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Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an adenocarcinoma originating from the epithelial cells of the bile ducts/hepatocytes or peribiliary glands. There are three types of cholangiocarcinoma: intrahepatic, perihilar and distal. CCA represents approximately 3% of the gastrointestinal malignancies. The incidence of CCA is higher in regions of the Eastern world compared to the Western countries. There are multiple risk factors associated with cholangiocarcinoma such as liver fluke, primary sclerosing cholangitis, chronic hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Endoscopy plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of cholangiocarcinoma. The main endoscopic methods used for diagnosis, biliary drainage and delivering intrabiliary local therapies are endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic ultrasound. The purpose of this review is to analyze the current data found in literature about cholangiocarcinoma, with a focus on the actual diagnostic tools and endoscopic management options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXenes, a family of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides based on earth-abundant constituents, are prospective candidates for energy conversion applications, including photocatalysis. While the activity of individual MXenes towards various photocatalytic processes is still debatable, these materials were proved to be excellent co-catalysts, accelerating the charge separation and suppressing the exciton recombination. Titanium-containing MXenes are well compatible with the classical TiO2 photocatalyst. The TiO2 component can be directly grown on MXene sheets by in situ oxidation, representing a mainstream processing approach for such composites. In this study, an essentially different approach has been implemented: a series of TiO2–MXene composite materials with controlled composition and both reference end members were prepared, involving two different strategies for mixing sol–gel-derived TiO2 nanopowder with the Ti3C2Tx component, which was obtained by HF etching of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis products containing modified MAX phase Ti3C2Alz (z > 1) with nominal aluminium excess. The prospects of such composites for the degradation of organic pollutants under simulated solar light, using benzene as a model system, were demonstrated and analysed in combination with their structural, microstructural and optical properties. A notable photocatalytic activity of bare MXene under near infrared light was discovered, suggesting further prospects for light-to-energy harvesting spanning from UV-A to NIR and applications in biomedical imaging and sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this clinical case, we present the determination of a rectal infection with HPV, after repeated peno-rectal sexual intercourse, for several years, in a 53-year-old woman. Specialist examinations established the existence of a dysplasia of the rectal mucosa, due to HPV infection, genotypes 16 and 51, both viral strains with high-risk oncogenic potential. It has to be mentioned that both these genotypes have a significant prognostic value, because a third of the precancerous mucosal lesions are associated with these viral variants, proven to be responsible for the increased level of tissular viral load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correction for 'Photocatalytic removal of benzene over Ti3C2Tx MXene and TiO2–MXene composite materials under solar and NIR irradiation' by Sergii A. Sergiienko et al., J. Mater. Chem. C, 2022, 10, 626–639, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1TC03826E. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 28-year-old female who developed gastric fistulas following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, successfully managed using Padlock Clips. Topics discussed include the clinical challenges of post-sleeve gastrectomy complications, the effectiveness of Padlock Clips in fistula closure, and the role of conservative treatment in facilitating recovery without surgical intervention.

Introduction. Inflammatory bowel diseases and intestinal tuberculosis (TB) have similar clinical and endoscopic appearance, one of the main differences between those two entities being the presence of caseation necrosis as seen by the histopathological examination, which is specifically for TB. Case presentation. 35-year-old woman presented to our hospital for significant weight loss and mild anemia. Endoscopy and colonoscopy were both performed. Colonoscopy revealed multiple ulcers and important edema affecting the transverse colon, which made the colonoscope advancement impossible. Biopsies were taken from the affected segment and further investigations were made in order to exclude any enteral infections. We suspected Chron's disease so screening tests for detecting TB, HIV infections and viral chronic hepatitis were also performed in order to initiate biological treatment. Tests results came negative for any systemic or enteral infections, but QuantiFERON TB Gold test was inconclusive. As the chest-X ray revealed no lesions and the biopsy revealed chronic granulomatous colitis without caseation necrosis we decided to repeat the test, which came back negative. We started anti-TNF alpha therapy with infliximab and further evolution of the disease was favorable. Two months after the treatment initiation the patient presented to the emergency room with fever, abdominal pain and ascites fluid. CT scan was performed and multiple abscesses were also identified. The patient underwent surgery with right ileo-colectomy and ileostomy. Fragments were recovered and sent for histopathological examination. This time huge granulomas with caseation necrosis were identified, suggesting intestinal TB. Discussions. Intestinal TB represents 12% of the extra-pulmonary TB cases and the prevalence around the world is about 1-3%. From those cases, TB most frequently affects the ileo-cecum site, due to several factors such as physiological stasis, narrow lumen, the low activity of the digestion and the high prevalence of lymphoid tissue. On the other hand, isolated TB of the colon is rarely seen and represents almost 11% of all intestinal TB cases. Conclusions. Romania represents an endemic country for TB so detailed differential diagnosis should be made, especially with inflammatory bowel disease, as their treatment, more specifically biological therapy could lead to important complications, such as abscesses as it was our patient's case. Unfortunately, in this situation if it wasn't for the biological therapy that led to the aggravation of the TB, the disease would be treated as an inflammatory bowel disease and the diagnosis would be delayed even more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Distinguishing Crohn's disease (CD) and intestinal tubeculosis (ITB) may represent a remarkable clinical dilemma in Romania, an endemic country for tuberculosis which has experienced at the same time a significant increase in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease. Case presentation. A 22 years-old female presented in our unit for abdominal pain, diarrhea (3-4 stools/day) and weight loss (7 kg.) since approximately 9 months ago. Previous investigations from another hospital included an abdominal ultrasound which revealed thickened enteral loops with intensified parietal Doppler signal suggestive of inflammation; fecal calprotectin was extremely elevated (>20.000 ug/mg). In our unit, we ordered stool tests that were negative for bacterial, viral or parasitic infections. Complete blood count, renal, liver and coagulations tests were within normal limits. We decided to perform colonoscopy; ileocecal valve stenosis was noted due to marked edematous mucosal changes, ulcerations and nodularity. Passage of the endoscope in the terminal ileum was not possible due to the ulcerohypertrophic lesions, but multiple biopsies were taken from the stenotic area. Even though Crohn's disease was highly suspected we decided to perform chest X-ray since intermittent cough and night chills were also noted during hospitalization. Radiographical findings consisted of numerous small nodular opacities up to 3-5mm diameter scattered throughout both lungs highly suggestive of miliary TB. Both sputum culture (intense BAAR reaction), CT scan and biopsies confirmed tuberculosis with extraintestinal manifestations. Our patient is currently under antimycobacterial treatment with favorable clinical outcome. A further follow-up to reassess the ileocecal valve stenosis is expected. Discussions. Intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease have multiple overlapping features in terms of symptoms, radiologic, endoscopic and even histological findings. Misdiagnosis can be a crucial error, since immunosuppressive therapy for CD may favor the spread of tuberculosis and worsens prognosis. There are case reports in the literature with disseminated tuberculosis after anti-TNF therapy for suspected CD. Miliary tuberculosis with extraintestinal manifestations is not frequently encountered in immunocompetent patients. Nevertheless, initial results (including HIV testing and CT scan) did not identify any potential deficiency of the immune system in our patient. Conclusions. Judicious clinical examination merged with radiological, endoscopic and histological findings is of utmost importance in proper distinction between intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease, to a great degree in Romania which is still endemic for the former. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]