Articles

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a biologically heterogeneous hematologic malignancy characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of immature myeloid cells and disruption of normal hematopoiesis. Despite major advances in genomic classification and the development of targeted therapies, long-term survival remains limited for many patients due to relapse and treatment resistance [1–3].

In uveal melanoma (UM), increased M2 macrophage infiltration and high tumor pigmentation are well-established adverse prognostic features, yet their biological interplay remains underexplored. Emerging evidence indicates that these characteristics frequently coexist in genetically high-risk tumors, particularly those with monosomy 3 and BAP1 loss.

Cancer is possibly the most dreaded among significant illnesses due to the agony of life from diagnosis to death. The conversion of normal cells into cancer by carcinogens (man-made chemical or naturally occurring, e.g., aflatoxin) proceeds in three steps. The first step is the initiation, followed by the second promotion step, and the third progression step.

Background and aims: Caudal epidural block is a commonly used technique for perineal surgeries in children. It is also used for chronic pain management in adults. Due to anatomical changes and variation, failure rate of caudal block in adults is very high with conventional landmark guided technique even in experienced hands.

To assess accuracy in transcutaneous bilirubinometry (TcB) measurements over an 11-year period and investigate differential performances depending on ethnic background. Aims to establish a TcB screening threshold to trigger measuring the serum bilirubin (SBR) for each group.

Background: The opioid epidemic highlights the need for objective biomarkers that identify high-risk chronic pain patients before overdose events occur. Existing prescription drug monitoring programs such as the NARX score are primarily reactive, underscoring the potential value of physiologic and behavioral risk markers.

Substance use disorders (SUD) have long been diagnosed and monitored through subjective self-report, leaving a critical gap in objective biomarkers for subtyping, treatment response, and relapse prediction. Cao et al. provided pivotal genetic evidence for bidirectional causal relationships between addiction phenotypes and systemic inflammation using Mendelian Randomization (MR), a methodological breakthrough that opens a tangible path toward closing this gap. 

Objective: To evaluate patient-reported experiences with post-operative acute pain management, assess unmet needs, and describe impacts of inadequately managed acute pain in the United States. Methods: This mixed-methods, exploratory sequential study included concept elicitation interviews and a survey of adults who underwent abdominal, orthopedic, plastic, or general surgery within the past 90 days. 

India can be regarded as an agricultural country where 46% of its land is utilized for farming [1]. Since ancient times, plants have been utilized for their edible properties and for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. The ancient medicinal science Ayurveda strongly recommends the use of natural ingredients in the form of food to remain healthy and also to cure various ailments. 

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are widely studied conditions, yet the populations represented in dementia research do not always reflect the diversity of individuals who age with these disorders. Transgender and gender-diverse populations remain largely absent from many epidemiological datasets and longitudinal cohort studies that inform current models of cognitive aging. 

I have only written one other editorial that was not purely scientific. It followed shortly after my fortieth medical school reunion and lamented for a past time when the “primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary” [1] goals of medicine were patient care and physicians expected (and therefore made time) to talk with patients and examine them in a manner commensurate with those goals. 

Hyperuricemia and gout represent significant metabolic and inflammatory disorders with increasing prevalence among adolescents and young adults (typically defined as ages 12–25 years). Epidemiological studies indicate that adolescent hyperuricemia prevalence varies significantly by geographic region and diagnostic criteria, with recent studies reporting rates ranging from 8.4% to 21.4% depending on the threshold definitions applied [1].

Liver fibrosis represents a critical convergence point in gastroenterological practice, serving as the common pathway from chronic injury—whether metabolic (MASLD/MASH), alcoholic, viral, or drug-induced—to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Globally, cirrhosis and chronic liver disease account for over 1.5 million deaths annually, with MASLD now the leading indication for liver transplantation in many regions. 

Mental health diagnosis is undergoing a quiet but decisive transformation, one that reflects both the strengths and the limits of the systems that have guided psychiatry for more than half a century. For decades, structured diagnostic manuals provided a shared language for clinicians, researchers, and institutions, allowing a field once marked by inconsistency to establish a degree of coherence and legitimacy.

In breast-conserving therapy, whole-breast radiotherapy (WBRT) followed by a postoperative tumor bed boost is the standard approach for patients at increased risk of local recurrence [1–6]. However, postoperative boost delivery is limited by challenges in tumor bed delineation after surgery, particularly in the setting of oncoplastic reconstruction, and may prolong overall locoregional treatment time. Historical concerns regarding wound healing have limited the use of preoperative breast radiotherapy, though these concerns largely stem from experiences with whole-breast irradiation rather than limited-volume boost dosing [7,8]. 

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) constitute a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. Millions of people are currently afflicted with AD and PD with numbers expected to double by mid-century, if effective disease-modifying treatments do not become available. There is no cure for AD or PD. Current Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments are symptomatic which do not halt the progression of the disease and are associated with adversities.

Neuropsychiatric sequelae following critical illness are increasingly recognized as major determinants of long-term morbidity and mortality. Depression affects approximately one-third of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors and contributes significantly to post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). Recent epidemiological data demonstrate substantial initiation of antidepressant therapy following ICU discharge, while clinical cohort studies confirm a high burden of depressive symptoms among survivors.

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) patients experience severe physical deconditioning due to extremely low physical activity, prolonged sedentary behavior, and progressive muscle wasting. These changes accelerate frailty, impair functional independence, reduce quality of life (QoL), and increase hospitalization and mortality risks. Sarcopenia is now recognized as a key predictor of poor outcomes in this population.

Purpose: To compare diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and 18F-FDG PET-CT for detection and volumetric assessment of colorectal cancer liver metastases, evaluating the optimal b-value for volumetric correlation with metabolic tumor volume (MTV).
Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 50 patients with histopathologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma and liver metastases who underwent both PET-CT and liver MRI (including DWI at b=50, 400, 800 s/mm²) within 30 days. Synthetic DWI images at b=1000, 1500, and 2000 s/mm² were generated.

Objective: To successfully manage odontogenic maxillary sinusitis & subclinical oroantral communication post dental implant, using combined endoscopic & Caldwell Luc approach without removing dental implant.