Fully covered self-expandable metal stents versus multiple plastic stents for the treatment of post-orthotopic liver transplant anastomotic biliary strictures: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background And Aims: The most common adverse event (AE) of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is anastomotic biliary stricture (ABS). Management varies widely between centers, and it is not clear whether a combination of endoscopic dilation of the stenosis followed by multiple plastic stents (MPS) or placement of a fully covered self-expandable metal stent (fcSEMS) is better for the management of post-OLT ABS. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy, safety, and cost of fcSEMS versus MPS in the treatment of post-OLT ABS.

Does ATP via purinergic receptor signalling fuel pulmonary fibrosis?

Background: Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are poorly understood disorders characterised by diffuse damage to the lung parenchyma, with inflammation and fibrosis. Some manifest a progressive fibrotic phenotype with high fatality and limited treatment options, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Summary: The degree to which inflammation plays a role in fibrosis progression is unknown.

Proposed framework regarding management of patients with breast cancer and anti-cancer treatment-related elevation in cardiac troponin.

Cardiac biomarkers are a vital component within the first edition of the European Society of Cardiology guidelines in Cardio-Oncology. Specifically, they are mentioned in the definition of mild asymptomatic cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction, where left ventricular systolic function is ≥50 % with two outcomes; either a new decrease in global longitudinal strain >15 % from baseline and/or a new rise in cardiac biomarkers above the defined 99th percentile cut off values. Cardiac troponin is one such biomarker.