Background/Objectives: Lung cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in the general population and the third most prevalent among women. STAS (Spread Through Air Spaces) is a term used in pathology, particularly in lung cancer. It refers to the spread of tumor cells through air spaces in the lung tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of STAS as a predictive and prognostic factor, as well as to assess the impact of STAS detection on subsequent surgical and pharmacological treatment decisions. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed, PMC, and Google Scholar between June and September 2024. Search terms included ‘STAS’, ‘lung cancer’, ‘NSCLC’, ‘SCLC’, ‘PET and STAS’, ‘histopathological STAS’, ‘treatment methods for STAS’, and ‘STAS prognosis’. A diverse range of study designs was included in our analysis—encompassing meta-analyses, case-control studies, literature reviews, cross-sectional studies, and prospective longitudinal studies. Results: Lobectomy remains standard, whereas sublobar resection significantly increases recurrence risk in STAS-positive patients. CT, PET/CT, and frozen section analysis offer emerging, reliable predictive markers, supporting optimized treatment selection; however, histopathological examination continues to serve as the standard method for confirming STAS. Conclusions: One of the most significant limitations of our work is the limited number of available studies addressing the topic of STAS, which is the reason why statistical analysis was not provided. To conclude, the presence of STAS is identified as a negative prognostic factor amongst patients with NSCLC; however further research is needed to establish specific treatment guidelines when STAS is identified.

The role of oxidative/antioxidative system imbalances in advanced heart failure (HF) has not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with one-year mortality in patients with advanced HF, with particular emphasis on oxidative/antioxidative balance parameters. We analyzed 85 heart transplant candidates who were hospitalized at our institution for right heart catheterization. Ten milliliters of coronary sinus blood was collected to measure oxidative/antioxidative markers. The median age was 58 (50–62) years, and 90.6% of them were male. The one-year mortality rate was 40%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that ceruloplasmin (OR = 1.342 [1.019–1.770], p = 0.0363; per unit decrease), catalase (OR = 1.053 [1.014–1.093], p = 0.0076; per unit decrease), and creatinine (OR = 1.071 [1.002–1.144], p = 0.0422; per unit increase) were independently associated with one-year mortality. Ceruloplasmin, catalase, and creatinine had areas under the curve of 0.9296 [0.8738–0.9855], 0.9666 [0.9360–0.9971], and 0.7682 [0.6607–0.8756], respectively. Lower ceruloplasmin and catalase in the coronary sinus, as well as higher creatinine in peripheral blood, are independently associated with one-year mortality in patients with advanced HF. Catalase and ceruloplasmin have excellent prognostic power, and creatinine has acceptable prognostic power, allowing the distinction of one-year survivors from nonsurvivors.

We report a 49‐year‐old patient with COVID‐19 who developed lung abscess, pleural empyema, and tracheo‐esophageal fistula. He underwent cervicotomy, segmental tracheal resection, esophageal‐tracheal fistula excision, and suturing the esophagus, and a classic thoracotomy was performed. Despite the severe infection, the patient was discharged home after successful surgical treatment.

Oxidative stress reflects an imbalance between the systemic manifestation of reactive oxygen species and cells’ ability to neutralize them by antioxidant systems. The role of oxidative stress in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is not fully understood. The aim of the study was to examine selected parameters of oxidative stress in patients with HCM compared to the control group. We enrolled 85 consecutive HCM patients and 97 controls without HCM. The groups were matched for sex, the body mass index, and age. Oxidative stress markers included superoxide dismutase (SOD), ceruloplasmin (CER), and lipofuscin (LPS). The median age of the HCM patients was 53 (40–63) years, and 41.2% of them were male. HCM patients, compared to the control ones, had significantly increased levels of CER and LPS. The areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUC) indicated a good discriminatory power of CER (AUC 0.924, sensitivity 84%, and specificity 88%), an acceptable discriminatory power of LPS (AUC 0.740, sensitivity 66%, and specificity 72%), and poor discriminatory power of SOD (AUC 0.556, sensitivity 34%, and specificity 94%) for HCM detection. CER with good predictive strength, as well as LPS with acceptable predictive power, allows for HCM detection. The utility of SOD for HCM detection is limited.

Opioids have long been central to perioperative analgesia, but their well-recognised adverse effects, including postoperative nausea and vomiting, respiratory depression, ileus, and the risk of persistent postoperative use, have increased interest in strategies that reduce perioperative opioid exposure. This narrative review examines two such strategies, opioid-sparing anaesthesia and opioid-free anaesthesia (OFA), and presents them as related points along a continuum of opioid minimisation rather than as opposing approaches. We define each strategy, outline the rationale for opioid reduction, including opioid-induced hyperalgesia, and review the multimodal and regional anaesthesia techniques that support both. Current evidence from mixed surgical populations and procedure-specific analyses, including cardiac, thoracic, orthopaedic, bariatric, and breast surgery, suggests that the most consistent benefit of opioid minimisation is improved tolerability, particularly reduced postoperative nausea and vomiting, rather than a major reduction in postoperative pain intensity. OFA may also shift the adverse-effect profile towards haemodynamic events such as bradycardia and hypotension. We also discuss the practical challenges of implementation, including training requirements, monitoring issues, and the important but often overlooked distinction between opioid-free anaesthesia and opioid-free analgesia. Finally, we consider the main limitations of the current literature, especially inconsistent definitions, a focus on short-term outcomes and the near-exclusive enrolment of opioid-naive patients. We conclude that clinically meaningful outcomes depend more on the quality of the perioperative pathway than on whether intraoperative opioids are reduced or completely avoided.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common hereditary heart muscle disorders. It is characterised by unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). In competitive sports, HCM can be particularly dangerous. It is a well-recognised leading cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among young athletes. Aim: This study aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the current understanding of HCM within athletic populations, with a focus on the differences in pathophysiology compared to normal physiological adaptation. Material and methods: Between April and July 2025, we searched the PubMed, Google Scholar, and PMC databases. We used both Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and keywords in the free text. The search was limited to studies on humans. Due to the heterogeneity of the materials used, no statistical analyses or quantitative pooling were performed. The narrative was based on PRISMA principles. Research results: HCM is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in sarcomere-affecting genes. These abnormalities result in abnormal energy metabolism, disturbances in calcium homeostasis and oxidative stress. This generates an energy deficit, which is exacerbated further during competitive sports. This mechanism can lead to life-threatening complications. Distinguishing between the heart's physiological adaptation to intense physical exertion and HCM requires an assessment of ventricular geometry, diastolic and systolic performance, coronary perfusion and the body's response to exercise testing. Conclusion: HCM presents many challenges to sports medicine and diagnosis requires advanced tests. Thanks to extensive research on HCM, the range of therapeutic options in both pharmacotherapy and surgical treatment is constantly expanding.