BACKGROUND Knee and hip osteoarthritis affects millions of people around the world and is expected to rise even more in frequency as the population ages.Joint arthroplasty is the surgical management of choice in these...BACKGROUND Knee and hip osteoarthritis affects millions of people around the world and is expected to rise even more in frequency as the population ages.Joint arthroplasty is the surgical management of choice in these articulations.Heterotopic ossi-fication and radiolucent lines formation are two frequent problems faced in hip and knee replacements respectively.Some studies show that the usage of pulsed lavage may prevent their formation.AIM To compare pulsed lavage to standard lavage in joint arthroplasty.METHODS PubMed,Cochrane,and Google Scholar(page 1-20)were searched till December 2023.Only comparative studies were included.The clinical outcomes evaluated were the heterotopic ossification formation in hip replacements,radiolucent lines formation,and functional knee scores in knee replacements.RESULTS Four studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis.Pulsed lavage was shown to reduce the formation of radiolucent lines(P=0.001).However,no difference was seen in the remaining outcomes CONCLUSION Pulsed lavage reduced the formation of radiolucent lines in knee replacements.No difference was seen in the remaining outcomes.Furthermore,the clinical significance of these radiolucent lines is poorly understood.Better conducted randomized controlled studies and cost-effectivity studies are needed to reinforce these findings.展开更多
Objective:Bladder cancer(BC)is a significant public health concern in the Middle East and North Africa,but the epidemiology and clinicopathology of the disease and contributors to high mortality in this region remain ...Objective:Bladder cancer(BC)is a significant public health concern in the Middle East and North Africa,but the epidemiology and clinicopathology of the disease and contributors to high mortality in this region remain poorly understood.The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the epidemiological features of BC in the Arab world and compare them to those in Western countries in order to improve the management of this disease.Methods:An extensive electronic search of the PubMed/PMC and Cochrane Library databases was conducted to identify all articles published until May 2022,following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.A total of 95 articles were included in the final analysis after title,abstract,and full-text screening,with additional data obtained from the GLOBOCAN and WHO 2020 databases.展开更多
BACKGROUND As a consequence of the economic crisis,the sociopolitical instability and the advent of the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic,nested challenges faced the Lebanese healthcare system.These have resulted in cri...BACKGROUND As a consequence of the economic crisis,the sociopolitical instability and the advent of the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic,nested challenges faced the Lebanese healthcare system.These have resulted in critical shortages of essential resources,including medications vital for oncologic patients.AIM To assess the ramifications of the ongoing economic crisis on oncology patient care focusing on our outpatient oncology department.METHODS A questionnaire was distributed during the month of February 2022 to oncology patients in Hôtel Dieu de France University Hospital in Beirut during their outpatient therapy.The primary objective was to assess the far-reaching impact of the economic crisis on patient care and the resulting psychological implications.RESULTS Among 182 interviewed patients,31.87%experienced treatment interruption mainly due to acute drug shortages.Despite 87.91%of the patients benefiting from third-party coverage,69.60%had to self-pay for their medications leading to 69.78%of patients perceiving that healthcare was more difficult to access after 2020.Psychologically,one-third of the patients exhibited symptoms of anxiety and/or depression,with 7 patients reporting suicidal ideations.Notably,37.93%of patients who interrupted cancer treatment reported a history of comorbidities,and 89.66%who altered their treatment cited financial difficulties.CONCLUSION Lebanese cancer patients face complex challenges spanning economic,healthcare,and psychological realms.Income inequalities exacerbated by the economic crisis hindered healthcare access.展开更多
Stem cells are present in the tissues and organs and remain in a quiescent and undifferentiated state until it is physiologically necessary to produce new descendant cells.Due to their multipotency property,mesenchyma...Stem cells are present in the tissues and organs and remain in a quiescent and undifferentiated state until it is physiologically necessary to produce new descendant cells.Due to their multipotency property,mesenchymal stem cells have attracted considerable attention worldwide due to their immunomodulation and therapeutic function in tissue regeneration.Stem cells secrete components such as paracrine factors,extracellular vesicles,and exosomes which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory,anti-aging,reconstruction and wound healing potentials in many in vitro and in vivo models.The pluripotency and immunomodulatory features of stem cells could potentially be an effective tool in cell therapy and tissue repair.Aging affects the capacity for self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells,decreasing the potential for regeneration and the loss of optimal functions in organisms over time.Current progress in the field of cellular therapy and regenerative medicine has facilitated the evolution of particular guidelines and quality control approaches,which eventually lead to clinical trials.Cell therapy could potentially be one of the most promising therapies to control aging due to the fact that single stem cell transplantation can regenerate or substitute the injured tissue.To understand the involvement of stem cells not only in tissue maintenance and disease but also in the control of aging it is important to know and identify their properties,functions,and regulation in vivo,which are addressed in this review.展开更多
BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)is associated with the development of gastrointestinal disorders ranging from gastritis to gastric cancer.The evidence of the association between metabolic dysfunction-associate...BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)is associated with the development of gastrointestinal disorders ranging from gastritis to gastric cancer.The evidence of the association between metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis(MASH)and H.pylori infection in the literature is scarce.Therefore,we aim to evaluate the risk of developing MASH in patients who have had a diagnosis of H.pylori infection independently of any confounding variables.AIM To evaluate the risk of developing MASH in patients who have had a diagnosis of H.pylori infection.METHODS This study used a validated multicenter research database of over 360 hospitals across 26 healthcare systems across the United States from 1999 to 2022.Multivariate regression analysis assessed the risk of developing MASH,adjusting for confounders including H.pylori infection,obesity,type 2 diabetes,hypertension,dyslipidemia,and male gender.A two-sided P value<0.05 was considered as statistically significant,and all statistical analyses were performed using R version 4.0.2(R Foundation for Statistical Computing,Vienna,Austria,2008).RESULTS A total of 79476132 individuals were screened in the database and 69232620 were selected in the final analysis after accounting for inclusion and exclusion criteria.Smokers(14.30%),patients with hyperlipidemia(70.35%),hypertension(73.86%),diabetes mellitus type 2(56.46%),and obese patients(58.15%)were more common in patients with MASH compared to control.Using a multivariate regression analysis,the risk of MASH was increased in diabetics[odds ratio(OR):3.55;95%CI:3.48-3.62],obese(OR:5.93;95%CI:5.81-6.04),males(OR:1.49;95%CI:1.46-1.52),individuals with hyperlipidemia(OR:2.43;95%CI:2.38-2.49)and H.pylori infection(OR:2.51;95%CI:2.31-2.73).CONCLUSION This is the largest population-based study in the United States illustrating an increased prevalence and odds of developing MASH in patients with H.pylori infection after adjusting for risk factors.展开更多
Urothelial Carcinoma (UC) is one of the most frequent cancers worldwide. Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT) is a standard treatment in the disease’s early stages, with bladder perforation being a possib...Urothelial Carcinoma (UC) is one of the most frequent cancers worldwide. Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT) is a standard treatment in the disease’s early stages, with bladder perforation being a possible and classical complication. However, extravesical tumor seeding resulting from perforation is a rare phenomenon. We hereby report the case of a 76-year-old man with a history of smoking diagnosed with high-grade T1 urothelial carcinoma. TURBT was performed and bladder perforation occurred during the procedure. Radical cystectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy failed to reveal an invasive tumor. However, the patient experienced peritoneal recurrence with liver metastasis 3 years following the operation. This case left physician wondering whether the bladder perforation and the resulting tumor seeding are the cause behind the late peritoneal recurrence of an early-stage urothelial carcinoma.展开更多
BACKGROUND Gallstone ileus following one anastomosis gastric bypass(OAGB)is an exceptionally rare complication.The presented case report aims to highlight the unique occurrence of this condition and its surgical manag...BACKGROUND Gallstone ileus following one anastomosis gastric bypass(OAGB)is an exceptionally rare complication.The presented case report aims to highlight the unique occurrence of this condition and its surgical management.Understanding the clinical presentation,diagnostic challenges and successful surgical inter-vention in such cases is crucial for healthcare professionals involved in bariatric surgery.CASE SUMMARY We present a case report of gallstone ileus following OAGB and discuss its diagnosis and surgical management.A 66-year-old female with a history of OAGB presented to the emergency room with symptoms of small bowel obstru-ction.Computed tomography scan revealed a gallstone impacted in the distal ileum,causing obstruction.The patient underwent a laparoscopically assisted enterolithotomy,during which the gallstone was extracted and the enterotomy was closed.The patient had an uneventful recovery and was dis-charged on postoperative day four.CONCLUSION Gallstone ileus should be considered as a possible complication after OAGB,and prompt surgical intervention is usually required for its management.This case report contributes to the limited existing literature,providing insights into the management of this uncommon complication.展开更多
Advanced gastric cancer(a GC), not amenable to curative surgery, is still a burdensome illness tormenting afflicted patients and their healthcare providers. Whereas combination chemotherapy has been shown to improve s...Advanced gastric cancer(a GC), not amenable to curative surgery, is still a burdensome illness tormenting afflicted patients and their healthcare providers. Whereas combination chemotherapy has been shown to improve survival and tumor related symptoms in the frontline setting, second-line therapy(SLT) is subject to much debate in the scientific community, mainly because of the debilitating effects of GC, which would impede the administration of cytotoxic therapy. Recent data has provided sufficient evidence for the safe use of SLT in patients with an adequate performance status. Taxanes, Irinotecan and even some Fluoropyrimidine analogs were found to provide a survival advantage in this subset of patients. Most importantly, quality of life measures were also improved through the use of adequate therapy. Even more pertinent were the findings involving antiangiogenic agents, which would add measurable improvements without significantly jeopardizing the patients' well-being. Further lines of therapy are cause for much more debate nowadays, but specific targeted agents have shown considerable promise in this context. We herein review noteworthy published data involving the use of additional lines of the therapy after failure of standard frontline therapies in patients with a GC.展开更多
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most devastating solid tumors, and it remains one of the most difficult to treat. The treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC) is systemic, based on chemotherapy or best supporti...Pancreatic cancer is one of the most devastating solid tumors, and it remains one of the most difficult to treat. The treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC) is systemic, based on chemotherapy or best supportive care, depending on the performance status of the patient. Two chemotherapeutical regimens have produced substantial benefits in the treatment of MPC: gemcitabine in 1997; and FOLFIRIONOX in 2011. FOLFIRINOX improved the natural history of MPC, with overall survival (OS) of 11.1 mo. Nab-paclitaxel associated with gemcitabine is a newly approved regimen for MPC, with a median OS of 8.6 mo. Despite multiple trials, this targeted therapy was not efficient in the treatment of MPC. Many new molecules targeting the proliferation and survival pathways, immune response, oncofetal signaling and the epigenetic changes are currently undergoing phase I and II trials for the treatment of MPC, with many promising results.展开更多
Anal cancers(AC)are relatively rare tumors.Their incidence is increasing,particularly among men who have sex with other men due to widespread infection by human papilloma virus.The majority of anal cancers are squamou...Anal cancers(AC)are relatively rare tumors.Their incidence is increasing,particularly among men who have sex with other men due to widespread infection by human papilloma virus.The majority of anal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas,and they are treated according to stage.In local and locally advanced AC,concomitant chemoradiation therapy based on mitomycin C and 5-Fluorouracil(5-FU)is the current best treatment,while metastatic AC,chemotherapy with 5-FU and cisplatin remains the gold standard.There are no indications for induction or maintenance therapies in locally advanced tumors.Many novel strategies,such as targeted therapies,vaccination,immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy are in clinical trials for the treatment of AC,with promising results in some indications.展开更多
Alzheimer's disease(AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder presenting as progressive cognitive decline with dementia that does not, to this day, benefit from any disease-modifying drug. Multiple etiologic pat...Alzheimer's disease(AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder presenting as progressive cognitive decline with dementia that does not, to this day, benefit from any disease-modifying drug. Multiple etiologic pathways have been explored and demonstrate promising solutions. For example, iron ion chelators, such as deferoxamine, are a potential therapeutic solution around which future studies are being directed. Another promising domain is related to thrombin inhibitors. In this minireview, a common pathophysiological pathway is suggested for the pathogenesis of AD to prove that all these mechanisms converge onto the same cascade of neuroinflammatory events. This common pathway is initiated by the presence of vascular risk factors that induce brain tissue hypoxia, which leads to endothelial cell activation. However, the ensuing hypoxia stimulates the production and release of reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory proteins. Furthermore, the endothelial activation may become excessive and dysfunctional in predisposed individuals, leading to thrombin activation and iron ion decompartmentalization. The oxidative stress that results from these modifications in the neurovascular unit will eventually lead to neuronal and glial cell death, ultimately leading to the development of AD. Hence, future research in this field should focus on conducting trials with combinations of potentially efficient treatments, such as the combination of intranasal deferoxamine and direct thrombin inhibitors.展开更多
Biliary tract cancers(BTCs) are highly fatal malignancies, which are often diagnosed at an advanced stage and have relatively poor prognosis.The treatment of patients with advanced BTC is systemic, based on chemothera...Biliary tract cancers(BTCs) are highly fatal malignancies, which are often diagnosed at an advanced stage and have relatively poor prognosis.The treatment of patients with advanced BTC is systemic, based on chemotherapy or best supportive care, depending on their performance status.Despite clinical trials studyingmany chemotherapeutic regimens and targeted therapies for the treatment of BTC, the standard of care for advanced BTC remains the combination of gemcitabine with cisplatin.Many new molecules targeting proliferation and survival pathways, the immune response and angiogenesis are currently undergoing phase Ⅰ and Ⅱ trials for the treatment of advanced BTC with promising results.展开更多
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers,ranking fourth among cancer-related deaths. Despite all the major molecular advances and treatment breakthroughs, mainly targeted therapies, the cornerstone treatment ...Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers,ranking fourth among cancer-related deaths. Despite all the major molecular advances and treatment breakthroughs, mainly targeted therapies, the cornerstone treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer(m PC) remains cytotoxic chemotherapy. In 2016, more than 40 years after the introduction of gemcitabine in the management of m PC, the best choice for first-line treatment has not yet been fully elucidated. Two main strategies have been adopted to enhance treatment efficacy. The first strategy is based on combining non-cross resistant drugs, while the second option includes the development of newer generations of chemotherapy. More recently, two new regimens, FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel(GNP), have both been shown to improve overall survival in comparison with gemcitabine alone, at the cost of increased toxicity. Therefore, the best choice for first line therapy is a matter of debate. For some authors, FOLFIRINOX should be the first choice in patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score(0-1) given its lower hazard ratio. However, others do not share this opinion. In this paper, we review the main comparison points between FOLFIRINOX and GNP. We analyze the two pivotal trials to determine the similarities and differences in study design. In addition, we compare the toxicity profile of the two regimens as well as the impact on quality of life. Finally, we present studies revealing real life experiences and review the advantages and disadvantages of possible second-line therapies including their cost effectiveness.展开更多
Ampullary carcinoma(AC) is a rare gastrointestinal tumor without clear treatment recommendations.The management of this tumor is usually extrapolated from the treatment of pancreatic,biliary duct and intestinal cancer...Ampullary carcinoma(AC) is a rare gastrointestinal tumor without clear treatment recommendations.The management of this tumor is usually extrapolated from the treatment of pancreatic,biliary duct and intestinal cancers.Few papers have studied the AC as an independent entity and yet succombs to several limitations.These studies were retrospective single institutional experiences with limited sample sizes recruited over a long period of time.Unlike metastatic ACs where chemotherapy is the only recommended option,localized AC once excised may be approached by either chemotherapy alone or concomitant chemoradiation therapy.In this review,we report the overall survival and recurrence factors of more than 1000 patients from all the studies treating exclusively ACs.We also review the medical treatment of this tumor and conclude to the necessity of multi-institutional randomized controlled studies for AC exclusively.展开更多
Adverse reactions to mesalamine,a treatment used to induce and maintain remission in inflammatory bowel diseases,particularly ulcerative colitis,have been described in the literature as case reports.This case illustra...Adverse reactions to mesalamine,a treatment used to induce and maintain remission in inflammatory bowel diseases,particularly ulcerative colitis,have been described in the literature as case reports.This case illustrates an unusual adverse reaction.Our patient developed an isolated fever of unexplained etiology,which was found to be related to mesalamine treatment.A 22-year-old patient diagnosed with ulcerative colitis developed a fever with rigors and anorexia 10 d after starting oral mesalamine while his colitis was clinically resolving.Testing revealed no infection.A mesalamineinduced fever was considered,and treatment was stopped,which led to spontaneous resolution of the fever.The diagnosis was confirmed by reintroducing the mesalamine.One year later,this side effect was noticed again in the same patient after he was administered topical mesalamine.This reaction to mesalamine seems to be idiosyncratic,and the mechanism that induces fever remains unclear.Fever encountered in the course of a mesalamine treatment in ulcerative colitis must be considered a mesalamine-induced fever when it cannot be explained by the disease activity,an associated extraintestinal manifestation,or an infectious etiology.展开更多
Metastatic pancreatic cancer(MPC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies, known to be chemo-resistant and have been recently considered resistant to some targeted therapies(TT). Erlotinib combined to gemcitabine i...Metastatic pancreatic cancer(MPC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies, known to be chemo-resistant and have been recently considered resistant to some targeted therapies(TT). Erlotinib combined to gemcitabine is the only targeted therapy that showed an overall survival benefit in MPC. New targets and therapeutic approaches, based on new-TT, are actually being evaluated in MPC going from immunotherapy, epigenetics, tumor suppressor gene and oncogenes to stromal matrix regulators. We aim in this paper to present the major causes rendering MPC an untargetable malignancy and to focus on the new therapeutic modalities based on TT in MPC.展开更多
Immune checkpoint inhibitors represent revolutionary anti-cancer agents, being rapidly approved in different malignancies and settings. Gastrointestinal(GI) cancers represent a wide variety of tumors with specific cha...Immune checkpoint inhibitors represent revolutionary anti-cancer agents, being rapidly approved in different malignancies and settings. Gastrointestinal(GI) cancers represent a wide variety of tumors with specific characteristics and different responses to various therapeutic alternatives; while some are chemosensitive others are chemo-resistant and only respond to more aggressive cytotoxic regimens, targeted therapies or a combination of both. Preliminary results of immune checkpoint inhibitors in some GI cancers are promising, namely in hepatocellular carcinoma, anal cancers and microsatellite instability high colorectal cancers. An impressive instead of a impressive number of immune checkpoint inhibitors are being evaluated in different indications in GI cancers as single agents or in combination with other agents. We reported in this paper ongoing and published trials evaluating immune checkpoint inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma and biliary tract cancers, esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, colorectal and anal cancers and we discussed the future perspectives of these agents in GI cancers.展开更多
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) is a rare tumour that mainly metastasizes in lymph nodes,bones,lungs and liver.Colorectal metastases of NPC are extremely rare phenomenon and associated with a poor prognosis.We reported ...Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) is a rare tumour that mainly metastasizes in lymph nodes,bones,lungs and liver.Colorectal metastases of NPC are extremely rare phenomenon and associated with a poor prognosis.We reported here a case of NPC with rectal metastasis,we discussed the treatment modalities and the prognosis after reviewing the similar cases described in the literature.展开更多
Theranostics are one of the practical aspects of personalized medicine.This concept was designed to describe a material combining diagnosis,treatment and follow up of a disease.It evolved and included molecular target...Theranostics are one of the practical aspects of personalized medicine.This concept was designed to describe a material combining diagnosis,treatment and follow up of a disease.It evolved and included molecular targeting and nanotechnologies that incorporate both diagnosis and therapeutics.In this editorial,we are presenting briefly the concept and evolution of theranostics,highlighting many applications of theranostics in daily practice and discussing future perspectives and aspects of this model in gastrointestincal cancers.展开更多
Beside its poor prognosis and its late diagnosis, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most painful malignancies. Optimal management of pain in this cancer represents a real challenge for the oncologist whose objectiv...Beside its poor prognosis and its late diagnosis, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most painful malignancies. Optimal management of pain in this cancer represents a real challenge for the oncologist whose objective is to ensure a better quality of life to his patients. We aimed in this paper to review all the treatment modalities incriminated in the management of pain in pancreatic cancer going from painkillers, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and interventional techniques to agents under investigation and alternative medicine. Although specific guidelines and recommendations for pain management in pancreatic cancer are still absent, we present all the possible pain treatments, with a progression from medical multimodal treatment to radiotherapy and chemotherapy then interventional techniques in case of resistance. In addition, alternative methods such as acupuncture and hypnosis can be added at any stage and seems to contribute to pain relief.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Knee and hip osteoarthritis affects millions of people around the world and is expected to rise even more in frequency as the population ages.Joint arthroplasty is the surgical management of choice in these articulations.Heterotopic ossi-fication and radiolucent lines formation are two frequent problems faced in hip and knee replacements respectively.Some studies show that the usage of pulsed lavage may prevent their formation.AIM To compare pulsed lavage to standard lavage in joint arthroplasty.METHODS PubMed,Cochrane,and Google Scholar(page 1-20)were searched till December 2023.Only comparative studies were included.The clinical outcomes evaluated were the heterotopic ossification formation in hip replacements,radiolucent lines formation,and functional knee scores in knee replacements.RESULTS Four studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis.Pulsed lavage was shown to reduce the formation of radiolucent lines(P=0.001).However,no difference was seen in the remaining outcomes CONCLUSION Pulsed lavage reduced the formation of radiolucent lines in knee replacements.No difference was seen in the remaining outcomes.Furthermore,the clinical significance of these radiolucent lines is poorly understood.Better conducted randomized controlled studies and cost-effectivity studies are needed to reinforce these findings.
文摘Objective:Bladder cancer(BC)is a significant public health concern in the Middle East and North Africa,but the epidemiology and clinicopathology of the disease and contributors to high mortality in this region remain poorly understood.The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the epidemiological features of BC in the Arab world and compare them to those in Western countries in order to improve the management of this disease.Methods:An extensive electronic search of the PubMed/PMC and Cochrane Library databases was conducted to identify all articles published until May 2022,following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.A total of 95 articles were included in the final analysis after title,abstract,and full-text screening,with additional data obtained from the GLOBOCAN and WHO 2020 databases.
文摘BACKGROUND As a consequence of the economic crisis,the sociopolitical instability and the advent of the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic,nested challenges faced the Lebanese healthcare system.These have resulted in critical shortages of essential resources,including medications vital for oncologic patients.AIM To assess the ramifications of the ongoing economic crisis on oncology patient care focusing on our outpatient oncology department.METHODS A questionnaire was distributed during the month of February 2022 to oncology patients in Hôtel Dieu de France University Hospital in Beirut during their outpatient therapy.The primary objective was to assess the far-reaching impact of the economic crisis on patient care and the resulting psychological implications.RESULTS Among 182 interviewed patients,31.87%experienced treatment interruption mainly due to acute drug shortages.Despite 87.91%of the patients benefiting from third-party coverage,69.60%had to self-pay for their medications leading to 69.78%of patients perceiving that healthcare was more difficult to access after 2020.Psychologically,one-third of the patients exhibited symptoms of anxiety and/or depression,with 7 patients reporting suicidal ideations.Notably,37.93%of patients who interrupted cancer treatment reported a history of comorbidities,and 89.66%who altered their treatment cited financial difficulties.CONCLUSION Lebanese cancer patients face complex challenges spanning economic,healthcare,and psychological realms.Income inequalities exacerbated by the economic crisis hindered healthcare access.
文摘Stem cells are present in the tissues and organs and remain in a quiescent and undifferentiated state until it is physiologically necessary to produce new descendant cells.Due to their multipotency property,mesenchymal stem cells have attracted considerable attention worldwide due to their immunomodulation and therapeutic function in tissue regeneration.Stem cells secrete components such as paracrine factors,extracellular vesicles,and exosomes which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory,anti-aging,reconstruction and wound healing potentials in many in vitro and in vivo models.The pluripotency and immunomodulatory features of stem cells could potentially be an effective tool in cell therapy and tissue repair.Aging affects the capacity for self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells,decreasing the potential for regeneration and the loss of optimal functions in organisms over time.Current progress in the field of cellular therapy and regenerative medicine has facilitated the evolution of particular guidelines and quality control approaches,which eventually lead to clinical trials.Cell therapy could potentially be one of the most promising therapies to control aging due to the fact that single stem cell transplantation can regenerate or substitute the injured tissue.To understand the involvement of stem cells not only in tissue maintenance and disease but also in the control of aging it is important to know and identify their properties,functions,and regulation in vivo,which are addressed in this review.
文摘BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)is associated with the development of gastrointestinal disorders ranging from gastritis to gastric cancer.The evidence of the association between metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis(MASH)and H.pylori infection in the literature is scarce.Therefore,we aim to evaluate the risk of developing MASH in patients who have had a diagnosis of H.pylori infection independently of any confounding variables.AIM To evaluate the risk of developing MASH in patients who have had a diagnosis of H.pylori infection.METHODS This study used a validated multicenter research database of over 360 hospitals across 26 healthcare systems across the United States from 1999 to 2022.Multivariate regression analysis assessed the risk of developing MASH,adjusting for confounders including H.pylori infection,obesity,type 2 diabetes,hypertension,dyslipidemia,and male gender.A two-sided P value<0.05 was considered as statistically significant,and all statistical analyses were performed using R version 4.0.2(R Foundation for Statistical Computing,Vienna,Austria,2008).RESULTS A total of 79476132 individuals were screened in the database and 69232620 were selected in the final analysis after accounting for inclusion and exclusion criteria.Smokers(14.30%),patients with hyperlipidemia(70.35%),hypertension(73.86%),diabetes mellitus type 2(56.46%),and obese patients(58.15%)were more common in patients with MASH compared to control.Using a multivariate regression analysis,the risk of MASH was increased in diabetics[odds ratio(OR):3.55;95%CI:3.48-3.62],obese(OR:5.93;95%CI:5.81-6.04),males(OR:1.49;95%CI:1.46-1.52),individuals with hyperlipidemia(OR:2.43;95%CI:2.38-2.49)and H.pylori infection(OR:2.51;95%CI:2.31-2.73).CONCLUSION This is the largest population-based study in the United States illustrating an increased prevalence and odds of developing MASH in patients with H.pylori infection after adjusting for risk factors.
文摘Urothelial Carcinoma (UC) is one of the most frequent cancers worldwide. Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT) is a standard treatment in the disease’s early stages, with bladder perforation being a possible and classical complication. However, extravesical tumor seeding resulting from perforation is a rare phenomenon. We hereby report the case of a 76-year-old man with a history of smoking diagnosed with high-grade T1 urothelial carcinoma. TURBT was performed and bladder perforation occurred during the procedure. Radical cystectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy failed to reveal an invasive tumor. However, the patient experienced peritoneal recurrence with liver metastasis 3 years following the operation. This case left physician wondering whether the bladder perforation and the resulting tumor seeding are the cause behind the late peritoneal recurrence of an early-stage urothelial carcinoma.
文摘BACKGROUND Gallstone ileus following one anastomosis gastric bypass(OAGB)is an exceptionally rare complication.The presented case report aims to highlight the unique occurrence of this condition and its surgical management.Understanding the clinical presentation,diagnostic challenges and successful surgical inter-vention in such cases is crucial for healthcare professionals involved in bariatric surgery.CASE SUMMARY We present a case report of gallstone ileus following OAGB and discuss its diagnosis and surgical management.A 66-year-old female with a history of OAGB presented to the emergency room with symptoms of small bowel obstru-ction.Computed tomography scan revealed a gallstone impacted in the distal ileum,causing obstruction.The patient underwent a laparoscopically assisted enterolithotomy,during which the gallstone was extracted and the enterotomy was closed.The patient had an uneventful recovery and was dis-charged on postoperative day four.CONCLUSION Gallstone ileus should be considered as a possible complication after OAGB,and prompt surgical intervention is usually required for its management.This case report contributes to the limited existing literature,providing insights into the management of this uncommon complication.
文摘Advanced gastric cancer(a GC), not amenable to curative surgery, is still a burdensome illness tormenting afflicted patients and their healthcare providers. Whereas combination chemotherapy has been shown to improve survival and tumor related symptoms in the frontline setting, second-line therapy(SLT) is subject to much debate in the scientific community, mainly because of the debilitating effects of GC, which would impede the administration of cytotoxic therapy. Recent data has provided sufficient evidence for the safe use of SLT in patients with an adequate performance status. Taxanes, Irinotecan and even some Fluoropyrimidine analogs were found to provide a survival advantage in this subset of patients. Most importantly, quality of life measures were also improved through the use of adequate therapy. Even more pertinent were the findings involving antiangiogenic agents, which would add measurable improvements without significantly jeopardizing the patients' well-being. Further lines of therapy are cause for much more debate nowadays, but specific targeted agents have shown considerable promise in this context. We herein review noteworthy published data involving the use of additional lines of the therapy after failure of standard frontline therapies in patients with a GC.
文摘Pancreatic cancer is one of the most devastating solid tumors, and it remains one of the most difficult to treat. The treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC) is systemic, based on chemotherapy or best supportive care, depending on the performance status of the patient. Two chemotherapeutical regimens have produced substantial benefits in the treatment of MPC: gemcitabine in 1997; and FOLFIRIONOX in 2011. FOLFIRINOX improved the natural history of MPC, with overall survival (OS) of 11.1 mo. Nab-paclitaxel associated with gemcitabine is a newly approved regimen for MPC, with a median OS of 8.6 mo. Despite multiple trials, this targeted therapy was not efficient in the treatment of MPC. Many new molecules targeting the proliferation and survival pathways, immune response, oncofetal signaling and the epigenetic changes are currently undergoing phase I and II trials for the treatment of MPC, with many promising results.
文摘Anal cancers(AC)are relatively rare tumors.Their incidence is increasing,particularly among men who have sex with other men due to widespread infection by human papilloma virus.The majority of anal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas,and they are treated according to stage.In local and locally advanced AC,concomitant chemoradiation therapy based on mitomycin C and 5-Fluorouracil(5-FU)is the current best treatment,while metastatic AC,chemotherapy with 5-FU and cisplatin remains the gold standard.There are no indications for induction or maintenance therapies in locally advanced tumors.Many novel strategies,such as targeted therapies,vaccination,immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy are in clinical trials for the treatment of AC,with promising results in some indications.
文摘Alzheimer's disease(AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder presenting as progressive cognitive decline with dementia that does not, to this day, benefit from any disease-modifying drug. Multiple etiologic pathways have been explored and demonstrate promising solutions. For example, iron ion chelators, such as deferoxamine, are a potential therapeutic solution around which future studies are being directed. Another promising domain is related to thrombin inhibitors. In this minireview, a common pathophysiological pathway is suggested for the pathogenesis of AD to prove that all these mechanisms converge onto the same cascade of neuroinflammatory events. This common pathway is initiated by the presence of vascular risk factors that induce brain tissue hypoxia, which leads to endothelial cell activation. However, the ensuing hypoxia stimulates the production and release of reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory proteins. Furthermore, the endothelial activation may become excessive and dysfunctional in predisposed individuals, leading to thrombin activation and iron ion decompartmentalization. The oxidative stress that results from these modifications in the neurovascular unit will eventually lead to neuronal and glial cell death, ultimately leading to the development of AD. Hence, future research in this field should focus on conducting trials with combinations of potentially efficient treatments, such as the combination of intranasal deferoxamine and direct thrombin inhibitors.
文摘Biliary tract cancers(BTCs) are highly fatal malignancies, which are often diagnosed at an advanced stage and have relatively poor prognosis.The treatment of patients with advanced BTC is systemic, based on chemotherapy or best supportive care, depending on their performance status.Despite clinical trials studyingmany chemotherapeutic regimens and targeted therapies for the treatment of BTC, the standard of care for advanced BTC remains the combination of gemcitabine with cisplatin.Many new molecules targeting proliferation and survival pathways, the immune response and angiogenesis are currently undergoing phase Ⅰ and Ⅱ trials for the treatment of advanced BTC with promising results.
文摘Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers,ranking fourth among cancer-related deaths. Despite all the major molecular advances and treatment breakthroughs, mainly targeted therapies, the cornerstone treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer(m PC) remains cytotoxic chemotherapy. In 2016, more than 40 years after the introduction of gemcitabine in the management of m PC, the best choice for first-line treatment has not yet been fully elucidated. Two main strategies have been adopted to enhance treatment efficacy. The first strategy is based on combining non-cross resistant drugs, while the second option includes the development of newer generations of chemotherapy. More recently, two new regimens, FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel(GNP), have both been shown to improve overall survival in comparison with gemcitabine alone, at the cost of increased toxicity. Therefore, the best choice for first line therapy is a matter of debate. For some authors, FOLFIRINOX should be the first choice in patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score(0-1) given its lower hazard ratio. However, others do not share this opinion. In this paper, we review the main comparison points between FOLFIRINOX and GNP. We analyze the two pivotal trials to determine the similarities and differences in study design. In addition, we compare the toxicity profile of the two regimens as well as the impact on quality of life. Finally, we present studies revealing real life experiences and review the advantages and disadvantages of possible second-line therapies including their cost effectiveness.
文摘Ampullary carcinoma(AC) is a rare gastrointestinal tumor without clear treatment recommendations.The management of this tumor is usually extrapolated from the treatment of pancreatic,biliary duct and intestinal cancers.Few papers have studied the AC as an independent entity and yet succombs to several limitations.These studies were retrospective single institutional experiences with limited sample sizes recruited over a long period of time.Unlike metastatic ACs where chemotherapy is the only recommended option,localized AC once excised may be approached by either chemotherapy alone or concomitant chemoradiation therapy.In this review,we report the overall survival and recurrence factors of more than 1000 patients from all the studies treating exclusively ACs.We also review the medical treatment of this tumor and conclude to the necessity of multi-institutional randomized controlled studies for AC exclusively.
文摘Adverse reactions to mesalamine,a treatment used to induce and maintain remission in inflammatory bowel diseases,particularly ulcerative colitis,have been described in the literature as case reports.This case illustrates an unusual adverse reaction.Our patient developed an isolated fever of unexplained etiology,which was found to be related to mesalamine treatment.A 22-year-old patient diagnosed with ulcerative colitis developed a fever with rigors and anorexia 10 d after starting oral mesalamine while his colitis was clinically resolving.Testing revealed no infection.A mesalamineinduced fever was considered,and treatment was stopped,which led to spontaneous resolution of the fever.The diagnosis was confirmed by reintroducing the mesalamine.One year later,this side effect was noticed again in the same patient after he was administered topical mesalamine.This reaction to mesalamine seems to be idiosyncratic,and the mechanism that induces fever remains unclear.Fever encountered in the course of a mesalamine treatment in ulcerative colitis must be considered a mesalamine-induced fever when it cannot be explained by the disease activity,an associated extraintestinal manifestation,or an infectious etiology.
文摘Metastatic pancreatic cancer(MPC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies, known to be chemo-resistant and have been recently considered resistant to some targeted therapies(TT). Erlotinib combined to gemcitabine is the only targeted therapy that showed an overall survival benefit in MPC. New targets and therapeutic approaches, based on new-TT, are actually being evaluated in MPC going from immunotherapy, epigenetics, tumor suppressor gene and oncogenes to stromal matrix regulators. We aim in this paper to present the major causes rendering MPC an untargetable malignancy and to focus on the new therapeutic modalities based on TT in MPC.
文摘Immune checkpoint inhibitors represent revolutionary anti-cancer agents, being rapidly approved in different malignancies and settings. Gastrointestinal(GI) cancers represent a wide variety of tumors with specific characteristics and different responses to various therapeutic alternatives; while some are chemosensitive others are chemo-resistant and only respond to more aggressive cytotoxic regimens, targeted therapies or a combination of both. Preliminary results of immune checkpoint inhibitors in some GI cancers are promising, namely in hepatocellular carcinoma, anal cancers and microsatellite instability high colorectal cancers. An impressive instead of a impressive number of immune checkpoint inhibitors are being evaluated in different indications in GI cancers as single agents or in combination with other agents. We reported in this paper ongoing and published trials evaluating immune checkpoint inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma and biliary tract cancers, esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, colorectal and anal cancers and we discussed the future perspectives of these agents in GI cancers.
文摘Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) is a rare tumour that mainly metastasizes in lymph nodes,bones,lungs and liver.Colorectal metastases of NPC are extremely rare phenomenon and associated with a poor prognosis.We reported here a case of NPC with rectal metastasis,we discussed the treatment modalities and the prognosis after reviewing the similar cases described in the literature.
文摘Theranostics are one of the practical aspects of personalized medicine.This concept was designed to describe a material combining diagnosis,treatment and follow up of a disease.It evolved and included molecular targeting and nanotechnologies that incorporate both diagnosis and therapeutics.In this editorial,we are presenting briefly the concept and evolution of theranostics,highlighting many applications of theranostics in daily practice and discussing future perspectives and aspects of this model in gastrointestincal cancers.
文摘Beside its poor prognosis and its late diagnosis, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most painful malignancies. Optimal management of pain in this cancer represents a real challenge for the oncologist whose objective is to ensure a better quality of life to his patients. We aimed in this paper to review all the treatment modalities incriminated in the management of pain in pancreatic cancer going from painkillers, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and interventional techniques to agents under investigation and alternative medicine. Although specific guidelines and recommendations for pain management in pancreatic cancer are still absent, we present all the possible pain treatments, with a progression from medical multimodal treatment to radiotherapy and chemotherapy then interventional techniques in case of resistance. In addition, alternative methods such as acupuncture and hypnosis can be added at any stage and seems to contribute to pain relief.
