High-riding innominate artery in the neck: A hazardous presentation during surgery.

Aberrant innominate artery lying high in the neck is a rare entity that can be encountered intraoperatively during midline neck surgeries such as thyroidectomy and tracheostomy. Surgeons should be mindful of this entity as injury to the artery can lead to life-threatening haemorrhage. We report a case of a 40 year old female in whom an aberrant innominate artery was identified high in the neck, while performing a total thyroidectomy.

Post parotidectomy facial nerve palsy: A retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND &OBJECTIVES: Transient paralysis of facial nerve is seen to vary from 15 % to 66 % in post-parotid surgery. The objective of this study was to find out the complications in post-parotidectomy with regards to facial nerve dysfunction since it is a vital structure encountered in parotid surgeries. METHODS: This was a retrospective study through non probability convenient sampling technique carried from September 2010 to January 2019 in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Dr. Ruth K.M.Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi. Clinical data were recorded from 75 patients and out of them 70 patients had undergone surgery with parotid gland tumours and were reported on the morphology, age, sex, surgical procedure and complications, particularly facial nerve dysfunctions. In most cases ante-grade technique was performed to identify the facial nerve, whereas retrograde technique was used in recurring tumours, and in difficult cases. The stimulator of the nerve has not been used. The nature or severity of Facial nerve dysfunction was assessed in terms of either it is, permanent or temporary, total or incomplete in respect to its branches. RESULTS: Among total 75 patients; the mean age was 38.75 ± 9.26 years with male to female ratio of 1:1. Majority of the patients were diagnosed as pleomorphic adenoma, i.e. 78.6% after which 12% were diagnosed as mucoepidermoid carcinoma. 88.6% of patients had superficial parotidectomy and 11.4% of patients had total parotidectomy. About 75% of patients had no complications. 5(7.1%) patients had complete facial nerve palsy. Damage to the mandibular, buccal and temporozygomatic branch was observed in 10(14%), 2(3%) and 1(1.4%) patients respectively. CONCLUSION: The most prevalent benign parotid tumour in this study was pleomorphic adenoma. After performing parotid surgery, it was predicted that the rate of complications related to the facial nerve injury was reduced as compared to the previous studies.

Enhancing glycaemic control and promoting cardiovascular health: the therapeutic potential of Trigonella foenumgraecum in diabetic patients - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The antidiabetic potential of fenugreek has been highlighted in past literature, and various in-vitro and in-vivo studies have validated its glucose-lowering effects; however, very limited data are available on its effects on diabetic patients. Objective: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials that assessed patients who were administered fenugreek. Methods: The PRISMA guidelines (Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/MS9/A361) were followed when conducting this meta-analysis. PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and MEDLINE were searched from inception until June 2023, for randomized control trials that compared fenugreek with control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and reported the following outcomes of interest: fasting blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and postprandial glucose levels. The findings were presented as mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and were pooled using a random effects model. Results: Fenugreek significantly (P<0.001) reduced the fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1c levels and postprandial glucose levels in diabetic patients when compared to the control. Conclusion: Among patients with type 2 DM, our comparisons demonstrated a reduction in FBS, HbA1c levels and postprandial glucose levels with the administration of fenugreek seed at 2-5 mg dose in powder form.

Artificial intelligence-enhanced electrocardiogram for the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis: A systemic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is often delayed due to variability in clinical presentation. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the most common and widely available tools for assessing cardiovascular diseases. Artificial intelligence (AI) models analyzing ECG have recently been developed to detect CA, but their pooled accuracy is yet to be evaluated. METHODS: We searched the Scopus, MEDLINE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases until April 2024 for studies assessing AI-enhanced ECG diagnosis of CA. Studies reporting findings from derivation and validation cohorts were included. Studies combining other diagnostic modalities, such as echocardiography, were excluded. The outcome of interest was the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for overall CA and subtypes transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) and light chain amyloidosis (AL). Analysis was done using RevMan 5.4.1 general inverse variance random effects model, pooling data for AUC and 95 % confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Five studies comprising seven cohorts met the eligibility criteria. The total derivation and validation cohorts were 8,639 and 3,843, respectively, although one study did not describe this data. The AUC was 0.89 (95 % CI, 0.86-0.91) for cardiac amyloidosis, 0.90 (95 % CI, 0.86-0.95) for ATTR amyloidosis, and 0.80 (95 % CI, 0.80-0.93) for AL amyloidosis. CONCLUSION: AI-enhanced ECG models effectively detect CA and may provide a valuable tool for the early detection and intervention of this disease.

Safety and efficacy of insulin detemir vs. insulin NPH in pregnant women with diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The relative efficacy and safety of insulin neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) and detemir (IDet), in the management of diabetes in pregnancy remains unclear. We sought to conduct an updated systematic review and meta-analysis to study the effect of NPH versus IDet during pregnancy on clinically relevant maternal and fetal outcomes. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: MEDLINE and Google Scholar were queried from inception till September 2022 for original studies comparing NPH with IDet for management of diabetes during pregnancy. Data was pooled using a random-effects model, to generate risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous outcomes and weighted mean differences (WMDs) for continuous outcomes, along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). I2 test was used to assess the magnitude of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to explore the potential source of heterogeneity. As less than ten studies were included in our analysis, funnel plots were not made to evaluate publication bias. A P value of ≤0.05 was considered significant in all cases. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Our search of the literature yielded 1087 articles initially, of which seven articles comprising 1396 patients, were included in our analysis. All included articles were of reasonably high methodological quality. Our pooled analysis demonstrates no statistically significant difference between the efficacy of insulin Detemir and insulin NPH as assessed by the HbA1c values from baseline. For safety outcomes, insulin detemir was significantly associated with a greater gestational age at delivery (WMD=0.39, 95%CI: 0.07 to 0.71, P=0.02) and lower incidence of hypoglycemic events (RR=0.64, 95%CI: 0.48 to 0.86, P=0.003) in-contrast to insulin NPH. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that both, insulin IDet and insulin NPH have a similar efficacy in reducing HbA1c from baseline. However, insulin detemir was associated with lesser incidence of maternal hypoglycemic events and greater gestational age at delivery, compared to NPH.

Pseudocystic myxoid liposarcoma of the posterior chest wall - a rare case report.

Introduction and importance: Liposarcoma (LPS) is a common soft-tissue sarcoma predominantly diagnosed in adults, arising from malignant adipose cells. Among its various subtypes, myxoid LPS (MLPS) stands out as the second most frequent, accounting for ~30% of all LPS cases. This particular subtype typically manifests in males between the ages of 40 and 50 and is commonly found in the lower extremities. Although rare, MLPS may also occur in the head, neck, and infrequently in the back. Chest wall LPS cases are also sparsely reported. Case presentation: In this report, we present a case of MLPS in a 69-year-old male patient who presented with a complaint of firm swelling on the right posterior chest wall, which was progressively increasing in size over the past 10 years. The tumour was located in the posterior chest wall on the left side, and further diagnostic evaluation using computed tomography (CT) and MRI was conducted to identify its characteristics and extent. Clinical discussion: The use of CT scanning plays a crucial role in differentiating between various lipomatous tumour types, aiding in the identification and classification of MLPS. However, MRI emerges as a more effective technique for detecting microscopic fat compared to CT or ultrasonography, providing valuable insights for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. Conclusion: Surgery remains the primary therapeutic approach for managing LPSs, including MLPS. Adjuvant preoperative radiation is recommended due to its significant sensitivity and potential for improved outcomes. Given the rarity of this presentation and the varied anatomical locations, a multidisciplinary approach is paramount in effectively managing such cases. Medical practitioners should collaborate closely, considering the unique challenges posed by MLPS to ensure optimal patient care and treatment outcomes.

Safety and efficacy of pimecrolimus versus vehicle for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in adults and paediatric population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Atopic dermatitis remains a widespread problem affecting various populations globally. While numerous treatment options have been employed, pimecrolimus remains a potent and viable option. Recently, there has been increasing interest in comparing the safety and efficacy of pimecrolimus with its vehicle. Methods: The authors conducted a comprehensive search of several databases, including PubMed, COCHRANE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Central, from inception to May 2022, using a wide search strategy with Boolean operators. The authors also employed backward snowballing to identify any studies missed in the initial search. The authors included randomized controlled trials in our meta-analysis and extracted data from the identified studies. The authors used Review Manager (RevMan) Version 5.4 to analyze the data, selecting a random-effects model due to observed differences in study populations and settings. The authors considered a P-value of 0.05 or lower to be statistically significant. Results: The authors initially identified 211 studies, of which 13 randomized controlled trials involving 4180 participants were selected for analysis. Our pooled analysis revealed that pimecrolimus 1% was more effective at reducing the severity of atopic dermatitis than its vehicles. However, no significant difference was observed in adverse effects between pimecrolimus and vehicle, except for pyrexia, nasopharyngitis, and headache, which were increased with pimecrolimus. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis showed that pimecrolimus 1% is more effective than vehicle, although the safety profile remains inconclusive. Pimecrolimus reduced the Investigator's Global Assessment score, Eczema Area and Severity Index score, and severity of pruritus when compared to its vehicle, indicating a higher efficacy profile. This is one of the first meta-analyses to assess the efficacy and safety profile of pimecrolimus 1% against a vehicle and may assist physicians in making informed decisions.

Osteoarthritis in a fifty-year-old patient with unfused skeleton due to undiagnosed coexisting cleidocranial and spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia - Case report.

Background: Skeletal dysplasia's cause significant neurological symptoms and disrupt the development of many bones and cartilages in the body. Skeletal dysplasia, although a common presentation in paediatric population, rarely presents in older age group. Case presentation: This case presents a unique incidental finding of skeletal dysplasia in a fifty-year-old male patient who presented with osteoarthritis. Eventual workup uncloaked the presence of cleidocranial dysplasia and spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. The patient in this case had both dysplasias at the same time. Discussion: Cleidocranial dysplasia and Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia are two uncommon autosomal dominant dysplasia's that are often diagnosed in early life and can have serious consequences, including death. It is critical to diagnose a child early in life. Radiology findings from a thorough skeletal examination aid in the early detection of numerous dysplasia's, which helps improving quality of life and allowing for effective treatment. Conclusion: The novelty of our presented case lies in the rare presentation of CCD and SED occurring concurrently at an older age with accompanying collateral abnormalities usually emerging more commonly in infants. Early diagnosis is thus essential for optimal management.

Bilateral simultaneous primary Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A rare presentation.

Introduction: and Importance: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSSC) is one of the most common malignancies of the oral cavity and is one of the ten most prevalent tumours in the world. Control of this tumor is difficult and challenging as its propensity to spread is embedded in the cancer field of epithelial cells which alter these cells and induce a malignant potential within them. Simultaneous bilateral primary tumours are a rare presentation in the oral cavity which highlights the significance of early diagnosis and treatment. Case presentation: Here we present a case of 50-year-old gentleman known case of diabetes, hypertension and chronic history of beetle nut chewing who developed a simultaneously growing bilateral primary OSSC in the buccal mucosa. CT scan revealed a heterogeneous enhancing thickening in the bilateral buccogingival mucosa. A wide local excision of bilateral buccal mucosa with bilateral marginal mandibulectomy with neck dissection was planned. Clinical discussion: The majority of the case report emphasises the relevance of simultaneously developing bilateral primary oral cavity tumours in a patient who had a history of consuming beetle nuts. The independent incidence of bilateral primary OSSC in individuals without a history of tobacco, beetle nut, or alcohol use has also been documented in a small body of research. Due to the considerable clinical variety in its presentation, it is necessary to include bilateral primary OSSC when making a differential diagnosis of OSSC. Conclusion: Multiple bilateral primary tumours of the oral cavity are typically on the rise. The prognosis and survival of these individuals are considerably improved by close surveillance and early, expectant management of these cancers. This case study emphasises the value of thorough screening techniques used at an early stage to find these lesions and treat them appropriately.