Endoscopic incisional balloon dilation combined with anti-scarring agents for postoperative esophageal anastomotic strictures.

The management of locally advanced esophageal cancer typically involves esophagectomy; however, postoperative complications, particularly anastomotic stricture, remain prevalent. Anastomotic stricture can severely compromise patients' quality of life by leading to difficulties in food intake. Although endoscopic balloon dilation has become a standard treatment for gastrointestinal strictures, its efficacy is often limited due to the risk of perforation and the potential for recurrent stricture, necessitating multiple interventions.

Association between delirium severity and prognosis following Transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Delirium is associated with patient prognosis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). However, the prognostic impact of subsyndromal delirium, described as an intermediate stage between delirium and normal cognition, is uncertain. The present study aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of delirium severity in patients undergoing TAVI.

Adrenomedullin 2/Intermedin Exerts Cardioprotective Effects by Regulating Cardiomyocyte Mitochondrial Function.

Background: Adrenomedullin 2 (AM2) plays critical roles in regulating blood pressure and fluid balance. However, the specific involvement of AM2 in cardiac hypertrophy has not been comprehensively elucidated, warranting further investigation into its molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications.

Methods: Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in adult mice lacking AM2 (AM2-/-) using transverse aortic constriction surgery.

The impact of neoadjuvant therapy in patients with left-sided resectable pancreatic cancer: an international multicenter study.

Purpose: To assess the association between neoadjuvant therapy and overall survival (OS) in patients with left-sided resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC) compared to upfront surgery.

Background: Left-sided pancreatic cancer is associated with worse OS compared to right-sided pancreatic cancer. Although neoadjuvant therapy is currently seen as not effective in patients with RPC, current randomized trials included mostly patients with right-sided RPC.

sp. nov., a crude oil aggregation-forming anaerobic bacterium isolated from marine sediment.

A crude oil aggregation-forming, strictly anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive, spore-forming, rod-shaped, motile and mesophilic bacterium, named strain SH18-2, was isolated from marine sediment near Sado Island in the Sea of Japan. The temperature, salinity and pH ranges of this strain for the growth were 15-40 °C (optimum 35 °C), 0.5-6.