Catheter Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation: Recent Advances.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the leading cause of arrhythmia-related morbidity and mortality. Recurrent symptoms, hospitalizations, and cost burden to patients have necessitated treatments beyond antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) for patients with AF. Catheter ablation has proven to be effective over medical therapy alone; however the recurrence rates for atrial tachyarrhythmias post-ablation remain significant, particularly in patients with persistent and long-standing persistent AF.

Incidence of fall-from-height injuries and predictive factors for severity.

Context: The injuries caused by falls-from-height (FFH) are a significant public health concern. FFH is one of the most common causes of polytrauma. The injuries persist to be significant adverse events and a challenge regarding injury severity assessment to identify patients at high risk upon admission.

Patterns in mortality associated with heart failure and lung cancer among older adults in the United States: An analysis of 20 years.

Background: Despite an established association between heart failure (HF) and lung cancer (LC), there is limited evidence available regarding mortality patterns among the older (≥65 years) population in the United States.

Methods: The mortality data, spanning 1999 to 2019, was surveyed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database with HF and LC identified as underlying or contributing causes of death. Crude and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) were calculated per 100,000 individuals.

Surgical resection of a solitary fibrous tumour causing refractory hypoglycaemia: Doege-Potter syndrome.

Solitary fibrous tumours (SFTs) are rare soft tissue masses that are often clinically silent until they cause mass effect. A paraneoplastic syndrome manifesting as persistent hypoglycaemia, termed Doege-Potter syndrome (DPS), can be associated with these lesions. Surgical treatment is recommended for the management of these tumours.

Self-inflicted nail gun injury piercing the common peroneal nerve with no deficit: A case report.

We present a case involving a 36-year-old male who experienced a nail gun injury to the posterolateral knee, leading to intraoperative nail removal. We observed bisection of the common peroneal nerve during the procedure with tethering, fortunately without any functional or sensory deficits.

Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction Complicated With Acute Mitral Regurgitation Requiring Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair.

Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a life-threatening condition often associated with significant cardiac complications, particularly in the presence of underlying multivessel coronary artery disease. Mechanical complications, such as acute mitral regurgitation (MR), can worsen the clinical course, leading to rapid hemodynamic deterioration. Recent advancements in mechanical circulatory support and percutaneous interventions have introduced new therapeutic options, offering viable alternatives to traditional surgery for high-risk patients.

Pseudoaneurysm of the Lingual Artery in a Patient With Facial Trauma From Gunshot Wounds.

A pseudoaneurysm is an abnormal dilatation within the wall of a blood vessel due to the formation of a hematoma in the vessel wall after vessel injury. Because of the protective nature of the facial skeleton and the deep location of the lingual artery, the lingual artery pseudoaneurysm is rare. The authors report a case of a 20-year-old male who suffered multiple gunshot wounds, including to the mouth, presenting with immediate life-threatening injuries.

Urothelial carcinoma in situ with "early papillary formation" vs "lateral spread/shoulder lesion" of prior high-grade noninvasive papillary urothelial carcinoma: A survey of pathologist and urologist interpretations.

Objectives: Urothelial carcinoma in situ (CIS) with early papillary formation is terminology sometimes used to suggest incipient high-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma (PUC) but may lead to confusion between true CIS and lateral flat spread of PUC.

Methods: It remains unclear how pathologists and urologists interpret this scenario, so a survey was circulated to 68 pathologists (group 1 = 28 academic genitourinary pathologists; group 2 = 17 pathologists with a self-reported genitourinary focus; group 3 = 23 pathologists self-reported as not genitourinary specialists) and 32 urologists.

Results: Regarding atypical urothelial lesions that appear mainly flat but contain possible papillae, group 3 was more likely to label this as CIS compared with groups 1 and 2 (35% for group 3 vs 13% for groups 1 and 2), while groups 1 and 2 more often adopted another descriptive diagnosis, such as "CIS with early papillary features" (38% for groups 1 and 2 vs 13% for group 3).

Comparative Effects of Rosuvastatin and Atorvastatin Loading Doses on Immediate Post-percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) Flow in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Patients.

Background: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is crucial in managing acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), emphasizing the importance of optimal myocardial reperfusion.

Objective: The goal of this research was to determine how loading doses of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin affected the flow rate of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) immediately post-perfusion thrombolysis in patients undergoing primary PCI.

Methodology: This prospective, comparative study was carried out over a one-year period (January 2023 to December 2023) in Pakistan.

Femoral intramedullary nail extraction using the kissing nail technique when primary measures fail.

Introduction: Intramedullary femoral nails (IMFNs) need to be removed for subsequent joint replacement, refracture, nonunion, or infection. The tools used to extract newer IMFNs may not be suited for removal of older implants, especially if broken. The purpose of this study was to describe a novel technique in femoral nail extraction when primary measures fail and a report on 6 cases where it was used.

A Challenging Case of Recurrent Ogilvie Syndrome: Exploring Causes and Treatment Modalities.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO), or Ogilvie syndrome, is a rare condition marked by significant colon distention without mechanical obstruction. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and an inability to pass gas or stool. Although common in males over 60, we report a challenging case of a 44-year-old man from Africa with recurrent abdominal distention and discomfort.

Morphine and P2Y12 Inhibitors in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

Background: Morphine is used to control pain in ST-elevation myocardial infarction but reduces P2Y12 inhibition. It is not known if this modulation of platelet inhibition appreciably affects clinical outcomes.

Methods: We screened 979 articles and identified seven studies that met the eligibility criteria for meta-analysis.

Effectiveness of ceftazidime-avibactam versus ceftolozane-tazobactam for multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in the USA (CACTUS): a multicentre, retrospective, observational study.

Background: Ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam are preferred treatment options for multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections; however, real-world comparative effectiveness studies are scarce. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences between the agents might affect clinical response rates. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam for treatment of invasive multidrug-resistant P aeruginosa infections.

Current and emerging PCSK9-directed therapies to reduce LDL-C and ASCVD risk: A state-of-the-art review.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels is a primary strategy to reduce ASCVD risk. Although statin therapy remains the initial therapy of choice to reduce LDL-C and ASCVD risk, statin intolerance and suboptimal LDL-C lowering response prompts the need for additional non-statin therapies.

Chest Wall Injury Society recommendations for long-term follow-up after nonoperatively and operatively managed traumatic rib and sternal fractures.

Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

Parathyroid Hormone-Mediated Hypercalcemia With Remarkable Bone Mineral Density Recovery After Multiple Zoledronic Acid Infusions.

This case report describes a remarkable improvement in bone mineral density (BMD) in a 95-year-old female with parathyroid hormone (PTH)-mediated hypercalcemia following treatment with zoledronic acid. Despite her complex medical history, including chronic kidney disease (CKD) and osteoporosis, the patient experienced a significant increase in bone density, particularly in the left femoral neck, while maintaining stable renal function. This case highlights the efficacy and safety of zoledronic acid in elderly patients with osteoporosis and hypercalcemia, emphasizing the importance of careful monitoring to prevent renal complications.

Mode of action of silver-based perovskite against Gram-negative bacteria.

Although silver is known for its antibacterial activity, its exact mode of action remains unclear. In our previous work, we described AgNbO nanoparticles (AgNbO NPs) prepared using a ceramic method, followed by high-energy and low-energy ball-milling processes, which exhibited antimicrobial activity with negligible release of Ag in deionized water. Here, we investigated thoroughly the mode of action of these AgNbO NPs against .

Sex-related differences in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This review aims to analyze sex-related differences in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS).

Methods: 10 studies were retrieved from PubMed and Embase comparing outcomes between men and women admitted with AMI complicated by CS. Pooled log odds ratios (OR) were calculated for binary outcomes using the Mantel-Haenszel method, and Hedges' g with the inverse-variance method was used for continuous outcomes.

Antimicrobial Incise Drapes in Knee and Hip Arthroplasties: Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled and Prospective Cohort Studies.

Traditional skin preparation and prophylactic antibiotics have not uniformly been successful in preventing surgical site infection (SSI) following total joint arthroplasties. Iodophor-impregnated adhesive dressings, such as Ioban, have shown promising effects in reducing the incidence of SSI. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to PRISMA checklist and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.