AIM: To identify various risk factors that may play a significant role in the development of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction(CNLDO).METHODS: This observational case-control study included a case group of 122 children less than two years of age with CNLDO who underwent probing and irrigation treatment at the ophthalmology department of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran, from June 2022 to June 2024. A control group of 122 age-matched children without CNLDO was also included for comparison. Data was collected from the children's medical records. RESULTS:The study found a significant correlation between the occurrence of CNLDO and several maternal factors, such as preeclampsia, the use of levothyroxine, hypothyroidism, having more than three pregnancies(gravidity >3), natural pregnancy, and gestational diabetes mellitus. Additionally, in children, factors, such as oxygen therapy, anemia, reflux, jaundice, and a family history of CNLDO in first-degree relatives were associated with CNLDO, and maternal preeclampsia and hypothyroidism were found to significantly increase the risk of developing CNLDO in children.CONCLUSION: Given that CNLDO affects both premature and full-term children, the present findings may potentially facilitate the early identification of children and infants at risk of nasolacrimal duct obstruction, thereby preventing the onset of chronic dacryocystitis.

Objective: This study aims at spotlighting different lines of management of aggressive vertebral hemangioma (VH) through a retrospective analysis of single center experience. Methods: Patients diagnosed with aggressive VHs in a tertiary referral center were reviewed from 2014 through 2024. Data of patients who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Patients of all ages, both sexes, and all varieties of clinical presentation were included, only patients who underwent at least one intervention were included. Results: The study included nine patients, comprising six females and three males, with a mean age of 29.3 years (ranging from 14 to 46). Six patients underwent Trans-arterial embolization (TAE), of whom five underwent further surgical procedures, while one patient found TAE to be sufficient as a stand-alone management technique. Eight patients underwent surgical management, five of whom were pre-operatively embolized. Conclusions Aggressive VHs are rare, and their management is challenging. Most cases require a multi-modal management, especially when presented with neurological deficit. Pre-operative embolization and/or vertebroplasty are safe and useful tools to decrease intra-operative bleeding of such a vascular pathology in cases undergoing open surgical procedures.

Background: Currently, clinical T staging in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is based on the largest radiological diameter observed on computed tomography (CT). Under this system, tumors with varying shapes—such as spherical, amorphous, or spiculated tumors—can be assigned the same T stage even with different volumes. We aimed to propose a 3-dimensional (3D) volumetric staging system for NSCLC as an alternative to diameter-based T staging and to conduct comparative survival analyses between these methods. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients who underwent surgery for pT1-4N0M0 primary NSCLC between January 2018 and May 2022. Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine data from patient CT scans were uploaded to 3D Slicer software for volumetric tumor measurement. Using the paired samples t-test or the Wilcoxon test, we compared the expected tumor volumes, calculated by tumor diameter, with the actual volumes measured by 3D Slicer. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was employed to determine the cut-off value for tumor volume. Kaplan-Meier analysis was utilized to assess overall survival, while the log-rank method was applied to compare survival differences between groups. The significance of changes in T stage was evaluated using the marginal homogeneity test. Results: The study included 136 patients. Significant differences were observed between expected and actual tumor volumes (p=0.01), and associated changes in T stage were also significant (p=0.04). The survival analysis performed using tumor volume (p=0.009) yielded superior results compared to that based on diameter (p=0.04) in paients with early tumor stage. Conclusion T-factor staging based on tumor volume could represent an alternative staging method for NSCLC.

Purpose: We evaluated the effectiveness of early start of long-acting insulin during management of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in pediatric patients. Methods: Patients with DKA were randomly assigned to receive either a traditional DKA management protocol or concurrent administration of subcutaneous (SC) long-acting insulin alongside intravenous insulin during DKA treatment. The primary outcomes were duration of insulin infusion and adverse effects of the intervention, mainly hypoglycemia and hypokalemia. Results: For this study, 100 pediatric patients with DKA were enrolled, 50 in each group (group I received the conventional DKA management and group II received conventional DKA management plus SC long-acting insulin once daily). Patients in group II showed a significant reduction in both duration and dose of insulin infusion compared to group I, with a median (interquartile range) of 68.5 hours (45.00–88.25 hours) versus 72 hours (70.25–95.5 hours) (P=0.0001) and an insulin dose of 3.48±1.00 units/kg versus 4.04±1.17 units/kg (P=0.016), respectively. Concurrent administration of SC long-acting insulin with intravenous insulin during DKA treatment was associated with a decreased risk of hypoglycemia (number of hypoglycemia events: group I, 22 events; group II, 12 events, P=0.029), with no increased risk of hypokalemia compared to the control group (number of hypokalemia events: group I, 12 events; group II, 19 events, P=0.147). Conclusion The current study showed that coadministration of SC long-acting insulin in addition to the usual insulin infusion during DKA management in the pediatric population can lead to a shorter duration of insulin infusion. In addition, this approach is not associated with increased risk of hypoglycemia or hypokalemia. Moreover, coadministration of long-acting insulin may be associated with a decreased incidence of hypoglycemia.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management demands innovative strategies that address its complex nature. Telerehabilitation and conventional rehabilitation, which utilize wearable devices, represent promising avenues in this regard. This narrative review synthesizes the current literature to comprehensively compare these modalities in terms of accessibility, monitoring mechanisms, patient adherence, cost-effectiveness, and social support. Telerehabilitation offers unparalleled convenience, real-time monitoring, and personalized feedback through wearables, thereby fostering greater patient engagement and adherence compared to conventional rehabilitation. However, conventional rehabilitation provides face-to-face interactions, immediate feedback, and a more personalized touch, albeit with logistical challenges and higher costs. This review emphasizes the significance of patient preferences, technological access, and healthcare infrastructure in selecting the appropriate approach. It also calls for further research into long-term outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and the optimal integration of wearable technology in diabetes management programs. Ultimately, both telerehabilitation and conventional rehabilitation demonstrate considerable potential in empowering individuals with T2DM, underlining the imperative for tailored and patient-centric interventions in diabetes care. The review also stresses the significance of integrating patient preferences and their level of comfort with technology when deciding on treatment approaches. It also takes into account the diverse socioeconomic contexts and healthcare infrastructures globally, which can affect the viability and efficacy of both telerehabilitation and conventional rehabilitation. Moreover, the integration of wearable technology in diabetes management programs holds promise for enhancing self-management capabilities and promoting healthier lifestyles. However, it is essential to tackle prospective discrepancies in access to these technologies and ensure fair distribution. Looking forward, ongoing research efforts should focus on justifying long-term outcomes, optimizing cost-effectiveness, and refining implementation strategies to maximize the benefits of both modalities.

Purpose: As the number of older adults with gastric cancer requiring gastrectomy has increased, it has become increasingly important to use techniques that enhance surgical safety and reduce postoperative complications in this vulnerable patient population. Articulating laparoscopic instruments (ALIs) may improve maneuverability and precision, leading to better outcomes in older patients. This study aimed to compare postoperative outcomes of older adults undergoing laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer using conventional versus ALIs. Methods: This retrospective study included 147 older patients (aged ≥70 years) who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 2017 and 2024. Surgery was performed using conventional laparoscopic instruments in 61 patients and ALIs in 86 patients. The median follow-up period was 20 months. Results: Postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the articulating group than in the conventional group (4.6 ± 2.0 days vs. 5.4 ± 2.4 days, P = 0.030). Time to first flatus was also significantly shorter in the articulating group (2.4 ± 0.7 days vs. 2.8 ± 1.0 days, P = 0.022). However, there were no significant differences in overall complications, major (≥grade III) complications (conventional, 1.2% vs. articulating, 0%; P = 0.398) overall survival, or recurrence-free survival between groups. Conclusion The use of articulating instruments in older adults undergoing laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer was associated with shorter postoperative hospital stays and faster recovery of bowel function, with no apparent detrimental effects on complications, recurrence, or survival. These findings suggest that ALIs enhance recovery and possibly overall surgical outcomes in this patient population.

Background: Advancements in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have improved survivalfor brain tumor patients, increasing the risk of second primary tumors (SPTs) among long-term survivors. This study examines the types and risks of SPTs in brain tumor patients presenting at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This single-center, retrospective study explored occurrences of SPTs following prima-ry brain tumors and occurrences of brain tumors as SPTs following primary extra neural tumors. A total of 41 patients were included and analyzed presenting with histologically confirmed SPTs between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2020. Results: The study included 41 patients with SPTs, primarily female (65.9%). Of these, 20 pa-tients (48.7%) developed SPTs after a primary brain tumor, while 21 patients (51.2%) developed brain tumors as SPTs after extra-neural tumors. Among patients who developed SPTs after brain tumors (n=20), meningioma (n=8, 40.0%) and pituitary adenoma (n=6, 30.0%) were the most prevalent first primary tumors (FPTs) while breast tumors predominated as SPTs (n=4, 20.0%). Survival analysis indicated younger mean age (44.5 years) for patients marked alive, compared to those marked deceased (57.0 years) and those with unknown outcomes (63.0 years). Conclusion Based on this retrospective analysis, the median age at diagnosis was 44.5 years,with a considerable number of patients (36.6%) having uncertain outcomes at follow-up due to incomplete records. These findings highlight the need for improved follow-up data management to better assess long-term survival in patients with SPTs following brain tumors.

Breast cancer is one of the most common causes of death all over the world. Therapeutic options applied to the patients include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.However, far advanced disease often leads to chemoresistance and toxicity. Innovative therapies are needed to address these challenges. Melatonin has the potential to prevent and treat cancer, as it has been revealed in numerous clinical studies. Melatonin is a nontoxic agent that is mostly produced in the pineal gland, inducing various mechanisms of action such as the induction of apoptosis, antiangiogenic, antiproliferative, and metastasis-inhibitory effects. Therefore, melatonin increases therapeutic sensitivity when combined with conventional medication in breast cancer. Melatonin (3-20 mg/day) may reduce breast cancer cell growth in preclinical studies and enhance chemotherapy efficacy. Small human trials suggest potential benefits, but larger studies are needed. Higher doses (≥20 mg/day) are sometimes used alongside chemotherapy. This manuscript reviews research that has demonstrated the antitumor properties of melatonin, thereby focusing on its actions on angiogenesis, apoptosis, metastasis, and antiproliferative properties. We also discuss recent advances in the understanding of the actions of melatonin on epigenetic mechanisms (especially DNA methylation) and telomere length. The data in this review were obtained from journal articles up to May 2024.Regarding the study, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect were used as engines to search for open access. We searched the ISI, Pubmed and Scopus as valid external databases, and as internal databases, ISC and Iran medex. By finding mean keywords such as ‘breast cancer’, ‘estrogen’, ‘melatonin’, ‘cell death’, ‘cell proliferation’, ‘telomerase’ and ‘DNA methylation’, we reached to the formula with maximum collectivity in searching, then equivalent terms were found by Mesh database. The review also covers recent clinical investigations of melatonin in breast cancer.