Mitral valve repair and replacement in infectious endocarditis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical outcome.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) poses significant clinical challenges, often necessitating surgical intervention for improved patient outcomes. The choice between mitral valve repair (MVP) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) is crucial in managing IE. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to compare the effectiveness of MVP and MVR in treating IE, focusing on outcomes such as postoperative bleeding, mortality, recurrent endocarditis, and stroke.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection during Delivery Causes Histopathological Changes in the Placenta.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 can damage human placentas, leading to pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia and premature birth. This study investigates the histopathological changes found in COVID-19-affected placentas.

Materials And Methods: This study included 23 placentas from patients with active COVID-19 during delivery and 22 samples from patients without COVID-19 infection in their medical history.

The role of IL-17 in the pathogenesis and treatment of glioblastoma-an update on the state of the art and future perspectives.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor, which, despite significant progress made in the last years in the field of neuro-oncology, remains an incurable disease. GBM has a poor prognosis with a median survival of 12-15 months, and its aggressive clinical course is related to rapid growth, extensive infiltration of adjacent tissues, resistance to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, and frequent relapse. Currently, several molecular biomarkers are used in clinical practice to predict patient prognosis and response to treatment.

Targeting apoptosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most prevalent subtype of renal cancer, accounting for approximately 80% of all renal cell cancers. Due to its exceptional inter- and intratumor heterogeneity, it is highly resistant to conventional systemic therapies. Targeting the evasion of cell death, one of cancer's hallmarks, is currently emerging as an alternative strategy for ccRCC.

High MAL2 expression predicts shorter survival in women with triple-negative breast cancer.

Introduction: Due to its lack of conventional surface receptors, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is inherently resistant to most targeted therapies. MAL2 overexpression prompts endocytosis, conferring resistance to novel therapeutics. This study explores the role of MAL2 and PD-L1 in TNBC patients' prognosis.

Atypical Presentation of Bronchogenic Cyst in the Retroperitoneal Space.

Bronchogenic cysts, benign congenital malformations resulting from abnormal tracheobronchial tree budding, primarily manifest in the mediastinum, with retroperitoneal occurrence being exceedingly rare. Typically incidental findings on imaging, and their diagnosis pose challenges, particularly when malignancy is suspected. We present a case involving a 55-year-old woman diagnosed with chronic back pain.

Mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 Placental Transmission.

The widespread occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infections and the diverse range of symptoms have placed significant strain on healthcare systems worldwide. Pregnancy has also been affected by COVID-19, with an increased risk of complications and unfavorable outcomes for expectant mothers. Multiple studies indicate that SARS-CoV-2 can infiltrate the placenta, breach its protective barrier, and infect the fetus.

Flow cytometry in the detection of circulating tumor cells in neoplastic effusions.

Purpose: Despite its limitations, the cytology of body fluids is widely used in diagnosing neoplastic cells. Flow cytometry detects and identifies individual cells, enabling the detection of circulating tumor cells and facilitating diagnosis. This study compared the diagnostic utility of flow cytometry and cytology for detecting cancer cells in peritoneal and pleural fluids.

Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: An Evolving Understanding.

Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a clinical syndrome in which patients have signs and symptoms of HF due to high left ventricular (LV) filling pressure despite normal or near normal LV ejection fraction. It is more common than HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and its diagnosis and treatment are more challenging than HFrEF. Although hypertension is the primary risk factor, coronary artery disease and other comorbidities, such as atrial fibrillation (AF), diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and obesity, also play an essential role in its formation.

Targeting circulating tumor cells to prevent metastases.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells that detach from the primary tumor, enter the bloodstream or body fluids, and spread to other body parts, leading to metastasis. Their presence and characteristics have been linked to cancer progression and poor prognosis in different types of cancer. Analyzing CTCs can offer valuable information about tumors' genetic and molecular diversity, which is crucial for personalized therapy.