Translational points of views on heart failure reprogramming

Metastatic neoplasias often require increased blood supply for proliferation. Tumors that outgrow their blood supply can undergo necrosis, leading to the formation of mass-like abscesses. Depending on the location, these lesions can form fistulas with nearby organs resulting in poor patient outcomes. Interventional operators may use unconventional methods to the benefit of patients when resolving these complex lesions. The following case describes a patient with a large right hemorrhagic intrahepatic collection and formation of a duodenal fistula, resulting in acute blood loss anemia. Although there is not a standardized treatment for this complication, we present a novel therapeutic technique that incorporates similar principles analogous to the standard canned aerosol tire repair device.Vaccine-related erythema nodosum is uncommon, especially after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. This study presents the first case of the Pfizer vaccine associated with erythema nodosum. A 22-year-old healthy woman presented with a five-day history of several red painful areas with swelling in the lower extremities that started one day after receiving the first dose of Pfizer vaccine. Past medical history, laboratory investigation, and chest radiograph revealed normal results. Erythema nodosum is an immune reaction that manifests as multiple, painful nodules commonly seen on the shin that resolved spontaneously two to eight weeks after the onset. In the absence of laboratory and chest radiograph abnormalities and shortly after receiving the Pfizer vaccine, vaccine-related erythema nodosum is the only possible explanation.The most frequently diagnosed neoplasia in the world in 2020 was breast cancer (BC). On top of its high incidence, unexpected behavior as recurrence in patients, in spite of appropriate therapies, reaches 20%-30%. We believe that some molecular characteristics of tumors may lead to this bad behavior, and we can identify them with next-generation sequencing (NGS). We made a retrospective multicentric study, conducted to molecularly characterize, by means of a custom NGS panel, cases diagnosed with treatment-refractory or treatment-resistant invasive breast carcinoma, studied in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. The panel included 50 genes related to tumorigenesis, cancer evolution and targeted therapies. Twelve cases were included from three centers. Alterations of driver genes were found in all of the cases, and 75% harbored mutations in TP53. Furthermore, we found alterations that could be therapeutic targets in half of the patients, such as mutations in PIK3CA (33% cases), mTOR (8.3%) or BRCA1 (8.3%). Other significant molecular alterations were the loss of SWI-SNF complex´s components, modified genes of the MAP kinase pathway and alterations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Not all of them are known targets but prognostic significance was found. We conclude that NGS characterization of breast cancer in FFPE samples is a reproducible technique that can provide prognostic and predictive information about our patients and therefore, constitutes, in the near future, a valuable clinical tool in the context of precision medicine.Objective To explore the preference among the Saudi population regarding breaking bad news (BBN) for the participant cases and their relatives and to determine the associated sociodemographic factors. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients and companions attending inpatient and outpatient clinics of a tertiary care hospital in Western Saudi Arabia from 15 Jan to 30 May 2015. A six-item scale was designed to assess preference regarding diagnosis disclosure in three hypothetical conditions including chronic disease, incurable disease, and cancer if the participant or a close relative is concerned, separately. A BBN preference score (BBN-PS) was computed (range=0-6), with a higher score indicating a greater preference to disclose the diagnosis. Eventual motivations for diagnosis disclosure or withholding were explored. Result Five hundred participants were included; 56.0% were females and 55.0% were aged between 18 and 25 years. Preference to be informed with one's diagnosis varied between 8onal disparity showing a shift to diagnosis disclosure in the young generations. There is an unmet need for evidence-based protocols for BBN based on a comprehensive assessment of patients' expectations and needs, considering their cultural and religious values as well as the specific sociodemographic and clinical factors.Transient osteoporosis of the hip (TOH) refers to a temporary, focal reduction in bone mineral density that selectively affects bones in weight-bearing joints of young pregnant females. Due to inherent difficulties in diagnosing this pathology, it is difficult to estimate the incidence and it is conceivable that TOH is vastly underreported. In a rare subset of patients, TOH may progress to pathological fractures. Ponatinib mw We report a case of a 38-year-old pregnant woman who developed an atraumatic, displaced femoral neck fracture during her last trimester. Diagnosis and adequate management of TOH represents a clinical challenge as symptoms that precede the fracture are often non-specific, while the timing of the surgical treatment (i.e. before or after delivery) is debatable.Dengue has emerged as an alarming concern exhausting the already tired healthcare professionals during the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19. There has been an epidemic of dengue fever with massive underreporting; this might be a result of limited resources as well as the inability to reach healthcare facilities as a consequence of reluctance seen in patients due to the scare of COVID-19. Acute pain in the abdomen has been an alarming sign of dengue; however, its association with acute pancreatitis is rare. We report a case of a 21-year-old young male with fever, vomiting, and pain in the abdomen who was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis as a complication of dengue infection. We highlight the importance of screening for acute pancreatitis in patients with dengue presenting with pain in the abdomen as it may be a rare but important complication of dengue fever.The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the provision of Palliative Care (PC), challenging the teams aiming to provide adequate care. This is a qualitative study that intends to know, from the perspective of health professionals of a Palliative Care Unit (PCU), the main challenges in providing PC during a pandemic and describes the strategies to be adopted to solve the identified difficulties. We utilized the content analysis, according to Bardin, for data analysis of written narratives of health professionals from a PCU (n=14). In the analysis of the difficulties in providing PC, from the perspective of health professionals, were identified five themes 1) Altered relationship between healthcare professional and patients, 2) altered relationship between healthcare professional and family, 3) altered communication with patients and their family, 4) altered working dynamic within the PCU, and 5) altered use of healthcare resources. Concerning the strategies to be implemented, the health professionals identified two themes 1) Strategies to implement between the patient and family members and 2) strategies to implement for the healthcare professionals. The provision of PC is affected by changes in the relationship between the health professional and the patient/caregiver or family, in communication with the patient/caregiver or family, and the use of health resources. In an attempt to lessen the impact of these changes, participants identified strategies to improve PC delivery in these circumstances. During this pandemic, it is imperative to implement rigorous strategies for managing specialized human resources. Physical distance and personal protective equipment are barriers to communication and emotional support, which is essential in PC and this barrier is further accentuated by the required physical distance from family members and caregivers. PC´s main aim continues to be the mitigation of suffering.Background and objective Blood gas analysis plays a pivotal role in the management of various respiratory and metabolic disorders. Both arterial and venous samples can be used for blood gas analysis. Arterial blood sampling is technically difficult and is associated with more complications as compared to venous sampling. Many studies have shown the correlation of arterial and venous pH and bicarbonate levels in sepsis, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and circulatory failure. But, there is a paucity of data, pertaining specifically to the correlation of arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis and venous blood gas (VBG) analysis in patients with renal failure. The objective of this study was to look for any possible correlation between arterial and venous pH and bicarbonate values in patients with renal failure. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out at a large tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Over a period of eight months, 101 patients with renal failure were enrolled after obtaining informed consent. Arterial and venous samples from the patients were obtained, analyzed, and compared. Results Out of the total 101 patients, 53 (52.5%) were male while 48 (47.5%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 46.23 ±15.54 years. Mean arterial pH and venous pH were 7.35 and 7.28 respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient between arterial and venous pH was found to be 0.857 (p less then 0.001). The mean arterial and venous bicarbonate values were 14.47 mEq/L and 15.51 mEq/L respectively. And the Pearson correlation coefficient between arterial and venous bicarbonate was found to be 0.842 (p less then 0.001). Conclusion Venous pH and bicarbonate levels correlate strongly with arterial pH and bicarbonate levels, respectively, in patients with renal failure.Testicular plasmacytoma is a rare extramedullary manifestation of plasma cell dyscrasia. We report a case of a 53-year-old man who presented with a metachronous testicular lesion originating from a soft tissue plasmacytoma of the oral cavity. He underwent radical orchiectomy and a year later, presented with testicular plasmacytoma in the contralateral testis. He received induction chemotherapy, autologous stem cell transplantation with high dose melphalan and maintenance with lenalidomide, as he refused orchiectomy and achieved complete remission. However, six months post-transplant, he relapsed with localized disease in his testis, received second-line chemotherapy, after refusing orchiectomy and still remains in partial remission and alive.Introduction To provide high-quality care, physicians must effectively communicate with adolescents while addressing difficult and sensitive subjects. Our program aimed to (1) cost-effectively incorporate teenage actors into a pediatric simulation program and (2) increase residents' self-perceived comfort level with adolescent patients by practicing interview skills with teens. Methods In 2013, the authors established a Teen Acting Program, in which volunteer theater students created and simulated patient characters and provided feedback to learners. Residents on the adolescent medicine rotation participated in the program, completed a survey on self-perceived comfort level with adolescent patients, and answered open-ended questions regarding the program. Results A total of 70 residents participated in the program and pre-survey; 46 completed both the pre- and the post-survey. Of 46 participants, 37 (80%) reported that the program was helpful and four (9%) stated it was the best thing about the rotation; 35 (80%) described the program as "high-yield" for the time spent.