Defining Minimum Treatment Parameters of Ablative Radiation Therapy in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Expert Consensus.

Purpose: External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is a highly effective treatment in select patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer system does not recommend the use of EBRT in HCC due to a lack of sufficient evidence and intends to perform an individual patient level meta-analysis of ablative EBRT in this population. However, there are many types of EBRT described in the literature with no formal definition of what constitutes "ablative.

18F- FDG PET/CT in reclassifying the probable diagnosis of IE - A review.

In the diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE), Modified Duke's criteria, coupled with clinical suspicion, serve as the guiding framework. For cases involving prosthetic valve endocarditis and infections affecting implantable devices, the use of metabolic imaging with 18 F-FDG PET/CT scans has gained prominence, as per the recommendations of the European Society of Cardiology guidelines. This imaging modality enhances sensitivity and specificity by identifying infective foci within the heart and extracardiac locations.

Expert panel recommendations for topical hemostatic agent use in varied bleeding sites and situations during neuro-spine surgeries.

Intraoperative bleeding poses a substantial challenge, particularly in neuro-spine surgeries leading to complications such as hematomas, infections, and hemodynamic instability. Despite their proven efficacy, use of topical hemostatic agents (THAs) lacks comprehensive published literature and guidelines particularly in the Indian setting. The present study provides the first-ever Indian expert panel recommendations for effective adjunct THA use in different intraoperative bleeding sites and situations in neuro-spine surgeries.

Prophylactic Lactulose Therapy in Patients with Cirrhosis and Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials.

Background And Aims: Lactulose is the first-line drug for both treatment and secondary prophylaxis for overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE). The use of lactulose for the primary prophylaxis of HE in patients with cirrhosis and acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) has been debated. Hence, we conducted this meta-analysis to assess the role of lactulose in HE prophylaxis in patients with cirrhosis and AUGIB.

Comparative Analysis of TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) and Surgical Valve Replacement for Low-Risk Patients.

"Aortic stenosis" (AS) refers to a cardiac condition in which the aortic valve narrows, creating an obstruction that hinders the flow of blood from the left ventricle to the aorta. This contraction of the arteries influences normal blood circulation, leading to elevated pressure within the left ventricle and potentially culminating in heart failure. The management of AS typically involves two primary treatments, i.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation landscape in India.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), commonly known as Bone marrow transplantation (BMT), is a medical procedure used to treat various conditions, including blood cancers, genetic disorders, and certain autoimmune diseases. The procedure involves replacing damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells to promote the production of new, healthy blood cells. In India, HCT has been performed for several years in specialized medical centers.

Artificial intelligence for predictive biomarker discovery in immuno-oncology: a systematic review.

Background: The widespread use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionised treatment of multiple cancer types. However, selecting patients who may benefit from ICI remains challenging. Artificial intelligence (AI) approaches allow exploitation of high-dimension oncological data in research and development of precision immuno-oncology.

Brentuximab vedotin with AVD for stage II-IV HIV-related Hodgkin lymphoma (AMC 085): phase 2 results from an open-label, single arm, multicentre phase 1/2 trial.

Background: Brentuximab vedotin in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (AVD) is approved in the upfront setting for advanced stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). People living with HIV have been excluded from these studies. We aimed to understand the activity and safety of brentuximab vedotin-AVD in people living with HIV diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, while focusing on HIV disease parameters and antiretroviral therapy (ART) interactions.

Consensus guidelines for the management of HR-positive HER2/neu negative early breast cancer in India, SAARC region and other LMIC by DELPHI survey method.

Background: Precise prognostication is the key to optimum and effective treatment planning for early-stage hormone receptor (HR) positive, HER2/neu negative breast cancer patients. Differences in the breast cancer incidence and tumor anatomical features at diagnosis, pharmacogenomics data between Western and Indian women along with the vast diversity in the economic status and differences in insurance policies of these regions; suggest recommendations put forward for Western women might not be applicable to Indian/Asian women. Opinions from oncologists through a voting survey on various prognostic factors/tools to be considered for planning adjuvant therapy are consolidated in this report for the benefit of oncologists of the sub-continent, SAARC and Asia's LMIC (low and middle-income countries).

Impact of Complete Revascularization in the ISCHEMIA Trial.

Background: Anatomic complete revascularization (ACR) and functional complete revascularization (FCR) have been associated with reduced death and myocardial infarction (MI) in some prior studies. The impact of complete revascularization (CR) in patients undergoing an invasive (INV) compared with a conservative (CON) management strategy has not been reported.

Objectives: Among patients with chronic coronary disease without prior coronary artery bypass grafting randomized to INV vs CON management in the ISCHEMIA (International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness with Medical and Invasive Approaches) trial, we examined the following: 1) the outcomes of ACR and FCR compared with incomplete revascularization; and 2) the potential impact of achieving CR in all INV patients compared with CON management.

Clinico-laboratory Profile and Outcomes of Megaloblastic Anemia presenting as Severe Pyrexial Illness mimicking Tropical Infection.

Background: Anemia-causing fever has been described in patients with megaloblastic anemia. Although the exact mechanism of this is unknown, high-grade fever is relatively less reported.

Materials And Methods: This prospective observational study included all new cases of megaloblastic anemia presenting with febrile illness (>101°F) during a 3-year period.

Safety and efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation for pancreatic insulinoma: A single-center experience.

Background/objectives: Insulinomas are rare, functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNEN), whose gold standard therapy is surgical resection. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) is a recent technique that has emerged as a minimally invasive therapeutic option for patients with pancreatic lesions not eligible for surgery. In this study, we aimed to describe a series of patients with unresectable pancreatic insulinoma treated with EUS-RFA.

Outcome of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Portal hypertension in cirrhosis brings about a complex interplay in the risks of bleeding and thrombosis. It is unclear whether hospitalized patients with cirrhosis need pharmacological prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE), as it may increase the risk of bleeding. We aimed to compare the outcome of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis with and without pharmacological thromboprophylaxis.

Insulin Glargine in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of Clinical Trials and Real-world Evidence Across Two Decades.

Background: Over the past two decades, insulin glargine 100 U/mL (Gla-100) has emerged as the "standard of care" basal insulin for the management of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Both formulations, insulin glargine 100 U/mL (Gla-100) and glargine 300 U/mL (Gla- 300) have been extensively studied against various comparator basal insulins across various clinical and real-world studies. In this comprehensive article, we reviewed the evidence on both insulin glargine formulations in T1DM across clinical trials and real-world studies.

Cause-Specific Mortality in Patients With Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease in the ISCHEMIA-CKD Trial.

Background: In ISCHEMIA-CKD, 777 patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and chronic coronary disease had similar all-cause mortality with either an initial invasive or conservative strategy (27.2% vs 27.8%, respectively).

Acute PresentatiOn of coLorectaL cancer - an internatiOnal snapshot (APOLLO): Protocol for a prospective, multicentre cohort study.

Aim: The primary aim of the study is to describe the variation in the operative and nonoperative management of emergency presentations of colon and rectal cancer in an international cohort. Secondary aims will be to develop a risk prediction model for mortality and primary anastomosis and validate risk criteria of large bowel obstruction (LBO) in patients with previously known colorectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy or awaiting elective surgery.

Method: This prospective, multicentre audit will be conducted via the student- and trainee-led EuroSurg Collaborative network internationally over 2023 with 90-day follow-up.

RSSDI Guidelines for the management of hypertension in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM) are two of the leading lifestyle diseases in the Indian and South Asian populations that often co-exist due to overlapping pathophysiological factors. Obesity, insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress are thought to be some common pathways. Up to 50% of hypertensive cases in India are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which defines the need for a comprehensive guideline for managing hypertension in diabetic patients.

Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Nutritional Anemia in Children: Recommendations of the Joint Committee of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Chapter and Pediatric and Adolescent Nutrition Society of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics.

Justification: Anemia in children is a significant public health problem in our country. Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey 2016-18 provides evidence that more than 50% of childhood anemia is due to an underlying nutritional deficiency. The National Family Health Survey-5 has reported an increase in the prevalence of anemia in the under-five age group from 59% to 67.

Global Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Stroke Volumes and Cerebrovascular Events: A 1-Year Follow-up.

Background And Objectives: Declines in stroke admission, IV thrombolysis (IVT), and mechanical thrombectomy volumes were reported during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a paucity of data on the longer-term effect of the pandemic on stroke volumes over the course of a year and through the second wave of the pandemic. We sought to measure the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the volumes of stroke admissions, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), IVT, and mechanical thrombectomy over a 1-year period at the onset of the pandemic (March 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021) compared with the immediately preceding year (March 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020).

Wernicke's encephalopathy: Is visual loss a red herring?

Predominantly visual loss, is very rare in Wernicke's encephalopathy. A 22 year old lady, in her 28th week of gestation, presented with a confused mental state, bilateral papilloedema with retinal hemorrhages, ophthalmoparesis, and cerebellar signs. Her MRI brain was suggestive of Wernicke's encephalopathy and she recovered with intravenous thiamine.

Recent advances in the management of systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease.

Purpose Of Review: Interstitial lung disease associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc-ILD) is a frequent organ manifestation leading to high morbidity and mortality. In 2020, the European management recommendations for SSc-ILD were published. Despite being comprehensive, several questions could not be answered or no consensus was reached.

Management of Hypertension in Patients with Diabetes: A Comprehensive Review of the Perceptions and Practices of Health Care Providers in India.

Objectives: This study evaluated the perception and practices of health care providers (physicians, diabetologists, and endocrinologists) regarding the treatment of hypertension in patients with diabetes in India.

Methods: Health care providers throughout India who treated patients with diabetes and hypertension were invited to participate in an online survey and periodic 21 virtual meetings. They were questioned about their perception and practices in managing these patients, and strategies to improve blood pressure (BP).