Neoplastic Progression Risk in Females With Barrett's Esophagus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Individual Patient Data.

Background And Aims: Females with Barrett's esophagus (BE) have a lower risk of neoplastic progression than males, but sufficiently powered risk analyses are lacking. This systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data (IPD) aimed to provide more robust evidence on neoplastic progression risk in females.

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search of 3 electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Google Scholar) from inception until August 2023.

Primary Site Influences the Ability of Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Assess Cartilage Invasion in Advanced Laryngeal Cancer.

Objective: Accurate staging of advanced laryngeal cancer is important, as treatment can vary significantly between larynx preservation and total laryngectomy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing features of T4a disease in locally advanced laryngeal cancer and determine if primary site played a role in the accuracy of MRI in this setting.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing a total laryngectomy in a tertiary referral center for head and neck cancer over a 10-year time period was carried out.

Irish national real-world analysis of the clinical and economic impact of 21-gene oncotype DX® testing in early-stage, 1-3 lymph node-positive, oestrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative, breast cancer.

Purpose: The treatment landscape of Oestrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive) breast cancer is evolving, with declining chemotherapy use as a result of Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® testing. Results from the SWOG S1007 RxPONDER trial suggest that adjuvant chemotherapy may benefit some premenopausal women with ER-positive, HER2-negative disease with 1-3 positive lymph nodes (N1), and a Recurrence Score® (RS) of ≤ 25. Postmenopausal women with similar characteristics did not benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

Residential exposure to spp is associated with exacerbations in COPD.

Background: Sensitisation to is linked to worse outcomes in patients with COPD; however, its prevalence and clinical implications in domestic (residential) settings remains unknown.

Methods: Individuals with COPD (n=43) recruited in Singapore had their residences prospectively sampled and assessed by shotgun metagenomic sequencing including indoor air, outdoor air and touch surfaces (a total of 126 specimens). The abundance of environmental and the occurrence of (Asp f) allergens in the environment were determined and immunological responses to allergens determined in association with clinical outcomes including exacerbation frequency.

Immune response in vaccinated healthcare workers with frequent COVID-19 infections is characterised by blunted IFNγ and IL-2 responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Despite widespread vaccination, some HCWs develop frequent symptomatic infection. We hypothesised that HCWs with frequent symptomatic COVID-19 have impaired T and B cell mediated immunity to SARS-CoV-2.

Use of open fires or closed solid fuel appliances for residential heating and cognitive decline in older adults.

Objectives: Use of solid fuel appliances is a major contributor to air pollution. Indoor solid fuel burning for cooking and heating in lower-middle income countries is associated with lower cognitive function and faster decline. Less is known, however, about the potential risk to brain health from burning solid fuels in open fires and closed appliances for heating purposes only, particularly in higher income countries.

Invasive procedures and surgery following etranacogene dezaparvovec gene therapy in people with hemophilia B.

Background: Little information regarding the management of invasive procedures in people with hemophilia B (HB) after undergoing gene therapy is available. Here, we report the management of invasive procedures in people with severe or moderately severe HB who had previously been treated with etranacogene dezaparvovec in the phase 2b and phase 3 Health Outcomes with Padua Gene; Evaluation in Hemophilia B clinical trials (NCT03489291 and NCT03569891).

Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the use of exogenous FIX, endogenous FIX activity prior to invasive procedures, and peri- and postoperative bleeds in participants who underwent invasive procedures after receiving etranacogene dezaparvovec gene therapy.

Factors Influencing Outcomes and Survival in Anal Cancer.

Background: We aim to ascertain prognostic factors in the current management of anal cancer within this study.

Methods: We reviewed the management and outcomes of anal cancer cases over a seven-year period, inclusive (2016-2023). The primary objectives were to assess the demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, and outcomes of all anal cancer patients within our institution.

The unique metabolic and lipid profiles of patients with severe COVID-19 compared to severe community-acquired pneumonia: a potential prognostic and therapeutic target.

Background: Compare the changes and differences in metabolome and lipidome profiles among severe COVID-19 and CAP patients with ARF to identify biomarkers that could be used for personalized diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

Research Design And Methods: Plasma samples were taken at hospital admission (baseline) and on the 5 day of hospitalization (follow-up) and examined by RP-LC-QTOF-MS and HILIC-LC-QTOF-MS.

Results: 127 patients, 17 with CAP and 110 with COVID-19, were included.

The incidence of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) in the Republic of Ireland.

Background: The incidence of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) in Ireland has previously been studied in only a small geographical area. Our aim was to calculate an incidence rate for the whole of the Republic of Ireland in 2019.

Methods: All deaths referred to the coroner in 2019 were examined.

The multifactorial effect of obesity on the effectiveness and outcomes of cancer therapies.

Epidemiology studies have demonstrated a clear association between obesity and the development of several distinct malignancies, with excessive visceral adiposity being an increasingly prevalent feature in patients with cancer presenting for therapeutic intervention. Clinical trials and meta-analyses have helped to inform effective and safe dosing of traditional systemically administered anticancer agents in adult patients with cancer and obesity, but there remains much debate not only regarding the effect of obesity on the more novel targeted molecular and immune-based therapies, but also about how obesity is best defined and measured clinically. Low muscle mass is associated with poor outcomes in cancer, and body composition studies using biochemical and imaging modalities are helping to fully delineate the importance of both obesity and sarcopenia in clinical outcomes; such studies might also go some way to explaining how obesity can paradoxically be associated with favourable clinical outcomes in certain cancers.

Nonoperative Management of a Spontaneous Perforation of Neobladder Secondary to Blackout From Solitary Binge Drinking: A Case Report and Current Literature Review.

The orthotopic ileal neobladder is becoming a popular technique of urinary diversion after radical cystectomy (RC) for localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), allowing patient continence, with a more desirable body image and good quality of life. Minimally invasive robot-assisted RC and neobladder have the potential to minimize physical and psychological trauma and are increasingly being adopted for patients with MIBC worldwide. Spontaneous perforation of orthotopic neobladder is uncommon;however, it represents serious complications.

Effectiveness, safety, and cost of combination advanced therapies in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: A significant proportion of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients fail to respond to advanced therapies. Combining advanced therapies may improve treatment outcome. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness, adverse events, and costs associated with combining advanced therapies in IBD patients.

Cardiovascular risk of dementia is associated with brain-behaviour changes in cognitively healthy, middle-aged individuals.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) neuropathology start decades before clinical manifestations, but whether risk factors are associated with early cognitive and brain changes in midlife remains poorly understood. We examined whether AD risk factors were associated with cognition and functional connectivity (FC) between the Locus Coeruleus (LC) and hippocampus - two key brain structures in AD neuropathology - cross-sectionally and longitudinally in cognitively healthy midlife individuals. Neuropsychological assessments and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging were obtained at baseline (N=210), and two-years follow-up (N=188).

Vitamin D, periodontitis and tooth loss in older Irish adults.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is associated with periodontitis and tooth loss in older adults. A total of 2346 adults underwent a detailed dental examination as part of the health assessment of a national population study - The Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing. 25(OH)D analysis was performed on frozen non-fasting total plasma using LC-MS.

Biomarkers of local inflammation at the skin's surface may predict both pressure and diabetic foot ulcers.

This commentary considers the similarities which exist between pressure ulcers (PUs) and diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). It aims to describe what is known to be shared-both in theory and practice-by these wound types. It goes on to detail the literature surrounding the role of inflammation in both wound types.

Development and Initial Implementation of a Clinical Monitoring Strategy in a Non-regulated Trial: a research note from the ReStOre II Trial.

Background: Data and Safety Monitoring is integral to quality assurance of clinical trials. Although monitoring is a core legal component of regulated clinical trials, non-regulated trials are not mandated to incorporate monitoring. Consequently, the monitoring process has been underutilised and underreported in this setting.