Introduction: Nexplanon is a 4 cm rod-shaped barium sulphate coated contraceptive implant with a usual subdermal insertion in the inner non-dominant upper arm. Complications proper to subdermal contraceptive implants are unusual and principally localized and minor, comprising infection at the site of implantation, hematoma, abnormal scar development, or local nerve and blood vessel injuries. Infrequently, contraceptive implant migration can happen, though habitually not far from the site of insertion. Pulmonary embolization of the device is remarkably rare and can present with symptoms such as chest pain or dyspnea. Patient concerns and diagnosis: We report one of the rare cases of asymptomatic Nexplanon pulmonary embolism in a 26-year-old female. Interventions and outcomes: An endovascular intervention successfully retrieved the device from the lateral segment right middle lobe pulmonary artery without any complications. Conclusion: Several cases of contraceptive implant migration into the pulmonary artery have been reported to this day. Preventing this life-threatening complication is challenging, and yet, no clear guidelines have been established.

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most frequent cancer affecting the urinary tract. With the growing era of targeted therapies around the 2000s, many trials evaluated the efficacy of targeted therapy in advanced BC. However, no approval was given yet to any form of targeted therapy when it comes to BC. The aim of this paper was to report the most pivotal trials that evaluated different families of targeted therapy in the treatment of BC, according to their biomarkers (FGFR3, EGFR, HER2, VEGF and PI3K/AKT/mTOR). The ongoing trials testing targeted therapies in advanced BC were then summarized. Finally, the different immunotherapies approved for this disease and their potential combination with targeted therapy were addressed.

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The following four variants of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are currently spreading worldwide and are labeled as Variants of Concern (VOC) according to the World Health Organization (WHO): the B.1.1.7 (also called 501Y. V1 or "SARS-CoV-2 VUI-202012/01") variant detected in the United Kingdom (UK) in September 2020, the B.1.351 (also called 501Y.V2) variant discovered in August 2020 in South Africa, the P.1 (also called B.1.1.28.1) variant discovered later in December 2020 in Brazil and Japan, and the B.1.617 variant discovered in India being the most recent addition to the list [1]. The three VOC from UK, South Africa and Brazil can have two mutations in common: the N501Y and E484K spike protein mutations, with the latter being more prevalent in the B.1.351 and P.1 variants [1]. According to the WHO, as of April 20, 2021, the presence of the UK, the South African and the Brazilian variants was reported respectively in 125, 67, and 43 countries, and as of May 2021, the Indian variant was recorded in 44 countries [1]. Moreover, the VOC phylodynamics are continuously updated on animated maps on the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data website. On top of these VOC, there are several additional variants of interest that are currently being investigated at national and international levels including the P.2 variant (also called B.1.1.28.2) detected in Brazil, and the CAL.20C (also called B.1.427/B.1.429) variant discovered in California [1].

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common cancer involving the urinary system and the ninth most common cancer worldwide. Tobacco smoking is the most important environmental risk factor of BC. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms have been validated by genome-wide association studies as genetic risk factors for BC. However, the identification of DNA mismatch-repair genes, including MSH2 in Lynch syndrome and MUTYH in MUTYH-associated polyposis, raises the possibility of monogenic hereditary forms of BC. Moreover, other genetic mutations may play a key role in familial and hereditary transmissions of BC. Therefore, the aim of this review is to focus on the major hereditary syndromes involved in the development of BC and to report BC genetic susceptibilities established with genome-wide significance level.

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Aim: This study investigated the association between plasma levels of GDF-15, hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in stable patients referred for elective coronary angiography. Methods: The outcome of CAD was defined as an ordinal variable with 3 levels. The association between each biomarker and the outcome was tested using the Winell and Lindbäck method. Results: In unadjusted analysis of 252 patients, GDF-15 and hs-cTnT were associated with the presence and extent of CAD. In multivariate regression analysis including traditional risk factors, this association was no longer significant. Conclusion: NT-proBNP, GDF-15 and hs-cTnT plasma levels do not seem to improve the predictive ability of traditional risk factors for CAD in stable patients referred for coronary angiography.

Aim: Assess the knowledge and behavior of Lebanese parents when it comes to melanoma and its prevention in children. Methods: A survey, to be completed by parents, was sent through children from three schools. Results: During sun exposure only 23.5% of 1012 respondents were always covering enough areas of their children's skin and 74.1% did not always apply sunscreen to their children. Parents of private school children were three times more likely to apply sunscreen to their children when exposed to sun, four times more likely to reapply sunscreen every 2–3 h and 21 times more likely to use a higher sun protection factor. Conclusion: Sun protection in children is insufficient and sunburns are frequent, illustrating the need for melanoma awareness campaigns.