First-line pembrolizumab for metastatic NSCLC in lower-middle-income countries: bridging the efficacy-effectiveness gap.

Introduction: Pembrolizumab is a standard first-line therapy for advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (a/mNSCLC) lacking actionable mutations. Data from lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) remain scarce.

Methods: From January 2019 to June 2024, we prospectively analyzed 78 a/mNSCLC patients receiving pembrolizumab-based first-line therapy.

Emerging pharmacological strategies in lipoprotein(a) reduction.

Background: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is an low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-like particle whose elevation is considered a causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and calcific aortic valve stenosis. Currently, there are no published clinical trials showing whether Lp(a) lowering in conjunction with optimal LDL cholesterol control reduces ASCVD risk.

Methods: Clinicaltrials.

Primary pulmonary paraganglioma: Report of two cases with one case showing cytokeratin positivity.

Primary pulmonary paraganglioma (PPP) is a rare tumor, with few cases described in the literature. Here, we report two cases of PPP, one of which shows cytokeratin (CK) positivity, along with a literature review. In the first case, a 76-year-old male patient presented with a right-lung peribronchial mass, while in the second case, a 53-year-old male, presented with a right middle lobe mass.

Treatment of severe hyperlipidemia and associated cardiovascular outcomes: Data from a large healthcare system.

Background: High intensity statin therapy is currently recommended for primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in patients with severe hyperlipidemia (HLD), defined as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of ≥190 mg/dL.

Objective: We investigated rates and dosages of statin use and associated ASCVD outcomes for patients with severe HLD.

Methods: In a large healthcare system network, patients without ASCVD with an LDL-C ≥ 190 mg/dL were identified and stratified further based on American College of Cardiology /American Heart Association 10-year risk score.

Non-invasive scoring systems of liver fibrosis predict prognosis in the cohort with myocardial infarction.

Patients with liver fibrosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have an increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, long-term prognosis of liver fibrosis and T2DM after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remain to be investigated. This study compared clinical characteristics and prognosis of AMI patients with T2DM and evidence of liver fibrosis.

The Global Syndemic of Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors Projected From 2025 to 2050.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of global mortality. Understanding epidemiologic trends in the modifiable risk factors driving CVDs is essential in designing effective countermeasures.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to forecast geospatial trends of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, namely high systolic blood pressure (SBP), high fasting plasma glucose, high body mass index (BMI), high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and tobacco use from 2025 to 2050.

Role of Lipoprotein(a) in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in South Asian Individuals.

South Asian individuals (SA), representing approximately one quarter of the global population, experience a disproportionately high burden of cardiovascular disease. Some of this increased susceptibility is accounted for by traditional risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, carbohydrate-rich diets, and rising rates of obesity and metabolic syndrome. However, other previously underappreciated risk factors may also play a crucial role.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist in myocardial infarction and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk reduction: a comprehensive meta-analysis of number needed to treat, efficacy and safety.

Background: Glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) use in individuals with high atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk reduces major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). However, its clinical impact, in terms of numbers needed to treat (NNT), efficacy and safety profile in reducing the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and the individual ASCVD constituents remain unclear.

Methods: Electronic databases, Medline and Embase were reviewed for randomized trials from inception to 29 May 2025.

Androgen receptor expression in triple negative breast cancer: A report from a tertiary care center.

Context: The role of androgen receptor (AR) as a prognostic marker in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been ambiguous since existing reports illustrate conflicting results.

Aims: To compare clinicopathological features and survival between AR-positive TNBC and QNBC.

Methods And Material: A total of 281 subjects were included and tissue microarrays (TMA) were constructed using tumor tissue cores from their formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks.

Phenotypic attributes and survival in mismatch repair deficient/microsatellite instability-high colorectal carcinomas.

Background: Mismatch repair deficient/microsatellite instability-high (MMR-D/MSI-H) colorectal cancers (CRCs) possess a distinctive genomic profile that results in a spectrum of phenotypic attributes setting them apart from their mismatch repair proficient (MMR-P) or microsatellite stable (MSS) counterparts. CRCs have several prognostic factors, including stage, tumor differentiation, location, lymphovascular and perineural invasion, tumor budding, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, lymph node yield (LNY), and lymph node ratio (LNR).

Aim: To determine the unique phenotypic characteristics of MMR-D/MSI-H CRCs and leverage the conventional wisdom of LNY and LNR with the distinctive characteristics of MMR-D/MSI-H CRCs.

A Critical Appraisal of Lipid Management in the Post-Statin Era: Comparison on Guidelines, Therapeutic Targets, and Screening in a Case-Based Framework of Lipid Management.

The role of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is well established. Lipid management remains the cornerstone of addressing ASCVD. In addition to statin therapy, there is a large and growing number of nonstatin therapies available to manage elevated cholesterol levels.

Prevalence and Correlates of Lipoprotein(a) Testing in a Diverse Cohort of U.S. Adults.

Background: Once-per-lifetime lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] testing is recommended by multiple professional societies during cardiovascular disease risk assessment.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and identify correlates of Lp(a) testing in a real-world, diverse sample.

Methods: Participants were ≥18 years of age from the All of Us Research Study who shared electronic medical record information through 2022 (N = 266,612).

Performance of PREVENT and pooled cohort equations for predicting 10-Year ASCVD risk in the UK Biobank.

Background: The Pooled Cohort Equations (PCE) were created in 2013 to assess ASCVD risk in primary prevention. In 2023 the American Heart Association published the PREVENT equations to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease in primary prevention. The comparative performance of PCE and PREVENT for predicting 10-year ASCVD risk has not been evaluated in an external large-scale epidemiologic cohort.

AHA PREVENT Equations and Lipoprotein(a) for Cardiovascular Disease Risk : Insights From MESA and the UK Biobank.

Importance: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is independently associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk but is not included in the new American Heart Association Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events (PREVENT) equations for CVD risk assessment.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of these equations in individuals with elevated Lp(a).

Design, Setting, And Participants: Cohort study involving 314 783 participants from the multicenter Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA, 2000-2018; n = 6670) and the population-based UK Biobank (UKB, 2006-2022; n = 308 113) without known cardiovascular disease with available Lp(a) measurements.

Why, how and in whom should we measure levels of lipoprotein(a): A review of the latest evidence and clinical implications.

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a genetically determined, causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). Despite robust evidence from epidemiological and genetic studies, Lp(a) remains underrecognised in clinical practice due to challenges in measurement, lack of guideline familiarity and limited therapeutic options. In this narrative review, we summarise the pathophysiological mechanisms linking Lp(a) to atherogenesis, thrombosis and inflammation, emphasising its unique structural features and causal role in cardiovascular disease.

Association of Lipoprotein(a) with cardiovascular events among individuals with autoimmune conditions.

Background: Autoimmune conditions are associated with systemic inflammation, which elevates the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Systemic inflammation can increase plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels by activating the interleukin-6 response element within the LPA gene promoter region. However, the association between elevated plasma Lp(a) and MACE risk in individuals with autoimmune conditions remains unclear.

Diagnostic Utility of NKX3.1 in Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma on Needle Biopsy: A Case Report of a Supraclavicular Soft Tissue Mass with Literature Review.

We report a case of young female in her 20s who presented with a supraclavicular soft tissue mass. Diagnostic biopsy showed a malignant round cell tumor with areas of spindling and hyalinized stroma. The utilization of an immunohistochemistry panel revealed positive results for NKX2.

Psychological Distress and Cardiovascular Health in Pregnancy: Findings From the U.S. National Health Interview Survey.

Background: The relationship between psychological health and cardiovascular health (CVH) during pregnancy is not well characterized.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to perform a cross-sectional analysis in order to assess the relationships between psychological distress and CVH among pregnant individuals in the United States.

Methods: U.

County-level association of diabetes and obesity with premature mortality.

Objective: The association between the prevalence of diabetes and obesity and premature mortality at the county-level has not been well characterized. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between county-level prevalence of diabetes and obesity and premature mortality.

Methods: We utilized the data from the 2022 County Health Rankings which obtained the data from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 2019, and National Center for Health Statistics Mortality Files 2018-2020.

NUT carcinoma of larynx with aberrant LCA expression: A rare entity with diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.

Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma (NC) are highly aggressive tumors, seen in the head and neck region. These tumors have an undifferentiated to a poorly differentiated morphology, and their diagnosis requires help of ancillary testing by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or in situ hybridization techniques. Here, we describe a case of 27-year-old patient with a rare NC of the larynx.

Beyond Cholesterol: Unraveling Residual Lipidomic Risk in Cardiovascular Health.

Purpose Of Review: This paper reviews the existing literature on lipidomics as a tool for improved cardiovascular risk estimation in both primary and secondary prevention populations.

Recent Findings: Detailed lipidomic signatures identified by mass spectrometry have been shown to enhance risk estimation for clinical CAD and the presence of subclinical CAD on CTCA in multiple large cohort populations. In patients with established atherosclerotic disease, ceramide and phospholipid-based risk scores improve prediction for recurrent cardiovascular events and cardiovascular death.

Real world experience with MET inhibitors in MET exon 14 skipping mutated non-small cell lung cancer: largest Indian perspective.

Background: Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) presenting with Mesenchymal-epithelial transition exon 14 skipping mutation (MET ex14) have an unfavorable prognosis with traditional therapies. MET inhibitors have altered the therapeutic paradigm of NSCLC. MET ex14 skipping alteration is reported in 3-4% cases (N Engl J Med 383(10):944-957, 2020, Cancer Discov 5(8):842-9, 2015).

scCamAge: A context-aware prediction engine for cellular age, aging-associated bioactivities, and morphometrics.

Current deep-learning-based image-analysis solutions exhibit limitations in holistically capturing spatiotemporal cellular changes, particularly during aging. We present scCamAge, an advanced context-aware multimodal prediction engine that co-leverages image-based cellular spatiotemporal features at single-cell resolution alongside cellular morphometrics and aging-associated bioactivities such as genomic instability, mitochondrial dysfunction, vacuolar dynamics, reactive oxygen species levels, and epigenetic and proteasomal dysfunctions. scCamAge employed heterogeneous datasets comprising ∼1 million single yeast cells and was validated using pro-longevity drugs, genetic mutants, and stress-induced models.