| [ | |
| { | |
| "pmid": 38062597, | |
| "abstract": "\nTo investigate the effect of the haemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score (Haemoglobin, Albumin, Lymphocyte, Platelet count) on survival as a new prognostic factor in metastatic bladder cancer.\nDescriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Medical Oncology, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey, and Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey, from 2010 to 2020.\nThe medical charts of patients with metastatic bladder cancer were reviewed retrospectively. Prognostic value of the HALP score as a marker of overall survival was examined through a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.\nThe cut-off value for the HALP score in the ROC curve analysis was 29. The median overall survival (OS) was 19 months when the HALP score was less than 29, and the median OS was 40 months when the HALP score was 29 or greater, and this finding was statistically significant (p = 0.003).\nThe HALP score is closely related to prognosis in metastatic bladder cancer. A high HALP score is associated with better survival outcomes.\nHALP score, Metastatic bladder cancer, Overall survival.\n", | |
| "title": "HALP Score as a New Prognostic Factor for Patients with Metastatic Bladder Cancer." | |
| }, | |
| { | |
| "pmid": 38062602, | |
| "abstract": "\nTo determine the popular subspeciality choices among ophthalmology residents, to explore the factors affecting that choice, and to identify the obstacles that they face while selecting a subspeciality fellowship.\nMixed-methods study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Ophthalmology of Hayatabad Medical Complex and Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, from 1st September to 30th November, 2021.\nThe qualitative (1st) phase comprised of focussed group discussion (FGD) followed by an online in-depth interview (IDI). Quantitative (2nd) phase was conducted as online survey and consisted of currently enrolled FCPS-ophthalmology residents. Themes were generated and used to modify the pre-designed questionnaire. Questionnaire was piloted and necessary adjustments were made. In the 2nd phase, the online link of the questionnaire was shared with the eligible participants all over the country. For the association between categorical variables, the Pearson Chi-square test was used with significance at p-value <0.05. \u00a0 Results: Nine participants were recruited in the first phase and three themes were generated. In the second phase, a total of 138 responses were received, among which mean age was 29.37 + 3.9 years, and 74 (53.6%) participants were males. The top three subspeciality choices were cataract and refractive surgery (n = 31, 22.5%), vitreoretinal surgery (n = 30, 21.7%) and orbit and oculoplasty (n = 13, 9.4%). Sixty-two (48.8%) participants stated interest in the career to be the main reason to choose a particular fellowship, and 54 (42.5%) participants identified challenging subspeciality as the main obstacle. An association between gender and the intended subspeciality showed significant results (p = 0.029).\nOphthalmology residents of Pakistan have different approaches and motivations for selecting a fellowship programme. Professional needs and scientific reasons are their main motivations.\nOphthalmology, Fellowship, Motivations, Career choices, Mentor, Pakistan.\n", | |
| "title": "Subspeciality Interests Among the Ophthalmology Residents: A Mixed-Methods Study." | |
| }, | |
| { | |
| "pmid": 38062599, | |
| "abstract": "\nTo assess the stone-free rate (SFR) subsequent to percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in patients with anatomically anomalous kidneys.\nCross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Urology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation Karachi, from 23 July 2020 till 30\u00a0October 2021.\nSixty-five patients of renal stone disease with abnormal kidneys, aged 18-60 years of both genders were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Demographic information like age, gender, stone size, duration of disease, and type of abnormality were noted. After PCNL, stone-free status was determined after 2 weeks of the procedure by performing ultrasound KUB.\nA total of 65 patients were included in this study with mean age of 36.37 \u00b1 12.86 years [Range: 18-60]. There were 76.9% of males and 23.1% of females. Regarding anatomical malformation, 46.2% were malrotated kidneys, 16.9% were horseshoe kidneys, 16.9% were partial Duplex system, 9.2% had bifid pelvis. Median duration of the disease was 12 (IQR=10). Forty-one patients (63.1%) had single and 24 (36.9%) had multiple number of stones with average size of 3.26 \u00b1 1.14 cm. SFR after PCNL in patients with abnormal kidneys was 70.77% (46\/65) while 29.23% (19\/65) were observed with residual fragments. Out of 19 cases with residual fragments, 10 (53.2%) had stone size <1 cm and 9 (47.4%) had stone of 1 to 3 cm. Sixteen out of 19 patients with residual stones were treated with ESWL (most required: one session), and re-do PCNL was performed in three cases.\nPCNL is an effective and safe operation in anatomically anomalous kidneys. For satisfactory outcomes, it requires extreme care and exceptional surgical skill.\nMalrotated kidney, Duplex system, Kidney anomaly, Horseshoe kidney, PCNL, Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL).\n", | |
| "title": "Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Anomalous Kidney." | |
| }, | |
| { | |
| "pmid": 38062601, | |
| "abstract": "\nThis review evaluated the risks and survival benefits of pancreatoduodenectomy associated with venous resection compared with palliative surgery. A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed. Higher overall survival was observed in the pancreatic resection group (HR = 4.000; 95% CI 2.800 to 5.200). However, the palliative group had fewer complications (RD = -0.170; 95% CI -0.260 to -0.070). There was no significant difference in the mortality rates (RD = 0.000; 95% CI -0.030 to 0.030). In centres with experience in pancreatic surgery, resection may be considered for locally advanced cancer and major venous invasion. Pancreaticoduodenectomy with vascular resection may improve survival for periampullary tumours compared with palliation therapy. However, pancreaticoduodenectomy with major venous resection has potentially higher morbidity than palliation therapy. Key Words: Pancreatoduodenectomy, Pancreatic neoplasms, Vascular surgical procedures.\n", | |
| "title": "Pancreatoduodenectomy with Venous Resection or Palliative Therapy? A Meta-Analysis." | |
| }, | |
| { | |
| "pmid": 38062600, | |
| "abstract": "\nThe primary aim of this review was to determine the effects of CIMT (constraint-induced movement therapy) on gait, balance, and motor functions of the lower extremity in stroke. The secondary aim was to determine the optimal dosage, application time, and duration of CIMT in the lower extremity in stroke. PubMed (1999-July 2021), Pedro (2000-December 2020), Google Scholar (1999-Febraury 2022), and Cochrane Library (2000-Febraury 2022) were searched in February 2022. The risk of bias was calculated through the criteria outlined in the (Cochrane-Handbook for Systematic-Reviews of Interventions). Eight RCTs were included in this review. CIMT was found to be effective in improving balance, gait, and motor functions of lower limbs; however, its superiority in comparison to the control group was not significant, no specific dosage was mentioned for lower limb CIMT as different studies used different durations and intensities of CIMT. Key Words: Cerebrovascular accident (CVA), Balance, Lower-extremity constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT), Motor functions.\n", | |
| "title": "Effects of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy and Application Time and Duration of Intervention for Lower Extremity in Stroke: A Systematic Review." | |
| }, | |
| { | |
| "pmid": 38062605, | |
| "abstract": "\nTo find the effectiveness of distal sodium channel blocks in managing lumbosacral radicular syndrome.\nOpen-labelled, non-randomised, single-group, prospective, pilot study. Place and Duration of the Study: Pain Clinic of Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (AFIRM) Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January to June 2022.\nPatients having low back pain radiating to L5\/S1\/both dermatomes with severity of numerical rating scale (NRS) score of more than 4\/10 were included. Straight leg raise (SLR) and NRS score were noted down at baseline and at 30 minutes, 24 hours, 1 week, and 4 weeks post-distal sodium channel block (DSCB). DSCB was performed at beta 1, 2, 3, and 5 portals using 2 ml of 2% injection plain lignocaine + 1 ml (40 mg) injection triamcinolone + 7 ml distilled water. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 21.\nOut of 50 patients, 24 (48%) were females and 26 (52%) were males. No serious procedural complications were noted. Post-DSCB, follow-up was done for 4 weeks. A significant fall in NRS and an increase in SLR score were observed at every visit. Results were statistically significant (p<0.001) when mean NRS and SLR scores at every follow-up were compared for pre- and post-DSCBs.\nDSCB reduced pain and improved SLR in patients even at 4 weeks of follow-up. Advantages included immediate pain relief, easy to perform as outdoor procedure, cost-effective and a time buying alternative procedure allowing for the analgesic effect of medicine to kick in.\nRadiculopathy, Low-back pain, Epidural spinal injection, Sciatica, Pain management, Distal sodium channel blocks.\n", | |
| "title": "Effectiveness of Distal Sodium Channel Block in Managing Lumbosacral Radicular Syndrome: A Pilot Study." | |
| }, | |
| { | |
| "pmid": 38062606, | |
| "abstract": "\nRampant and prevalent deployment of an efficient malaria vaccine in Pakistan, together with basic control and preventive measures, could significantly decrease the economic and healthcare burden caused by drug-resistant malaria. Moreover, RTS, S\/AS01 vaccine has attained a much-needed breakthrough after decades of growth, as an innovative vaccine for malaria in Phase III clinical trials, and presently undergoing implementation studies. So far Gavi, WHO, and other stakeholders are contemplating on the practical issues, risk-benefit, and cost-effectiveness in resource-limited settings of vaccine implementation capacity. Imminent advances, like using a delayed as well as enhanced protection, divided schedule for dosing, and alternate adjuvants are likely to attain the vital goal of eradication of malaria. Vaccination is a potentially critical component of efforts to arrest the development and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance; though little is known about the impact vaccination may have within low-and-middle-income countries. Key Words: Antimicrobial resistance, Malaria, Vaccine.\n", | |
| "title": "Commodifying Vaccines to Curtail Antibiotic Resistance Impact in Malaria Endemic Countries." | |
| }, | |
| { | |
| "pmid": 38062604, | |
| "abstract": "\nTo compare the efficacy of conchal cartilage graft and temporalis fascia graft in Type 1 tympanoplasty in terms of graft uptake and hearing improvement.\nDescriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Otolaryngology, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, from January 2020 till December 2022.\nUsing quota sampling, 2 groups were made i.e. conchal cartilage group (Group A) and temporalis fascia group (Group B). Total of 124 records were selected with 62 records from each group. Graft uptake rate and audiological outcomes were compared between the groups. Moreover, postoperative complication rate was also noted for each group.\nThe graft uptake rates between Group A and B at 3rd month were compared postoperatively (98.39%, 93.55%, p=0.36). The difference between preoperative mean air-bone gap (ABG, 28.05 \u00b1 2.19dB, 28.68 \u00b1 2.38 dB, p=0.12) and postoperative mean ABG (13.35 \u00b1 3.45, 14.47 \u00b1 3.29, p=0.69) was also statistically not significant. However, the differences regarding audiological success rate between cartilage and fascia groups (96.77%, 82.25%, p=0.01) and average operating time (51.8 \u00b1 2.1 vs. 43.5 \u00b1 3.2 minutes, p=0.009) were significantly different.\nIn chronic otitis media (COM) patients with subtotal perforations, endoscopic tympanoplasty using conchal cartilage or temporalis fascia as graft yielded comparable outcomes in terms of graft uptake, hearing improvement, and postoperative complications. However, using conchal cartilage, the procedure showed better audiological success rate. With temporalis fascia as graft, the procedure was performed in a shorter time.\nChronic otitis media, Tympanoplasty, Temporalis fascia, Conchal cartilage, Subtotal perforation.\n", | |
| "title": "Audiological Outcomes of Type 1 Tympanoplasty Using Conchal Cartilage and Temporalis Fascia." | |
| }, | |
| { | |
| "pmid": 38062603, | |
| "abstract": "\nTo identify predictive factors associated with the occurrence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) in an increasingly geriatric population.\nObservational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of General Surgery, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey, from January 2010 to April 2022.\nDemographic and clinicopathological data of 74 geriatric patients who underwent PD for periampullary tumours in the clinic at Inonu University were retrieved from the patient database. POPF was defined and categorised based on the guidelines established by the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS). The patients were stratified into two cohorts of POPF and no POPF. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to compare variables between the two groups.\nThe median age of the patient population was 72 (65-92) years, and 51 (68.9%) individuals were male. Among the 74 patients, 35 (47.3%) experienced POPF. In the multivariate analysis, hypertension (HT, p=0.012), Wirsung diameter <3.5 mm (p<0.01), and pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ, p=0.022) emerged as independent risk factors for POPF.\nIn the context of geriatric patients undergoing PD, HT, intraoperative wirsung diameter <3.5 mm, and PJ were identified as independent risk factors for POPF. These findings can guide the adoption of safer techniques in preoperative and intraoperative evaluations, as well as in postoperative follow-ups of patients presenting with these risk factors.\nElderly, Whipple procedure, Anastomotic leakage, Predictive factor, Postoperative pancreatic fistula, Pancreatoduodenectomy.\n", | |
| "title": "Predictive Factors of Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula in Geriatric Patients Undergoing Pancreatoduodenectomy for Periampullary Malignancy." | |
| }, | |
| { | |
| "pmid": 38062610, | |
| "abstract": "\nNull.\n", | |
| "title": "Aortic Root and Ascending Aorta Replacement with Tricuspid Repair." | |
| } | |
| ] |