Background/Objectives: Gender (roles as household load and job strain, and identity) represent an effect modifier of the interference between pain experience and sex because it is different between men and women. This study validates a new scale developed to assess how life functioning is impacted by Chronic Non-Cancer Pain (CNCP) due to gender. Methods: A total of 193 Spanish ambulatory CNCP patients (60 [51–73] years old, 69.4% women, 31% retired) were interviewed. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) yielded 3-factor structure: Gender Self-identity, Roles, and Chronic Pain Impact on Social, Familial, Work and Sexual Life. Results: The Gender-Pain Questionnaire, with the presented factor structure, is an evaluation instrument with enough reliability and internal validity for CNCP patients. Conclusions: This study presents the psychometric properties of a scale for assessing the interference of CNCP patients’ experience on gender and how it affects their daily life activities, relationships and self-identity. It represents the first original questionnaire known in Spanish language to date. This measure could potentially help researchers and clinicians to obtain gender key information to design appropriate and equity healthcare interventions.

Background/Objectives: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains a major global health burden. Sacubitril/valsartan, an angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), improves outcomes in HFrEF but may cause hyperkalemia. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted at King Abdulaziz Cardiac Center, Riyadh, including 238 HFrEF patients initiated on sacubitril/valsartan (2016-2021). Potassium levels were assessed pre-initiation and at 0-3, 3-6, and 6-12 months post-initiation. Hyperkalemia was analyzed at thresholds >5.0, >5.5, and >6.0 mmol/L. Results: Median age was 58 years (IQR 48-69); 75.2% were male. Hyperkalemia >5.0 mmol/L occurred in 44.4% (95% CI: 38.1-51.0) within three months post-initiation versus 8.2% (95% CI: 5.3-12.4) pre-initiation. Only 17.3% exceeded 5.5 mmol/L. Treatment discontinuation occurred in 7.1% of patients, with 1.3% stopping due to clinically significant hyperkalemia. McNemar's test confirmed a significant increase in prevalence across time points (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Despite increased hyperkalemia incidence, discontinuation rates were low, consistent with prior trials (PARADIGM-HF, PARAGON-HF). Sacubitril/valsartan remains an effective and generally safe therapy for HFrEF, with hyperkalemia manageable through monitoring. Limitations include missing potassium data, potential confounding factors, and the lack of a control group; future prospective studies with regular electrolyte monitoring are recommended.

Background: Themanagement of occupational respiratory diseases (ORDs) requires a multidisciplinary approach, yet collaboration between pulmonologists and occupational physicians is often fragmented, potentially compromising patient outcomes. This study aimed to systematically compare the management strategies for ORDs between these two specialties in Italy to identify gaps and opportunities for integration. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured 12-item questionnaire distributed to board-certified pulmonologists and occupational physicians across Italy. The questionnaire assessed diagnostic pathways, therapeutic strategies, preventive measures, and patterns of interdisciplinary collaboration. A total of 102 specialists (51 pulmonologists and 51 occupational physicians) completed the survey. Comparative analyses were performed using Pearson’s tests. Results: Significant divergences in practice were identified. Pulmonologists primarily focused on clinical diagnosis, utilizing pulmonary function tests (34.3%) and imaging (11.8%), and favored pharmacotherapy (27.5%) as the first-line treatment, in alignment with clinical guidelines. Conversely, occupational physicians prioritized detailed occupational and exposure histories (15.7%) and preventive interventions aimed at exposure reduction (15.7%). While both groups acknowledged the importance of collaboration, a substantial number reported that it occurred only occasionally (17.6% of pulmonologists and 12.7% of occupational physicians), indicating a significant gap in integrated care. Shared barriers included poor patient adherence and limited access to advanced diagnostic tools. Conclusions: While sharing a common foundation in diagnostic and preventive principles, pulmonologists and occupational physicians in Italy operate with distinct, complementary approaches that remain insufficiently integrated. The observed fragmentation in diagnostic and therapeutic pathways underscores an urgent need for shared national guidelines, structured interdisciplinary training, and formalized communication protocols. Bridging this disciplinary divide is essential to delivering holistic care, optimizing worker health, and preserving work ability.

Introduction: TPE (therapeutic plasma exchange) has proven to be an extremely effective treatment for a range of conditions, especially over the past 20 years. Anticoagulation with heparin is currently the accepted recommendation for therapeutic plasma exchange sessions. However, the hypercoagulable state and hyperviscosity in some patients requiring TPE present a challenge, particularly during the first session, due to an increased risk of circuit clotting. Citrate anticoagulation has been proposed for extracorporeal therapies such as hemodiafiltration where heparin is contraindicated. Nevertheless, citrate anticoagulation is still generally avoided in patients undergoing TPE. Materials and Methods: A total of 26 patients underwent 52 TPE sessions using citrate. Fifteen patients received citrate from the beginning of therapy, accounting for 29 sessions, and eleven patients were switched to citrate after initially starting with heparin, when an imminent risk of circuit clotting quickly became evident—23 sessions in total. The imminent risk of circuit clotting was assessed by a continuous and accelerated increase in transmembrane pressure despite heparin anticoagulation. The effectiveness of citrate anticoagulation and its safety for patients were evaluated. Results: Of the 23 sessions where there was a risk of circuit clotting, citrate was added on top of heparin in those sessions; 21 sessions were successfully completed. It can be said that the kits were saved in these cases. Among the 29 TPE sessions that used citrate from the start, 27 were completed successfully, even though the patients were considered to have a hypercoagulable status. No cases of citrate toxicity were identified. Conclusions: TPE with citrate is a safe option for patients. It can preserve TPE kits from the beginning or during treatment in patients with hypercoagulability. Citrate can be also be used when heparin is contraindicated or ineffective.

Cancer pain remains a significant challenge in oncology, profoundly affecting patients’ quality of life, function, and prognosis. Historically under-recognized and managed with a uniform, opioid-centric approach, cancer pain was often inadequately treated. Advances in pain assessment, multimodal analgesia, and supportive care have improved outcomes, yet traditional algorithms frequently fail to address the complex, heterogeneous nature of cancer pain. Contemporary management is shifting toward precision and personalized medicine, integrating genetic, molecular, and biomarker data with individual patient characteristics to inform treatment decisions. To address this complexity, we propose a five-domain framework encompassing biological, pharmacologic, psychological, sociocultural, and functional domains. This multidimensional approach enables clinicians to tailor pain management strategies to each patient’s unique profile, aiming for equitable and individualized care. However, challenges remain, including tumor and patient heterogeneity, limited biomarker validation, data integration, disparities in access, and the need for multidisciplinary coordination. This review traces the evolution of cancer pain management, highlights the promise of precision and personalized strategies, and presents a comprehensive framework for optimizing pain control in oncology.

Tongue piercing has gained popularity among teenagers and young adults as a form of self-expression, cultural identity, and fashion. However, patients are often unaware of the harmful effects tongue piercings can have on their oral health. Despite its popularity, this form of body modification carries considerable risk, particularly when performed or maintained without proper care. This review summarizes findings from clinical case reports, observational studies, and previous literature reviews, with a focus on the clinical outcomes of tongue piercings and their appropriate management. An internet-based literature review was conducted to evaluate the short- and long-term oral health implications of tongue piercings. Only articles published between January 1990 and April 2025 were included. The databases searched were PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, using keywords such as "tongue piercing," "oral piercing," "oral complications," and "dental trauma." The literature revealed that tongue piercings can lead to numerous adverse effects on oral health, including dental fractures, gingival recession, enamel wear, and localized tissue overgrowth, in addition to localized and systemic infections. The presence of foreign objects in the oral cavity, combined with poor oral hygiene, habitual trauma, and long-term contact with oral tissues, often worsens these complications. The results of this literature review suggest that tongue piercings pose significant and often underestimated risks to oral health. Clinicians should remain vigilant, educate patients on potential complications, and be well-equipped to prevent, monitor, and manage associated dental problems effectively in clinical practice.

Background: This prospective pilot study included four participants with chronic visual impairment and assessed functional and electrophysiological recovery following visual evoked potential (VEP)-guided auditory biofeedback across diverse etiologies. Low vision affects more than two billion people worldwide and imposes a sustained personal and socioeconomic burden. Conventional rehabilitation emphasizes optical aids and environmental modification without directly stimulating the visual pathway. Emerging evidence indicates that auditory biofeedback based on real-time cortical activity can leverage adult neuroplasticity. Methods: Four men (mean age 58 ± 12 years) with chronic visual impairment attributable to occipital stroke, stage IV macular hole, end-stage open-angle glaucoma, or diabetic maculopathy completed ten 10-min monocular sessions with the Retimax Vision Trainer over three weeks (15 Hz pattern reversal, 90% contrast). Primary end points were best corrected visual acuity (BCVA, ETDRS letters) and P100 amplitude/latency. Fixation stability was recorded with MAIA microperimetry when feasible. A focused PubMed review (2010–2025) mapped current evidence and research gaps. Results: Median BCVA improved by seven letters (IQR 0–15); three of eight eyes gained ≥ 10 letters and none lost vision. Mean P100 amplitude increased from 1.0 ± 1.2 µV to 3.0 ± 1.1 µV, while latency shortened by 3.9 ms. Electrophysiological improvement paralleled behavioural gain irrespective of lesion site. No adverse events occurred. Conclusions: A concise course of VEP-guided auditory biofeedback produced concordant functional and neurophysiological gains across retinal, optic nerve, and cortical pathologies. These pilot data support integration of closed-loop biofeedback into routine low vision care and justify larger sham-controlled trials.

Aims/Background: The growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into clinical medicine has opened new possibilities for enhancing diagnostic accuracy, therapeutic decision-making, and biomedical innovation across several domains. This review is aimed to evaluate the clinical applications of AI across five key domains of medicine: diagnostic imaging, clinical decision support systems (CDSS), surgery, pathology, and drug discovery, highlighting achievements, limitations, and future directions. Methods: A comprehensive PubMed search was performed without language or publication date restrictions, combining Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and free-text keywords for AI with domain-specific terms. The search yielded 2047 records, of which 243 duplicates were removed, leaving 1804 unique studies. After screening titles and abstracts, 1482 records were excluded due to irrelevance, preclinical scope, or lack of patient-level outcomes. Full-text review of 322 articles led to the exclusion of 172 studies (no clinical validation or outcomes, n = 64; methodological studies, n = 43; preclinical and in vitro-only, n = 39; conference abstracts without peer-reviewed full text, n = 26). Ultimately, 150 studies met inclusion criteria and were analyzed qualitatively. Data extraction focused on study context, AI technique, dataset characteristics, comparator benchmarks, and reported outcomes, such as diagnostic accuracy, area under the curve (AUC), efficiency, and clinical improvements. Results: AI demonstrated strong performance in diagnostic imaging, achieving expert-level accuracy in tasks such as cancer detection (AUC up to 0.94). CDSS showed promise in predicting adverse events (sepsis, atrial fibrillation), though real-world outcome evidence was mixed. In surgery, AI enhanced intraoperative guidance and risk stratification. Pathology benefited from AI-assisted diagnosis and molecular inference from histology. AI also accelerated drug discovery through protein structure prediction and virtual screening. However, challenges included limited explainability, data bias, lack of prospective trials, and regulatory hurdles. Conclusions: AI is transforming clinical medicine, offering improved accuracy, efficiency, and discovery. Yet, its integration into routine care demands rigorous validation, ethical oversight, and human-AI collaboration. Continued interdisciplinary efforts will be essential to translate these innovations into safe and effective patient-centered care.

Background and Objectives: The primary goal of the study is to analyze factors associated with spinal anesthesia-induced hypotension (SAIH), with a focus on ephedrine requirements in relation to patient characteristics and the type of intrathecal opioid used, reflecting real-world clinical practice in a Romanian secondary care hospital. Bolus ephedrine is often required during spinal anesthesia to maintain hemodynamic stability. We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. We analyzed the hemodynamic effects of spinal anesthesia to optimize management of spinal anesthesia-induced hypotension (SAIH). Materials and Methods: A total of 329 patients were included in the study, out of which 113 patients were without high blood pressure (60 cases needed Ephedrine) and 216 patients with high blood pressure were drug controlled (106 cases needed Ephedrine). Each group of patients was divided into two groups based on the type of spinal anesthesia: bupivacaine with morphine (Group M) and bupivacaine with fentanyl (Group F). The study explored perioperative factors associated with spinal anesthesia-induced hypotension and the ephedrine dose required to maintain hemodynamic stability. Results: We found that ephedrine dosage correlated with hypertension in 19% of cases and with patient age in 44.1% of cases. The type of anesthetic mixture did not significantly affect the need for intraoperative ephedrine administration. Conclusions: Ephedrine remains essential for ensuring hemodynamic stability and optimizing perioperative outcomes.

Background/Objectives: COVID-19 frequently causes olfactory and gustatory dysfunction, including qualitative disorders like parosmia and phantosmia. These distortions affect quality of life and may result from both peripheral and central neural damage. Despite increasing reports, their prevalence, mechanisms, and risk factors remain unclear. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics and possible predictors of parosmia and phantosmia associated with COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized an online questionnaire targeting adults in Saudi Arabia with self-reported new-onset olfactory or gustatory dysfunction after COVID-19. Results: Out of 539 participants, 377 were included for analysis. Females slightly outnumbered males (195, 51.7% vs. 182, 48.3%) with a mean age of 34.5 years (SD = 12.7). Comorbidities were present in 86 (23.3%) participants, predominantly including hypertension (39.5%) and diabetes (30.2%). Sudden smell and taste loss were reported by 277 (73.5%) and 267 (70.8%) participants, respectively. Regional residence was significantly associated with both smell (p < 0.001) and taste loss (p < 0.001). Academic qualification exhibited borderline significance in relation to taste loss (p = 0.049). Logistic regression analysis indicated no significant predictors of dysfunction, with male gender exhibiting an odds ratio of 1.276 for smell (p = 0.301) and an odds ratio of 1.401 for taste (p = 0.144). Over 60% of participants experienced a negative impact on their quality of life. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the prevalence of parosmia and phantosmia in COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia, with a significant impact on quality of life. While regional differences and education level exhibited certain associations, no demographic or clinical factors independently predicted dysfunction, highlighting the necessity for additional research into underlying mechanisms and long-term effects.