Development of non-viral targeted RNA delivery vehicles - a key factor in success of therapeutic RNA.

Decade-long efforts in medicinal biotechnology have enabled large-scale in-vitro production of optimised therapeutic RNA constructs for stable in-vivo delivery and modify the expression of disease-related genes. The success of lipid nanoparticle-formulated mRNA vaccines against Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-Cov2) has opened a new era of RNA therapeutics and non-viral drug delivery systems. The major limiting factor in the clinical translation of RNA-based drugs is the availability of suitable delivery vehicles that can protect RNA payloads from degradation, offer controlled release, and pose minimal inherent toxicity.

Insight into Predictors of Cytoreduction Score Following Cytoreductive Surgery-Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Gastric Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Improves Patient Selection and Prognostic Outcomes.

Background: Peritoneal metastases due to gastric adenocarcinoma (GCPM) carry a dismal prognosis. A promising treatment strategy is cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC), but clear eligibility criteria for GCPM are lacking. We sought to identify factors associated with overall survival (OS) following CRS-HIPEC for GCPM to help optimize patient selection and clinical outcomes.

Genitourinary cancer and family: The reverberating psychological and cardiovascular effects of a genitourinary cancer diagnosis on first-degree relatives and spouses.

Background: The psychological and cardiovascular health impacts on family members of patients who have been diagnosed with cancer have not been well characterized. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a family member's cancer diagnosis influences the risk of psychological illness and cardiovascular disease in first-degree relatives and spouses of patients affected by cancer.

Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis evaluated the risk of psychological illness and cardiovascular disease in first-degree relatives and spouses of patients diagnosed with a genitourinary cancer between 1990 and 2015 compared to relatives of those not diagnosed with a genitourinary cancer.

The Impact of External Sphincter Grading after Early Apical Release Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate on Postoperative Stress Urinary Incontinence.

Postoperative stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) has improved with the early apical release (EAR) technique. However, some patients develop SUI despite using EAR HoLEP. The aim of this study is to investigate whether a novel classification of the external sphincter is correlated with postoperative SUI.

CRISPR-Cas9 mediated understanding of plants' abiotic stress-responsive genes to combat changing climatic patterns.

Multiple abiotic stresses like extreme temperatures, water shortage, flooding, salinity, and exposure to heavy metals are confronted by crop plants with changing climatic patterns. Prolonged exposure to these adverse environmental conditions leads to stunted plant growth and development with significant yield loss in crops. CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing tool is being frequently employed to understand abiotic stress-responsive genes.

Microsatellite instability should not determine candidacy for cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion in patients with peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer.

Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a multimodal therapeutic option for the management of peritoneal metastases (PM). Treatment outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) PM undergoing CRS+HIPEC with microsatellite instability (MSI) remain unknown. We examined the patient characteristics and outcomes in patients with MSI CRC after CRS+HIPEC.

Dengue encephalopathy concurrent with secondary pulmonary tuberculosis in an elderly male with multiple comorbidities.

Dengue fever (DF) and tuberculosis (TB) present significant global health challenges, often with overlapping clinical features, especially when complicated by conditions like dengue encephalopathy. We present a case study involving an 84-year-old male with a complex medical history, encompassing pulmonary tuberculosis reactivation, who subsequently developed dengue encephalitis. This underscores the complexity of managing such cases in the geriatric population.

Germline Pathogenic Variants Identified in Patients With Genitourinary Malignancies Undergoing Universal Testing: A Multisite Single-Institution Prospective Study.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) in hereditary cancer genes utilizing a universal testing approach and to determine the rate of PGVs that would have been missed based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines in genitourinary (GU) malignancies.

Materials And Methods: A multisite, single-institution prospective germline genetic test (GGT) was universally offered to patients with new or active diagnoses of GU malignancies (prostate, bladder, and renal) from April 2018 to March 2020 at Mayo Clinic sites. Participants were offered GGT using a next-generation sequencing panel of > 80 genes.

Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Repair of Kidney Transplant Ureteral Strictures.

Objective: To evaluate outcomes of robotic-assisted transplant ureteral repair (RATUR) for the management of kidney transplant ureteral strictures (TUS).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 41 consecutive patients who underwent RATUR for TUS at multiple tertiary referral centers between January 2016 and December 2022. RATUR was performed utilizing a robotic-assisted transperitoneal approach.

A machine learning approach for predicting textbook outcome after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Introduction: Peritoneal carcinomatosis is considered a late-stage manifestation of neoplastic diseases. Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) can be an effective treatment for these patients. However, the procedure is associated with significant morbidity.

Emerging concepts in alcohol, infection & immunity: A summary of the 2023 alcohol and immunology research interest group (AIRIG) meeting.

On December 8th 2023, the annual Alcohol and Immunology Research Interest Group (AIRIG) meeting was held at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado. The 2023 meeting focused broadly on how acute and chronic alcohol exposure leads to immune dysregulation, and how this contributes to damage in multiple tissues and organs. These include impaired lung immunity, intestinal dysfunction, autoimmunity, the gut-Central Nervous System (CNS) axis, and end-organ damage.

Exploration of the Motivational Factors that Influence the Maintenance of Health.

Objective: This study aims to identify motivators influencing individuals' commitment to maintaining positive health trajectories across different demographics. The primary objective is to leverage this knowledge to enhance patient-physician relationships and improve the quality of care.

Methods: A web-based survey collected data from 204 randomly selected participants aged 16 and older.

Association of Baseline Pre-Diagnosis and Post-Diagnosis Obesity and Weight Change with Cardiovascular Risk and Survival Among Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer Survivors.

Introduction: Obesity in prostate cancer survivors may increase mortality. Better characterization of this effect may allow better counseling on obesity as a targetable lifestyle factor to reduce mortality in prostate cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pre- and post-diagnostic obesity and weight change affect all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease specific mortality, and prostate cancer specific mortality in patients with nonmetastatic prostate cancer.

The Impact of Standard vs Early Apical Release Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate Technique on Postoperative Incontinence and Quality of Life.

Objective: To investigate the difference in postoperative incontinence and quality of life comparing standard vs early apical release (EAR) Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP).

Methods: A retrospective review was performed to identify patients who underwent HoLEP from December 2021 to December 2022 at a single tertiary referral center with two participating consultant urologists. Patients were assessed with questionnaires and evaluated clinically.

Urban relatives ameliorate survival disparities for genitourinary cancer in rural patients.

Introduction: Patients living in rural areas have worse cancer-specific outcomes. This study examines the effect of family-based social capital on genitourinary cancer survival. We hypothesized that rural patients with urban relatives have improved survival relative to rural patients without urban family.

Access to Care and Health Care Utilization Among Patients With Nephrolithiasis.

Objective: To characterize the impact of nephrolithiasis diagnosis and treatment on health care utilization and identify predictors of barriers to care in the patient population.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the All of Us Database, a National Institutes of Health database targeting recruitment of underrepresented populations. Patients with a diagnosis of kidney stones were included and matched to a control group.

Normal CEA Levels After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Cytoreduction with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemoperfusion Predict Improved Survival from Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases.

Background: Normal carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels (≤ 2.5 ng/ml) after resection of localized colorectal cancer or liver metastases are associated with improved survival, however, these trends are understudied for colorectal peritoneal metastases (CRPM).

Patients And Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-institution study of patients with CRPM undergoing cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (CRS/HIPEC) with and without neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).

Femoral insufficiency fracture related to bisphosphonate use.

This case report details the symptoms, diagnostic results, and surgical treatment of a 66-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department complaining of excruciating pain in her right leg after being injured while doing Pilates. After an accident involving a ball during a Pilates exercise, the patient reported feeling pain. Upon physical examination, the right leg was found to be shortened and externally rotated, with the foot's sensation and mobility unaffected.