Ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) for high transsphincteric fistulas: a double-center retrospective study with long-term follow-up.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of the ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) procedure in treating high transsphincteric fistulas.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the success rate of LIFT treatment in 82 patients with high transsphincteric fistulas involving at least 1/3 of the external sphincter. This study was carried out across 2 centers from November 2009 to February 2023.

Sustained effects after a multidisciplinary lifestyle modification program for overweight and obese children.

Background: Lifestyle modification (LM) is the mainstay in the management of obese children. This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of a pediatric cohort participating in a hospital-based LM program.

Methods: Overweight/obese children and adolescents who visited a multidisciplinary LM program "The Health and Vitality Clinic" were included.

A scoping review of interventions to optimize medication adherence in hypertension comorbidity.

Background: Patients with hypertension and other comorbidities have difficulties adhering to their medications which have negative impacts on clinical outcomes. Although some studies have identified strategies to improve medication adherence, a thorough analysis of these interventions will provide synthesized evidence for clinical decision-making and improved health outcomes for patients with hypertension comorbidities.

Aim: To conduct a scoping review on interventions that have been utilised to improve medication adherence in patients with hypertension and other co-morbid conditions.

A conceptual framework for identifying and managing system vulnerabilities for diversion of controlled substances in healthcare.

Purpose: Diversion or theft of controlled substances is a recognized problem affecting healthcare systems globally. The purpose of this study was to develop a framework for identifying and characterizing system factors leading to vulnerabilities for diversion within hospitals.

Methods: We applied a qualitative framework method, which involved 1) compiling a list of critical diversion vulnerabilities through observations and proactive risk analyses in the inpatient pharmacy, emergency department and intensive care unit of two Canadian hospitals; 2) coding the vulnerabilities into deductively and inductively derived themes and subthemes; and 3) building a conceptual framework.

A collaborative interdisciplinary approach for trigger finger management.

Background: Stenosing tenosynovitis, or trigger finger, is a common cause of hand disability. This study outlines a trigger finger management protocol that redirects referrals for surgical consultations to conservative management first.

Purpose: The primary outcome variable was the protocol endpoint based on the resolution of trigger finger symptoms (i.

Evaluation of a Deep Learning Denoising Algorithm for Dose Reduction in Whole-Body Photon-Counting CT Imaging: A Cadaveric Study.

Rationale And Objectives: Photon Counting CT (PCCT) offers advanced imaging capabilities with potential for substantial radiation dose reduction; however, achieving this without compromising image quality remains a challenge due to increased noise at lower doses. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a deep learning (DL)-based denoising algorithm in maintaining diagnostic image quality in whole-body PCCT imaging at reduced radiation levels, using real intraindividual cadaveric scans.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four cadaveric human bodies underwent whole-body CT scans on a PCCT scanner (NAEOTOM Alpha, Siemens Healthineers) at four different dose levels (100%, 50%, 25%, and 10% mAs).

Lateralization of the Aberrant Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuation within the Default Mode Network in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Rationale And Objectives: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common pathogenesis of dementia, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered as the intermediate stage from normal elderly to AD. Early detection of MCI is an essential step for the timely intervention of AD to slow the progression of this disease. Different form previous studies in the whole-brain spontaneous activities, this research aimed to explore the low-frequency amplitude spectrum activities of patients with MCI within the default mode network (DMN), which has been involved in the process of maintaining normal cognitive function.

Effect of Pre-Transplant Renal Anticoagulation and Antiplatelet Therapy on Post-Transplant Outcomes: A Retrospective Single-Center Study.

The management of anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy in stage V chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients undergoing renal transplantation remains controversial. Some centers advocate for the use of reversal agents or procoagulants preoperatively, while others suggest that transplantation can proceed safely without halting these treatments. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications in the first 72 hours post-transplant in patients receiving anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy compared to a control group without such treatments.

Protein prenylation in mechanotransduction: implications for disease and therapy.

The process by which cells translate external mechanical cues into intracellular biochemical signals involves intricate mechanisms that remain unclear. In recent years, research into post-translational modifications (PTMs) has offered valuable insights into this field, spotlighting protein prenylation as a crucial mechanism in cellular mechanotransduction and various human diseases. Protein prenylation, which involves the covalent attachment of isoprenoid groups to specific substrate proteins, profoundly affects the functions of key mechanotransduction proteins such as Rho, Ras, and lamins.

Tension-induced organelle stress: an emerging target in fibrosis.

Fibrosis accounts for approximately one-third of disease-related deaths globally. Current therapies fail to cure fibrosis, emphasizing the need to identify new antifibrotic approaches. Fibrosis is defined by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and resultant stiffening of tissue stroma.

ESMO Global Consortium Study on the availability, out-of-pocket costs, and accessibility of cancer medicines: 2023 update.

Background: The availability and affordability of safe, effective cancer therapies are core requirements for effective cancer control. Global disparities exist in access, however, yielding unequal cancer outcomes. The goal of this study was to provide updated data regarding the formulary availability, out-of-pocket costs, and accessibility of cancer medicines in countries across the full spectrum of economic development areas.

Postoperative pancreatic fistula risk assessment using digital pathology based analyses at the parenchymal resection margin of the pancreas - Results from the randomized multicenter RECOPANC trial.

Background: In pancreatic surgery Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) represents the most dreaded complication, for which pancreatic texture is acknowledged as one of the strongest predictors. No consensual objective reference has been defined to evaluate the pancreas composition. The presented study aimed to mine histology data of the pancreatic tissue composition with AI assist and correlate it with clinic-pathological parameters derived from the RECOPANC study.

Surgical and Pathological Results Following Neoadjuvant Nivolumab and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Resectable NSCLC: A Multicentre Real-World Series From England.

Background: To evaluate the real-world surgical and pathological outcomes following neoadjuvant nivolumab in combination with chemotherapy in a multicentre national cohort of patients.

Methods: Retrospective analysis on consecutive patients treated in three tertiary referral hospitals in UK with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy (nivolumab) for stage II-IIIB nonsmall cell lung cancer (March 2023-May 2024). Surgical and pathological outcomes were assessed.

Statin Use With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Survival in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer.

Objective: To determine the association between concurrent statin use with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and lung cancer-specific and overall mortality in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: SEER-Medicare was used to conduct a retrospective study of Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years of age diagnosed with NSCLC between 2007 and 2017 treated with an ICI. Patients were followed from date of first ICI claim until death, 1 month from last ICI claim, or 12/31/2018, whichever came first.

Deep Serratus Anterior Plane Block for Multimodal Analgesia in Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery Performed via Right Anterior Mini-Thoracotomy.

Objective: This study investigated if the serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) within a multimodal analgesia scheme would reduce acute post-operative pain and intravenous opioid consumption in patients admitted to the intensive care unit after isolated minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the University Hospital of Siena (Italy).

Dynamic event-triggered tolerant containment control protocol for discrete multiagent systems based on finite index policy iteration algorithm.

For tolerant containment control of multi-agent systems, considering the challenges in modeling and the impact of actuator faults on system security and reliability, a finite index dynamic event-triggered policy iteration algorithm is proposed. This algorithm only requires input and output data, without relying on system models, and simultaneously considers the faults and energy consumption issues to improve the system reliability and save energy consumption. The conditions are provided to demonstrate the convergence and optimality of the algorithm, including a convergence speed, that is, the number of iterations required for convergence is finite.

An overview of sound source localization based condition monitoring robots.

As artificial intelligence advances and demand for cost-effective equipment maintenance in various fields increases, it is worth insightful research on utilizing robots embedded with sound source localization (SSL) technology for condition monitoring. Combining the two techniques has significant advantages, which are conducive to further classifying and tracking abnormal sources, thereby enhancing system performance at a lower cost. The paper provides an overview of current acoustic-based robotic techniques for condition monitoring, highlights the common SSL methods, and finds that localization performance heavily depends on signal quality.

Strengthening serological studies: the need for greater geographical diversity, biobanking, and data-accessibility.

Serological studies uniquely strengthen infectious disease surveillance, expanding prevalence estimates to encompass asymptomatic infections, and revealing the otherwise inapparent landscape of immunity, including who is and is not susceptible to infection. They are thus a powerful complement to often incomplete epidemiological and public health measures (administrative measures of vaccination coverage, incidence estimates, etc.).