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Background: There is a lack of substantial evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of endovascular thrombectomy in treating distal medium vessel occlusions (DMVOs)., Objective: To summarize the current evidence regarding endovascular thrombectomy for DMVOs., Methods: We conducted a narrative review of key articles related to the diagnosis and management of DMVOs. We manually searched PubMed and Google Scholar from January 2010 to July 2023, and only included articles published in the English language., Results: While diagnosing and treating DMVOs is tricky due to access limitations and potential limited benefit from mechanical clot removal, recent improvements in catheter and retrieval technology suggest that endovascular thrombectomy might be a potential treatment option. However, more high-quality research is needed to confirm its effectiveness for DMVOs., Conclusion: Experts disagree on how to classify DMVOs and what the best mode of endovascular treatment is., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Primary liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide and has one of the worst 5-year survival rates. This study examines US primary liver cancer incidence and incidence-based mortality trends over four decades., Research Design and Methods: The SEER-9 registry was used to study primary liver cancer cases from 1978 to 2018. The incidence and mortality rates were calculated based on gender, age, race, and stage of diagnosis. Joinpoint regression software was used to calculate the annual percent change., Results: The overall incidence rate of primary liver cancer from 1978 to 2018 increased by 2.71%/year (p<0.001). Rates in patients <50 years old began to fall in 2002 at a rate of -3.62%/year (p<0.001). Similarly, the incidence-based mortality rates for primary liver cancer increased by 2.15%/year (p<0.001). Whereas Whites incidence-based mortality rates began to plateau in 2012 (0.18%/year; p = 0.84), Blacks rates have declined since 2010 (-2.93%/year; p = 0.03), and Asian rates have declined since 1999 (-1.30%/year; p<0.001)., Conclusion: While the overall primary liver cancer incidence and incidence-based mortality have been increasing over the last four decades, there was an observed decline in incidence and incidence-based mortality in recent years, especially among at-risk subgroups., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Adra et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Introduction: The introduction of clacitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has revolutionized the treatment of migraines. In clinical practice gepants might be considered as a valid option to treat acute attacks in patients with migraine who are treated with mAbs. However, the safety and tolerability of such a combination is not well addressed in the real-world setting. We designed this study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of combining CGRP mAbs with gepants in the management of migraines., Methods: This was a retrospective, real-world, exploratory study. The participants included within the study were adult (≥ 18 years) patients diagnosed with migraine. Screening for patients who were treated with at least one GCRP mAbs was done. Data was collected from one site, the American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, Abu Dhabi UAE. A total of 516 patients taking CGRP mAbs were identified. Extracted data from patients' electronic medical records included patient demographics, migraine characteristics, prescribed treatments, and adverse events (AEs). The tolerability and safety of the combination therapy was evaluated on the basis of documented AEs., Results: Among the identified 516 patients, 234 were administered gepants in addition to the CRGP mAb (215, rimegepant; 19, ubrogepant). Eleven of the 234 patients switched from rimegepant to urogepant as a result of lack of efficacy; one patient switched from urogepant to zolmitriptan because of the lack of insurance coverage of the former medication. Among all the patients included in this study, three AEs were documented. These AEs were generally mild and transient and hence did not lead to discontinuation of treatment. Moreover, 42 of the 234 (17.9%) patients were switched from one class of CGRP mAbs to another at least once while continuing treatment with the assigned gepants., Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that combining CGRP mAbs with gepants is a safe and well-tolerated treatment approach for migraine. Future studies are warranted to further validate these findings and explore long-term outcomes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies (CGRP mAbs) have shown promising effectiveness in migraine management compared to other preventative treatment options. Many questions remain regarding switching between antibody classes as a treatment option in patients with migraine headaches. This preliminary retrospective real-world study explored the treatment response of patients who switched between CGRP mAb classes due to lack of efficacy or poor tolerability. A total of 53 patients with migraine headache switched between three of the CGRP mAbs types due to lack of efficacy of the original prescribed CGRP mAbs, specifically eptinezumab, erenumab, and galcanezumab. Fremanezumab was not included due to unavailability in the UAE. Galcanezumab and eptinezumab target the CGRP ligand (CGRP/L), while erenumab targets CGRP receptors (CGRP/R). The analysis of efficacy demonstrated that some improvements were seen in both class switch cohorts (CGRP/R to CGRP/L and CGRP/L to CGRP/R). The safety of switching between CGRP classes was well observed, as any adverse events presented before the class switch did not lead to the discontinuation of treatment following the later switch. The findings of this study suggest that switching between different classes of CGRP mAbs is a potentially safe and clinically viable practice that may have some applications for those experiencing side effects on their current CGRP mAb or those witnessing suboptimal response.

Introduction and Importance: Allgrove syndrome (AS) (AAA syndrome) is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the AAAS gene located on chromosome 12q13. The AAAS gene encodes for the ALADIN protein (alacrima, achalasia, adrenal insufficiency, neurologic disorder). AS can manifest with a plethora of symptoms. Early recognition of the syndrome remains challenging due to its rarity and progressive nature. This report presents an unusual case of triple-A syndrome (TAS) with concurrent neuromuscular manifestations. Understanding the atypical presentation of this syndrome is vital for early diagnosis and appropriate management., Case Presentation: We report a 16-year-old boy with severe malnutrition presented with painful swallowing, fatigue, and bilateral congenital ptosis. Barium swallow, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and Shimmer test were performed, which led to the diagnosis of TAS. Treatment included laparoscopic Heller's procedure, artificial tears, hydrocortisone., Clinical Discussion: TAS, also known as AS, is a rare multisystem disorder characterized by achalasia, Addison's disease, and alacrima. This syndrome is occasionally referred to as 4A syndrome due to the inclusion of autonomic dysfunction. There is no treatment for AS. Management includes artificial tears for alacrima, glucocorticoid replacement therapy to treat adrenal insufficiency, and treatment of achalasia., Conclusion: This case emphasizes the importance of considering atypical presentations of TAS. Early diagnosis and treatment are paramount in addressing the varied components of this rare disorder. Understanding the clinical complexities of this syndrome aids in improved patient care and underscores the necessity for comprehensive evaluation and management in similar cases., Competing Interests: No conflicting relationship exists for any of the authors.Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Combination treatments for migraine prophylaxis present a promising approach to addressing the diverse and complex mechanisms underlying migraine. This review explores the potential of combining oral conventional prophylactics, onabotulinumtoxin A, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway, and small molecule CGRP receptor antagonists (gepants). Among the most promising strategies, dual CGRP inhibition through mAbs and gepants may enhance efficacy by targeting both the CGRP peptide and its receptor, while the combination of onabotulinumtoxin A with CGRP treatments offers synergistic pain relief. Oral non-CGRP treatments, which are accessible and often prescribed for patients with comorbid conditions, provide an affordable and practical option in combination regimens. Despite the potential of these combinations, there is a lack of evidence to support their widespread inclusion in clinical guidelines. The high cost of certain combinations, such as onabotulinumtoxin A with a CGRP mAb or dual anti-CGRP mAbs, presents feasibility challenges. Further large-scale trials are needed to establish safe and effective combination protocols and solidify their role in clinical practice, particularly for treatment-resistant patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migraine and stroke are neurological disorders with significant global prevalence and impact. Recent advances in migraine therapy have focused on the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway. This review examines the shared pathomechanisms between migraine and stroke, with emphasis on the role of CGRP. We analyze the current literature on CGRP's functions in cerebrovascular regulation, edema formation, neuroinflammation, and neuroprotection. CGRP acts as a potent vasodilator and plays a crucial role in trigeminovascular activation during migraine attacks. In stroke, CGRP has demonstrated neuroprotective effects by improving collateral circulation and reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury. Concerns have been raised about the potential impact of CGRP inhibitors on stroke risk and outcomes. Studies in animals suggest that CGRP receptor antagonists may worsen cerebral ischemia by impairing collateral flow. We discuss the implications of these findings for the use of CGRP-targeting therapies in migraine patients, especially those at increased risk of stroke. Additionally, we explore the complex interplay between CGRP, endothelial function, and platelet activity in both conditions. This review highlights the need for further research to elucidate the long-term cerebrovascular safety of CGRP pathway inhibitors and to identify potential subgroups of migraine patients who may be at higher risk of adverse cerebrovascular events with these novel therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug delivery systems mediated by nanoparticles (NPs) have immense therapeutic applications mainly in the area of cancer therapy. The efficacy of chemotherapeutics can be effectual when combined with thermal therapy such as hyperthermia, or with radiation therapy. For thermal-chemotherapy, suitably functionalized magnetic NPs with preferred magnetic parameters are crucial. In this work, we prepared PEG-dicarboxylic acid (PEGD) coated highly aqueous dispersible mesoporous magnetic nanoclusters (MNCs) by a simple solvothermal method with superior magnetic properties. The nanoclusters were well distributed and visualized in the assembly of smaller NPs, formed in the size range of 130–350 nm. MNCs were formed in an inverse spinel structure with an average crystallite size of 15.9 nm and had a mesoporous nature with a high specific surface area of ∼111 m2 g−1. MNCs are biocompatible and effective for hyperthermia. The dispersion of MNCs either in water or DMEM or PBS solvent at various concentrations exhibited a superior rise in temperature when exposed to an applied alternating magnetic field for hyperthermia. Further, the PEGylated MNCs when modified by amine functionalization and conjugated with doxorubicin (DOX) possessed a drug-encapsulation efficiency of ∼92%. The cytotoxicity assessment of DOX loaded MNCs towards breast cancer (MCF-7) cells showed nearly 60% apoptosis when incubated at a concentration of 1000 μg mL−1 for 24 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhibition in the growth of bacterial strains was observed, where the number of colonies forming units was reduced. At 3.5 mT the stimulation in the growth of gram-negative bacterial strain was noticed. In this case the number of colony forming units was increased. The number of colonies was affected by temperature for all strains of bacteria. This ability of alternating magnetic field, combined with coated nanoparticles, to control bacteria cells constitutes a novel contribution to the finding of new useful applications in biomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]