Evaluation of the Effect of Risankizumab on the Pharmacokinetics of Cytochrome P450 Substrates in Patients with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease.

Background And Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of risankizumab on the pharmacokinetics of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A substrates in patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) using a cocktail approach.

Methods: Patients with CD or UC (n = 20) received single doses of probe substrates for CYP1A2 (caffeine 100 mg), CYP2C9 (warfarin 10 mg), CYP2C19 (omeprazole 20 mg), CYP2D6 (metoprolol 50 mg), and CYP3A (midazolam 2 mg) before and after intravenous infusions of risankizumab 1800 mg once every 4 weeks for four doses. Serial blood samples were collected for determination of concentrations of the CYP probe drugs and metabolites with and without risankizumab.

Retrospective cohort study of fluctuations in emergency department visits for nonspecific back and neck pain during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: We examined fluctuations in emergency department (ED) visits for nonspecific back and neck pain during the COVID-19 pandemic and explored potential contributing factors.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients who presented to the ED with nonspecific back and neck pain between January 2019 and December 2021. Demographic data, visit frequencies, and clinical outcomes were analyzed to assess the impact of the pandemic on visit patterns.

Conversion of sleeve gastrectomy to Roux-en-Y laparoscopic gastric bypass: a comprehensive 14-year follow-up study on efficacy and outcomes.

Background: Failed sleeve gastrectomy (SG), defined by inadequate weight loss or weight regain and by reflux and structural complications, can be treated by a laparoscopic conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

Objectives: To examine the efficacy and outcomes of conversion surgery over a 14-year follow-up period.

Setting: Government and private medical centers in university settings.

Assessing Generative Pretrained Transformers (GPT) in Clinical Decision-Making: Comparative Analysis of GPT-3.5 and GPT-4.

Background: Artificial intelligence, particularly chatbot systems, is becoming an instrumental tool in health care, aiding clinical decision-making and patient engagement.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the performance of ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4 in addressing complex clinical and ethical dilemmas, and to illustrate their potential role in health care decision-making while comparing seniors' and residents' ratings, and specific question types.

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas: conceptual controversy and clinical impact.

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas (PDTC) are rare diseases; nevertheless, they account for the majority of deaths from non-anaplastic follicular cell-derived thyroid carcinomas. Establishing the diagnosis and treatment of PDTC is challenging given the low incidence and the lack of standardization of diagnostic criteria. These limitations hamper the ability to compare therapeutic modalities and outcomes between recent and older studies.

Calcium score of the entire thoracic aorta is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in patients referred to chest computed tomography.

Background: Thoracic arterial calcifications (TAC) are not routinely reported or quantified in chest CT scans. We aimed to evaluate the association between TAC of the entire thoracic aorta and all-cause mortality (ACM) in patients referred to standard chest CT.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of consecutive standard chest CT scans (non-gated, non-contrast) for the quantification of TAC, CAC and aortic valve calcification.

The Effects of Brief Guided Imagery on Patients Suffering From Chronic Back Pain: An A-B Design Study.

Background: Guided imagery (GI) is a non-pharmacological method used to reduce pain, stress, and anxiety.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of brief GI on symptoms of chronic back pain in adults treated in the Rheumatology clinic.

Design: A-B design study.

Proton Beam Radiation Therapy for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: To discuss the role of proton beam therapy (PBT) in the treatment of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

Materials And Methods: A review of the pertinent literature.

Results: Proton beam therapy likely results in reduced acute and late toxicity as compared with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Management of Older Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Comprehensive Review.

The projected increase in life expectancy over the next few decades is expected to result in a rise in age-related diseases, including cancer. Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a worldwide health problem with high rates of morbidity and mortality. In this report, we have critically reviewed the literature reporting the management of older patients with HNC.

Neck Surgery for Non-Well Differentiated Thyroid Malignancies: Variations in Strategy According to Histopathology.

Lymph node metastases in non-well differentiated thyroid cancer (non-WDTC) are common, both in the central compartment (levels VI and VII) and in the lateral neck (Levels II to V). Nodal metastases negatively affect prognosis and should be treated to maximize locoregional control while minimizing morbidity. In non-WDTC, the rate of nodal involvement is variable and depends on the histology of the tumor.

Remote-Access Thyroidectomy in the Pediatric Population: a Systematic Review.

Introduction: Remote-access thyroidectomy has been reported in the pediatric population in a limited fashion.

Methods: This was a systematic review in PubMed and Scopus for pediatric remote-access thyroidectomy.

Results: Seventy-eight articles were identified and screened, of which 13 met the inclusion criteria, including 231 patients; 70% of publications reported six or fewer patients.

Impact of drainless neck dissection on surgical outcome: a matched case-control study.

Purpose: The safety of drainless lateral neck dissection (ND) remains to be proven. Hereby, we describe outcomes of drainless ND using fibrin sealant (FS).

Methods: A retrospective, single academic institute, matched cased control.

Pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy of facial synkinesis: A systematic review and clinical practice recommendations by the international head and neck scientific group.

Introduction: Post-paralytic facial synkinesis after facial nerve injury produces functional disabilities and mimetic deficits, but also cosmetic and non-motor psychosocial impairments for the patients. These patients typically have a high and continuous high motivation for rehabilitation. The aim is to inform the affected patients and their therapeutic professionals (otorhinolaryngologist - head and neck surgeons; oral-maxillofacial surgeons, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, neurosurgeons, neurologists, and mime therapists be it speech and language therapy- or physiotherapy-based) and to provide practical recommendations for diagnostics and a stepwise systematic treatment approach of facial synkinesis.

Effectiveness of core needle biopsy in the diagnosis of thyroid lymphoma and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Both anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) and thyroid lymphoma (TL) clinically present as rapidly enlarging neck masses. Unfortunately, in this situation, like in any other thyroid swelling, a routine fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is the first and only diagnostic test performed at the initial contact in the average thyroid practice. FNA, however, has a low sensitivity in diagnosing ATC and TL, and by the time the often "inconclusive" result is known, precious time has evolved, before going for core-needle biopsy (CNB) or incisional biopsy (IB) as the natural next diagnostic steps.

Complications related to the Cook-Swartz implantable Doppler probe use in head and neck microvascular reconstruction: a systematic review.

Purpose: Vascular perfusion research has been dedicated to identify inexpensive, effective, and easy to use methods to assess free flap perfusion for both buried and non-buried flaps.

Methods: Systematic review of complications in patients underwent Head and Neck microsurgical reconstruction and vascular implantable Doppler monitoring.

Results: Sixteen articles were included for qualitative analysis.

Drainless parotidectomy using tissue fibrin sealant - A retrospective case-control study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of drainless parotidectomy using fibrin sealant on length of stay, post-operative seroma and related complications. For this purpose, a retrospective matched case-control series was held in a single academic center. All patients who underwent drainless parotidectomies, including deep lobe tumors and revision surgeries, were compared to matched controls in which a suction drain was inserted.

Cervical Lymph Node Metastases from Central Nervous System Tumors: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Lymph node metastasis (LNM) from primary tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) is an infrequent condition, and classically it was thought that CNS tumors could not spread via the lymphatic route. Recent discoveries about this route of dissemination make its knowledge necessary for surgeons and pathologists to avoid delays in diagnosis and unnecessary treatments. The aim of this paper is to review the literature and to discuss the relevant pathogenetic mechanism and the cytologic features along with recommendations for surgical treatment of these cervical LNM.

Feasibility of Fetal Proximal Lateral Cerebral Ventricle Measurement.

Objectives: Measuring the posterior horn of the lateral ventricle in the fetus during ultrasound scans may be challenging. We aimed to examine this measurement feasibility, in relation to gestational age.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, including nonanomalous fetuses, in which both lateral ventricles measured less than 10 mm during anomaly scans.

Revisiting the role of surgery in the treatment of Graves' disease.

Graves' disease (GD) can be managed by antithyroid drugs (ATD), radioactive iodine (RAI) and surgery. Thyroidectomy offers the highest success rates for both primary and persistent disease, yet it is the least recommended or utilized option reaching <1% for primary disease and <25% for persistent disease. Several surveys have found surgery to be the least recommended by endocrinologists worldwide.

Endoscopic Inferior Meatal Antrostomy for Antrochoanal Polyps: A Long-Term Follow-Up.

Background: Endoscopic middle meatal antrostomy (EMMA) is considered the standard approach for surgical management of antrochoanal polyps (ACPs). Recently, an endoscopic inferior meatal antrostomy (EIMA) approach for clearing lesions in the maxillary sinus was described. In this study, we compared the long-term outcome of patients with ACP following surgical treatment using one of these 2 approaches (EIMA or EMMA).

Trans-oral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) for the pediatric population: a multicenter, large case series.

Introduction: A cervical scar has been shown to have an impact on the quality of life of children undergoing thyroid surgery. Transoral endoscopic vestibular thyroidectomy via the vestibular approach (TOETVA) offers the absence of a cutaneous incision, and has not been described to date in the pediatric population.

Objective: To describe the first series of TOETVA in a pediatric population.

Benefit versus risk of chromosomal microarray analysis performed in pregnancies with normal and positive prenatal screening results: A retrospective study.

Background: Most studies on chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and amniocentesis risks have not evaluated pregnancies with low risk for genetic diseases; therefore, the efficacy and safety of CMA and amniocentesis in this population are unclear. This study aimed to examine the benefits and risks of prenatal genetic diagnostic tests in pregnancies having low risk for chromosomal diseases.

Methods And Findings: In this retrospective study, we used clinical data from a large database of 30,830 singleton pregnancies at gestational age 16-23 weeks who underwent amniocentesis for karyotyping with or without CMA.

Ferritin as a Marker of Severity in COVID-19 Patients: A Fatal Correlation.

Background: Ferritin, the cellular protein storage for iron, has emerged as a key molecule in the immune system, orchestrating the cellular defense against inflammation. At the end of 2019, the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) rapidly spread throughout China and other countries around the world, resulting in a viral pandemic.

Objectives: To evaluate the correlation between ferritin and disease severity in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

Para-tracheal neck dissection - is dissection of the upper part of level Ⅵ necessary?

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has a high propensity for regional metastases, however, the impact of such metastases on the outcome of the patients is minimal. The central compartment of the neck is considered the first and the most common echelon of metastases from thyroid carcinoma. Physical examination along with ultrasonography are the gold standard pre-operative evaluation of patients with PTC.