Today

Efficacy and safety of mitapivat in adults with transfusion-dependent α-thalassaemia or β-thalassaemia (ENERGIZE-T): a double-blind, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.

Transfusion reduction response occurred in 52 (30%) of 171 on mitapivat versus 11 (13%) of 87 on placebo; adjusted difference 18 percentage points (95% CI 8-27; p=0·0003).

Why it mattersAn oral pyruvate kinase activator cut transfusion burden in thalassaemia; if approved, it offers your regularly transfused patients a disease-modifying pill instead of iron chelation alone.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Central and/or Peripheral Nervous System Demyelination in Patients Treated With Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) Inhibitors

Pooled random-effects estimates: RR 1.46 (95% CI 1.09-1.95) for CNS demyelination and RR 2.00 (95% CI 1.19-3.38) for PNS demyelination.

Why it mattersBefore starting a TNF inhibitor in a patient with autoimmune disease, weigh this pooled demyelination risk signal and counsel on new neurological symptoms.

STAT+: An AI tool aims to catch harder-to-detect heart attacks in EKGs

A newly approved AI tool can scan EKGs for severe heart attacks and, the company says, for rarer patterns indicating blocked arteries.

Why it mattersAn AI ECG reader cleared to flag occult coronary occlusion could catch NSTEMI and posterior MI patterns that clinicians and standard algorithms miss.

Comparative Evaluation of Concurrent Carboplatin-Paclitaxel Versus Cisplatin-Etoposide Chemoradiotherapy in Unresectable Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Prospective Randomized Study

Tumour-response distribution favoured EP (p=0.029). 12-month PFS 40.0% EP versus 25.0% PC (p=0.206); 12-month OS 80.0% versus 56.3% (p=0.144). EP caused more severe anemia, thrombocytopenia and esophagitis.

Why it mattersChoosing weekly carboplatin-paclitaxel over cisplatin-etoposide for unresectable NSCLC chemoradiation may reduce acute toxicity without sacrificing tumour response.

Improving Antibiotic Stewardship Through a Retrospective Study of the Diagnostic Value of Nasal Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Polymerase Chain Reaction for Pneumonia in Intensive Care Unit Settings

Nasal MRSA PCR sensitivity for MRSA in lower respiratory cultures was 90% (18/20); positive predictive value was only 60% (18/30).

Why it mattersA negative nasal MRSA PCR can justify stopping empiric anti-MRSA therapy in ICU pneumonia, sparing vancomycin exposure and nephrotoxicity.

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy in the Obstetric Intensive Care Unit: Seasonal Associations and the Impact of Winter in the Kashmir Valley

166 of 1,899 admissions (8.74%) were new PPCM; 88 (53.01%) occurred in winter versus 78 (46.99%) across the other three seasons (OR 4.22, 95% CI 3.05-5.85; p < 0.001).

Why it mattersIn Kashmir, PPCM clusters in winter, so maintain a low threshold for echocardiography in late-pregnancy or postpartum breathlessness during cold months.

Variability of Nutritional Status During Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Its Association With Clinical Outcomes: An Ambispective Observational Study From India

Mean weight fell from -1.80% at day 0 to -7.65% at day +30. At day +60, weight loss was greater with viral infections (-14.7% vs -5.4%; p=0.03) and stays >36 days (-14.6% vs -5.3%; p=0.025).

Why it mattersSerial weight and calorie-intake decline during HSCT tracked with more infections and longer admissions, so weigh and feed transplant recipients daily rather than reactively.

Comparison of Fluoroscopy Use Between Two Radiographic Overlay Techniques for Limb Length and Femoral Offset Assessment During Direct Anterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty

Unadjusted fluoroscopy time was 60.4 ± 21.2 versus 55.9 ± 19.6 seconds (P = 0.17) and radiation 15.4 ± 13.3 versus 13.0 ± 9.0 mGy (P = 0.17). Time-adjusted ipsilateral use was lower (P = 0.0025).

Why it mattersChoosing the overlay technique that needs less fluoroscopy cuts radiation dose to you and the patient during direct anterior hip replacement without losing leg-length accuracy.