Background: Urolithiasis is a multifactorial disease influenced by metabolic, biochemical, and anatomical factors. While anatomical abnormalities of the kidney are known to predispose individuals to stone formation through urinary stasis and altered drainage, metabolic disturbances also play a significant role in the pathogenesis of kidney stones. The relative contribution of these factors in patients with structurally abnormal kidneys remains insufficiently explored. Objective: To compare stone composition and metabolic abnormalities among patients with urolithiasis who have anatomically normal kidneys and those with anatomically abnormal kidneys. Materials and Methods: This comparative study included 92 patients who underwent renal stone extraction followed by metabolic evaluation. Of these, 46 patients had anatomically abnormal kidneys, while the remaining 46 had normal renal anatomy. Demographic data, stone characteristics, and metabolic parameters were collected and analyzed to identify potential differences between the two groups. Results: A total of 92 patients were analyzed, with a mean age of 34.0 ± 15.0 years. Among them, 60 patients (65.2%) were male. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.1 ± 6.0 kg/m². Comparative analysis demonstrated no statistically significant differences between patients with normal and abnormal kidneys in terms of stone characteristics or metabolic abnormalities. These findings suggest that metabolic risk factors contribute significantly to stone formation regardless of the underlying renal anatomy. Conclusion: According to the study objective, no significant differences were observed in stone composition or metabolic abnormalities between patients with normal and anatomically abnormal kidneys, highlighting the importance of metabolic evaluation in both groups.
Suzetrigine represents a revolutionary, non-opioid breakthrough in acute pain management. As the first FDA-approved NaV1.8 inhibitor, it offers a novel analgesic mechanism with comparable efficacy to opioids and a superior safety profile, directly addressing the opioid dependence crisis. Clinical trials support its role as a transformative therapeutic, though further research is needed to assess its long-term safety, utility in chronic pain, and place within multimodal treatment strategies. Its widespread adoption has the potential to reshape clinical protocols, improve patient outcomes, and establish new standards for effective and safer analgesia.
Despite the increasing use of single-use dental consumables, dental plastic waste is a new environmental issue that has gotten little attention in Pakistan. This Letter to the Editor addresses the current knowledge-practice gap in Green Dentistry among Pakistani dental professionals, which is backed by recent national data, and emphasises the environmental consequences of poor dental waste management. It highlights the necessity of incorporating sustainable waste management techniques into standard dental care through institutional commitment, better education, and efficient biomedical waste management regulations. In addition to encouraging safe, ethical, and sustainable dental practices in Pakistan, promoting green dentistry can lessen the environmental impact of oral healthcare.
Objectives: to determine the efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on bone regeneration in mandibular fractures via a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) Methodology: This randomized clinical trial was conducted at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences for a period of 6 months from November 2022 to April 2023. Computer generated random numbering was allotted to patients and assigned into two equal groups Group A was treated with two titanium miniplates and screws plus local application of activated PRP along the fracture line, while Group B received the same fixation without PRP. Results: A total of 60 patients included in the study, mean bone density measurement at 1 week were almost similar in both groups 950 ± 35 vs. 940 ± 37, at 3 months it was 1205 ± 40 vs. 1160 ± 45 and at 6 months 1350 ± 42 vs. 1295 ± 48, (p = 0.01), Group A showed significantly higher values. Successful union occurred in 96.7% of patients in group A and 86.7% of group B. Non-union 3.3% vs. 13.3%, infection 3.3% vs. 10%, and hardware loosening 0% vs. 6.7% in Group B. Conclusion: Study reveals that treatment of mandibular parasymphyseal fracture with titanium miniplates and platelet rich plasma demonstrated superior bone density at 3 and 6 months, along with a trend toward better union rates and fewer complications
Objective: Bladder cancer (BCa) is a common urological malignancy, yet quantitative evidence synthesizing the role of microbiome diversity in BCa remained fragmented. This study aimed to summarize the literature regarding the relationship between alpha diversity (Shannon and Simpson indices) and microbiome composition in BCa patients compared to healthy controls. Methods: The study was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar searches were conducted from 2018 to 2026. Studies that reported Shannon and/or Simpson diversity indices in BCa patients and controls were included. Non-English articles, reviews, case reports, and studies without primary quantitative data were excluded. The risk of bias was evaluated using NOS and JBI checklist, and the level of evidence was determined based on the GRADE approach. Statistical analysis was performed using the MetaAnalysisOnline Tool. Results: Thirteen studies were included. Twelve studies were included in the Shannon index meta-analysis, comprising 486 BCa patients and 248 controls. The pooled SMD was 0.04 (95% CI: -0.27 to 0.35; p > 0.05), indicating no significant difference between groups. Significant heterogeneity was observed (I² = 69%; p < 0.01). Five studies were included in the Simpson index meta-analysis, comprising 238 BCa patients and 102 controls. The pooled SMD was -0.04 (95% CI: -0.34 to 0.25; p > 0.05), with no significant heterogeneity observed. Publication bias was not detected for either analysis. Overall, risk of bias was moderate. Conclusion: Alpha diversity measured by Shannon and Simpson indices did not significantly differ between BCa patients and controls.
