Molecular Pathophysiology of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: A Clinical Update from a Basic Research Perspective.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare but severe condition characterized by persistent obstruction and vascular remodeling in the pulmonary arteries following an acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Although APE is a significant risk factor, up to 25% of CTEPH cases occur without a history of APE or deep vein thrombosis, complicating the understanding of its pathogenesis. Herein, we carried out a narrative review discussing the mechanisms involved in CTEPH development, including fibrotic thrombus formation, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and abnormal angiogenesis, leading to elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and right heart failure.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis complicating deep neck abscesses: clinical features and prognostic assessment in 45 ICU patients.

Purpose: To describe the clinical features and identify mortality risk factors in descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) complicating deep neck abscesses (DNA) among patients admitted to the ICU.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on consecutive patients admitted to the ICU of a tertiary care public hospital. Data were collected from July 2017 to July 2024.

A prospective study of factors associated with successful maturation of arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis.

Aim: Our objective was to determine the factors associated with the successful maturation of arteriovenous fistulas during hemodialysis.

Material And Methods: This prospective study included patients treated with hemodialysis and predialysis patients. Clinical, biochemical, sociodemographic, vascular ultrasound mapping, flow-mediated dilatation, and surgical factors were analyzed.

Phase Angle (PhA) Is an Easy and Complementary Tool for Assessing Nutritional Status in Ulcerative Colitis (UC) Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Accumulating evidence has proposed phase angle (PhA) as a marker for assessing cellular integrity and nutritional status in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients; the aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of PhA in assessing nutritional status in patients with UC, investigating its potential as a biomarker of disease activity.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in patients with UC and healthy controls. We determined PhA by electrical bioimpedance and categorized participants through bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Ectopic Papillary Thyroid Cancer: About a Case.

Cervical lymph nodes can indicate various inflammatory or cancerous conditions. Ectopic thyroid carcinoma, particularly papillary carcinoma, can be found in resected lymph nodes even without clinical thyroid abnormalities, known as hidden (incidental) metastasis. We present the case of a 42-year-old woman with a 5 cm thyroid nodule and associated symptoms.

A machine learning approach for the design optimization of a multiple magnetic and inertial sensors wearable system for the spine mobility assessment.

Background: Recently, magnetic and inertial measurement units (MIMU) based systems have been applied in the spine mobility assessment; this evaluation is essential in the clinical practice for diagnosis and treatment evaluation. The available systems are limited in the number of sensors, and neither develops a methodology for the correct placement of the sensors, seeking the relevant mobility information of the spine.

Methods: This work presents a methodology for analyzing a system consisting of sixteen MIMUs to reduce the amount of information and obtain an optimal configuration that allows distinguishing between different body postures in a movement.

Development of Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogels for Controlled Glucose Release in Biomedical Applications.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels have a wide range of applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedicine fields due to their exceptional biophysical properties. The study focuses on preparing and characterizing capsule-shaped PVA hydrogels to enhance their biocompatibility and porosity for controlled glucose release and cell proliferation. The hydrogels were prepared using different concentrations (Cs) and molecular weights (MWs) of PVA, with two different lengths, A (10 mm) and B (20 mm), to control glucose release over 60 min.

Ancestry and somatic profile predict acral melanoma origin and prognosis.

Acral melanoma, which is not ultraviolet (UV)-associated, is the most common type of melanoma in several low- and middle-income countries including Mexico. Latin American samples are significantly underrepresented in global cancer genomics studies, which directly affects patients in these regions as it is known that cancer risk and incidence may be influenced by ancestry and environmental exposures. To address this, here we characterise the genome and transcriptome of 128 acral melanoma tumours from 96 Mexican patients, a population notable because of its genetic admixture.

Ultrasound-guided Deep Waist Fat Liposuction: Complement to a Narrow Waist.

Background: For body contouring, the waist plays an important role in both male and female body structure. Currently, there are procedures that aim to achieve a narrow waist as a result, to achieve an adequate waist-to-hip ratio. This study proposes a technique of ultrasound-guided deep liposuction of the lumbar triangle to achieve favorable and safe aesthetic results.

Exploring the Th2 Response in Obesity and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): A Potential Modulator of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) Pathway in Hypertension Development.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), now referred to as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is alarmingly increasing alongside the cases of obesity worldwide. MASLD is an underestimated metabolic abnormality closely linked with a higher risk of developing systemic arterial hypertension (SAH). However, the underlying mechanism of association between MASLD and SAH remains unknown.

Tracheal resection and anastomosis in postintubation tracheal stenosis: a systematic review.

Surgical resection of the stenotic segment with end-to-end anastomosis is considered the gold standard in postintubation tracheal stenosis. However, outcomes of this concrete aetiology are not well described. With the aim to examine the extent, range and characteristics of the existing evidence, a scoping review was performed.

Endoscopic Characterization of Giant Choledocholithiasis and Its Correlation With Primary Choledocholithiasis.

Introduction: Gallstone disease is extremely prevalent in Western society, and the prevalence of common bile duct (CBD) stones with concomitant cholelithiasis increases significantly in the elderly. Different variants influence the treatment of this pathological entity, such as the origin of the stones, their location and quantity, comorbidities of the patient, impaction, and size of the lithos, the latter being an independent predictive factor. In most situations, choledocholithiasis can be resolved with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP); however, in complex cases, such as giant choledocholithiasis (GC), advanced surgical, endoscopic, and percutaneous techniques are required to remove gallstones.

Decreased Hepatic and Serum Levels of IL-10 Concur with Increased Lobular Inflammation in Morbidly Obese Patients.

: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with obesity and ranges from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Accumulating evidence in animal models suggests that loss of interleukin-10 (IL-10) anti-inflammatory actions might contribute to lobular inflammation, considered one of the first steps toward NASH development. However, the role of IL-10 in lobular inflammation remains poorly explored in humans.

Effect of three training programs on surgical performance in single-port laparoscopic surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of three training methodologies on the acquisition of psychomotor skills for laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS), using straight and articulating instruments.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted with subjects randomly divided into three groups, who performed a specific training for 12 days using three laparoscopic tasks in a laparoscopic simulator. Group-A trained in conventional laparoscopy setting using straight instruments and in LESS setting using both straight and articulating instruments.

Targeted Demethylation of FOXP3-TSDR Enhances the Suppressive Capacity of STAT6-deficient Inducible T Regulatory Cells.

In vitro induced T regulatory cells (iTregs) are promising for addressing inflammation-driven diseases. However, current protocols for the generation and expansion of iTregs fail to induce extensive demethylation of the Treg-specific demethylated region (TSDR) within the FOXP3 gene, recognized as the master regulator for regulatory T cells (Tregs). This deficiency results in the rapid loss of Foxp3 expression and an unstable regulatory phenotype.

A model of alcoholic liver disease based on different hepatotoxics leading to liver cancer.

The worst-case scenario related to alcoholic liver disease (ALD) arises after a long period of exposure to the harmful effect of alcohol consumption along with other hepatotoxics. ALD encompasses a broad spectrum of liver-associated disorders, such as steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Based on the chronic administration of different hepatotoxics, including ethanol, sucrose, lipopolysaccharide, and low doses of diethylnitrosamine over a short period, here we aimed to develop a multiple hepatotoxic (MHT)-ALD model in the mouse that recapitulates the human ALD-associated disorders.

Sucralose: From Sweet Success to Metabolic Controversies-Unraveling the Global Health Implications of a Pervasive Non-Caloric Artificial Sweetener.

Sucralose is a food additive initially used to mitigate glycemic peaks and calorie intake in patients with diabetes and obesity. Although sucralose has been considered safe for human consumption, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global alert in 2023 concerning the potential health implications of this artificial sweetener. This review aims to comprehensively explore the effects of sucralose intake on human health by understanding sucralose absorption, metabolism, and excretion.

Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding Secondary to Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm: A Report of Two Cases and a Review of the Literature.

Appendicular mucinous neoplasms, constituting less than 1% of gastrointestinal tract neoplasms, are heterogeneous entities. They may be asymptomatic, discovered incidentally, or present as large tumors due to mucin accumulation. The lack of standardized treatment complicates management.

Systemic scleroderma: Review and updated approach and case description to addressing pulmonary arterial hypertension and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A dual challenge in treatment.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and scleroderma (SSc) are three interrelated medical conditions that can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary hypertension, a condition marked by high blood pressure in the lungs, can lead to heart failure and other complications. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive lung disease characterised by scarring of lung tissue, can cause breathing difficulties and impaired oxygenation.