Assessing the Efficacy and Long-Term Outcomes of Surgical Intervention Versus Radiotherapy: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prostate Cancer Treatment Modalities.

There is controversy regarding the most effective primary treatment of choice for prostate cancer (PCa) in terms of patient outcomes, such as surgery or radiotherapy (RT). This study evaluated the comparative efficacy and long-term outcomes of radical prostatectomy (RP) and RT for PCa treatment. A thorough literature review of relevant databases was conducted, focusing on academic and clinical studies published from 2019 onwards. The inclusion criteria included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and other observational studies comparing survival outcomes in patients treated with surgery and RT. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines to provide an overview of the data. We selected 19 studies based on the inclusion criteria. Of the total 19 studies, 12 advocated RP as the preferred treatment to improve survival outcomes in patients with PCa. The results of our synthesis showed that prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) was lower in patients treated with RT. The total effect size for the analysis was calculated as Z=1.19 (p-value=0.23). The heterogeneity in the studies was as follows: Tau2=0.09, Chi2=20.25, df=4, I2=80%. Moreover, overall survival (OS) was shown to be higher in patients who underwent prostatectomy. The combined effect for the analysis was found to be: HR=0.97 (0.93, 1.01). The total effect was calculated as Z=1.33 (p-value= 0.18). The heterogeneity was found to be Tau2=0.00, Chi2=1.33, df=2, and I2=0%. However, overall mortality (OM) was shown to be independent of the treatment modality. RT is the preferred strategy for PCa treatment, as it balances efficacy and long-term outcomes. Clinical decision-making should consider individual patient characteristics and future research should delve into specific subpopulations and long-term outcomes to further refine the treatment guidelines.

Case Report Of A Rare Incidentaloma Of The Adrenal Gland-Schwannoma.

The Schwannoma is a benign growth of the nerve sheath cells most commonly seen in the vestibulocochlear nerve. Its prevalence in the adrenal gland is 1-3%. Here we discuss a case that presented as an incidentaloma of the right adrenal gland in a young male patient who had vague abdominal symptoms and a normal hormonal profile. He underwent an excisional biopsy of the right adrenal gland due to the large size of the lesion (more than 4cm). The histopathology report helped to establish the diagnosis of Schwannoma. Incidentaloma is defined as a lesion of the adrenal gland encountered on any radiological investigation carried out for symptoms that are not associated with adrenal pathologies. After discovering such lesions, it is imperative to perform radiological and hormonal investigations in an organised manner to plan further management of such cases.

Comparative Outcomes of Radical Cystectomy in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer poses a significant clinical challenge that necessitates effective therapeutic interventions. Radical cystectomy is a primary treatment option, but a comprehensive understanding of its outcomes is crucial for informed clinical decision-making. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate and summarize the outcomes associated with radical cystectomy as a primary treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer with a focus on survival rates, complications, and quality of life. A systematic search across databases-PubMed, Google Scholar, and others-covered studies from 2017 onwards. Included were studies reporting survival rates, complications, and quality of life post-radical cystectomy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients, including randomized controlled trials, cohort, and observational studies. Multidimensional analysis revealed promising findings regarding the efficacy of radical cystectomy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Survival outcomes, including overall survival and disease-specific mortality, have demonstrated significant improvements, particularly in recent randomized controlled trials and cohort studies. Complications associated with the surgical procedure, such as positive surgical margins and lymph node yields, were generally acceptable. Quality of life outcomes post-radical cystectomy exhibited positive trends, although variations were noted in the emotional and social domains. This review underscores radical cystectomy's role in enhancing overall survival and reducing disease-specific mortality in muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Despite reported complications, recent studies support its acceptable risk profile. Detailed examination of various factors contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the procedure. These findings emphasize the importance of individualized treatment approaches in the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer, considering both oncological efficacy and perioperative outcomes. Radical cystectomy remains fundamental in urological oncology, with ongoing advancements refining its significance.

Covert nail injury to the back: A case report.

Occupational trauma in carpentry is common in our society due to lack of awareness on occupational safety and poor availability and adherence towards protective equipment. Given below is an unusual case of a young carpenter who presented in the orthopaedic outpatient department with complaint of difficulty in walking for the last four days. On examination, restricted movement of the hip joint on extension was observed. On further work up in the form of radiological investigations, a long iron nail was discovered as incidental finding in the back in close proximity to the ascending colon and duodenum in the retroperitoneum. Elective laparotomy was performed to remove the nail, after which the patient improved clinically and his presenting complaints were completely resolved on further follow up. This demonstrates the unusual way in which such a case can present in the outpatient department instead of the emergency department and with symptoms that may prompt one to think of anything but foreign body trauma, emphasising the need for proper history and meticulous relevant clinical examination, as covert foreign body injury can occur to the back, especially in patients involved in such occupations.

Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns: Review of the Antibiogram of a Surgical Unit in a Public Tertiary Care Hospital of Pakistan.

Introduction Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a challenge in modern-day medical practice. The pace at which microbes are becoming resistant to antibiotics is greater than the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents. There is a need to study these antimicrobial patterns and, for this purpose, antibiograms should be developed at the levels of wards and hospitals and studied to guide us better on how to choose suitable empirical therapy for our patients. Methods and materials A total of 286 reports were studied, which contained the culture and sensitivity data of all the patients admitted under the care of Surgical Unit-1 in Lahore General Hospital between April 1, 2019, and October 31, 2019. All the samples for culture and sensitivity were sent to the in-house laboratory of the hospital where the reporting was done by the pathology department. They were inoculated and then intubated, and gram staining was performed. Antibiotic resistance and susceptibility were measured by the disk diffusion method according to the Clinical and Laboratory standards institute (CSLI) guidelines. Results The most common isolated organism was Escherichia coli​​​​​​​ (E. coli) in 65 (24%) patients, the next most common was Acinetobacter species in 62 (23%), followed by Pseudomonas species 52(19%), Klebsiella species 32 (13%), Staphylococcus aureus 30 (11%), Coagulase-negative Staphylococci 20 (7%), Enterobacter species (2%), and Citrobacter species (1%). The antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli was highest for aminoglycosides and carbapenems like amikacin (78%), meropenem (71%), and imipenem (63%). Acinetobacter was most sensitive to colistin (100%), amikacin (31%), meropenem (21%), and cefoperazone + sulbactam (21%). Pseudomonas was also most sensitive to colistin (93%) and after that amikacin (52%), meropenem (52%), and imipenem (44%). Klebsiella was most sensitive to colistin (86%), imipenem (60%), and aminoglycosides (50%). Among gram-positive organisms, Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to linezolid (100%) and vancomycin (100%). Conclusion The vast majority of isolated organisms in this study were gram-negative bacteria, and most were showing high antimicrobial resistance. The antibiograms should be developed and regularly updated at every ward and hospital. There is a need to bring more awareness about the proper use of antimicrobials among healthcare workers, and antimicrobial stewardship programs can help in this matter.

Impact of Clinical Information on the Turnaround Time in Surgical Histopathology: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction Clinical information (CI) is a key requisite to diagnose and report a specimen in histopathology. A timely dispatched report can help a clinician to confirm a diagnosis and initiate a prompt treatment plan while an unnecessary delay in reporting time can compromise patient's healthcare. The aim of this study was to ascertain the impact of the adequacy of CI provided by clinicians on the turnaround time (TAT) and to investigate factors pertinent to specimens, their handling, and diagnosis. Methods This retrospective study reviewed a total of 803 surgical specimens reported in a duration of four months (from December 2015 till March 2016) by the Department of Histopathology, FMH College of Medicine & Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan. Frozen section and cytology specimens were excluded. CI was classified into three categories: short and focused, long and detailed, and deficient CI. Deficient CI was designated where the pathologist had to seek more information from the requesting clinicians. Total time taken by the histopathologist to complete a report was calculated after excluding weekends and holidays. Other factors like type of specimen, special staining, diagnosis of malignancy and source of referral were also studied. The data were entered and analyzed on SPSS 22.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY). Shapiro-Wilk test was used to measure the distribution. Results Most of the specimens (46.2%, n = 371) were reported within three days. Of these, most of the specimens (46.9%, n = 174) had a short and focused CI (p < 0.001). Majority of the specimens which were reported within four to five days (42.1%, n = 114) and after five days (62.1%, n = 100) were found to have a long and detailed CI in their requisition forms. Median TAT extended to six (4.00-7.00) days with the use of special stains (p < 0.001). One hundred and sixty-three (20.29%) of the total cases were diagnosed as malignant in which the median TAT significantly prolonged to five days (p < 0.001). Most of the specimens (80%, n = 60) received from the outside laboratories had a long and detailed CI in requisition forms. Endometrial tissue specimen was the predominant type received by the department (24.3%, n = 90). Conclusion Adequate CI is necessary for timely and error-free reporting of a specimen in surgical histopathology. A short, focused and concise CI is associated with a shorter TAT. Long and detailed CI is often seen with a complex surgical specimen that requires a longer time to report. Factors like specimen type, special staining, number of special stains and diagnosis of a malignancy also affect TAT.