Machine Learning Models in Sepsis Outcome Prediction for ICU Patients: Integrating Routine Laboratory Tests-A Systematic Review.

Sepsis presents significant diagnostic and prognostic challenges, and traditional scoring systems, such as SOFA and APACHE, show limitations in predictive accuracy. Machine learning (ML)-based predictive survival models can support risk assessment and treatment decision-making in the intensive care unit (ICU) by accounting for the numerous and complex factors that influence the outcome in the septic patient. A systematic literature review of studies published from 2014 to 2024 was conducted using the PubMed database.

Atrial Fibrillation and Mortality after Gastrointestinal Surgery: Insights from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Heart failure, stroke and death are major dangers associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), a common abnormal heart rhythm. Having a gastrointestinal (GI) procedure puts patients at risk for developing AF, especially after large abdominal surgery. Although earlier research has shown a possible connection between postoperative AF and higher mortality, the exact nature of this interaction is yet uncertain.

Nanostructured Coatings Based on Graphene Oxide for the Management of Periprosthetic Infections.

To modulate the bioactivity and boost the therapeutic outcome of implantable metallic devices, biodegradable coatings based on polylactide (PLA) and graphene oxide nanosheets (nGOs) loaded with Zinforo™ (Zin) have been proposed in this study as innovative alternatives for the local management of biofilm-associated periprosthetic infections. Using a modified Hummers protocol, high-purity and ultra-thin nGOs have been obtained, as evidenced by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations. The matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique has been successfully employed to obtain the PLA-nGO-Zin coatings.

A Comprehensive Review of Inguinal Hernia Occurrence in Obese Individuals.

Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed surgical activities worldwide. Given the circumstances, understanding and identifying the risk and the protective factors is an essential step in order to prevent, diagnose and treat such a common condition. For a long time, obesity was generally considered to be a risk factor in the occurrence of an inguinal hernia.

Chitosan and Cyclodextrins-Versatile Materials Used to Create Drug Delivery Systems for Gastrointestinal Cancers.

Gastrointestinal cancers are characterized by a frequent incidence, a high number of associated deaths, and a tremendous burden on the medical system and patients worldwide. As conventional chemotherapeutic drugs face numerous limitations, researchers started to investigate better alternatives for extending drug efficacy and limiting adverse effects. A remarkably increasing interest has been addressed to chitosan and cyclodextrins, two highly versatile natural carbohydrate materials endowed with unique physicochemical properties.

Silver/Graphene Oxide Nanostructured Coatings for Modulating the Microbial Susceptibility of Fixation Devices Used in Knee Surgery.

Exploring silver-based and carbon-based nanomaterials' excellent intrinsic antipathogenic effects represents an attractive alternative for fabricating anti-infective formulations. Using chemical synthesis protocols, stearate-conjugated silver (Ag@C) nanoparticles and graphene oxide nanosheets (nGOs) were herein obtained and investigated in terms of composition and microstructure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterizations revealed the formation of nanomaterials with desirable physical properties, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses confirmed the high purity of synthesized nanomaterials.

Breast Cancer Prognosis: A Study on Mortality Indicators.

The prognosis of breast cancer patients is critical for tailored treatment options. While previous observational studies have identified various prognostic markers, a consensus in their clinical application is lacking. This single-center retrospective study aimed to validate the most frequent risk factors associated with increased mortality in breast cancer patients.

The Vermiform Appendix and Its Pathologies.

The vermiform appendix is a muscular cylindrical structure originating near the junction of the cecum and ileum, averaging 9 cm (5-35 cm) in size. As the most mobile viscera, it can adopt several positions, the most common being the retrocecal position. Perceived as an atavistic organ lacking physiological relevance, the vermiform appendix appears to be involved in immune function, serving in the maturation of B lymphocytes and the production of immunoglobulin A, in endocrine function, excreting amines and hormones in the 2-3 mL of mucus secreted daily, and in digestive function, by storing beneficial bacteria from where they can recolonize the colon.

Risk Factors for the Development of Parastomal Hernia: A Narrative Review.

Parastomal hernia is one of the most common late complications after stoma formation, significantly decreasing patient's quality of life and negatively impacting body image and physical functioning. Progress has been made regarding the surgical technique of stoma creation in different categories of patients, but a better understanding of the risk factors is crucial in reducing the likeliness of parastomal hernia formation and in helping develop risk stratification strategies for pre-and post-operation management. However, currently there is limited consensus on the associated risk factors.

Landscape of Genetic Mutations in Appendiceal Cancers.

In appendiceal cancers, the most frequently mutated genes are (i) , which, when reactivated, restores signal transduction via the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway and stimulates cell proliferation in the early stages of tumor transformation, and then angiogenesis; (ii) , whose inactivation leads to the inhibition of programmed cell death; (iii) , which, when reactivated, links the cAMP pathway to the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway, stimulating cell proliferation and angiogenesis; (iv) , exhibiting typical tumor-suppressive activity, blocking the transmission of oncogenic TGFB signals via the SMAD2/SMAD3 heterodimer; and (v) , which is part of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway. Diverse mutations are reported in other genes, which are part of secondary or less critical signaling pathways for tumor progression, but which amplify the phenotypic diversity of appendiceal cancers. In this review, we will present the main genetic mutations involved in appendix tumors and their roles in cell proliferation and survival, and in tumor invasiveness, angiogenesis, and acquired resistance to anti-growth signals.

Postsurgical Adhesions: Is There Any Prophylactic Strategy Really Working?

Postoperative adhesions are a frequent complication encountered after surgical procedures, mainly after intraperitoneal interventions. To this day, the pathophysiological mechanism behind the process of adhesions formation is not completely known. There are many strategies proposed as prophylaxis methods, involving surgical techniques, drugs or materials that prevent adhesions and even state of the art technologies such as nanoparticles or gene therapy.

Healthcare Professionals' Specialists' Perception of Telemedicine in Romania-A Quantitative Study of Beliefs, Practices, and Expectations.

Background: Telemedicine is the service of delivering medical care from a distance through the means of modern technology. It has many advantages, including improved access, decreased costs for both patients and clinics, more flexibility and availability, as well as more precise and individualized therapies. However, it is equally important to take into consideration all the challenges associated with this innovative way of providing care.

The Use of Esophageal Stents in the Management of Postoperative Fistulas-Current Status, Clinical Outcomes and Perspectives-Review.

Unlabelled: Esophageal fistula remains one of the main postoperative complications, with the treatment often requiring the use of stents. This article reviews the updates on the use of endoscopic stents for the treatment of postoperative esophageal leakage in terms of indications, types of stents used, efficiency, specific complications and perspectives.

Materials And Methods: We searched the PubMed and MEDLINE databases for the keywords postoperative esophageal anastomotic leak and postoperative esophageal anastomotic leak stent, and retrieved relevant papers published until December 2022.

Duodenal Gangliocytic Paragangliomas-Case Series and Literature Review.

Duodenal gangliocytic paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors primarily localized in the periampullary area. Though mostly asymptomatic, they can present with various symptoms, most often jaundice, anemia and abdominal pain. The present paper is a case series report, describing our personal experience with patients presenting to the Emergency Unit with different symptoms due to duodenal gangliocytic paraganglioma.

Multidrug resistance in infection.

(Hp), a well-known human pathogen, causes one of the most common chronic bacterial infections and plays an important role in the emergence of chronic progressive gastric inflammation and a variety of gastrointestinal diseases. The prevalence of Hp infection varies worldwide and is indirectly proportional to socio-economic status, especially during childhood. The response to the eradication therapy significantly depends on the antibiotic resistance specific to each geographical region; thus, currently, given the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (especially to clarithromycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin), successful treatment for Hp eradication has become a real challenge and a critical issue.

A Review of Digital Health and Biotelemetry: Modern Approaches towards Personalized Medicine and Remote Health Assessment.

With the prevalence of digitalization in all aspects of modern society, health assessment is becoming digital too. Taking advantage of the most recent technological advances and approaching medicine from an interdisciplinary perspective has allowed for important progress in healthcare services. Digital health technologies and biotelemetry devices have been more extensively employed for preventing, detecting, diagnosing, monitoring, and predicting the evolution of various diseases, without requiring wires, invasive procedures, or face-to-face interaction with medical personnel.

An Updated Overview of Cyclodextrin-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy.

Encompassing a group of complex and heterogeneous diseases, cancer continues to be a challenge for patients and healthcare systems worldwide. Thus, it is of vital importance to develop advanced treatment strategies that could reduce the trends of cancer-associated morbidity and mortality rates. Scientists have focused on creating performant delivery vehicles for anti-cancer agents.

Gastro-Intestinal Bleeding in COVID-19 Patients - Is There Any Causal Relation?

The novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 has put an enormous pressure on health systems around the world. The large number of severe cases that had symptoms seemingly unrelated to the respiratory system, continues to create confusion. The digestive tract is not spared either.

A mesorectal incidentaloma: Rare localization of Castleman disease (Case report).

Incidentalomas are defined as tumors or pseudo-tumoral masses accidentally discovered during clinical and imaging investigations. We present a 51-year-old female patient who presented at the gynecology service for genital bleeding caused by uterine fibromatosis. Computerized pelvic tomography showed an engorged uterus completely deformed by numerous intramural and submucosal nodular structures suggestive of multiple fibroids.

Recent Developments in Metallic Nanomaterials for Cancer Therapy, Diagnosing and Imaging Applications.

Cancer continues to represent a global health concern, imposing an ongoing need to research for better treatment alternatives. In this context, nanomedicine seems to be the solution to existing problems, bringing unprecedented results in various biomedical applications, including cancer therapy, diagnosing, and imaging. As numerous studies have uncovered the advantageous properties of various nanoscale metals, this review aims to present metal-based nanoparticles that are most frequently employed for cancer applications.

Gut Dysbiosis and Infection in Neonates and Adults.

In this review, we focus on gut microbiota profiles in infants and adults colonized (CDC) or infected (CDI) with . After a short update on CDI epidemiology and pathology, we present the gut dysbiosis profiles associated with CDI in adults and infants, as well as the role of dysbiosis in spores germination and multiplication. Both molecular and culturomic studies agree on a significant decrease of gut microbiota diversity and resilience in CDI, depletion of , and phyla and a high abundance of , associated with low butyrogenic and high lactic acid-bacteria levels.

An Up-to-Date Review of Natural Nanoparticles for Cancer Management.

Cancer represents one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, imposing an urgent need to develop more efficient treatment alternatives. In this respect, much attention has been drawn from conventional cancer treatments to more modern approaches, such as the use of nanotechnology. Extensive research has been done for designing innovative nanoparticles able to specifically target tumor cells and ensure the controlled release of anticancer agents.

Prognosis Evaluation for Patients with Abdominal Trauma Using Usual Biological Parameters.

Unlabelled: Abdominal injuries are responsible for approximately 20% of all post-traumatic deaths, 45-50% of which occurring in the first 60 minutes. Currently there are several prediction scores for the evolution of these patients, which take into account degrees of anatomical lesion, clinical signs and imaging and paraclinical explorations.

Aim: The aim of the study was to develop a scoring system to predict mortality in patients with abdominal trauma by using the usual biological parameters.