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Background: Heart failure, stroke and death are major dangers associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), a common abnormal heart rhythm. Having a gastrointestinal (GI) procedure puts patients at risk for developing AF, especially after large abdominal surgery. Although earlier research has shown a possible connection between postoperative AF and higher mortality, the exact nature of this interaction is yet uncertain. Methods: To investigate the relationship between AF and death after GI procedures, this research carried out a thorough meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled studies or clinical trials. Finding relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) required a comprehensive search across many databases. Studies involving GI surgery patients with postoperative AF and mortality outcomes were the main focus of the inclusion criteria. We followed PRISMA and Cochrane Collaboration protocols for data extraction and quality assessment, respectively. Results: After GI surgery, there was no statistically significant difference in mortality between the AF and non-AF groups, according to an analysis of the available trials (p = 0.97). The mortality odds ratio (OR) was 1.03 (95% CI [0.24, 4.41]), suggesting that there was no significant correlation. Nevertheless, there was significant heterogeneity throughout the trials, which calls for careful interpretation. Conclusion: Despite the lack of a significant link between AF and death after GI surgery in our study, contradictory data from other research highlight the intricacy of this relationship. Discrepancies may arise from variations in patient demographics, research methodology and procedural problems. These results emphasize the necessity for additional extensive and varied studies to fully clarify the role of AF in postoperative mortality in relation to GI procedures. Comprehending the subtleties of this correlation might enhance future patient outcomes and contribute to evidence-based therapeutic decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of intestinal endometriosis has been estimated to be between 3% and 37% of all endometriosis cases. Cases of intestinal occlusion due to endometriosis foci on the small bowel and on the large bowel are even rarer, with a reported prevalence of 0.1–0.7%. The aim of this literature review was to summarize the available published evidence on the diagnosis, characteristics, and management of intestinal occlusion due to endometriosis. The search on PubMed retrieved 295 records, of which 158 were rejected following a review of the title and abstract. After reviewing the full text, 97 studies met the Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes, and Study (PICOS) criteria and were included in the analysis. The total number of patients with bowel occlusion due to endometriosis included in the studies was 107. The occlusive endometrial foci were localized on the ileum in 38.3% of the cases, on the rectosigmoid in 34.5% of the cases, at the ileocecal junction and the appendix in 14.9% of the cases, and at the rectum in 10.2% of the cases. Only one case reported large bowel obstruction by endometriosis of the hepatic flexure of the colon extending to the transverse colon (0.9%), and in one case the obstruction was caused by an omental giant endometrioid cyst compressing the intestines. We identified six cases of postmenopausal females with acute bowel obstruction due to endometriosis. Malignant degeneration of endometriosis was also identified as a cause of intestinal occlusion. The mechanisms of obstruction include the presence of a mass in the lumen of the intestine or in the wall of the intestine, extrinsic compression, adhesions, or intussusception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer continues to represent a global health concern, imposing an ongoing need to research for better treatment alternatives. In this context, nanomedicine seems to be the solution to existing problems, bringing unprecedented results in various biomedical applications, including cancer therapy, diagnosing, and imaging. As numerous studies have uncovered the advantageous properties of various nanoscale metals, this review aims to present metal-based nanoparticles that are most frequently employed for cancer applications. This paper follows the description of relevant nanoparticles made of metals, metal derivatives, hybrids, and alloys, further discussing in more detail their potential applications in cancer management, ranging from the delivery of chemotherapeutics, vaccines, and genes to ablative hyperthermia therapies and theranostic platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer represents one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, imposing an urgent need to develop more efficient treatment alternatives. In this respect, much attention has been drawn from conventional cancer treatments to more modern approaches, such as the use of nanotechnology. Extensive research has been done for designing innovative nanoparticles able to specifically target tumor cells and ensure the controlled release of anticancer agents. To avoid the potential toxicity of synthetic materials, natural nanoparticles started to attract increasing scientific interest. In this context, this paper aims to review the most important natural nanoparticles used as active ingredients (e.g., polyphenols, polysaccharides, proteins, and sterol-like compounds) or as carriers (e.g., proteins, polysaccharides, viral nanoparticles, and exosomes) of various anticancer moieties, focusing on their recent applications in treating diverse malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compartment syndrome occurs when increased pressure inside a closed anatomical space compromises tissue perfusion. The sudden increase in pressure inside these spaces requires rapid decompression by means of surgical intervention. In the case of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS), surgical decompression consists of a laparostomy. The aim of this review is to identify the landmarks and indications for the appropriate moment to perform decompression laparotomy in patients with ACS based on available published data. A targeted literature review was conducted on indications for decompression laparotomy in ACS. The search was focused on three conditions characterized by a high ACS prevalence, namely acute pancreatitis, ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and severe burns. There is still a debate around the clinical characteristics which require surgical intervention in ACS. According to the limited data published from observational studies, laparotomy is usually performed when intra-abdominal pressure reaches values ranging from 25 to 36 mmHg on average in the case of acute pancreatitis. In cases of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, there is a higher urgency to perform decompression laparotomy for ACS due to the possibility of continuous hemorrhage. The most conflicting recommendations on whether surgical treatment should be delayed in favor of other non-surgical interventions come from studies involving patients with severe burns. The results of the review must be interpreted in the context of the limited available robust data from observational studies and clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer represents one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, imposing an urgent need to develop more efficient treatment alternatives. In this respect, much attention has been drawn from conventional cancer treatments to more modern approaches, such as the use of nanotechnology. Extensive research has been done for designing innovative nanoparticles able to specifically target tumor cells and ensure the controlled release of anticancer agents. To avoid the potential toxicity of synthetic materials, natural nanoparticles started to attract increasing scientific interest. In this context, this paper aims to review the most important natural nanoparticles used as active ingredients (e.g., polyphenols, polysaccharides, proteins, and sterol-like compounds) or as carriers (e.g., proteins, polysaccharides, viral nanoparticles, and exosomes) of various anticancer moieties, focusing on their recent applications in treating diverse malignancies.