Association between Emotional Intelligence and Professionalism in Medical Students: The Compassion-Competence Nexus.

Background And Objective: In medical education, the challenging constructs of emotional intelligence and professionalism are increasingly being addressed worldwide and seem to share common characteristic components. The objective of this study was to determine the association between emotional intelligence and professionalism as perceived and self-reported by medical students and to explore the gender difference in these two variables.

Methods: It is a cross-sectional study of eight months duration, from February-September 2019, that included final year medical students at Dow Medical College through convenience sampling.

The burden of cutaneous fungal infections in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

Objective: In Pakistan, the real extent of fungal infection is unknown. Our objective was to estimate the burden of major fungal diseases here to emphasize their public health importance.

Methods: In this retrospective study, the medical records (January 2019 - December 2019) of 863 patients diagnosed with superficial fungal infection (SFI) were reviewed at the dermatology department of Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) Karachi.

Relationship between sleep pattern dysfunction with psychological stress, anxiety and depression among pregnant women.

Objective: To determine the relationship between sleep pattern dysfunction with stress, anxiety and depression among pregnant women in a tertiary care hospital.

Method: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Dr. Ruth K.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes and myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have shown benefits in improving cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) and may mitigate symptom progression in myocardial infarction (MI). However, their effectiveness in patients with type 2 diabetes and MI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unclear.

Methods: To identify eligible studies, a comprehensive search of electronic databases, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Embase, was conducted from inception until May 2024.

Heat Stroke in the Era of Global Warming: A Call for Urgent Action.

Heat stroke (HS) represents a life‑endangering condition that is due to an imbalance between heat generation and dissipation, owing to exposure to hot environments or strenuous exercise. HS is a medical condition that is gaining increased prevalence throughout the world due to a steady rise in temperature, and massive mortalities have been recorded among vulnerable populations. In 2024, extreme heat waves led to increased cases of HS and related fatalities globally, particularly in Karachi, Pakistan.

Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis Type 2 in an Infant: Diagnostic Challenges and Multidisciplinary Management.

Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 2 (PFIC2) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by severe intrahepatic cholestasis, which often manifests in infancy with progressive liver dysfunction. We present the case of a 3-month-old infant with a one-month history of jaundice, vomiting, and bloody stools, presenting a unique set of diagnostic challenges. Initial clinical and laboratory findings indicated significant liver dysfunction, prompting further imaging and genetic analysis.

Podoplanin expression in various types of oral dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: This study was aimed at investigating the roles of podoplanin (PDPN) as a marker associated with malignant development, progression, and poor prognosis in oral leukoplakia and various forms of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), particularly in relation to the extent of invasion.

Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis of PDPN was conducted on 77 histologically confirmed, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples representing various degrees of OSCC invasion and dysplasia grades.

Results: The samples were analyzed with Fisher's exact test and the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Therapeutic use of music listening in patients undergoing invasive coronary procedures: A meta-analysis.

Background: Listening to music has been shown to reduce pain and anxiety before, during, and after invasive coronary procedures.

Aim: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the effect of therapeutic use of music on both, perioperative and postoperative outcomes of invasive coronary procedures.

Methods: An exhaustive literature search of 3 electronic databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL) was conducted from inception until 10 December 2023.

Trends and Disparities in Prostate Cancer Mortality in the United States (1999-2020).

Background: Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men in the United States. Over the past two decades, the observed decline in prostate cancer mortality can be attributed to advancements in screening, early detection, and treatment. However, persistent disparities related to race, geography, and age highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve outcomes.

Once-Weekly Insulin: A Breakthrough in Diabetes Management or an Unresolved Challenge?

The advent of once-weekly insulin icodec is a promising development in the care of individuals with diabetes. These once-weekly formulations aimed to improve patient adherence and quality of life for patients who find daily injection administration challenging. Insulin icodec has demonstrated comparable glycemic control to conventionally used daily basal insulins, such as insulin glargine and degludec, in the ONWARDS clinical trials.

Commentary on "preoperative cardiology consultations for geriatric patients with hip fractures rarely provide additional recommendations and are associated with prolonged hospital stays and delayed surgery: a retrospective case control study".

This letter discusses the recent study by Vahabi et al., which examined the role of preoperative cardiology consultations in geriatric patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. While the study highlights the limited impact of these consultations on treatment modifications and the associated delays in surgical intervention, this letter suggests areas for further exploration.

Demographics and regional trends of ischemic heart disease-related mortality in older adults in the United States, 1999-2020.

Background: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) has a significant impact on public health and healthcare expenditures in the United States (US).

Methods: We used data from the CDC WONDER database from 1999-2020 to identify trends in the IHD-related mortality of patients ≥ 75 years in the US. AAMRs per 100,000 population and APC were calculated and categorized by year, sex, race, and geographic divisions.

Efficacy of spray flushing in the reprocessing of flexible endoscopes.

This article comments on the article by Du , who conducted a randomized controlled trial aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of a novel spray flushing system in cleaning flexible endoscopes while minimizing damage to the working channels. We share our perspective on the importance of improving endoscope reprocessing methods. The findings highlight the spray flushing system's capacity to improve cleaning efficacy while minimizing damage, suggesting that it might be important in enhancing endoscope reprocessing procedures.

Correlation between selenium levels and selenoproteins expression in idiopathic generalized epilepsy: a study from Karachi.

Background: Oxidative damage has been implicated in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including epilepsy. Selenium, in the form of selenoproteins is an integral part of the human antioxidant defense system. Though a relationship between the altered selenium levels and epilepsy has been reported, limited evidence is available about the expression pattern of selenoproteins in epileptic patients.

Heterogeneity of the Treatment Effect with PARP Inhibitors in Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer: A Living Interactive Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: Selection of patients harboring mutations in homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes for treatment with a PARP inhibitor (PARPi) is challenging in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). To gain further insight, we quantitatively assessed the differential efficacy of PARPi therapy among patients with mCRPC and different HRR gene mutations.

Methods: This living meta-analysis (LMA) was conducted using the Living Interactive Evidence synthesis framework.

Lentinan's effect on gut microbiota and inflammatory cytokines in 5-FU-induced mucositis mice.

Chemotherapeutic therapies for cancer are frequently associated with cytotoxic side effects that can be harmful to human health, including the development of intestinal mucositis (IM). It mostly affects the gastrointestinal tract, causing ulceration, inflammation, and the formation of lesions in the colon. Surprisingly, despite the frequency of IM, therapeutic choices remain restricted.

Efficacy and safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose in the treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom Disease (WED), is a sensorimotor disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, typically accompanied by discomfort. Low iron levels, pregnancy, and age are some identified risk factors. RLS is treated using various pharmacological options, including dopamine agonists, benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, opioids, and bupropion.

Monocyte count as an independent predictor of high thrombus burden in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Due to the lack of a prior comprehensive review and meta-analysis, the relationship between monocyte count and thrombus load in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been adequately established.

Methods: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of multiple cohorts (retrospective and prospective) and cross-sectional studies.We queried electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central) from their inception to April 2022.

Retraction: Neurological Manifestations of Infectious Diseases: Insights From Recent Cases.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.51256.

Clinical presentation and management of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome: a case report.

Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome (THS) is an exceptionally rare disorder characterised by recurrent episodes of excruciating ophthalmoplegia, commonly affecting one side of the face and involving the third, fourth, sixth, and fifth cranial nerves. This syndrome results from non-specific inflammation affecting the cavernous sinus, superior orbital fissure (SOF), and/or orbital apex. In this case report, we present the clinical features, diagnostic evaluation, and management of a 46-year-old female with THS.