Topical phenytoin improves wound healing with analgesic and antibacterial properties and minimal side effects: a systematic review.

Background: Although phenytoin's potential benefits in wound healing, pain relief, and infection control across various wound types have been previously reported, its use in wound care remains limited.

Objective: To conduct a comprehensive review to assess the efficacy of topical phenytoin compared with standard and alternative treatments for different wound types.

Materials And Methods: The authors last searched Cochrane Library, PubMed, PubMed Central, and MEDLINE in June 2023.

Eculizumab Versus Ravulizumab for the Treatment of Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a type of thrombotic microangiopathy and is characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney failure. The complement cascade plays an integral role in aHUS. Mutations in the complement cascade, especially in the alternative pathway (AP) lead to an unregulated and continuous activation of the cascade.

Tenofovir-Induced Renal Dysfunction Among HIV-Infected Patients: A Systematic Review.

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is an antiretroviral drug widely used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection. Negative effects of tenofovir include impaired kidney function, especially with long-term use. In studies conducted among HIV-positive individuals, we found evidence of extensive kidney damage associated with TDF use.

Efficacy of Sequential Therapy as the First-Line Treatment in the Eradication of Helicobacter pylori.

The Helicobacter pylori infection is a significant issue in global health as it is associated with a range of gastrointestinal disorders and an elevated likelihood of developing stomach cancer. The declining efficacy of standard triple therapy (TT) as the recommended treatment can be attributed to the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Sequential therapy (ST) has been recognized as an alternative approach, wherein a combination of proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) and amoxicillin is administered for the initial five days, followed by a combination of PPI, clarithromycin, and metronidazole for the subsequent five days.

Fluid Resuscitation in Septic Patients.

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ failure caused by a dysregulated response to infection. Fluid resuscitation and vasopressors are used to maintain systolic blood pressure and organ perfusion. Fluid resuscitation can be done with liberal or restricted fluids as well as colloids or crystalloid fluids.

Comparative Safety and Efficacy of Immunosuppressive Regimens Post-kidney Transplant: A Systematic Review.

Immunosuppressive agents are used post-organ transplant to prevent acute rejection and graft losses. Tacrolimus, the most widely used immunosuppressive agent for kidney transplant recipients, has unfavorable side effects such as new-onset diabetes after transplant, nephrotoxicity, and electrolyte imbalances. Other drug groups such as the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, belatacept, and bleselumab have been used to either substitute calcineurin inhibitors or reduce their exposure.

Decreasing Antibiotic Use in a Community Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Objective: In view of the excessive use of antibiotics in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), we launched a 5-year multidisciplinary quality improvement (QI) initiative in our NICU in 2018. We had set our aim of decreasing the antibiotic use rate (AUR) from 22 to 17%.

Study Design: The QI initiative was conducted in our 53-bed level 3B NICU.

Outcomes and motives for not proceeding with the second stage bilateral knee replacement: a comparison of cancelled and completed bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

Background: Staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common treatment option for patients with bilateral symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, yet some patients do not proceed with their second procedure. Our study aimed to identify the rate and reasons why patients did not proceed with their second procedure and compare their functional outcomes, satisfaction and complication rates with those of patients who had completed a staged bilateral TKA.

Methods: We determined the proportion of patients who underwent TKA but did not proceed with planned surgery for the second knee within 2 years, and compared their satisfaction with surgery, improvement in the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and complications between groups.

Advances in genome editing: the technology of choice for precise and efficient β-thalassemia treatment.

Beta (β)-thalassemia is one of the most significant hemoglobinopathy worldwide. The high prevalence of the β-thalassemia carriers aggravates the disease burden for patients and national economies in the developing world. The survival of β-thalassemia patients solely relies on repeated transfusions, which eventually results into multi-organ damage.

Molecular pathways and targeted therapy in cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) encompasses a rare group of malignancies arising from epithelial cells lining the biliary tree that connects the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. Most patients present with advanced incurable disease that has a poor prognosis, and standard treatment options remain limited. Effective nontoxic treatment options for advanced CCA are needed.

Immunotherapy and targeted therapy-the new roadmap in cancer treatment.

Immunotherapy is the new frontier in cancer medicine. This manuscript summarizes historical aspect of immunotherapy, particularly its pathway to drug approval as the main therapeutic modality used in clinical medicine. We will discuss the role of immunotherapy in treating various types of cancers and how the treatment landscape once dominated by chemotherapy is rapidly changing.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy and immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of various types of cancers in recent years. Since the US Food and Drug Administration approval of the anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 agent ipilimumab for late-stage melanoma in 2011, results from multiple clinical trials have proven the benefit of immunotherapy in the treatment of other cancers. However, therapeutic resistance to immunotherapy often develops.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors: the new frontier in non-small-cell lung cancer treatment.

Lung cancer is the major cause for cancer-related death in the US. Although advances in chemotherapy and targeted therapy have improved the outcome of metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer, its prognosis remains dismal. A deeper understanding of the complex interaction between the immune system and tumor microenvironment has identified immune checkpoint inhibitors as new avenue of immunotherapy.

Evaluation of therapeutic control in a Pakistani population with hypertension.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are increasing at an alarming rate in South Asia. High blood pressure is a modifiable risk factor for CVD. In this study, we evaluated the control of blood pressure and the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with hypertension.

Open onlay mesh repair for major abdominal wall hernias with selective use of components separation and fibrin sealant.

Background: The objective of the study was to reassess the efficacy of the open onlay technique for repair of major incisional hernias, utilizing the modern adjuncts of components separation and fibrin sealant to reduce the principal complications of seroma and recurrence. Major incisional hernias were defined as >10 cm transverse diameter.

Methods: A prospective audit was applied to 116 patients undergoing open onlay incisional hernia repair during a 2-year period at a single institution.

Total parotidectomy under local anesthesia: a novel technique.

Parotidectomy is a common procedure usually done for a parotid mass necessitating a histological diagnosis. Operation is normally performed under General anesthesia with a nerve stimulator to facilitate facial nerve stimulation. We describe a new technique with reports of three cases, making total parotidectomy under local anesthesia possible.

A novel haplotype in ABCA1 gene effects plasma HDL-C concentration.

Background And Objectives: ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1) is a trans-membrane protein responsible for the efflux of cholesterol and phospholipids across the cell membrane, an essential step in the reverse cholesterol transport system. This study investigates the effect of five non-synonymous SNPs of ABCA1 gene on plasma HDL-C levels in Pakistani individuals free of ischemic heart disease and stroke.

Methods: Five non-synonymous SNPs were selected after sequencing ABCA1 gene in patients of Hypoalphalipoproteinemia.