A longitudinal, multimodal palliative care curriculum for obstetrics and gynecology residents.

Objectives: To incorporate a longitudinal palliative care curriculum into obstetrics and gynecology (Ob-Gyn) residency that could become standardized to ensure competencies in providing end of life (EOL) care.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study conducted among 23 Ob-Gyn residents at a tertiary training hospital from 2021 to 2022. A curriculum intervention was provided via lecture and simulation.

Survival and oncological outcomes for young men (≤ 55 years) undergoing radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer.

Objectives: This research aimed to compare the prostate cancer (PCa) features, survival rate, and functional outcomes after open suprapubic Radical Prostatectomy (RP) between younger men (≤ 55 years) and older men (> 55 years).

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we studied 134 patients with clinically localized PCa who underwent RP at our centers between 2011 and 2019, with 26 (19.40%) patients aged ≤ 55.

Intravascular Imaging as a Performance Measure for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: Intravascular imaging (IVI) is widely recognized to improve outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, IVI is underutilized and is not yet established as a performance measure for quality PCI.

Methods: We examined temporal trends of IVI use for all PCIs performed at Veterans Affairs hospitals in the United States from 2010 to 2022 using retrospective observational cohorts.

Acceptability and Efficacy of an Adapted School-Based Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Group for Adolescents: A Qualitative Perspective.

Adolescence is characterized by heightened emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, and engagement in high-risk behaviors, such as substance use, violence, and unprotected sexual activity. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) is an evidence-based intervention that targets emotion regulation and impulsivity among adolescents, proven effective at decreasing high-risk behaviors. However, limited research exists on adolescents' perceptions of DBT-A, particularly in schools.

Flexible deformation and special interface structure in nanoparticle-stabilized Pickering bubbles strengthen the immunological response as adjuvant.

Adjuvants can enhance an immunological response, which is an important part of vaccine research. Pickering bubbles have been a mega-hit for biomedical applications, including visualization and targeted drug delivery. However, there have been no studies on Pickering bubbles as an immunological adjuvant, and the special properties and structures of Pickering bubbles may play an important role in immunization.

Occupational exposures and age-related cataract: A review.

Occupational exposures comprise of a broad range of factors in constant and direct contact with the ocular surface. Cataract, a leading cause of visual impairment globally, has been associated with various occupational exposures. This review critically examines existing literature on the relationship between occupational exposures and cataract development.

WOOP as a Brief Alcohol Intervention Led by Lay Coaches in College Settings.

Heavy drinking is a major public health concern, particularly among young adults who often experience fear of being stigmatized when seeking help for alcohol-related problems. To address drinking concerns outside clinical settings, we tested the feasibility of a novel imagery-based behavior change strategy led by student lay interventionists in a college setting. Participants were adults recruited on a college campus and were randomized to either learn the four steps of WOOP (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, and Plan) or to learn a format-matched Sham WOOP (Wish, Outcome, "Outcome," and Plan).

Relationship between ZHX2 Expression and VHL Gene Alteration in VHL-associated and Sporadic Hemangioblastomas of the Central Nervous System.

Central nervous system hemangioblastoma (CNS-HB) is the most common manifestation of von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL). The main axis of the CNS-HB pathway is the VHL-HIF signaling pathway. Recently, we proposed an alternative VHL-JAK-STAT pathway in CNS-HB.

The prevalence of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome at a gender-affirming primary care clinic.

Objective: This study utilized a sample of trangender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse (TGD) patients to build on emerging literature that suggests that hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome may be overrepresented in TGD populations. The objective of this retrospective chart review was to determine the prevalence of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome syndrome at a gender-affirming primary care clinic.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of medical records was conducted with records between May 2021 and June 2024.

Temporal Trends of Fungal Infections in Cirrhotic Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study 2016-2020.

Background: Patients with cirrhosis are susceptible to infections due to abnormalities in humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Fungal infections are associated with delayed diagnosis and high mortality rates, emphasizing the importance of performing fungal cultures and maintaining elevated levels of suspicion in this patient population.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzes cirrhotic patients readmitted with bacterial and fungal infections and investigates outcomes, including in-hospital mortality and hospital resource utilization.

An Innovative Approach to Produce Silicone Mold-Based Antibiotic-Loaded Knee Spacer for Infected Knee Arthroplasty.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotic-loaded cement articulating spacers produced through a silicone mold in the two-stage revision of infected total knee arthroplasty. Five individuals were prospectively treated with 2-stage revision using spacers made by this mold. Clinical assessment was conducted during and after implantation using the WOMAC Score, Oxford knee score, and range of motion (ROM).

Arthroscopic-Assisted Posterolateral Corner Reconstruction of the Knee: Novel Technique, Classification, Surgical Algorithm, and Midterm Results.

Objectives: This study aimed to introduce a new arthroscopic method for reconstructing the popliteus tendon (PT). This minimally invasive technique is performed through the posterolateral corner (PLC) of the knee, which can reconstruct the posterolateral rotary instability (PLRI) of the knee.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients (8 females, 31 males) with PLC injury and normal knee alignment underwent arthroscopic PT reconstruction.

Slope of the Medial Tibial Plateau and the Incidence of a Medial Meniscal Tear.

Objectives: Previous studies of the association between tibial slope and meniscal tear have led to contradictory results. In this regard, the present study aimed to examine the effect of medial tibial plateau slope on the incidence of isolated medial meniscal tear.

Methods: This study was performed on 75 patients with a posterior horn medial meniscal tear and 150 matched control subjects.

Efficacy of spray flushing in the reprocessing of flexible endoscopes.

This article comments on the article by Du , who conducted a randomized controlled trial aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of a novel spray flushing system in cleaning flexible endoscopes while minimizing damage to the working channels. We share our perspective on the importance of improving endoscope reprocessing methods. The findings highlight the spray flushing system's capacity to improve cleaning efficacy while minimizing damage, suggesting that it might be important in enhancing endoscope reprocessing procedures.

Complete resection of recurrent anal canal cancer using endoscopic submucosal dissection and transanal resection: A case report.

Background: Early anal canal cancer is frequently treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) to preserve anal function. However, if the lesion is in the anal canal, then significant difficulties such as bleeding and challenges associated with scope manipulation can arise.

Case Summary: A 70-year-old woman undergoing follow-up after transverse colon cancer surgery was diagnosed with anal canal cancer extending to the dentate line.

Bibliometric analysis on the top one hundred cited studies on gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Background: Gastrointestinal endoscopy has been widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. A great many of studies on gastrointestinal endoscopy have been done.

Aim: To analyze the characteristics of top 100 cited articles on gastrointestinal endoscopy.

CAR-T cell therapy: developments, challenges and expanded applications from cancer to autoimmunity.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has rapidly emerged as a groundbreaking approach in cancer treatment, particularly for hematologic malignancies. However, the application of CAR-T cell therapy in solid tumors remains challenging. This review summarized the development of CAR-T technologies, emphasized the challenges and solutions in CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumors.

Subtype-specific human endogenous retrovirus K102 envelope protein is a novel serum immunosuppressive biomarker of cancer.

Immune dysfunction is one of the hallmarks of cancer and plays critical roles in immunotherapy resistance, but there is no serum biomarker that can be used to evaluate immune-dysfunction status of cancer patients. Here, we identified subtype-specific human endogenous retrovirus K102 envelope (HERV-K102-Env) with immunosuppressive activity in circulating blood as a novel serum immunosuppressive biomarker of cancer. We first generated monoclonal antibodies against K102-Env with high sensitivity and specificity, and we developed an ELISA assay to detect serum K102-Env.

ESAT-6 protein suppresses allograft rejection by inducing CD4Foxp3 regulatory T cells through IκBα/cRel pathway.

Background: Maintenance immunosuppression is required for suppression of alloimmunity or allograft rejection. However, continuous use of immunosuppressants may lead to various side effects, necessitating the use of alternative immunosuppressive drugs. The early secreted antigenic target of 6 kDa (ESAT-6) is a virulence factor and immunoregulatory protein of mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), which alters host immunity through dually regulating development or activation of various immune cells.

Extracellular matrix shapes cancer stem cell behavior in breast cancer: a mini review.

Today, cancer has become one of the leading global tragedies. It occurs when a small number of cells in the body mutate, causing some of them to evade the body's immune system and proliferate uncontrollably. Even more irritating is the fact that patients with cancers frequently relapse after conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, leading to additional suffering.

Eosinophil is a predictor of severe immune-related adverse events induced by ipilimumab plus nivolumab therapy in patients with renal cell carcinoma: a retrospective multicenter cohort study.

Introduction: Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors are difficult to predict and can lead to severe events. Although it is important to develop strategies for the early detection of severe irAEs, there is a lack of evidence on irAEs associated with ipilimumab plus nivolumab therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between eosinophil and severe irAEs in patients receiving ipilimumab plus nivolumab therapy for RCC.