A meta-analysis of outcomes of aspiration thrombectomy for high and intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: Aspiration thrombectomy has gained popularity in patients with massive and sub-massive pulmonary embolism (PE) and having contraindications to thrombolysis. METHODS: A meta-analysis was conducted including studies on aspiration thrombectomy in patients with high-risk and intermediate-risk PE. The pooled odds ratio for efficacy parameters, including change in heart rate, blood pressure and right ventricle/left ventricle (RV/LV) ratio, and safety parameters including major bleeding and stroke, was calculated using a random effects model. RESULTS: The meta-analysis of 24 selected studies revealed that intermediate and high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) patients demonstrated significant improvements: modified Miller score odds ratio of 10.60, mean pulmonary artery pressure reduction by 0.04 mm Hg, and an overall all-cause mortality odds ratio of 0.10. Considerable heterogeneity was observed in various outcomes. CONCLUSION: Aspiration thrombectomy has success rates in both high-risk and intermediate-risk PE, however, procedural risks, including bleeding, must be anticipated.

Glioblastome Multiforme: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Bibliometric analyses are widely used to gauge the scholarly impact of any scientific publication. We conducted a bibliometric analysis of the 100 most influential articles on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). We searched Scopus using the keywords "Glioblastoma multiforme," "GBM," Glioblastoma," and "Grade IV glioma." A list of the top 100 articles was prepared. The articles were sorted according to the number of citations. A detailed analysis was carried out to identify the characteristics of the most influential studies. The 100 most cited articles in the field were published over 38 years between 1978 and 2018, with the maximum number of articles published in the 10-year period from 2001 to 2010. The total number of citations for 100 articles was 148,594 and 4.8% were self-citations. Citations ranged from 9624 to 617, with a median of 935 (interquartile range, 906). The top cited articles originated from 22 countries, with the greatest contributions from the United States. Nature made the greatest contribution to the research on GBM, with a total of 14 articles, and Cancer Cell and New England Journal of Medicine were the second biggest contributors. Fifty-seven studies focused on the pathogenesis of GBM. There were 12 authors who had ≥5 articles in the top 100 citation list. Only 31% of the articles were funded by public and private sector organizations. Our analysis highlights the characteristics of the most influential articles on GBM and provides valuable insight into the research that has been conducted in this field.

Top 100 Most Influential Articles in the Field of Myeloid Neoplasms: A Bibliometric Study.

BACKGROUND: Bibliometric analyses are a tool employed by researchers and funding agencies to establish the most important areas of research in a particular field, and to determine which foci need increased research attention. Such analyses have been published in a variety of clinical specialties; however, a detailed literature search showed that no such study has been done for "myeloid neoplasms." In order to bridge this gap, we conducted a citation analysis of the 100 most influential articles on myeloid neoplasms. METHODS: Two independent researchers extracted relevant articles from the Scopus database. These articles were then ranked in descending order of citations and a list of the top 100 original articles was made. A further, more detailed list was created containing significant discriminating characteristics. RESULTS: The top cited articles were published over a period of 47 years, with most of them being published in the 5-year interval of 2001-2005. The citations ranged from 636 to 4,039. The articles originated from 28 different countries. Most of the articles were published in high-impact journals. CONCLUSION: Our analysis sheds light on the quality of work and driving trends, listing the most cited and impactful guideline articles within this field and aiding clinicians.

Xeroderma Pigmentosum - Cockayne Syndrome Complex (XP-CS) - Another case.

We present the case of a 3-year old girl with clinical manifestations typical of XP-CS, an extremely rare combination of Xeroderma Pigmentosum and Cockayne Syndrome. She had a swelling above the upper lip and multiple brown spots on her face, neck, arms and back. She was globally delayed, deaf, dumb and photophobic. MRI brain showed mild cerebral atrophy and bilateral demyelination. De Sanctis Cacchione variant (dSCS) and Rothmund Thomson syndrome (RTS), which were among the differential diagnosis were ruled out upon careful evaluation. Supportive treatment was given and regular checkups were recommended to monitor the progression of the disease but our patient did not show up for the follow up. This report shows that the diagnosis of XP-CS can be based on clinical features and MRI findings when the genetic testing is not available.

The Fight Against Cancer: Nitrobenzaldehyde as the Potential Warrior.

New milestones have been reached in oncology with the advent of a noninvasive, photodynamic therapy which aims to eradicate cancer cells rapidly. A chemical compound, Nitrobenzaldehyde, injected into the tumor, activates by ultraviolet (UV) light and disrupts the cancer cells' internal and external dynamics. This technique could be of enormous therapeutic value in destroying numerous cancer lines including breast, prostate, pancreatic cancers, etc., without causing unwanted systemic side effects.

Prevalence of Conventional Risk Factors and Evaluation of Baseline Indices Among Young and Elderly Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, manifesting in a variety of clinical spectrums such as an asymptomatic disease or acute coronary syndrome. It has become highly prevalent in Southeast Asia, including Pakistan. There has been little work done on the prevalence of traditional risk factors in different age groups and genders and there is a dire need to gauge the importance of baseline indices in CAD patients. AIM: To determine the prevalence of conventional risk factors and evaluate the variations in lipid profiles, electrolyte levels and haematological indices among patients with CAD in different age groups and gender. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan from January to June 2016, among patients with CAD. We recorded the presence of conventional risk factors and baseline indices within the first 24 hours of admission. Continuous variables were compared using Independent t-test or Mann-Whitney test and categorical variables were compared using chi-square or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The most frequent risk factor was dyslipidemia (91.2%), followed by hypertension (70.4%), diabetes (51.2%), family history of CAD (40.0%) and smoking (29.2%). Total of 98.4% of patients had at least one risk factor. Diabetes and hypertension were found to be common in females; whereas, smoking was predominantly present in males. Diabetes and dyslipidemia were mostly encountered in elderly patients. The most frequent lipid alteration was low levels of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL). Cholesterol and HDL levels were found to be higher in females than males. Elderly patients had lower levels of HDL and higher levels of Cholesterol. The levels of haematological indices were found to be higher in males and younger patients. The median levels of serum sodium and potassium were found to be higher in elderly patients. CONCLUSION: Our study findings corroborate with the findings from previous studies regarding the significance of risk factors in causing cardiovascular pathology. Medical interventions and dietary control to improve body's lipid status would be indispensable in the prevention of CAD. Deranged electrolyte levels necessitate correction of body electrolyte parameters as an adjunct in prevention strategies.