Medicina

Background and Objectives : Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder with a significant burden on patients' quality of life. This systematic review aims to evaluate the restoration of skin barrier abnormalities with interleukin-4/interleukin-13 (IL-4/IL-13) inhibitors and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in atopic dermatitis. Materials and Methods : A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted, focusing on studies that assess the use of IL-4/IL-13 inhibitors and JAK inhibitors for atopic dermatitis...

Background and Objectives : Although considerable research has been devoted to examining the distinctions between fresh and frozen embryo transfer regarding obstetric outcomes and rates of pregnancy success, there is still a scarcity of thorough analyses that specifically examine neonatal outcomes. The objective of our study was to provide an in-depth analysis of neonatal outcomes that occur after the transfer of fresh and frozen embryos (ET vs. FET) in IVF/ICSI cycles. Materials and Methods : Multiple databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Wiley, Scopus, Ovid and Science Direct) were searched from January 1980 to February 2024...

Background and Objectives : Anterior sacroiliac fracture dislocation (ASFD), also known as locked pelvis, is a rarely reported diagnosis. The types of ASFDs are often misdiagnosed as lateral compression fractures due to the presence of crescent fractures. In this study, we distinguished ASFD from lateral compression fractures (LC 2) and studied their characteristics. Materials and Methods : This is a retrospective study involving patients from a Level 1 trauma center. Fifty-nine patients under the age of 65 years with crescent fractures caused by a high-energy mechanism were investigated...

Background and Objectives : Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Spread through air spaces (STAS) is an adverse prognostic factor that has become increasingly known in recent years. This study aims to investigate the impact of STAS presence on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with surgically resected stage IA-IIIA lung cancer and to identify clinicopathological features associated with STAS. Materials and Methods : This research involved 311 lung cancer surgery patients...

Cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (CAT) poses a severe threat, disrupting ongoing cancer management and adversely impacting treatment outcomes. CAT often leads to a two- to six-fold increase in mortality rates when it progresses to venous total occlusion. The primary modalities employed in addressing this life-threatening complication include anticoagulant therapy only or coupled with strategic endovascular interventions. Aggressive endovascular interventions, such as mechanical thrombectomy and venous stent implantation, are crucial in mitigating thrombotic complications, relieving symptoms, and improving this vulnerable population's overall quality of life and life expectancy...

Background and Objectives : Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a major global health challenge, with high incidence rates and ongoing treatment debates. Adjuvant chemotherapy benefits for high-risk subgroups, particularly stage II disease, remain controversial. This study seeks to clarify this issue by specifically examining the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients diagnosed with T4 colon cancer. Materials and Methods : This retrospective study analyzed patients undergoing radical surgery for T4 colon cancer between 2002 and 2023...

Background/Objectives : Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a neurological disorder characterized by post-exertional malaise. Despite its clinical relevance, the disease mechanisms of ME/CFS are not fully understood. The previous studies targeting brain function or metabolites have been inconclusive in understanding ME/CFS complexity. We combined single-voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV-MRS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Our objectives were to examine the feasibility of the multimodal MRI protocol, identify possible differences between ME/CFS and healthy controls (HCs), and relate MRI findings with clinical symptoms...

Cancer has become a consistent concern globally and increasingly fatal. Malignant melanoma is a rising concern, with its increased mortality. Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex Baker ( K. parviflora (KP)), commonly known as black ginger, is well known for its medicinal contributions. For the first time, in the following study we investigated the antimelanoma potential of Laos KP extracts in human cell lines. KP extracts (KPE) in methanol, DCM, and ethyl acetate showed strong cell inhibition in both melanomas, with KPE-DCM being particularly effective in inhibiting melanoma cell migration, invasion, and proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, while KPE-Hexane exhibited a low cell inhibition rate and a more limited effect...

Background and Objectives : Caregiving for geriatric patients is essential for ensuring the well-being and quality of life of older adults. Family caregivers play a crucial role, but they often face a significant burden that can lead to adverse mental health outcomes, including depression. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression among caregivers of geriatric patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and to analyze its association with caregiver burden and various socio-demographic and caregiving parameters...

Background and Objectives: It is well known that depression, anxiety, and impulsiveness are interrelated; however, studies that have assessed their association with the coronavirus outbreak are scarce. Hence, our study aimed to evaluate the impulsivity incidence and its correlation with anxiety and depression following COVID-19 infection between November 2022 and June 2023. Materials and Methods: The 201 participants completed the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), and short UPPS-P scales (urgency, premeditation, perseverance, sensation seeking, and positive urgency) to allow us to determine their anxiety and depression symptoms, functional impairment, and impulsivity, respectively...

Background and Objectives : The goal of this study was to assess the impact of supplementation with a combination of nutrients on metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)-related liver parameters, and other parameters related to metabolic syndrome in adults with obesity. These measurements included anthropometric and lipid profiling, and FibroScan technology (controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and transient elastography (TE) values). Materials and Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial was conducted over a three-month treatment period...

Background and Objectives : Rectal cancer is considered cured if no recurrence is found during the 5-year follow-up period after treatment. After this period, patients often believe that the cancer is completely eradicated. However, in modern society, where lifespans have become longer, it is important to recognize that metastatic cancer may occur long after the initial treatment has concluded. This highlights the necessity of continued vigilance and the long-term follow-up of cancer survivors. Case report : We present a case of metastatic cancer of the coccyx in an 87-year-old female patient...

Background and Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the clinical course and characteristics of late toxicity over time following the completion of definitive radiotherapy (RT) in patients with cervical cancer. Materials and Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 60 patients with cervical cancer who underwent pelvic external beam radiotherapy followed by intracavitary brachytherapy. Late toxicity was assessed for the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract and bladder organ at 6, 12, 24, 36, and >36 months post-RT...

Background: Surgical inflammatory pain decreases the innate and adaptive immune antitumor response and favors residual circulating tumor cells. Objectives: This study investigated whether minimally invasive surgeries (laparoscopic and robotic procedures), which are less painful and inflammatory, improved oncological outcomes after colorectal resection compared to laparotomy. Methods: This research was a single-center propensity score-matched study involving patients who underwent colectomy and rectum resection from July 2017 to December 2019...

Background and Objectives : As the first three links of the chain of survival of victims of cardiac arrest depend on prompt action by bystanders, it is important to educate as much of the population as possible about basic life support and use of an automatic external defibrillator (BLS and AED). Schoolchildren are an accessible population that can be easily taught and numerous BLS and AED courses are available. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of two different practical approaches to teaching BLS and AED...

Background and Objectives: Fertilized zygotes normally display two pronuclei (PN), but abnormal fertilization patterns (0, 1 or >2PN) are observed daily in IVF labs. Multiple PN zygotes (>2) are generally discarded due to an increased risk of aneuploidy. However, the decision to transfer or not transfer 1PN-derived embryos remains controversial. The aims of our study were to analyze the neonatal outcomes of fresh or frozen-thawed embryos derived from 1PN zygotes, and to evaluate the influence of the fertilization method...

Background and Objectives : The term long COVID refers to patients with a history of confirmed COVID-19 infection, who present symptoms that last for at least 2 months and cannot be explained by another diagnosis. Objectives: The present study aims to determine the most common symptoms of the long COVID syndrome and their impact on the quality of life. Materials and Methods : A prospective observational study was conducted on patients diagnosed with mild and moderate COVID-19 (based on a positive SARS-CoV-2 molecular diagnostic or rapid antigen test and severity form definition) at the Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Cluj-Napoca, Romania...

Background and Objectives : The number of cardiac pacemakers being used has increased in recent decades, and this increase has led to a rise in device-related complications, requiring percutaneous device extraction. Our aim was to present our single-center clinical experience in percutaneous lead extractions. Materials and Methods : We analyzed an observational retrospective cohort study of 93 patients for the transvenous removal of a total of 163 endocardial leads. We evaluated the device details, indications, lead characteristics, extraction methods, complications, reimplantation procedure, follow-up data, effectiveness, and safety...

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an established option for the management of infertility in patients with endometriosis, though there remains ongoing debate around the extent to which endometriosis may compromise IVF treatment success, in which fertilization and preimplantation embryo development occur outside the pelvis. Whether endometriosis impacts oocyte and embryo quality and/or endometrial receptivity remains central to this debate. Here, we review the current literature relating to the impact of endometriosis on IVF outcomes and management strategies to consider when performing IVF treatment...

Background and Objectives: Despite a global decrease in HIV incidence, recent trends in Türkiye indicate a concerning rise, particularly among younger populations and women. This study investigates the local and regional dynamics influencing these trends using advanced epidemiological methodologies. Material and Methods: Utilizing Age-period-cohort analysis and joinpoint regression, we analysed HIV incidence and prevalence data from the Global Burden of Disease study for Türkiye. These methods allowed for a detailed examination of changes over time, identifying specific age groups and periods with significant shifts in incidence rates...