Cosmetic products are chemical substances or mixtures used on the skin, hair, nails, teeth, and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, whose use is intended to clean, protect, correct body odor, perfume, keep in good condition, or change appearance. The analysis of cosmetic ingredients is often challenging because of their huge complexity and their adulteration. Among various analytical tools, mass spectrometry (MS) has been largely used for compound detection, ingredient screening, quality control, detection of product authenticity, and health risk evaluation. This work is focused on the MS applications in detecting and quantification of some common cosmetic ingredients, i.e., preservatives, dyes, heavy metals, allergens, and bioconjugates in various matrices (leave-on or rinse-off cosmetic products). As a global view, MS-based analysis of bioconjugates is a narrow field, and LC- and GC/GC×GC-MS are widely used for the investigation of preservatives, dyes, and fragrances, while inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-MS is ideal for comprehensive analysis of heavy metals. Ambient ionization approaches and advanced separation methods (i.e., convergence chromatography (UPC²)) coupled to MS have been proven to be an excellent choice for the analysis of scented allergens. At the same time, the current paper explores the challenges of MS-based analysis for cosmetic safety studies.

Background/Objectives: Cardiac hemangiomas are rare benign vascular tumors, accounting for less than 2% of primary cardiac tumors. Despite their rarity, they can cause significant clinical effects depending on their size and location. This systematic review aims to provide an updated analysis of recent cases, focusing on epidemiology, histopathological subtypes, clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, and treatment outcomes. Methods: A systematic search of the PubMed database identified case reports and series published between 2019 and 2025. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 55 eligible cases were selected for analysis. Data were extracted on patient demographics, tumor characteristics, imaging methods, treatment strategies, and follow-up outcomes. Results: Cavernous hemangiomas were the most commonly reported subtype. Patient ages ranged from infancy to over 85 years, with a slight predominance in females. Presentations varied from asymptomatic incidental findings to symptoms such as dyspnea and chest pain. Echocardiography was the primary diagnostic tool in over 80% of cases. Surgical resection was performed in 87.3% of patients, yielding favorable outcomes and low recurrence. However, follow-up duration was inconsistent, and long-term outcomes were underreported, underscoring the lack of standardized surveillance protocols. This variability limits clinicians’ ability to assess recurrence risk and long-term prognosis, highlighting the need for evidence-based guidelines to inform structured follow-up and improve patient care. Conclusions: The increasing number of published cases likely reflects improved diagnostic imaging and greater clinical awareness. While surgery remains the preferred treatment, the variability in follow-up and diagnostic reporting highlights the need for standardized protocols. Further studies are warranted to clarify the natural history, refine classification systems, and establish evidence-based guidelines for the management of this rare cardiac tumor.

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are a glycolipid subtype which plays vital roles in numerous biological processes, cell–cell interactions, as well as oncogenesis and ontogenesis. They are ubiquitous molecules found mostly in cell membranes. Abnormal expression of GSLs as well as altered molecular structure have been linked with progression of cancer and metastasis and are involved in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative, autoimmune, and infectious diseases as well as inherited enzyme defects—glycosphingolipidoses. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) plays a leading role in analyzing and characterizing different GSLs, and thus can help to distinguish altered GSL patterns. This review offers insights into the benefits and limitations when using MALDI MS in this field of lipidomic research, with an emphasis on which are the optimal matrices in analyzing GSLs from different tissues (normal and pathological) as well as highlighting GSLs’ particular profiles in various cell cultures, and normal and pathological human tissues obtained by MALDI non-imaging MS (non-IMS). These findings can have implications in further understanding the role of altered GSL expression in various pathological conditions and could be a target for future therapies.

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) play numerous roles in cellular processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, and cell signaling. Alteration of the GSLs metabolism leads to the accumulation of particular species of GSLs, which can lead to various pathologies, including carcinogenesis and metastasis; in essence, all neoplasms are characterized by the synthesis and aberrant organization of GSLs expressed on the cell surface. Secondary brain tumors make up the majority of intracranial cancers and generally present an unfavorable prognosis. In the present work, a native GSL mixture extracted and purified from a secondary brain tumor with primary pulmonary origin was obtained through extraction and purification and analyzed by MALDI TOF mass spectrometry. Research in the field of lipidomics could offer new data for the understanding of brain tropism and metastatic pathways, by studying the glycolipid molecules involved in the process of metastasis in general and in the production of brain metastases in particular. This could shed new light on the pattern of lipid glycosylation in secondary brain tumors, with a great impact on the effectiveness of cancer therapies, which could be adapted to the specific molecular pattern of the tumor.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent but frequently underdiagnosed comorbidity in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, including coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), aortic valve replacement (AVR), and mitral valve repair or replacement (MVR). This systematic review and meta-analytic synthesis investigates the relationship between OSA and postoperative morbidity and mortality, with particular attention to the predictive utility of established screening instruments. Methods: A systematic search of the PubMed database was conducted (April 2025), identifying 724 articles published in the last ten years. Seventeen primary studies met the inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis, and four additional studies were included in the meta-analyses. Outcomes assessed included atrial fibrillation, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), acute kidney injury (AKI), respiratory complications, pneumonia, hospital length of stay (LOS), and mortality. Risk of bias was assessed qualitatively based on study design and reporting limitations. This review was registered in the PROSPERO database under registration number CRD420251049574. Results: Meta-analyses demonstrated significantly elevated odds of atrial fibrillation (OR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.46–4.07), major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (OR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.61–2.63), acute kidney injury (OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.67–3.01), and respiratory complications (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.05–1.25) among patients with OSA. Additionally, OSA was associated with a significantly prolonged hospital length of stay (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.46–0.78) and a marginal increase in pneumonia risk (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.00–1.15). Evidence regarding stroke, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and mortality was inconsistent or underpowered. Conclusions: Across core outcomes, findings were consistent across multiple studies involving a large patient population. Obstructive sleep apnea is a clinically consequential risk factor in cardiac surgery, associated with increased perioperative complications and prolonged hospitalization. These findings support the integration of routine OSA screening into preoperative risk assessment protocols. Further prospective, multicenter trials are warranted to assess the efficacy of perioperative management strategies, including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, in improving surgical outcomes.

Background: Primary cardiac tumors are exceedingly rare, accounting for less than 0.2% of cases in autopsy series. Myxomas represent the majority, while hemangiomas are exceptionally uncommon, accounting for less than 2% of benign cardiac tumors. Their rarity, nonspecific clinical presentation, and overlapping imaging features make preoperative diagnosis particularly challenging. Case presentation: We report the case of a 47-year-old woman with exertional dyspnoea and a large right atrial mass initially suggestive of myxoma on transthoracic echocardiography. Coronary angiography revealed a small fistulous connection, raising suspicion of a vascular lesion. Surgical resection was performed, and histopathological examination confirmed a cavernous hemangioma. The postoperative course was favorable, with no residual mass on follow-up imaging. Discussion: Cardiac hemangiomas are often misdiagnosed as myxomas due to similar clinical and echocardiographic appearances. This case illustrates the diagnostic challenges posed by cardiac hemangiomas and the importance of correlating multiple imaging modalities when assessing atypical atrial masses. Our case highlights the potential role of multimodal imaging, including contrast echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and coronary angiography, in differentiating vascular from non-vascular cardiac tumors. Based on recurrent patterns in the literature, we outline a conceptual diagnostic framework that may assist preoperative evaluation. Conclusions: Although rare, cardiac hemangiomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of atrial masses. Multimodal imaging may improve diagnostic accuracy, but additional data from multicenter registries are required to establish validated diagnostic pathways.