Outcomes of Semaglutide Use in Achieving Target Body Mass Index Before Renal Transplant in Five End-Stage Renal Disease Patients: A Case Series.

Obesity is a significant barrier to renal transplantation due to associated surgical risks and postoperative complications. This case series presents five cases of obese patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who successfully achieved substantial weight loss using semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide (GLP) type-1 receptor agonist, thereby becoming eligible for transplantation. Each patient experienced significant weight reduction, ranging from 11.

The Impact of Intra-abdominal Pressure on Perioperative Outcomes in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Introduction: Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is a critical factor in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, potentially affecting various perioperative outcomes. Understanding the impact of different IAP levels can guide clinical practice to optimize patient safety and recovery.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of low, moderate, and high IAPs on perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

FXR1 associates with and degrades PDZK1IP1 and ATOH8 mRNAs and promotes esophageal cancer progression.

Background: The growing body of evidence suggests that RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have an important function in cancer biology. This research characterizes the expression status of fragile X-related protein 1 (FXR1) in esophageal cancer (ESCA) cell lines and understands its mechanistic importance in ESCA tumor biology.

Methods: The role of FXR1, PDZK1IP1, and ATOH8 in the malignant biological behaviors of ESCA cells was investigated using in-vitro and in-vivo experiments.

Safety and efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with pre-treated advanced stage malignant mesothelioma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer with poor prognosis. Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and its ligand 1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have recently presented as a viable option in some first line but primarily as a second-line treatment of advanced-stage malignant mesothelioma (asMM). Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the safety and efficacy of PD-1/L-1 ICIs in advanced-stage malignant mesothelioma.

Dapagliflozin's Role in Heart Failure: An Overview of Clinical Trial Evidence.

Heart failure (HF) has become a global health threat, necessitating the development of novel treatment options to address this crisis. Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, such as dapagliflozin, may offer significant advantages in the treatment of HF, particularly in patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). This systematic review combines the findings from clinical studies to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of dapagliflozin in HF patients.

Intralesional corticosteroid therapy for non-healing persistent radiation-induced oropharyngeal mucositis.

Purpose: Oropharyngeal mucositis is a common complication of anticancer therapy. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of intralesional corticosteroid therapy (ICT) in the management of persistent mucositis.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent ICT in the oral cavity to manage oral mucositis managed with basic oral care and preventive modalities and persisting at least 6 weeks after head and neck radiation or chemoradiation therapy completion between November 2017 and September 2023 was performed.

Patterns and Clinicopathological Features of Histologically Proven Metastases in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignant neoplasm. Multiple risk factors have been identified for several decades for this overly aggressive tumor. HCC is an overly aggressive malignancy with frequent intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastasis.

Malignant epithelioid angiomyolipoma of the submandibular gland: A case report.

An epithelioid angiomyolipoma (a perivascular epithelioid cell tumor) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm with distinctive cellular morphology and nonspecific imaging appearances. Mostly reported perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are benign; however, rarely, PEComas can be malignant with pulmonary, hepatic, nodal, and osseous metastases. We present a case of a 40-year-old man with malignant right submandibular salivary gland PEComa, metastasized to the bones, lungs, and liver.

The Diagnostic Value of Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration (EBUS-FNA) in Diagnosing FDG-PET-Avid Lymph Nodes in Extrapulmonary Malignancies.

Background and objective The accurate diagnosis of extrapulmonary malignancies with mediastinal lymphadenopathy is crucial for effective patient management. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EBUS-FNA) has emerged as a valuable tool in assessing fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)-avid lymph nodes (LNs). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of EBUS-FNA in patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy in extrapulmonary malignancies and compare its efficacy with PET-CT.

A Plasmacytoid Variant of Urothelial Carcinoma: A Rare Entity.

A rare histological variant of transitional cell urothelial carcinoma, the plasmacytoid variant, was recently included in the World Health Organization classification of urothelial tract tumors. This variant has a morphological resemblance to other tumors, which poses a diagnostic challenge for identifying this tumor and may often lead to misdiagnosis. Vigilant histopathological analysis and immunostaining are required to delineate the correct diagnosis.

Safety Assessment of Sedation Services in Radiology at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Peshawar.

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective observational study was to evaluate the safety of newly started sedation services in the department of Radiology Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center Peshawar, Pakistan.

Methods: Medical record of the patients who underwent sedation for different types of imaging studies at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Peshawar center were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the safety outcome of sedation. Process variables included preoperative assessment, obtaining informed consent acquisition, confirmation of nulla per os (NPO) status, monitoring during the procedure, post-anesthetic care unit (PACU) handover, and discharge instructions.

Consensus guidelines for the management of pediatric medulloblastoma in low and middle-income countries.

The management of medulloblastoma, a pediatric brain tumor, has evolved significantly with the advent of genomic subgrouping, yet morbidity and mortality remain high in LMICs like Pakistan due to inadequate multidisciplinary care infrastructure. This paper aims to establish evidence-based guidelines tailored to the constraints of such countries. An expert panel comprising neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, radiologists, radiation oncologists, neuropathologists, and pediatricians collaborated to develop these guidelines, considering the specific challenges of pediatric brain tumor care in Pakistan.

Skull Base Osteomyelitis Due to Staphylococcus epidermidis in the Absence of Indwelling Medical Devices Presenting With Bilateral Internal Carotid Artery Thrombosis.

Skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) is a severe and uncommon infection that typically affects the skull base and may arise from undiagnosed otogenic or sinonasal infection. This case describes a rare presentation of SBO, accompanied by thrombosis of the bilateral internal carotid artery with neurological deficits in a resource-limited environment, illustrating diagnostic and management dilemmas. A male patient aged 40 years with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes presented with sudden onset loss of consciousness and worsening right-sided weakness.

Risk Factors Associated With Anastomotic Stricture in Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy: Experience From a High-Volume Center.

Background: Esophageal cancer is a prevalent cancer, with a high incidence in low socioeconomic category countries. Minimally invasive esophagectomy is increasingly being used to treat this malignant condition. However, anastomotic stricture is a serious complication post esophagectomy.

Synergistic effects of herpes oncolytic virus and cyclophosphamide for recurrent malignant glioma: a narrative review.

Gliomas, comprising nearly 80% of brain malignancies, present a formidable challenge with glioblastomas being the most aggressive subtype. Despite multidisciplinary care, including surgery and chemoradiotherapy, the prognosis remains grim, emphasizing the need for innovative treatment strategies. The blood-brain barrier complicates drug access, and the diverse histopathology hinders targeted therapies.

Enhancing access to expensive oncology medications in Pakistan: The critical role of pharmaceutical patient assistance programs in oncology care.

This article aims to explore the access of patient assistance program (PAPs) and the role of pharmacists in improving access to oncology care in Pakistan. PAPs aim to reduce the financial burden of cancer in Pakistan, with pharmaceutical companies providing medication at reduced costs, ranging from 33% to 90%. Pharmacists play a pivotal role in managing these programs, facilitating PAP, pharmacist, oncology care setting, cancer therapy more accessible to those who faced financial barriers to accessing them.

Impact of Serum Triglyceride Levels on Severity and Outcomes in Acute Biliary Pancreatitis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background Acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP), a major inflammatory illness, is primarily caused by gallstone blockage of the common bile duct. The pathophysiology of ABP has been linked to serum triglyceride (TG) levels, suggesting a potential role for TG in predicting disease severity. Objective The research objective was to investigate the association between serum TG levels and the severity of ABP.

Utility of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration in a Paediatric Population: A Single-Centre Experience.

Introduction: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is a modern and minimally invasive technique to acquire diagnostic material from within the gastrointestinal tract, as well as from adjacent organs and structures, which can help in the diagnosis and staging of a variety of gastrointestinal malignancies, as well as for non-malignant conditions. Though well described in adults, there is limited literature on the diagnostic utility of EUS-FNA in paediatric patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility of EUS-FNA in paediatric patients performed at our centre over the last 17 years.