Genetic variant rs2494938 of LRFN2 gene is associated with non-small cell lung cancer risk in North-Indian population.

Various Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have reported the association of variant rs2494938 with lung cancer. However, genetic association of genetic variation with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in North Indian population remained unexplored. We conducted a case-control association study using TaqMan-based chemistry in which a total of 619 individuals, 189 NSCLC cases and 430 controls, were genotyped to explore the association of rs2494938 genetic variant of the gene with NSCLC patients from North India.

Prevalence of noncalcified plaques and coronary artery stenosis in patients with coronary calcium scores of zero.

Objectives: A higher coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is associated with increased coronary artery plaque burden resulting in increased cardiovascular risk. Conversely, the absence of calcium indicates a low risk of cardiovascular events. However, coronary plaque calcification is a late manifestation of atherosclerosis; earlier stages of atherosclerosis present noncalcified plaques (NCPs) A recent study demonstrated that the absence of coronary artery calcification deposit does not preclude obstructive stenosis or the need for revascularization in patients with a high suspicion of coronary artery disease (CAD).

The prognostic impact of the mediastinal fat tissue invasion in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The prognosis of the mediastinal fat tissue invasion in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients has not yet been clearly defined. The present study aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of the mediastinal fat tissue invasion in NSCLC patients.

Method: We analyzed 36 patients who were found mediastinal fat tissue invasion by pathological evaluation (mediastinal fat group) and 248 patients who were classified as T4-NSCLC according to the 8th TNM classification (T4 group; invasion of other mediastinal structures in 78 patients, ipsilateral different lobe satellite pulmonary nodule in 32 patients, and tumor diameter > 7 cm in 138 patients).

Spectrum of chest computed tomographic (CT) findings in coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) patients in India.

Purpose: To report the spectrum of chest computed tomographic (CT) imaging findings in coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) infected Indian patients.

Methods: This was a prospective descriptive study comprising 147 consecutive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive patients who underwent CT chest. Prevalence, distribution, extent and type of abnormal lung findings were recorded.

Lambda sign on a gallium scan: not always sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease of unknown origin. We describe a case of sputum smear-and culture-negative tuberculosis that was diagnosed with histological examination of a surgical lung biopsy, as other entities such as sarcoidosis could not be excluded after extended investigation. Even a typical lambda sign on gallium scintigraphy proved to be misleading.

Multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention with bifurcation stenting in a quadfurcated single coronary artery from the right aortic sinus: a case report.

Background: Quadfurcation of single coronary artery (SCA) from the right is an extremely rare anomaly and acute coronary syndrome in such patients is catastrophic.

Case Summary: We report a 56-year-old Bangladeshi male who presented with an acute inferior wall ST-elevation myocardial infarction. He was taken to the Cath lab for primary percutaneous coronary intervention which showed the presence of SCA arising from the right aortic sinus with multiple lesions including a bifurcation lesion.

Smoking cessation in pregnancy: An update for maternity care practitioners.

Introduction: This paper provides an up-to-date summary of the effects of smoking in pregnancy as well as challenges and best practices for supporting smoking cessation in maternity care settings.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative review of published peer reviewed and grey literature.

Results: There is strong evidence of the effects of maternal tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure on adverse pregnancy outcomes.

The lung microbiome dynamics between stability and exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): Current perspectives.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder with a course that is not uniform for all COPD patients. Although smoking is considered as the major cause of the disease, persistent or recurrent infections seem to play a particular role in the disease establishment and progression. COPD is characterized by dysregulated immunity that has been associated with the bacterial colonization and infections.

Association of newly identified genetic variant rs2853677 of TERT with non-small cell lung cancer and leukemia in population of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Background: Telomere genetics has recently been emerged as an important field in molecular oncology. Various genome-wide association studies in different population groups have revealed that polymorphisms in Telomere maintenance gene (TERT) gene located on 5p15.33 is associated with susceptibility to leukemia and lung cancer risk.

Transcatheter therapy of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection with dual drainage and coarctation of the aorta in a single patient.

A 12-year-old boy was found to have aortic coarctation and a partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Historically, multiple cardiac pathologies, such as in the present case, required a surgical approach. We describe transcatheter treatment of the coarctation with a stent and occlusion of the partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection with an Amplatzer vascular plug in a single patient without complications.

Recurrent Strokes After Gore Septal Occluder Device Closure of Atrial Septal Defect.

We report a case of recurrent strokes in a healthy teenager after complete closure of atrial septal defect with Gore Septal Occluder (W.L. Gore and Associates, Newark, DE) device.

A comparative analysis of angiopoietin 2 immunohistochemical staining in various stages of lung cancer.

Objective: The role of Angiopoietin 2 (Ang 2), which is necessary for tumor growth, extension, and metastasis is not fully elucidated. The presented study aimed to investigate the relationship between Ang 2 staining intensity, expression rate in tumor tissue, and the stage of lung cancer.

Materials And Methods: Fifty cases of lung cancer (34 non-small and 16 small cell cases) were included in the study.

An Open-Label, Multicenter, Randomized, Phase II Study of Cisplatin and Pemetrexed With or Without Cixutumumab (IMC-A12) as a First-Line Therapy in Patients With Advanced Nonsquamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Introduction: Type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor is deregulated in solid tumors. Cixutumumab, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the activity of type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor, was investigated in combination with pemetrexed/cisplatin in the frontline setting.

Methods: In this open-label, phase II study, patients with stage IV nonsquamous NSCLC and a performance status of 0 to 1 were randomized (1:1) to receive 20 mg/kg cixutumumab, 500 mg/m pemetrexed, and 75 mg/m cisplatin (cixutumumab [n = 87]) or pemetrexed and cisplatin (control [n = 85]).

Sonographic chest B-lines anticipate elevated B-type natriuretic peptide level, irrespective of ejection fraction.

Background: Echocardiography and the N-terminal pro-brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level are important tests for assessing left ventricular function in patients presenting to the emergency department with acute dyspnea. Chest ultrasound is becoming an important tool in diagnosing acute pulmonary edema.

Aim: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of chest ultrasound examination using echocardiography and a curvilinear probe for detecting B-lines in patients presenting with acute pulmonary edema compared with assessment using NT-proBNP.

Three-Phase 99mTc-MDP Bone Scintigraphy and SPECT/CT in Pediatric Pseudodystrophy.

Pseudodystrophy is a rare condition clinically resembling reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Distinction between both disorders is based on clinical features and bone scintigraphy. We report a case of 12-year-old girl presented with pain, swelling, and functional impairment of left foot after minor trauma.

Vascular function and ocular involvement in sarcoidosis.

Ocular involvement occurs in sarcoidosis (Sar) patients mainly in the form of uveitis. This study was designed to determine if uveitis in Sar patients is associated with vascular impairment. We enrolled 82 Sar patients and 77, age and sex matched, control subjects (Cl).

Implication of Interleukin (IL)-18 in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Interleukin (IL)-18 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that was firstly described as an interferon (IFN)-γ-inducing factor. Similar to IL-1β, IL-18 is synthesized as an inactive precursor requiring processing by caspase-1 into an active cytokine. The platform for activating caspase-1 is known as the inflammasome, a multiple protein complex.