Fecal calprotectin levels in patients with fibromyalgia: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate levels of fecal calprotectin (FC), a biomarker that helps distinguish irritable bowel syndrome from inflammatory gut disorders, in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and compare them to healthy controls.

Patients And Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out on patients diagnosed with FMS according to the ACR (American College of Rheumatology) 2016 classification and healthy controls between January 2021 and February 2022. FMS patients were grouped according to the absence (Group 1) or presence (Group 2) of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibitors for Treatment of Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease: Guidelines for South Asia.

This guideline addresses the use of hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHIs) in patients >18 years with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and anemia in South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka). It also summarizes recommendations for anemia treatment for individual HIF-PHI molecules under two categories: dialysis-dependent and non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients. The recommendations do not apply to pediatric (≤12 years) and adolescent (12 to 18) patients or those with primary anemia or anemia secondary to other causes such as blood loss, cancer (any type), polycystic kidney disease and infectious diseases.

Evaluation of prognostic scores in patients with HCC undergoing first-line immunotherapy with atezolizumab and bevacizumab.

Background & Aims: Immunotherapy with atezolizumab and bevacizumab (a + b) has improved the prognosis of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the outcome for individual patients is highly variable. This study aimed to (i) develop and validate a prognostic prediction model to estimate individual prognosis and (ii) compare it with established models.

The effect of menstrual cycle phase changes on error scores in sportive movements in female athletes.

Objectives: There are complex relationships between hormonal fluctuations associated with the menstrual cycle and various health and sports performance aspects. This study aimed to determine to what extent different menstrual cycle phases associated with a change in error scores in jumping and cutting movements, flexibility, and knee joint laxity values in female athletes.

Methods: Participants were evaluated in the menstruation and ovulation phases of the menstrual cycle.

Nephron-Sparing Surgery for Patients With Wilms Tumor, a Surgical Delphi Study Consensus Statement.

Background And Aim: Current pediatric renal tumor treatment protocols allow for nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) for unilateral disease only under strict conditions. Oncological guidelines do not account for surgical feasibility, however, possibly reducing the utilization of NSS. To potentially change this, a definition of surgical feasibility is required.

The effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on metabolic phenotype and FGF-21 expression from the adipose tissue and the liver are less pronounced in ob/ob mice.

Background: the metabolic effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), such as lipolysis and ectopic fat reduction, seem related to the synthesis of fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21), and FGF-21 analogs are now under investigation for the treatment of obesity complications such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. However, FGF-21 levels are paradoxically higher in obesity, indicating a hormone-resistant state that may hinder the benefits of SGLT2i.

Methods: To define if a different energy status influences the response to SGLT2i, we evaluated the effects of dapagliflozin administration on nine-week-old C57BL/6J wild-type and B6.

Relationship between digital health literacy, distrust in the health system and health anxiety in health sciences students.

Health anxiety is frequently observed in university students in all segments of society. Health anxiety is also frequently encountered in health sciences students, who will play the most effective role in developing and protecting public health in the future. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationships between digital health literacy, distrust in health systems, and health anxiety and the effects of these two factors on health anxiety in students studying health sciences.

Standardization of Bone Marrow Reporting for Myelodysplastic Syndromes/Neoplasms on Behalf of the International Consortium for Myelodysplastic Syndromes/Neoplasms.

Context.—: Standardized bone marrow reporting specifically for myelodysplastic syndromes/neoplasms (MDS) is currently lacking in the literature and much needed in practice.

Objective.

Incorporating radiomic MRI models for presurgical response assessment in patients with early breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant systemic therapy: collaborative insights from breast oncologists and radiologists.

The assessment of neoadjuvant treatment's response is critical for selecting the most suitable therapeutic options for patients with breast cancer to reduce the need for invasive local therapies. Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is so far one of the most accurate approaches for assessing pathological complete response, although this is limited by the qualitative and subjective nature of radiologists' assessment, often making it insufficient for deciding whether to forgo additional locoregional therapy measures. To increase the accuracy and prediction of radiomic MRI with the aid of machine learning models and deep learning methods, as part of artificial intelligence, have been used to analyse the different subtypes of breast cancer and the specific changes observed before and after therapy.

Neuroprotective effects of halofuginone in rat's sciatic nerve injury.

Objective: The object of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of halofuginone-with its antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects-on peripheral nerve injuries frequently encountered in daily life, at the functional, pathological, and cellular levels through the use of electron microscopy.

Methods: Forty Wistar rats were distributed into 4 groups. Group 1 (sham group) consisted of rats with only exposed nerves; group 2 (control group) consisted of traumatized rats; group 3 (MP group) consisted of rats receiving methylprednisolone treatment after trauma; group 4 (halofuginone group) consisted of rats receiving halofuginone treatment after trauma.

Medial rectus recession combined with bridge faden procedure in esotropia associated with poor vision in the deviating eye.

Purpose: To evaluate the postoperative outcomes of medial rectus recession combined with modified posterior fixation surgery (bridge faden) in esotropia associated with poor vision in the deviating eye.

Methods: In this retrospective study, the surgical outcomes of patients who underwent medial rectus recession combined with the bridge faden procedure for esotropia with poor vision in the deviating eye from April 2016 to May 2023 were assessed. The demographic characteristics of the patients and near and distance deviations were determined using the prism cover or the Krimsky test preoperatively and at follow-up of 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year.

MIOS-MFO, a multicenter international observational study of the Lifetech KONAR-MF ventricular septal defect occluder in treating perimembranous ventricular septal defects.

Introduction And Objectives: The Lifetech KONAR-MF ventricular septal defect occluder (MFO) is increasingly used for transcatheter perimembranous ventricular septal defect (pmVSD) closure. We aim to collect real-world data on patient outcomes and MFO performance in pmVSD cases.

Methods: This was a nonrandomized, retrospective, multicenter, postmarketing clinical follow-up study of pmVSD patients implanted with the MFO device between 2018 and 2023.

Alterations in the Glymphatic System and Presence of Small Vessel Disease in Hospitalized and Non-hospitalized COVID Patients: A Study of PSMD Index and DTI-ALPS.

Background: It is known that COVID-19 causes brain damage in the acute phase and leads to neurological complications such as dementia and brain fog in the chronic phase. Many factors have been implicated in these complications, including glymphatic system disorders, small vessel disease, and widespread inflammation. Peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity (PSMD) is a sensitive biomarker for SVD, while the diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) measures glymphatic system function.

Evolving Models of Community-Based Pediatric Palliative Care in Eight Countries across Latin America.

Context: High-quality pediatric palliative care is best achieved through a comprehensive interdisciplinary effort that actively involves the family and engages resources within the community. Community-based palliative care specifically strives to incorporate palliative care into local healthcare systems, adapting the most suitable model of care to each unique context.

Objectives: In Latin America (LATAM), there is a paucity of palliative care teams, especially pediatric palliative care teams, working outside the hospital setting and immersed in the community.

Prediction of MRI in intra-operative findings for spinal meningeal diseases.

Background: A large variety of spinal meningeal diseases have been described in the literature, and differential diagnosis is often complex, requiring a good knowledge of the different entities and accurate neuroimaging. The purpose of this article was to depict the most relevant diagnostic features on the commonly utilized MRI sequences for the main and most frequent pathologies of the spinal arachnoid and to correlate them with intraoperative findings.

Material And Methods: Five cases harboring each different spinal meningeal diseases were analyzed, illustrated, extensively described, and discussed: arachnoid web, arachnoiditis, idiopathic spinal cord herniation, intradural arachnoid cyst, extradural arachnoid cyst.

Multicenter, Multinational, Prospective Cohort Study of the Impact of Chlorhexidine Impregnated vs. Plain Central Lines on Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infections.

Objective: We compared the efficacy of chlorhexidine-impregnated central lines (CLs) with plain CLs in preventing central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in critically ill patients.

Methods: The study was conducted from April 2023 to August 2024 in eight hospitals across India, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Colombia, Egypt, and Turkey. Data were collected prospectively using the INICC surveillance online system.

Activated FXI-antithrombin and thrombin-antithrombin complexes in the prediction of venous thromboembolism and mortality in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are at high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), especially during chemotherapy. Even though the contact system is implicated in the pathogenesis of thrombosis, limited data are available on the role of contact system activation in NSCLC-associated VTE.

Aim: In a prospective cohort of NSCLC patients starting chemotherapy, contact system activation and thrombin generation biomarkers were assessed in relation to 6-month VTE occurrence and mortality.

Redefining radiologic responses in high-risk soft-tissue sarcomas treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy: final results of ISG-STS 1001, a randomized clinical trial.

Background: We report the results of the pre-planned secondary analysis of radiologic responses (RRs) of ISG-STS 1001, a randomized trial comparing anthracycline + ifosfamide (AI) versus histology-tailored (HT) neoadjuvant chemotherapy for primary localized high-risk soft-tissue sarcomas of the extremities and trunk wall.

Patients And Methods: Patients with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS), leiomyosarcoma (LMS), malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, synovial sarcoma or myxoid liposarcoma (MLPS) were randomized, whereas patients with myxofibrosarcoma, pleomorphic liposarcoma, pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma or unclassified sarcoma were included in the observational arm (O) and treated with AI. Patients with UPS, LMS or MLPS needing concurrent preoperative radiotherapy were included in O.

Treatment of primary tumor in metastatic head and neck Carcinoma: A systematic review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: The treatment of primary tumors in metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) is a complex and debated issue. This study evaluates the impact of treating primary tumors on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in metastatic HNSCC through a systematic review and meta-analysis, with a focus on identifying potential biases and limitations in the available evidence.

Materials And Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library for studies published up to January 2024.

Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency, Replacement Therapy, and Outcomes in Long-Term Childhood Cancer Survivors.

Context: The consequences of untreated adult growth hormone deficiency (aGHD) among childhood cancer survivors are not well-defined. The lack of evidence and socioeconomic factors may contribute to underutilization of growth hormone therapy (GHT) among survivors with aGHD.

Objectives: To examine the association of GHT use with socioeconomic factors and to assess the impact of untreated aGHD in survivors using insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) as a marker of GH action.

Autologous adipose-derived tissue stromal vascular fraction and intralesional epidermal growth factor combined application in patients with diabetic foot.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on wound healing of intralesional epidermal growth factor (iEGF) (Heberprot-p; Hasbiotech, Cuba) and autologous adipose-derived tissue stromal vascular fraction (AD-tSVF) applied in the closure of tissue defects.

Method: The patients included in the study were separated into three approximately equal groups: Group 1 with iEGF+AD-tSVF applied; Group 2 with iEGF only applied; and Group 3 with conventional wound care products applied. Granulation tissue was taken from the wound bed before the application of iEGF and AD-tSVF and at intervals thereafter for flow cytometry analysis.