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BACKGROUND: Despite contributions provided by the recent clinical trials, several issues and challenges still remain unsolved in adjuvant colon cancer (CC). Hence, further studies should be planned to better refine risk assessment as well as to establish the optimal treatment strategy in the adjuvant setting. However, it is necessary to request adequate, contemporary and relevant variables and report them homogeneously in order to bring maximal information when analyzing their prognostic value...

RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the efficacy, safety and reproductive outcomes of intrauterine balloon stent placement for 4 or 6 weeks after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis? DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a university-affiliated hospital, and included 155 women with moderate to severe intrauterine adhesions who underwent hysteroscopic adhesiolysis between March 2016 and December 2019. Participants were divided according to whether the heart-shaped balloon stent was left in place for 4 (group 1) or 6 (group 2) weeks after surgery...

RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the metabolic characteristics of follicular fluid in patients with ovarian endometriosis undergoing IVF? DESIGN: This was an exploratory cohort study on endometriosis. In total, 19 infertile patients with ovarian endometriosis diagnosed by laparoscopy, and 23 controls matched in terms of age and body mass index (women with infertility due to male or tubal factors) were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent IVF treatment with a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol, and follicular fluid was collected at oocyte retrieval...

Microsecond time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy has emerged as a novel approach for directly observing protein dynamics. By providing microsecond temporal and near-atomic spatial resolution, it has the potential to elucidate a wide range of dynamics that were previously inaccessible and therefore, to significantly advance our understanding of protein function. This review summarizes the properties of the laser melting and revitrification process that underlies the technique and describes different experimental implementations...

BACKGROUND: Private sector acting in healthcare does not remove the public nature of a health system, nor mitigate the right to health as a human right. METHODS: This scoping review aims to answer the question: what factors influence the pattern of lawsuits seeking to enforce the right to health in private healthcare systems? The search was carried out in Pubmed, SciELO, DOAJ and Scopus. RESULTS: Out of 464 articles found, after inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 articles were included...

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) presents a significant clinical challenge which is often identified in advanced stages, therby restricting the effectiveness of surgical interventions for most patients. The high incidence of cancer recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy further contribute to a bleak prognosis and low survival rates. To address this pressing need for effective therapeutic strategies, our study focuses on the development of an innovative cellular immunotherapy, specifically utilizing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered natural killer (NK) cells designed to target the cMET receptor tyrosine kinase...

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely used antipyretic and analgesic medication, but its overdose can induce acute liver failure with lack of effective therapies. Icariin is a bioactive compound derived from the herb Epimedium that displays hepatoprotective activities. Here, we explored the protective effects and mechanism of icariin on APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. Icariin (25/50 mg/kg) or N-Acetylcysteine (NAC, 300 mg/kg) were orally administered in wild-type C57BL/6 mice for 7 consecutive days before the APAP administration...

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis (OP) is a common systemic skeletal disorder characterized by an imbalance in bone homeostasis, involving increased osteoclastic bone formation and decreased osteoblastic bone resorption. Quercetin is a plant polyphenol that has been found to exhibit various biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. Previous studies have demonstrated its potential to improve postmenopausal OP, although the exact mechanism remains unclear...

BACKGROUND: Chemotaxis and trafficking of dendritic cells (DCs) induced by cytokine receptors are crucial steps in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) plays a key role in DC movement and has been implicated in multitudinous inflammatory and immunology diseases. Thus, targeting CCR5 to suppress DC chemotaxis is considered as a potential strategy for the management of RA. METHODS: Herein, we first synthesized a new hybrid named CT3-1 which based on artesunate and isatin...

BACKGROUND: RNA-binding proteins are revealed to play important roles during the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the regulatory mechanisms of RNA-binding protein Quaking (QKI) in the expression and role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in HCC cells remain not well understood. METHODS: Cell Counting Kit-8, wound-healing, Transwell and colony-forming assays were performed to evaluate the effects of QKI and lncRNA EGOT on proliferation and migration of HCC cells...

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), including Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, are organ-specific autoimmune disorders characterized by conditions including goiter, autoimmune thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism, which represent the most severe clinical manifestations of AITDs. The prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disorders is on the rise, influenced by increased environmental factors and changes in modern lifestyles. Understanding the pathophysiology of AITDs is crucial for identifying key factors that affect the disease's onset, progression, and recurrence, thereby laying a solid foundation for precise diagnosis and treatment...

Defective clearance of apoptotic cells due to impaired efferocytosis sustains error in self-tolerance that exacerbates rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the molecular determinant that directly or specifically impairs efferocytosis in RA is not yet studied. We identified a new perspective that IL-17A significantly impedes efferocytosis via preferential activation of the JAK/STAT-3/ADAM17 signaling axis. In contrast, disruption of the IL-17A/IL-17RA interaction using cyanidin or silencing of IL-17RA obstructed JAK/STAT-3 activation that further abolished ADAM17 expression...

Autoimmune uveitis, a severe inflammatory condition of the eye, poses significant challenges due to its complex pathophysiology and the critical balance between protective and detrimental immune responses. Central to this balance are microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, whose roles in autoimmune uveitis are multifaceted and dynamic. This review article delves into the dual nature of microglial functions, oscillating between neuroprotective and neurotoxic outcomes in the context of autoimmune uveitis...

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition responsible for the impairment of synovia and joints, endangering the functionality of individuals and contributing to mortality. Currently, obesity is increasing worldwide, and recent studies have suggested an association between such condition and RA. In this sense, obese individuals present a lower capacity for achieving remission and present more intense symptoms of the disease, demonstrating a link between both disorders. Different studies aim to understand the possible connection between the conditions; however, few is known in this sense...

Nutrient availability and efficient use are critical for crop productivity. Current agricultural practices rely on excessive chemical fertilizers, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution. Rhizosphere microbes facilitate plant nutrient acquisition and contribute to nutrient use efficiency. Thus, engineering plant-microbe communication within the rhizosphere emerges as a promising and sustainable strategy to enhance agricultural productivity. Recent advances in plant engineering have enabled the development of plants capable of selectively enriching beneficial microbes through root exudates...

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Repairing massive rotator cuff tears (MRCTs) can often be technically challenging due to tendon retraction, bursal fibrosis, and muscular fatty infiltration that usually occurs, often resulting in poor outcomes and an unpredictable prognosis. Although some other surgical management options have been reported, there is a lack of literature supporting tendon transfers in the presence of combined anterior and posterior-superior irreparable rotator cuff tears...

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Clavicular osteomyelitis, unlike the metaphysis of long bones, is a rare condition that poses a challenge for orthopedic surgeons in terms of diagnosis. The unique location of the clavicle makes it crucial to diagnose and effectively manage these non-traumatic clavicular lesions promptly. Localized pain and swelling are common symptoms experienced by patients with clavicular osteomyelitis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 9-year-old boy presented with swelling and pain in the left clavicular area for 6 months...

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Fibroma, thecoma, and fibrothecoma collectively denote a range of non-cancerous sex cord-stromal tumors distinguished by the presence of fibroblastic stromal cells and/or cells resembling luteinized theca cells. CASE PRESENTATION: In this report, we present a case study of a 52-year-old patient in whom this uncommon tumor was identified via MRI, highlighting the distinctive diagnostic and treatment considerations associated with it. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Ovarian fibrothecoma tumors are infrequent, constituting less than 4 % of all ovarian tumors...

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Herein, we present an unexpected rectus sheath hematoma (RSH) complication due to chronic COVID-19 related cough and prolonged anticoagulation therapy. COVID-19 usually presents with respiratory symptoms, such as cough. Anticoagulants are used in severe cases of COVID-19 as well as in mechanical heart valve replacement to prevent thrombosis. However, there is a high risk of bleeding. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a rare case of a 74-year-old woman who presented with a COVID-19 related cough persistent over two months, and was also undertaking warfarin daily for 10 years due to mechanical mitral valve replacement...

INTRODUCTION: Caecal volvulus is a form of intestinal obstruction with life-threatening potential. While rare, it represents a perilous aetiology of intestinal blockage, with clinical manifestations spanning from abdominal discomfort to mortality. CASE SERIES: We report the cases of three young adults (two males and one female) who presented to the emergency department with different manifestations of severe abdominal pain. All occurred within one month in a tertiary referral centre...