Radiofrequency ablation combined with immunotherapy to treat hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive review.

Background And Aim: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly immunogenic tumor and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide with an increasing incidence. Therefore, the combination of immunotherapy with other approaches, such as anti-angiogenic agents and local area therapy, has become a new strategy for HCC treatment.

Methods: We searched PubMed and Web of Science and extracted publications relating to the radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and immunotherapy.

Discovering patient groups in sequential electronic healthcare data using unsupervised representation learning.

Introduction: Unsupervised feature learning methods inspired by natural language processing (NLP) models are capable of constructing patient-specific features from longitudinal Electronic Health Records (EHR).

Design: We applied document embedding algorithms to real-world paediatric intensive care (PICU) EHR data to extract patient-specific features from 1853 patients' PICU journeys using 647 unique lab tests and medication events. We evaluated the clinical utility of the patient features via a K-means clustering analysis.

Association between some environmental risk factors and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder among children in Egypt: a case-control study.

Background: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a complex disease that negatively impacts the social and academic/occupational activities of children and is more common in boys than in girls.

Methods: This case-control study aimed to assess the association between some environmental risk factors and ADHD among children in Alexandria, Egypt. It was carried out at the outpatient clinics of El Shatby Pediatric University Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt, with 252 children (126 cases and 126 controls).

White noise's effect on premature infants' physiological parameters during peripheral intravenous catheter insertion.

Background: Early and continuous exposure to painful stimuli in premature infants leads to short-and long-term complications. Listening to white noise is an accessible and inexpensive non-invasive method that can be used as a safe nursing intervention in hospitals. This study aimed to assess white noise's effect on premature Infants' physiological parameters during peripheral intravenous catheter insertion.

Risk of residual/recurrent cervical diseases in HPV-positive women post-conization depends on HPV integration status.

Background: It is crucial to identify post-operative patients with HPV infection who are at high risk for residual/recurrent disease. This study aimed to evaluate the association between HPV integration and clinical outcomes in HPV-positive women after cervical conization, as well as to identify HPV integration breakpoints.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data of 791 women who underwent cervical conization for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2-3 (CIN2-3) between September 2019 and September 2023, sourced from the Fujian and Hubei cervical lesion screening cohorts.

Effect of intervertebral foramen area and width on postoperative pain relief in patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between preoperative cervical intervertebral foramen width and area and the persistence of postoperative pain in patients diagnosed with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR).

Methods: Patients were divided into two groups, based on their pain relief at the 6-month postoperative follow-up: the pain relief group and the persistent pain group. We compared various parameters, including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), duration of symptoms, preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, Neck Disability Index (NDI) score, postoperative ratio of disc space distraction, preoperative width of the intervertebral foramen (WIVF), and area of the intervertebral foramen (AIVF) between the two groups.

Factors affecting the prolongation of mechanical ventilation in patients after cardiac surgery.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the major predictive factors associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation(PMV) following cardiac surgery.

Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was conducted from September 2021 to March 2022, involving 244 patients who underwent cardiac surgery. PMV was defined as mechanical ventilation for more than 24 h.

Investigating the role of intratumoral Streptococcus mitis in gastric cancer progression: insights into tumor microenvironment.

Growing evidence implicates that intratumoral microbiota are closely linked to cancer progression; however, research on the role of these microbiota in the development of gastric cancer remains limited. Here, using 16 S rRNA sequencing, tumor tissue proteomics and serum cytokines analysis, we identified enrichment of specific microbial communities within tumors of gastric cancer patients, possibly affecting the tumor microenvironment by immune modulation, metabolic processes, and inflammatory responses. Based on the results of in vivo experiments and intratumoral microbiota analysis, we found that Streptococcus mitis can inhibit gastric cancer progression via suppressing M2 macrophage polarization and infiltration, as well as altering the intratumoral microbial community.

Prognostic models of immune-related cell death and stress unveil mechanisms driving macrophage phenotypic evolution in colorectal cancer.

Background: Tumor microenvironment (TME), particularly immune cell infiltration, programmed cell death (PCD) and stress, has increasingly become a focal point in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. Uncovering the intricate crosstalk between these factors can enhance our understanding of CRC, guide therapeutic strategies, and improve patient prognosis.

Methods: We constructed an immune-related cell death and stress (ICDS) prognostic model utilizing machine learning methodologies.

Depressive, anxiety, and sleep disturbance symptoms in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a network analysis perspective.

Background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) frequently experience sleep disturbance and psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, which may have a negative impact on their health status and functional abilities. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance in patients with OSA, the current study utilized network analysis to examine the interconnections among these symptoms.

Methods: Depressive and anxiety symptoms were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and sleep disturbance symptoms were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Implicit bias assessment by career stage in medical education training: a narrative review.

Implicit biases involve associations outside conscious awareness that lead to a negative evaluation of a person based on individual characteristics. Early evaluation of implicit bias in medical training can prevent long-term adverse health outcomes related to racial bias. However, to our knowledge, no present studies examine the sequential assessment of implicit bias through the different stages of medical training.

Levilactobacillus brevis CD2 as a multifaceted probiotic to preserve oral health: results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in healthy adults.

Background: A growing number of in vitro and in vivo studies suggest the application of probiotics as a natural approach to maintaining oral health. This double-blind, randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Levilactobacillus brevis CD2 (CNCM I-5566), a multifunctional probiotic frequently used in oral medicine, in preserving or improving several recognized oral health indicators.

Methods: Thirty consenting healthy adults were randomized to receive four lozenges per day of L.

Exploring factors of physicians' preferences for continuing medical education.

Background: Achieving sustainability in continuing medical education (CME) involves regular assessment of the evolving needs of healthcare professionals regarding their competencies and updates in educational content accordingly. This study aimed to investigate the key areas and competencies that physicians in Serbia prioritize for their professional development and to analyze the factors associated with these competencies.

Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,625 physicians who are members of the medical chamber in Serbia.

Help-seeking for depression among Vietnamese migrant workers in Japan and factors related to their intentions to seek help from a psychiatrist: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Foreign workers are at risk for depression, and Vietnamese people tend to be reluctant to seek professional mental health care. Although Vietnamese people are the largest population among foreign workers in Japan, evidence concerning their help-seeking experiences and strategies to promote help-seeking in this population is lacking. This study aimed to identify the percentage of Vietnamese migrant workers in Japan who have sought help from healthcare professionals for depressive symptoms and to explore the factors related to their intentions to seek help from a psychiatrist.

High anti-Müllerian hormone level as a predictor of poor pregnancy outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To study the correlation between anti-Müllerian hormone levels and pregnancy outcomes after in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, which remains controversial.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study recruited 4,719 women with infertility and polycystic ovary syndrome aged 20-40 years who underwent treatment at the Reproductive Center of Peking University Third Hospital between February 2017 and June 2023. We divided the participants into three groups according to the 25th and 75th percentile cutoffs of serum anti-Müllerian hormone: low (≤ 4.

Suhexiang pill for acute ischemic stroke in real-world practice setting (SUNRISE): protocol of a multicenter registry.

Background: Suhexiang (SHX) pill is widely used for treating acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Experimental and randomized controlled trials suggested that SHX pill was beneficial for patients with AIS. However, the effectiveness of SHX pill in real-world practice setting remains unclear.

Identification of strengths and weaknesses of the healthcare system for persons living with rare diseases in Catalonia (Spain), and recommendations to improve its comprehensive attention: the "acERca las enfermedades raras" project.

Background: Rare diseases (RDs) are a heterogeneous group of complex and low-prevalence conditions in which the time to establish a definitive diagnosis is often too long. In addition, for most RDs, few to no treatments are available and it is often difficult to find a specialized care team.

Objectives: The project "acERca las enfermedades raras" (in English: "bringing RDs closer") is an initiative primary designed to generate a consensus by a multidisciplinary group of experts to detect the strengths and weaknesses in the public healthcare system concerning the comprehensive care of persons living with a RD (PLWRD) in the region of Catalonia, Spain, where a Network of Clinical Expert Units (Xarxa d'Unitats de Expertesa Clínica or XUEC) was created and is being implemented since 2015.

Genotype-driven sensitivity of mice to tick-borne encephalitis virus correlates with differential host responses in peripheral macrophages and brain.

Background: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most common tick-borne viral infection in Eurasia. Outcomes range from asymptomatic infection to fatal encephalitis, with host genetics likely playing a role. BALB/c mice have intermediate susceptibility to TBE virus (TBEV) and STS mice are highly resistant, whereas the recombinant congenic strain CcS-11, which carries 12.

Establishing a preoperative predictive model for gallbladder adenoma and cholesterol polyps based on machine learning: a multicentre retrospective study.

Background: With the rising diagnostic rate of gallbladder polypoid lesions (GPLs), differentiating benign cholesterol polyps from gallbladder adenomas with a higher preoperative malignancy risk is crucial. This study aimed to establish a preoperative prediction model capable of accurately distinguishing between gallbladder adenomas and cholesterol polyps using machine learning algorithms.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analysed the patients' clinical baseline data, serological indicators, and ultrasound imaging data.

Predictive role of SLC1A5 in neuroblastoma prognosis and immunotherapy.

Background: Neuroblastoma, a prevalent extracranial solid tumor in pediatric patients, demonstrates significant clinical heterogeneity, ranging from spontaneous regression to aggressive metastatic disease. Despite advances in treatment, high-risk neuroblastoma remains associated with poor survival. SLC1A5, a key glutamine transporter, plays a dual role in promoting tumor growth and immune modulation.

Addressing racial and ethnic disparities in premature exits from permanent supportive housing among residents with substance use disorders.

Background: Permanent supportive housing (PSH) is an evidence-based practice for reducing homelessness that subsidizes permanent, independent housing and provides case management-including linkages to health services. Substance use disorders (SUDs) are common contributing factors towards premature, unwanted ("negative") PSH exits; little is known about racial/ethnic differences in negative PSH exits among residents with SUDs. Within the nation's largest PSH program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), we examined relationships among SUDs and negative PSH exits (for up to five years post-PSH move-in) across racial/ethnic subgroups.

Residency training programs to support residents working in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

Background: To gain culturally appropriate awareness of First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis Health, research suggests that programs focus on sending more trainees to First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis communities Working within this context provides experiences and knowledge that build upon classroom education and support trainees' acquisition of skills to engage in culturally safe healthcare provision. This study examines residents' and faculty members' perceptions of how residency training programs can optimize First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis health training and support residents in gaining the knowledge, skills, and experiences for working in and with First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis communities.

Methods: A qualitative approach was used, guided by a relational lens for collecting data and a constructivist grounded theory for data interpretation.

Fibrosis in PCLS: comparing TGF-β and fibrotic cocktail.

Introduction: Fibrotic cocktail (FC) is a combination of pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory mediators that induces early fibrotic changes in organotypic lung models. We hypothesised that transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) alone induces a pro-fibrotic effect similar to FC. Our aim was to compare the pro-fibrotic effects of TGF-β1 with FC in human precision-cut lung slices (PCLS).

Posterior instrumented correction and fusion of Scheuermann´s results in physiological reconstruction of sagittal alignment and excellent overall clinical outcome- clinical trail of 73 patients.

Purpose: The aim was to assess the clinical outcomes after posterior spinal fusion (PSF) in patients with Scheuermann's disease (SD).

Methods: SD undergoing PSF were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical outcome was determined using SRS-22- and Eq.