Liquid Biopsy and Colorectal Cancer.

The majority of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) will ultimately develop metastasis. Identifying specific molecular characteristics in them can help optimize their management in a personalized manner. This requires a noninvasive method for frequent sampling.

Investigating the Road to Equity: A Scoping Review of Solutions to Mitigate Implicit Bias in Assessment within Medical Education.

Introduction: In medical education, assessments have high-stakes implications. Yet, assessments are rife with unconscious bias, which contributes to inequitable social structures. Implicit bias in assessment must be addressed because medical educators use assessments to guide learning and promote development of physicians' careers.

Relationship between IgA vasculitis and prothrombotic risk factors: A prospective, case-control study.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether there are commonly occurring hematologic causes that may lead to thrombosis in patients recently diagnosed with immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV).

Patients And Methods: The prospective study enrolled 107 pediatric patients diagnosed with IgAV and 98 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Patients with IgAV who were treated at a single center between February 2016 and June 2022 were evaluated for the prevalence and clinical relevance of thrombophilic gene mutations and other prothrombotic risk factors, as well as coagulation test indices.

Analysis of proinflammatory cytokine responses in Takayasu arteritis.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the expression of proinflammatory cytokines under long-term T helper (Th) 17 cell inducing conditions in Takayasu arteritis (TAK), a granulomatous vasculitis with adaptive immune responses.

Patients And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between May 2014 and April 2017. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 25 patients (23 females, 2 males; mean age: 42.

Household Food Insecurity and Metabolic Syndrome in Adults: A Meta-Analysis.

Household food insecurity (HFI) refers to the lack of access to safe and nutritious food, and this condition may be associated with the occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Thus, this study aimed to conduct a quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis) to summarize the evidence from epidemiological studies on the association between HFI and MetS. A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Information Center databases to retrieve epidemiological studies published until October 2023.

Ending preventable maternal deaths in Malawi: the stakeholders consensus approach to identify maternal health needs priorities.

Background: The Malawian context presents multifactorial challenges that hinder the provision of high-quality maternal health services, leading to high maternal morbidity and mortality rates. Priority setting is a crucial concept that can benefit the healthcare system in Malawi by efficiently distributing limited resources and maximising gains in maternal healthcare. We undertook a national maternal health prioritisation exercise involving key stakeholders to enhance delivery of maternal care in Malawi.

Effectiveness of the XBB.1.5 COVID-19 Vaccines Against SARS-CoV-2 Hospitalisation Among Adults Aged ≥ 65 Years During the BA.2.86/JN.1 Predominant Period, VEBIS Hospital Study, Europe, November 2023 to May 2024.

We estimated the effectiveness of the adapted monovalent XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccines against PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 hospitalisation during the BA.

Improving porcine in vitro blastocyst development using fetal bovine serum, amino acids, and insulin-transferrin-selenium.

In vitro production of porcine-hatched blastocysts is important for various applications. However, the mechanobiology of blastocoel expansion and hatching remains poorly understood. Our study aimed to efficiently produce hatched blastocysts and investigate the hatching mechanics of late-stage porcine embryos using time-lapse assessment.

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.

Global epidemiology of acute kidney injury in hospitalised patients with decompensated cirrhosis: the International Club of Ascites GLOBAL AKI prospective, multicentre, cohort study.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication of cirrhosis. A systematic, global characterisation of AKI occurring in patients with cirrhosis is lacking. We therefore aimed to assess global differences in the characteristics, management, and outcomes of AKI in hospitalised patients with cirrhosis.

Prevalence, impact, and management of adult disease-related malnutrition in African hospitals: a narrative review and insight from resource-limited clinical settings.

Disease-related malnutrition (DRM) is a worldwide problem regarded as a global policy priority, but occurs on an exaggerated scale in Africa. While interpretation of studies is difficult due to the variety of nutrition assessment techniques, DRM in acute care in-patient African settings is commonly reported in the range of 45-75%, with nutritional risk reaching 84%. Challenges to the comprehensive management of DRM in the resource-limited clinical settings with few dietitians reviewed in this paper include the following: first, lack of routine nutrition screening resulting in more than 90% of malnourished or at-risk patients failing to receive nutrition support referrals, or receiving very delayed referrals.

Phosphate Flame Retardants and Plasticizers and Their Association with Reproductive and Steroid Hormone Levels among Peripubertal-Aged Children: The Hokkaido Birth Cohort Study.

This cross-sectional study investigated associations between exposure to organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers (PFRs) and reproductive and steroid hormones in peripubertal children from the Hokkaido Birth Cohort (429 children aged 9-12 years; between September 2017 and March 2020). Thirteen urinary PFR metabolites and 14 plasma steroid hormones were investigated using LC-MS/MS and four reproductive hormones were investigated using immunoassays. Linear regression for single PFR, quantile g-computation, and Bayesian machine kernel regression (BKMR) models for the PFR mixtures were used to examine the association between hormones and PFRs.

Solidified reverse micellar solution-based chitosan-coated solid lipid nanoparticles as a new approach to enhance oral delivery of artemether in malaria treatment.

Solidified reverse micellar technology and surface-modification are promising techniques for improving the biopharmaceutical properties of poorly water-soluble drugs such as artemether, a first-line antimalarial drug. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop and evaluate artemether-loaded chitosan-coated solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) based on solidified reverse micellar solution (SRMS) for improved oral malaria therapy. Artemether-loaded and unloaded SLNs were prepared from optimized SRMS (consisting of Phospholipon 90G and Compritol ATO 888 at 3:7 ratio) with or without chitosan by high-shear melt-homogenization, and thereafter characterized for physicochemical performance, stability, safety and antimalarial activity using Plasmodium berghei-infected mice.

Comparative effectiveness of weight-bearing strategies on functional recovery in acute Achilles tendon rupture: A network meta-analysis.

Objective: Evaluation of the impact of early weight-bearing on intervention to assess functional outcomes following acute Achilles tendon rupture.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines including RCTs involving adult patients with AATR. Interventions were coded based on management approach and weight-bearing strategy: Open, Minimally Invasive, Percutaneous, and Conservative approach, with Early Weightbearing and Late Weightbearing.

The effect of hospital preparatory education on parents: A randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine whether hospital preparatory education has an effect on stress, psychological resilience and burnout levels in parents of paediatric patients.

Design And Methods: This randomised controlled clinical trial with a pretest-posttest design included parents of children who were hospitalised in a paediatric clinic. Forty-six parents participated in the intervention group and 45 in the control group.

How Should Laparoscopic Surgery Training be Planned in a Resource-Limited Environment?

Objective: Laparoscopic surgeries (LSs) are underperformed in low-income countries with inadequate health infrastructure due to many restrictive factors. In this study, we aimed to present the process and results of the first bilateral collaboration protocol (BCP) for LS in an African university hospital where laparoscopic surgery had not been performed before.

Design: A 3-stage BCP was implemented between the University of Health Sciences (Turkey) and Jigjiga University Hospital (Somali State, Ethiopia) between January and June 2024.

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.

Vacuum-assisted closure in secondary wound healing after pilonidal sinus surgery.

Objective: This study evaluated the utility of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) in comparison to standard open wound care in patients operated for pilonidal sinus disease (PSD).

Method: Patients with PSD who underwent standard pilonidal sinus excision-lay open technique/surgery in the Altınbas University School of Medicine Bahcelievler Medical Park Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, between May 2015 and May 2018, were included in this study. A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was performed.

A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Infants' Spatial Attention on the Infant Orienting With Attention (IOWA) Task.

Research with Western samples has uncovered the rapid development of infants' visual attention. This study evaluated spatial attention in 6- to 9-month-old infants living in rural Malawi (N = 511;  = 255,  = 427) or suburban California, United States (N = 57,  = 29,  = 37) in 2018-2019. Using the Infant Orienting With Attention (IOWA) task, results showed that infants were faster and more accurate to fixate a target when a cue validly predicted the target location and were slower and less accurate when the cue was invalid.

Artificial intelligence-based chatbot assistance in clinical decision-making for medically complex patients in oral surgery: a comparative study.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the potential of AI-based chatbots in assisting with clinical decision-making in the management of medically complex patients in oral surgery.

Materials And Methods: A team of oral and maxillofacial surgeons developed a pool of open-ended questions de novo. The validity of the questions was assessed using Lawshe's Content Validity Index.

Association of maternal calprotectin plasma levels with abruption placenta.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between placental abruption and maternal plasma calprotectin levels.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study included 3865 pregnant women aged 24 weeks' gestation and older who were admitted to Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Women's Health Training and Research Hospital between January 2021 and January 2024. Calprotectin levels were prospectively studied in 33 pregnant women with placental abruption and compared with 48 healthy pregnant women matched for age, parity, body mass index (BMI) and week of gestation.