Influence of COVID-19 on Patients with Esophageal Varices under Prophylactic Endoscopic Band Ligation Therapy.

Background And Objectives: Endoscopic band ligation (EBL) plays a critical role in patients with clinically significant portal hypertension, as variceal eradication (VE) is essential to prevent further variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (GI). The emergence of COVID-19 has led to a dramatic reduction in endoscopic activity. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on VE, GI, and 6-month mortality of patients treated with prophylactic EBL therapy.

A simplified algorithm to evaluate the risk of submucosal invasive cancer in large (≥20 mm) nonpedunculated colonic polyps.

Background: Recognition of submucosal invasive cancer (SMIC) in large (≥20 mm) nonpedunculated colonic polyps (LNPCPs) informs selection of the optimal resection strategy. LNPCP location, morphology, and size influence the risk of SMIC; however, currently no meaningful application of this information has simplified the process to make it accessible and broadly applicable. We developed a decision-making algorithm to simplify the identification of LNPCP subtypes with increased risk of potential SMIC.

When less is more: lower esophageal sphincter-preserving peroral endoscopic myotomy is effective for non-achalasia esophageal motility disorders.

Background: Non-achalasia esophageal motility disorders (NAEMDs), encompassing distal esophageal spasm (DES) and hypercontractile esophagus (HCE), are rare conditions. Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a promising treatment option. In NAEMDs, unlike with achalasia, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) functions normally, suggesting the potential of LES preservation during POEM.

Hybrid resection versus conventional resection for laterally spreading lesions of the papilla.

Background And Aims: Although conventional hot snare resection (CR) of laterally spreading lesions of the major papilla (LSL-Ps) is effective, it can be associated with delayed bleeding in upward of 25% of cases. Given the excellent safety profile of cold snare polypectomy in the colorectum, we investigated the efficacy and safety of a novel hybrid resection (HR) technique for LSL-P management, consisting of hot snare papillectomy plus cold snare resection of the laterally spreading component.

Methods: A prospective cohort of patients underwent HR in a tertiary referral center over 60 months until December 2022.

The Surface Morphology of Large Nonpedunculated Colonic Polyps Predicts Synchronous Large Lesions.

Background & Aims: Large (≥20 mm) nonpedunculated colorectal polyps (LNPCPs) may have synchronous LNPCPs in up to 18% of cases. The nature of this relationship has not been investigated. We aimed to examine the relationship between individual LNPCP characteristics and synchronous colonic LNPCPs.

Alarming increase of NASH as cause of liver cancer.

A very interesting recent article by Huang and colleagues evaluated the global epidemiology of liver cancer from 2010 to 2019 and showed that non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the fastest growing cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)..

Do MAFLD Patients with Harmful Alcohol Consumption Have a Different Dietary Intake?

The term metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has been proposed to define positively fatty liver disease in the form associated with metabolic risk factors. The aim of this study was to assess the dietary intake of MAFLD and explore a possible relationship between its inflammatory characteristics (assessed by Dietary Inflammatory Index-DII), the degree of liver fibrosis (assessed by transient elastography), and the amount of alcohol intake. MAFLD patients were included ( = 161) and were classified, according to the amount of alcoholic intake, as MAFLD without alcohol intake ( = 77) and MAFLD with alcohol intake ( = 84), with 19 presenting harmful alcoholic consumption.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease versus Alcohol-related Liver Disease: Is it Really so Different?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and alcohol-related liver disease together, compose the majority of cases of liver disease and cirrhosis worldwide. Although in the last years, there has been much interest in the differentiation between the two entities, it is increasingly recognized that a large overlap exists between them. The main pathophysiological aspects are very similar, with the exceptions of mechanisms directly related to alcohol, acting as an added factor in the presence of metabolic risk factors.

Multimodal Biosensing on Paper-Based Platform Fabricated by Plasmonic Calligraphy Using Gold Nanobypiramids Ink.

In this work, we design new plasmonic paper-based nanoplatforms with interesting capabilities in terms of sensitivity, efficiency, and reproducibility for promoting multimodal biodetection via Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR), Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), and Metal Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF). To succeed, we exploit the unique optical properties of gold nanobipyramids (AuBPs) deposited onto the cellulose fibers via plasmonic calligraphy using a commercial pen. The first step of the biosensing protocol was to precisely graft the previously chemically-formed p-aminothiophenol@Biotin system, as active recognition element for target streptavidin detection, onto the plasmonic nanoplatform.

Designing Efficient Low-Cost Paper-Based Sensing Plasmonic Nanoplatforms.

Paper-based platforms can be a promising choice as portable sensors due to their low-cost and facile fabrication, ease of use, high sensitivity, specificity and flexibility. By combining the qualities of these 3D platforms with the optical properties of gold nanoparticles, it is possible to create efficient nanodevices with desired biosensing functionalities. In this work, we propose a new plasmonic paper-based dual localized surface plasmon resonance⁻surface-enhanced Raman scattering (LSPR-SERS) nanoplatform with improved detection abilities in terms of high sensitivity, uniformity and reproducibility.

Gold NanoBipyramids Performing as Highly Sensitive Dual-Modal Optical Immunosensors.

In this work, we demonstrate the feasibility of gold bipyramidal-shaped nanoparticles (AuBPs) to be used as active plasmonic nanoplatforms for the detection of the biotin-streptavidin interaction in aqueous solution via both Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance and Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (LSPR/SERS). Our proof of concept exploits the precise attachment of the recognition element at the tips of AuBPs, where the electromagnetic field is stronger, which is beneficial to the surface sensitivity of longitudinal LSPR on the local refractive index and to the electromagnetic enhancement of SERS activity, too. Indeed, successive red shifts of the longitudinal LSPR associated with increased local refractive index reveal the attachment of para-aminothiophenol (p-ATP) chemically labeled Biotin to the Au surface and the specific capture of the target protein by biotin-functionalized AuBPs.

Carboplatin-Loaded, Raman-Encoded, Chitosan-Coated Silver Nanotriangles as Multimodal Traceable Nanotherapeutic Delivery Systems and pH Reporters inside Human Ovarian Cancer Cells.

Ovarian cancer is a common cause of cancer death in women and is associated with the highest mortality rates of all gynecological malignancies. Carboplatin (CBP) is the most used cytotoxic agent in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Herein, we design and assess a CBP nanotherapeutic delivery system which allows combinatorial functionalities of chemotherapy, pH sensing, and multimodal traceable properties inside live NIH:OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells.

Surface Plasmon Resonance or Biocompatibility-Key Properties for Determining the Applicability of Noble Metal Nanoparticles.

Metal and in particular noble metal nanoparticles represent a very special class of materials which can be applied as prepared or as composite materials. In most of the cases, two main properties are exploited in a vast number of publications: biocompatibility and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). For instance, these two important properties are exploitable in plasmonic diagnostics, bioactive glasses/glass ceramics and catalysis.