated with several respiratory pathologies. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are used to improve lung function by reducing inflammation, edema, mucus secretion, and inhibiting various cytokine activities.

Using energy to go downhill-a genoprotective role for ATPase activity in DNA topoisomerase II.

Type II topoisomerases effect topological changes in DNA by cutting a single duplex, passing a second duplex through the break, and resealing the broken strand in an ATP-coupled reaction cycle. Curiously, most type II topoisomerases (topos II, IV and VI) catalyze DNA transformations that are energetically favorable, such as the removal of superhelical strain; why ATP is required for such reactions is unknown. Here, using human topoisomerase IIβ (hTOP2β) as a model, we show that the ATPase domains of the enzyme are not required for DNA strand passage, but that their loss elevates the enzyme's propensity for DNA damage.

Machine learning algorithms for the prognostication of abdominal aortic aneurysm progression: a systematic review.

Introduction: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), often characterized by an abdominal aortic diameter over 3.0 cm, is managed through screening, surveillance, and surgical intervention. AAA growth can be heterogeneous and rupture carries a high mortality rate, with size and certain risk factors influencing rupture risk.

Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction in an Elderly Female Patient With Chronic Constipation.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO), or Ogilvie's syndrome, is an acute colonic dilatation without mechanical obstruction; it is most commonly seen in severely ill or postoperative patients. While this syndrome has no clear pathophysiology, it is diagnosed when the cecum and right colon expand without physical obstruction. This condition can lead to perforation and intestinal ischemia.

In Silico Identification of Potential Quadruplex Forming Sequences in LncRNAs of Cervical Cancer.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as auxiliary regulators of gene expression influencing tumor microenvironment, metastasis and radio-resistance in cancer. The presence of lncRNA in extracellular fluids makes them promising diagnostic markers. LncRNAs deploy higher-order structures to facilitate a complex range of functions.

Between-Sex Differences in Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease among Patients with Myocardial Infarction-A Systematic Review.

Between-sex differences in the presentation, risk factors, management, and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (MI) are well documented. However, as such differences are highly sensitive to cultural and social changes, there is a need to continuously re-evaluate the evidence. The present contemporary systematic review assesses the baseline characteristics of men and women presenting to secondary, tertiary, and quaternary centres with acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Leading Transformation in Medical Education Through Extended Reality.

Extended reality (XR) has exponentially developed over the past decades to incorporate technology whereby users can visualise, explore, and interact with 3-dimensional-generated computer environments, and superimpose virtual reality (VR) onto real-world environments, thus displaying information and data on various levels of the reality-virtuality continuum. In the context of medicine, VR tools allow for anatomical assessment and diagnosis, surgical training through lifelike procedural simulations, planning of surgeries and biopsies, intraprocedural guidance, and medical education. The following chapter aims to provide an overview of the currently available evidence and perspectives on the application of XR within medical education.

Using energy to go downhill - a genoprotective role for ATPase activity in DNA topoisomerase II.

Type II topoisomerases effect topological changes in DNA by cutting a single duplex, passing a second duplex through the break, and resealing the broken strand in an ATP-coupled reaction. Curiously, most type II topoisomerases (topos II, IV, and VI) catalyze DNA transformations that are energetically favorable, such as the removal of superhelical strain; why ATP is required for such reactions is unknown. Here, using human topoisomerase II β (hTOP2β) as a model, we show that the ATPase domains of the enzyme are not required for DNA strand passage, but that their loss leads to increased DNA nicking and double strand break formation by the enzyme.

Prevalence of active and passive smoking among asthma and asthma-associated emergency admissions: a nationwide prevalence survey study.

Asthma affects 7% of children and 8% of adults in the United States. There is a paucity of studies examining the association between passive smoking and an increased risk of asthma exacerbations that led the authors to examine the association between various modes of smoking and rates of asthma exacerbations. A retrospective cross-sectional/case-control study was conducted using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dataset (2013-2018).