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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There are limited data on the prevalence and management of testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) cases presenting with venous tumor thrombus (VTT). Our objectives were to describe the prevalence of TGCT with VTT, to identify a multicenter retrospective cohort, and to ascertain expert opinion regarding optimal management of this entity. METHODS: Using the IBM Marketscan database, we identified men with testicular cancer who underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) with concurrent VTT or inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombectomy to estimate the prevalence of VTT in TGCT. To identify a multicenter retrospective cohort of patients, we surveyed surgeons and described the presentation, management, and outcomes for the cohort. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: The prevalence of TGCT with VTT in the IBM Marketscan database was 0.3% (n = 7/2517) when using stringent criteria and 3.1% (n = 79/2517) when using broad criteria. In response to our survey, 16 surgeons from ten centers contributed data for 34 patients. Most patients (n = 29, 85%) presented with nonseminomatous germ cell tumor. Surgical management was used for 93.9% (n = 31), including postchemotherapy tumor thrombectomy with primary cavorrhaphy in 63%. The Marketscan analysis was limited to insured individuals and did not include clinicopathological details, and use of billing codes may have included patients with stromal tumors. In addition, lack of responses to the anonymous survey limited data capture, and the RedCap survey did not address symptoms specific to IVC obstruction or allow central review of the imaging leading to VTT diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: VTT among males with TGCT is rare and requires complex multidisciplinary management, including venous tumor thrombectomy at the time of postchemotherapy RPLND. PATIENT SUMMARY: Using a medical database, we estimated that the frequency of testicular cancer cases in which the tumor extends into a blood vessel (called venous tumor thrombus, VTT) is just 0.3-3.1%. We carried out a survey of surgeons with experience of this condition. Our results indicate that although testicular cancers respond well to chemotherapy, VTT is less responsive and complex surgery is necessary for this rare condition.
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Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a multifaceted disorder characterised by peripheral nerve damage, manifesting in symptoms like pain, weakness, and autonomic dysfunction. This review assesses preclinical models in PN research, evaluating their relevance to human disease and their role in therapeutic development. The Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model is widely used to simulate diabetic neuropathy but has limitations in faithfully replicating disease onset and progression. Cisplatin-induced PN models are suitable for studying chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and closely resemble human pathology. However, they may not fully replicate the spectrum of sensory and motor deficits. Paclitaxel-induced models also contribute to understanding CIPN mechanisms and testing neuroprotective agents. Surgical or trauma-induced models offer insights into nerve regeneration and repair strategies. Medications such as gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine, and fluoxetine have demonstrated promise in these models, enhancing our understanding of their therapeutic efficacy. Despite progress, developing models that accurately mirror human PN remains imperative due to its complex nature. Continuous refinement and innovative approaches are critical for effective drug discovery. This review underscores the strengths and limitations of current models and advocates for an integrated approach to address the complexities of PN better and optimise treatment outcomes.
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The issue of left against medical advice (LAMA) patients is common in today's emergency departments (EDs). This issue represents a medico-legal risk and may result in potential readmission, mortality, or revenue loss. Thus, understanding the factors that cause patients to "leave against medical advice" is vital to mitigate and potentially eliminate these adverse outcomes. This paper proposes a framework for studying the factors that affect LAMA in EDs. The framework integrates machine learning, metaheuristic optimization, and model interpretation techniques. Metaheuristic optimization is used for hyperparameter optimization-one of the main challenges of machine learning model development. Adaptive tabu simulated annealing (ATSA) metaheuristic algorithm is utilized for optimizing the parameters of extreme gradient boosting (XGB). The optimized XGB models are used to predict the LAMA outcomes for patients under treatment in ED. The designed algorithms are trained and tested using four data groups which are created using feature selection. The model with the best predictive performance is then interpreted using the SHaply Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method. The results show that best model has an area under the curve (AUC) and sensitivity of 76% and 82%, respectively. The best model was explained using SHAP method.
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Imposter syndrome (IS) and low self-esteem (SE) are common issues affecting medical students that can impact their well-being and development. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with IS and SE among medical students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study, 523 medical students in years 2-6 at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, completed validated questionnaires on IS (Young Imposter Scale) and SE (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale). Sociodemographic factors were also collected. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used to analyze IS and SE prevalence and correlates. Five hundred twenty-three students with a mean age of 22.09 ± 1.933 participated. The prevalence of low SE and positive IS was 17.6% and 24.3%, respectively. IS and SE had a significant negative correlation (p<0.001). Several sociodemographic factors were associated with increased IS, including 2nd and 4th-year students, forced study choice, and a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0-3.49 (P<0.05). Paternal education beyond high school was associated with lower IS (P<0.05). Logistic regression analyses confirmed that 2nd-year students had a 3.88 times higher odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI); 2.19-6.88), and 4th-year students had a 2.37 times higher OR (95% CI; 1.40-4.02) of IS than other years. For SE, advanced academic years, forced study choice, 7+ hours of sleep, and a GPA above 3.5 were associated with higher levels (P<0.05). Negative self-appraisals were associated with lower SE, while positive attitudes were associated with higher SE (P<0.05). Our study reveals that IS and low SE are prevalent among Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, medical students. Therefore, intervention courses that address these issues in medical education at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, may be necessary to support medical students' well-being and academic success.
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Self Concept , Students, Medical , Humans , Saudi Arabia/epidemiology , Students, Medical/psychology , Male , Female , Cross-Sectional Studies , Prevalence , Young Adult , Universities , Surveys and Questionnaires , Adult , Body Dysmorphic Disorders/epidemiology , Body Dysmorphic Disorders/psychology , Anxiety DisordersABSTRACT
Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD) is a rare, slow-growing neoplasm that develops in the brain's posterior fossa. It can appear as a single lesion or as part of Cowden's syndrome. We report the case of a 51-year-old female with a history of diabetes, hypertension, and a previously treated neuroendocrine tumor, who presented to the hospital after experiencing a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Except for a tongue laceration, the neurological examination was unremarkable. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a T2 left cerebellar hemisphere pseudomass lesion with iso-hyperintense signals suggestive of Lhermitte-Duclos disease. This case describes a unique presentation of LDD and its various radiological manifestations, emphasizing the importance of neuroimaging in its diagnosis. Additionally, it contributes to the expanding literature on the varied manifestations of LDD.
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We present a case of a 58-year-old man who had asthma and developed necrotizing pneumonia (NP). The Computed Tomography (CT) scan of his chest showed cavitating consolidation with hydropneumothorax. Despite chest tube insertion and antibiotics, the patient did not improve. Therefore, surgical intervention was considered, and he underwent a right posterior-lateral thoracotomy, with middle lobe lobectomy, and decortication. As a result, the patient's condition started to improve, and he was discharged in good health.
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INTRODUCTION: Cigarette smoking is associated with higher-risk prostate cancer at the time of diagnosis and increased overall and prostate cancerâspecific mortality. Previous studies indicate smokers are less likely to undergo PSA screening. Herein we investigate the association between smoking and PSA screening using a nationally representative US survey. We hypothesize that smokers are less likely to undergo guideline-concordant PSA screening. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of men aged 55 to 69 who responded to the cigarette smoking and PSA screening questions of the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. Adjusted prevalence and adjusted risk differences were calculated using complex weighted multivariable Poisson regression modeling. RESULTS: We identified 58,996 individuals who qualified for analysis. PSA screening prevalence was 39% (95% CI: 39%-40%) nationally, 42% (95% CI: 41%-44%) for never smokers, 42% (95% CI: 39%-40%) for former smokers, and 27% (95% CI: 25%-29%) for current smokers, including 27% (95% CI: 24%-29%) for daily smokers and 29% (95% CI: 24%-33%) for nondaily smokers. Compared to never smokers, the adjusted relative risk for undergoing PSA screening was 0.81 for current smokers (95% CI: 0.75-0.88, P < .01) and 0.99 for former smokers (95% CI: 0.94-1.03, P = .53). CONCLUSIONS: Current smokers are less likely to undergo recommended PSA screening, but former smokers are screened at similar rates as never smokers. As delays in diagnosis may substantially contribute to worse prostate cancer outcomes, targeted interventions to increase screening in this population may yield significant effects.
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Cigarette Smoking , Prostatic Neoplasms , Humans , Male , Cigarette Smoking/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Prostate-Specific Antigen , Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis , Smokers , Middle Aged , AgedABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To understand racial disparities in germline cancer genetic testing and the role of prior knowledge, attitudes, and sources of information. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey 5 (HINTS 5) was conducted between February 24th and June 15th, 2020. The study aimed to investigate knowledge and receipt of genetic testing, attitudes toward the importance of genetic testing in preventing, detecting, and treating cancer, and information sources of genetic testing in the United States of America. RESULTS: Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Hispanic race/ethnicity were associated with lower odds of being informed about genetic testing, whereas those of NHB race were more likely to endorse the importance of genetic testing in cancer prevention and treatment. Regarding sources of information about genetic testing: Non-Hispanic Asians were less likely to be informed about genetic testing from television (Mean Predicted Probability (MPP) 0.38 95%CI; 0.21-0.55, (Adjusted Risk Difference) ARD vs. Non-Hispanic White (NHW); -0.228, p = 0.01), NHB were less likely to report being informed about genetic testing from social media (MPP 0.27 95%CI; 0.20-0.34, ARD vs. NHW; -0.139, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: NHB and Hispanic groups face unequal access to information about genetic testing. There are significant race-based differences in information sources. These differences could be used to promote equitable access to cancer genetic testing.
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Access to Information , Genetic Testing , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Healthcare Disparities , Neoplasms , Humans , Black or African American , Cross-Sectional Studies , Germ Cells , Neoplasms/diagnosis , Neoplasms/genetics , Race Factors , United States , Hispanic or LatinoABSTRACT
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced substantial development in infrastructure and transportation in the last few decades. Although available evidence suggests that the incidence of injuries has considerably increased in the previous few years, there is a scarcity of literature that comprehensively analyzed the mortality due to different types of injuries in the UAE. Therefore, the current study was designed to report mortality due to various intentional and unintentional injuries in the UAE. Secondary data was obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO) mortality database. We targeted injuries-specific mortality datasets. We applied a filter (UAE) to retrieve mortality data from unintentional and intentional injuries in the UAE. The latest data in the WHO mortality database was for 2020-21. A total of 10,357 death records from the UAE were present in the WHO mortality database. The percentage of injury-specific deaths out of total deaths was 8.69% (n=900). Injury-specific mortality rate per 100,000 population was 9.09. The percentage of injury-specific deaths was higher for males (87.3%, n=786) and the age group 25-34 years (n=323, 35.9%). Of the 900 injury-specific deaths, 449 (49.9%) were due to unintentional injuries, 216 (24.0%) were due to unintentional injuries, while the remaining (26.1%, n=235) deaths occurred due to Ill-defined injuries. More than half (53.7%, n=241) of unintentional injuries were because of road traffic injuries (RTIs) followed by fall (14.7%, n=66), exposure to mechanical forces (6.5%, n=29), drowning (6.0%, n=27) fire (1.1%, n=5), poisonings (1.1%, n=5), natural disasters (n=1, 0.2%) and other unintentional injuries (16.7%, n=75). More than three-quarters (83.3%, n=180) of intentional injuries were because of self-inflicted injuries while the remaining (16.7%, n=36) intentional injuries-specific deaths occurred due to violence. Many deaths in the UAE occur due to unintentional and intentional injuries. RTIs and falls are the leading causes of unintentional injury-specific deaths, while self-inflicted injuries and violence are the leading causes of intentional injury-specific deaths.
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Introduction: Anaphylaxis is a fatal condition that can be easily managed if discovered early. Only a few examples of anaphylaxis-like reactions caused by heparin have been documented, and immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions to heparin are extremely uncommon. Case Presentation: We report a case of a 53-yearold gentleman known to have an End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) on Hemodialysis for two years, who went to the dialysis facility in his usual state of health. After two hours of dialysis, a new lock of taurolidine/heparin was installed; one minute later, the patient started to vomit and became restless, blood pressure dropped to 60/47 mmHg, and urticarial hives and a reddish rash developed on his skin, covering his trunk and limbs. He was immediately given three doses of epinephrine intramuscularly, which he did not respond to. Therefore, an epinephrine infusion was started. IV hydrocortisone and diphenhydramine were given for symptomatic relief. The patient was shifted to the emergency department, where he became vitally stable and returned to baseline. Heparininduced anaphylaxis was assumed based on the quick response to the above medications. Conclusion: This case can be added to the growing literature regarding this rare reaction, and more studies should be done to understand the nature of the reaction better. We recommend that the healthcare team becomes vigilant of heparin as a possible cause of anaphylaxis.
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Aims: Lockdown measures implemented during the initial phase of the pandemic resulted in the delay and disruption of healthcare utilization for individuals with chronic conditions. We aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 movement restrictions on the follow-up care visits of individuals with chronic illnesses. We also assessed the possible reasons patients missed their follow-ups and the potential barriers impeding follow-up during the pandemic. Methods: A total of 397 adults with pre-existing medical conditions participated in an online cross-sectional survey from October to December 2022. The study sample comprised 57 % females and 43 % males, with a mean age of 43 years. A 36-item online self-report survey was used for data collection.Results: Fifty-five percent of participants reported missing their follow-up during COVID-19 pandemic, and 14 % made emergency department visits due to their missed follow-up appointments. In addition, 24 % experienced complications due to their missed appointments. The mean score on the fear of COVID-19 scale was 17.8 ± 6.5 (SD). For the majority of participants (60 %), pandemic-related restrictions were the predominant barrier to their follow-up visits. Additionally, we found that as individuals' COVID-19 fear scores increased, the likelihood of missing a follow-up care visit also increased (AOR: 1.067; p-value = 0.001). However, participants who did not perceive COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions as a barrier were less likely to miss their follow-up visits (AOR: 0.581; p-value = 0.031). Furthermore, those who understood the significance of follow-up care were less likely to miss any of their follow-up visits (AOR: 0.224; p-value < 0.001) than those who had limited understanding of its importance. Conclusion: The results showed that pandemic-related movement restrictions negatively affected attendance at follow-up visits for people with pre-existing health conditions. Initiatives should therefore be undertaken during global public health emergencies to provide medical and psychological support to vulnerable and high-risk groups.
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Introduction: Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is an economically important crop due to its oil and fiber. However, it is prone to various diseases, including pasmo caused by the fungus Septoria linicola. Methods: In this study, we conducted field evaluations of 445 flax accessions over a five-year period (2012-2016) to assess their resistance to pasmo A total of 246,035 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used for genetic analysis. Four statistical models, including the single-locus model GEMMA and the multi-locus models FarmCPU, mrMLM, and 3VmrMLM, were assessed to identify quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) associated with pasmo resistance. Results: We identified 372 significant QTNs or 132 tag QTNs associated with pasmo resistance from five pasmo resistance datasets (PAS2012-PAS2016 and the 5-year average, namely PASmean) and three genotypic datasets (the all SNPs/ALL, the gene-based SNPs/GB and the RGA-based SNPs/RGAB). The tag QTNs had R2 values of 0.66-16.98% from the ALL SNP dataset, 0.68-20.54%from the GB SNP dataset, and 0.52-22.42% from the RGAB SNP dataset. Of these tag QTNs, 93 were novel. Additionally, 37 resistance gene analogs (RGAs)co-localizing with 39 tag QTNs were considered as potential candidates for controlling pasmo resistance in flax and 50 QTN-by-environment interactions(QEIs) were identified to account for genes by environmental interactions. Nine RGAs were predicted as candidate genes for ten QEIs. Discussion: Our results suggest that pasmo resistance in flax is polygenic and potentially influenced by environmental factors. The identified QTNs provide potential targets for improving pasmo resistance in flax breeding programs. This study sheds light on the genetic basis of pasmo resistance and highlights the importance of considering both genetic and environmental factors in breeding programs for flax.
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BACKGROUND: Persistence in tobacco use among cancer survivors has been associated with a multitude of clinicodemographic factors. However, there is a paucity of understanding regarding the role the healthcare professional's specialty plays in tobacco cessation in tobacco-related cancer survivors. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from cancer survivors with a smoking history using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) database to examine differences in the proportion of patients continuing tobacco use among patients with a diagnosis of cancer segregated by cancer site specialty over the 2016-2020 period. We accounted for complex survey design and used sampling weights to obtain a nationwide representative sample. We employed modified Poisson regression adjusting for age, gender, education, income, race, marital status, and medical specialty. RESULTS: We analyzed 19,855 cancer survivors with a current or past history of tobacco use, of whom 5222 (26,3%) self-reported to be current smokers. Patients with urological and gynecological tobacco-related malignancies had a higher relative risk (RR) of being current smokers with a RR of 1.30 (95% confidence interval, 1.12-1.51) and 1.25 (95% confidence interval, 1.12-1.39) respectively. Malignant Hematology had the lowest RR of smoking status among all other specialties RR 0.85 (95% confidence interval, 0.59-1.21). CONCLUSIONS: Continuing smoking rates among tobacco-related cancer survivors were different between specialties. One in four cancer survivors were current smokers; this emphasizes health professionals' paramount role in tobacco cessation counseling.
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Cancer Survivors , Neoplasms , Smoking Cessation , Humans , Cross-Sectional Studies , Smoking/adverse effects , Smoking/epidemiology , Smoking/psychology , Neoplasms/epidemiology , Neoplasms/etiology , Neoplasms/psychologyABSTRACT
Arachnoid cysts are relatively rare and usually asymptomatic. It can only be diagnosed through radiological imaging modalities. Some patients may develop symptoms such as seizures, headache, dizziness, or psychiatric symptoms. We present a case of a 25-year-old male, previously healthy, who presented with sudden, repetitive episodes of seizure without regaining his consciousness. Computed tomography (CT) head scan showed a large cystic lesion that showed a rightward midline shift. Treatment was done surgically via endoscopic fenestration, and the patient remained symptom-free for one year. Most arachnoid cysts tend to remain asymptomatic throughout a patient's life span, allowing them to lead everyday normal lives; however, when these symptoms surface, they tend to be of a sudden nature requiring urgent surgical intervention. Our report follows the case of a young patient whose symptoms appear suddenly with triggers that led to status epilepticus. Our patient continued to suffer from multiple seizure attacks despite being on multiple anti-convulsive medications, and his symptoms eventually subsided via surgical intervention.
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Segmental ureterectomy (SU) is an alternative to radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) in the treatment of upper-tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) of the ureter. SU generally preserves renal function, at the expense of less intensive cancer control. We aim to assess whether SU is associated with inferior survival compared to RNU. Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we identified patients diagnosed with localized UTUC of the ureter between 2004-2015. We used a propensity-score-overlap-weighted (PSOW) multivariable survival model to compare survival following SU vs. RNU. PSOW-adjusted Kaplan-Meier curves were generated and we performed a non-inferiority test of overall survival. A population of 13,061 individuals with UTUC of the ureter receiving either SU or RNU was identified; of these, 9016 underwent RNU and 4045 SU. Factors associated with decreased likelihood of receiving SU were female gender (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.75-0.88; p < 0.001), advanced clinical T stage (cT4) (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.30-0.88; p = 0.015), and high-grade tumor (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.67-0.86; p < 0.001). Age greater than 79 years was associated with increased probability of undergoing SU (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.00-1.38; p = 0.047). There was no statistically significant difference in OS between SU and RNU (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.93-1.04; p = 0.538). SU was not inferior to RNU in PSOW-adjusted Cox regression analysis (p < 0.001 for non-inferiority). In weighted cohorts of individuals with UTUC of the ureter, the use of SU was not associated with inferior survival compared to RNU. Urologists should continue to utilize SU in appropriately selected patients.
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Crystal-storing histiocytosis is a rare condition that is histologically characterized by intracellular cytoplasmic crystalline inclusions. It usually presents monoclonal immunoglobulins that deposit within histiocytes, which accumulate and affect different organs of the human body and are commonly associated with lymphoproliferative conditions, especially those with plasmacytic differentiation. The prognosis of this condition is variable and related to the underlying clinical disease. In this review article, we aim to describe and discuss the clinical and pathological characteristics of crystal-storing histiocytosis based on the available literature and to provide a thorough differential diagnosis.
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PURPOSE: Testing for pathogenic variants can aid in oncologic risk stratification and identification of targeted therapies. Despite known disparities in access to prostate cancer (PCa) care, little has been written about access to germline genetic testing (GGT) for Black men and other historically marginalized populations. This systematic review sought to delineate racial/ethnic disparities in GGT for PCa. METHODS: This systematic review identified articles published from January 1996 through May 2021 in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. We included studies that reported rates of GGT in men with PCa in the United States by race/ethnicity as reflective of routine clinical care or research. A narrative synthesis was performed. RESULTS: Of 4,309 unique records, 91 studies examining 50 unique study populations met inclusion criteria. Of these, four populations included men who received GGT through routine clinical care, accounting for 4,415 men (72.6% White and 7.2% Black). The other 46 populations included men who received GGT as part of a research study, accounting for 30,824 men (64.3% White and 21.6% Black). Of these 46 research populations, 19 used targeted methods to increase recruitment from a specific demographic. CONCLUSION: Most studies that report GGT rates by race/ethnicity are in research settings. Many of these studies used targeted recruitment methods and subsequently have a greater proportion of Black men than clinical and US population-based studies. Other historically marginalized populations are not well represented. There remains a knowledge gap regarding the extent of racial disparities in the use of GGT, particularly in the clinical setting.
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Black or African American , Prostatic Neoplasms , Male , Humans , United States/epidemiology , Race Factors , Ethnicity , Prostatic Neoplasms/geneticsABSTRACT
The outcome of transplant recipients is variable depending on the study population, vaccination status and COVID-19 variants. Our aim was to study the impact of Omicron subvariants on the mortality of transplant recipients. We reviewed the results of SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequence of random isolates collected from 29 December 2021 until 17 May 2022 in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research center, Jeddah (KFSHRC-J), Saudi Arabia performed as hospital genomic surveillance program for COVID-19 variants. We included 25 transplant patients infected with confirmed Omicron variants.17 (68%) and 8 (32%) patients had Omicron BA.1 and BA.2, respectively. 12 (68%) patients had renal transplants. Only 36% of patients received three doses of COVID-19 vaccines. 23 (92%) patients required hospitalization. 20 (80%) patients survived and 6 (25%) required intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Among ICU patients, 66.7% were more than 50 years, 50% had two to three comorbidities and 5 out of 6 (83%) died. The mortality of transplant patients infected with Omicron variants in our cohort was higher than other centers as a limited number of patients received booster vaccines. Optimizing booster vaccination is the most efficient method to improve the mortality of COVID-19 in transplant recipients recognizing the inefficacy of monoclonal antibodies in the presence of SARS-CoV-2 emerging variants. We did not show a difference in mortality in transplant patients infected with Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 knowing the limitation of our sample size.