PCSK9 Inhibitors and Anthracyclines: The Future of Cardioprotection in Cardio-Oncology.

The field of cardio-oncology is an expanding frontier within cardiovascular medicine, and the need for evidence-based guidelines is apparent. One of the emerging focuses within cardio-oncology is the concomitant use of medications for cardioprotection in the setting of chemotherapy regimens that have known cardiovascular toxicity. While clinical trials focusing on cardioprotection during chemotherapy are sparse, an inaugural trial exploring the prophylactic potential of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) for anthracycline (ANT)-induced cardiotoxicity has recently commenced.

Infratemporal abscess: a rare complication of a common procedure.

The infratemporal fossa (ITF) is an anatomically complex cavity that houses a variety of muscular and neurovascular structures at the base of the skull. Infections involving the ITF, though uncommon, can be fatal due to the difficulties of accessing this anatomical space and its proclivity to evolve into a cavernous venous thrombosis (CVT). As a result, a multi-disciplinary approach involving several surgical and medical subspecialists is often warranted.

Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells: Therapeutic Target for Gastrointestinal Cancers.

Gastrointestinal cancers represent one of the more challenging cancers to treat. Current strategies to cure and control gastrointestinal (GI) cancers like surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy have met with limited success, and research has turned towards further characterizing the tumor microenvironment to develop novel therapeutics. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have emerged as crucial drivers of pathogenesis and progression within the tumor microenvironment in GI malignancies.

Opportunities and Challenges in Catheter-Based Irreversible Electroporation for Ventricular Tachycardia.

The use of catheter-based irreversible electroporation in clinical cardiac laboratories, termed pulsed-field ablation (PFA), is gaining international momentum among cardiac electrophysiology proceduralists for the non-thermal management of both atrial and ventricular tachyrhythmogenic substrates. One area of potential application for PFA is in the mitigation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) risk in the setting of ischemia-mediated myocardial fibrosis, as evidenced by recently published clinical case reports. The efficacy of tissue electroporation has been documented in other branches of science and medicine; however, ventricular PFA's potential advantages and pitfalls are less understood.

Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma and Unforeseen Adrenal Insufficiency: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can metastasize to nearly every organ, yet rarely metastasizes to the adrenal glands despite their anatomical proximity. Adrenal metastases are typically incidental findings on medical imaging and are vastly clinically asymptomatic. The adrenal glands can maintain hormonal homeostasis if a tenth of total adrenal gland function is preserved.

Acute Portal Vein Thrombosis Secondary to COVID-19 Vaccination.

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a partial or complete occlusion of the hepatic portal vein most frequently seen in patients with cirrhotic liver disease. Various non-cirrhotic conditions including inherited prothrombic blood disorders, neoplasms, and inflammatory diseases create hypercoagulable states that predispose individuals to blood clotting. Rarely does an exhaustive workup leave the etiology of a PVT unknown or unclear, and even more uncommon is a potential new etiology suspected.