Education and training of surgical residents in upper gastrointestinal surgery: a European survey.

Educating and training young surgeons is a complex challenge that requires a structured pathway. Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) surgery is becoming a highly attractive subspecialty, yet it is not universally recognized. Currently, there are no standardized guidelines or curricula for UGI surgical training across Europe and a wide disparity among countries remains.

Ischaemic cardiovascular risk with allopurinol and protective effect of colchicine in gout: a Dutch nationwide pharmaco-epidemiological study.

Aims: Gout is associated with increased ischaemic cardiovascular disease (CVD). The effects of allopurinol and colchicine on CVD risk remain debated. This study aims to investigate the interplay between these factors.

Interleukin-6 in synovial fluid drives the conversion of DC2s to DC3s in inflammatory arthritis.

Inflammatory arthritis (IA) is characterized by persistent joint inflammation and immune cell infiltration, including CD1c dendritic cells (DCs), comprising DC2s and DC3s. To investigate their developmental and functional specialization in IA, we characterized DC2s and DC3s in the peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) of patients with IA. DC3 frequencies were increased in PB of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and correlated with disease activity in early rheumatoid arthritis.

Novel Biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma from Embryogenic Antigens to cfDNA.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a primary liver cancer, continues to pose a significant challenge to the healthcare system because of its elevated incidence and fatality rates. This study aims to assess new biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis, comparing them to the established gold standard alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and liver ultrasonography. A literature review was conducted in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guideline.

Tetranectin and Paraoxonase 1 in Patients with Varying Stages of Heart Failure: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of mortality across the globe, prompting ongoing research into novel biomarkers for improved risk stratification and patient management. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between two promising biomarkers, tetranectin and paraoxonase 1, and the severity of heart failure in a cohort of 87 patients with cardiovascular risk factors. Participants were categorized into three groups based on their New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification: no HF (Control), NYHA class I (G1), and NYHA class II-IV (G2).

Endothelial cell dysfunction in RA: biomarkers IL-8, E-selectin, VCAM-1 and MCP-1 correlated with PET/CT.

Objectives: Cardiovascular risk in RA is multifactorial, with endothelial dysfunction being a significant, but not exclusive contributor. This risk is further worsened by accelerated atherosclerosis, increased arterial stiffness, and other inflammation-associated pathophysiological mechanisms, alongside traditional cardiovascular risk factors. This study evaluated the effects of 6 months of anti-inflammatory therapy on endothelial biomarkers, including E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and IL-8.

Diagnostic validation of novel Borrelia antigens discovered by whole-proteome microarray: Advancing early detection and test of cure for Lyme disease.

Lyme disease serodiagnosis has limited early sensitivity and cannot distinguish active from past infections. To address this, we screen a Borrelia afzelii whole-proteome microarray (1,296 proteins) using human (n = 149) and murine (n = 32) sera. We evaluate three early-stage antigens-BafPKo_A0001, BafPKo_D0016, and BafPKo_A0029.

Design of a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind multicentre study assessing the effect of colchicine on the incidence of knee or hip replacements in symptomatic knee or hip osteoarthritis: the ECHO trial.

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial disease in which low-grade inflammation is considered to play a pivotal role. Although colchicine is a widely used anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of gout, its effect in OA is still disputed due to inconsistent results of short-term clinical trials. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the effect of long-term colchicine 0.

Biomarkers associated with anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy: a systematic review.

Purpose: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most important complications that occurs after upper gastrointestinal surgery, registering rates of 20-30% after esophagectomy. The role of systemic inflammatory biomarkers to predict anastomotic leaks is controversial and needs systematization.

Methods: A systematic review based on the PRISMA guidelines criteria was performed.

Comprehensive Overview of Molecular, Imaging, and Therapeutic Challenges in Rectal Mucinous Adenocarcinoma.

Rectal cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies worldwide. The most common histological type is adenocarcinoma, followed by mucinous adenocarcinoma. The outcome is less favorable for the mucinous type, yet the treatment course is the same.

Influence of SARS-CoV2 Pandemic on Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis, Presentation, and Surgical Management in a Tertiary Center: A Retrospective Study.

: Oncological surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic was performed only in carefully selected cases, due to variation in the allocation of resources. The purpose of this study was to highlight the impact of the pandemic lockdown on the presentation, diagnosis, and surgical management of colorectal cancers as well as the post-pandemic changes in this area. : This single center, retrospective comparative study contained 1687 patients, divided into three groups with equal time frames of two years, consisting of a pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic period, in which preoperative and perioperative as well as postoperative parameters were compared.

Evaluating Maize Hybrids for Yield, Stress Tolerance, and Carotenoid Content: Insights into Breeding for Climate Resilience.

To ensure food and feed security, modern maize hybrids must not only perform well under changing climate conditions but also consistently achieve higher and stable yields, exhibit maximum tolerance to stress factors, and produce high quality grains. In a study conducted in 2022 and 2023, 50 maize hybrids were developed from crosses of five elite (highly productive) inbred lines and ten lines possessing favorable genes for carotenoid content. These hybrids were tested under particularly unfavorable conditions for maize cultivation.

Influence of Changing Weather on Old and New Maize Hybrids: A Case Study in Romania.

Maize is affected by drought and heat, abiotic stress factors that have been encountered more often in recent years in various parts of Europe. In the area of Turda, Romania, extreme temperatures and heat waves combined with an uneven distribution of precipitation have been recorded that had an unfavorable influence on the maize crop. In this study, the ASI (anthesis-to-silking interval), yield, and stability of 35 old and new maize hybrids created at the Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda were studied under drought and heat conditions.

Intramuscular methylprednisolone in hand osteoarthritis: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To explore patient characteristics associated with response to intramuscular methylprednisolone (MP) therapy in hand OA.

Methods: We performed an exploratory monocentric retrospective study. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of hand OA who visited our outpatient clinic between July 2016 and June 2021 and received at least once an intramuscular MP injection were included.

Laparoscopic "Roux-en-Y" Fistulojejunostomy for Persistent External Pancreatic Fistulas.

Persistent external pancreatic fistulas post-acute pancreatitis are a relatively rare complication, in an era of endoscopic and minimally invasive treatment, which can present a high rate of morbidity. Although most of the cases require surgical treatment, the possibility of a minimally invasive approach is yet to be established. This article highlights a case in which persistent external pancreatic fistula (PEPF) was managed laparoscopically, indicating the key steps, as well as the postoperative follow-up.

A 3D-Printed, High-Fidelity Pelvis Training Model: Cookbook Instructions and First Experience.

Since laparoscopic surgery became the gold standard for colorectal procedures, specific skills are required to achieve good outcomes. The best way to acquire basic and advanced skills and reach the learning curve plateau is by using dedicated simulators: box-trainers, video-trainers and virtual reality simulators. Laparoscopic skills training outside the operating room is cost-beneficial, faster and safer, and does not harm the patient.

A Sustained-Release Butyrate Tablet Suppresses Ex Vivo T Helper Cell Activation of Osteoarthritis Patients in a Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial.

Degenerative joint disease osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by the degeneration of cartilage, synovial inflammation and low-grade systemic inflammation in association with microbial dysbiosis and intestinal barrier defects. Butyrate is known for its anti-inflammatory and barrier protective effects and might benefit OA patients. In a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial, the effects of four to five weeks of oral treatment with sustained-release (SR) butyrate tablets (600 mg/day) on systemic inflammation and immune function were studied in hand OA patients.

Liver Phantoms Cast in 3D-Printed Mold for Image-Guided Procedures.

Introduction: Image-guided invasive procedures on the liver require a steep learning curve to acquire the necessary skills. The best and safest way to achieve these skills is through hands-on courses that include simulations and phantoms of different complications, without any risks for patients. There are many liver phantoms on the market made of various materials; however, there are few multimodal liver phantoms, and only two are cast in a 3D-printed mold.

Gelatin-Based Liver Phantoms for Training Purposes: A Cookbook Approach.

: Patients with liver pathology benefit from image-guided interventions. Training for interventional procedures is recommended to be performed on liver phantoms until a basic proficiency is reached. In the last 40 years, several attempts have been made to develop materials to mimic the imaging characteristics of the human liver in order to create liver phantoms.

Does Adding Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms to Risk Algorithms Improve Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prediction in Rheumatoid Arthritis? An Internal and External Validation of a Clinical Risk Score.

Objective: Current risk algorithms do not accurately predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). An area of interest is that of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), of which several have been associated with CVD in the general population. We investigated whether these SNPs are associated with CVD in RA and whether SNPs could improve CVD risk prediction in RA.

Intramuscular methylprednisolone administration in hand osteoarthritis patients: a feasibility study to inform a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Inflammation is thought to play an important role in hand osteoarthritis (HOA), which is associated with pain and increased limitation of hand function.

Objectives: To explore the acceptability of therapy with intramuscular methylprednisolone in HOA among health-care providers (HCPs) and HOA patients. Additionally, the response to a single methylprednisolone injection was investigated.

Impact on Long-term Survival of a Standardized Histopathological Protocol on the R1 Incidence in Pancreatoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a pathology with a very poor prognostic, the only curative treatment option being surgery, in association with chemotherapy. This study aims to assess the influence that the use of a standardized pathology report after a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has on the R1 margins rate and the impact that this has on long term survival. Material and We included 116 patients admitted to the Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Prof.

Microscopic Positive Margins in Gastric Adenocarcinoma Following Oncological Resection: Prognostic Factors and Long-Term Survival.

Background: In the context of gastric cancer, surgical resection stands as the sole curative treatment. Central to influencing overall survival are the resection margins. This research aims to identify the factors influential in determining microscopically positive resection margins (R1) and to evaluate overall survival.