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Digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) has emerged as a groundbreaking technology in molecular biology and diagnostics, offering exceptional precision and sensitivity in nucleic acid detection and quantification. This review highlights the core principles and transformative potential of dPCR, particularly in infectious disease diagnostics and environmental surveillance. Emphasizing its evolution from traditional PCR, dPCR provides accurate absolute quantification of target nucleic acids through advanced partitioning techniques. The review addresses the significant impact of dPCR in sepsis diagnosis and management, showcasing its superior sensitivity and specificity in early pathogen detection and identification of drug-resistant genes. Despite its advantages, challenges such as optimization of experimental conditions, standardization of data analysis workflows, and high costs are discussed. Furthermore, we compare various commercially available dPCR platforms, detailing their features and applications in clinical and research settings. Additionally, the review explores dPCR's role in water microbiology, particularly in wastewater surveillance and monitoring of waterborne pathogens, underscoring its importance in public health protection. In conclusion, future prospects of dPCR, including methodological optimization, integration with innovative technologies, and expansion into new sectors like metagenomics, are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review explores the emerging role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in modulating immune system function and their application in novel cancer immunotherapy strategies, with a focus on colorectal cancer (CRC). EVs, as carriers of bioactive molecules, have shown potential in enhancing immune responses and overcoming the limitations of traditional therapies. We discuss the biogenesis, types, and functional roles of immune cell-derived EVs, their interactions with cancer cells, and their implications in antitumor immunity. Challenges such as tumor heterogeneity and immune evasion are addressed, alongside the promising therapeutic prospects of EV-based strategies. This comprehensive analysis underscores the transformative potential of EVs in cancer treatment paradigms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to systematically assess the efficacy of parenteral and oral antibiotic prophylaxis compared to parenteral-only prophylaxis for the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer resection. Published and unpublished randomized clinical trials comparing the use of oral and parenteral prophylactic antibiotics vs. parenteral-only antibiotics in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery were collected searching electronic databases (MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, SCIENCE CITATION INDEX EXPANDED) without limits of date, language, or any other search filter. The outcomes included SSIs and other infectious and noninfectious postoperative complications. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomized trials (RoB 2). A total of six studies involving 2252 patients were finally included, with 1126 cases in the oral and parenteral group and 1126 cases in the parenteral-only group. Meta-analysis results showed a statistically significant reduction of SSIs (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.72; p < 0.0001) and anastomotic leakage (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.91; p = 0.02) in the group of patients receiving oral antibiotics in addition to intravenous (IV) antibiotics compared to IV alone. Our meta-analysis shows that a combination of oral antibiotics and intravenous antibiotics significantly lowers the incidence of SSI compared with intravenous antibiotics alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): To conduct a preliminary investigation into the relationship between specific SNP variants, type II inflammation, and the effectiveness of dupilumab therapy and surgery in patients with CRS., Methods: In this prospective study, 48 subjects were enrolled, comprising 32 CRS patients and 16 healthy controls. The CRS patients were subjected to either dupilumab therapy or endoscopic surgery according to EPOS guidelines. SNP variants were identified using the TaqMan SNP genotyping technique. The identified SNP profiles were compared between the control group and CRS patients, and their potential influence on treatment outcomes was evaluated. Treatment responses were assessed based on symptom scores, such as SS-I, SNOT-22, disease progression using the NPS findings, and SNP profiles at a 6-month follow-up. The primary measures included the Nasal Polyp Score, Smell Identification Test (SIT) score, and SNOT-22 outcomes., Results: Dupilumab therapy and surgery significantly decreased NPS, with the last showing superior results. However, dupilumab therapy resulted in a significantly improved SIT score. Significant differences were observed in SNP profiles, particularly with rs1800629 (TNFA), rs2856838 (IL1a), rs17561 (IL1a), and rs1805011 (IL4R). In particular, the expression of rs2856838 and rs1805011 variants in the dupilumab group was associated with significantly better SIT and SNOT-22 outcomes than non-expressors. Also, the surgery group patients expressing the rs2856838 variant reported significant improvements in SNOT-22 scores., Conclusion: These preliminary findings suggest that SNP genotypes may guide personalized treatment strategies for CRS. Further larger prospective studies are required to confirm these initial observations., Level of Evidence: 2 Laryngoscope, 2024., (© 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

The evolution of anticoagulation therapy, from vitamin K antagonists to the advent of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) almost two decades ago, marks significant progress. Despite improved safety demonstrated in pivotal trials and post-marketing observations, persistent concerns exist, particularly regarding bleeding risk and the absence of therapeutic indications in specific subgroups or clinical contexts. Factor XI (FXI) has recently emerged as a pivotal contributor to intraluminal thrombus formation and growth, playing a limited role in sealing vessel wall injuries. Inhibiting FXI presents an opportunity to decouple thrombosis from haemostasis, addressing concerns related to bleeding events while safeguarding against thromboembolic events. Notably, FXI inhibition holds promise for patients with end-stage renal disease or cancer, where clear indications for DOACs are currently lacking. Various compounds have undergone design, testing, and progression to phase 2 clinical trials, demonstrating a generally favourable safety and tolerability profile. However, validation through large-scale phase 3 trials with sufficient power to assess both safety and efficacy outcomes is needed. This review comprehensively examines FXI inhibitors, delving into individual classes, exploring their pharmacological properties, evaluating the latest evidence from randomized trials, and offering insights into future perspectives., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Introduction: Hernia repair using prosthetic mesh materials has become the preferred method of repair, as the recurrence rates are much lower than with conventional repair techniques. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare open small- and medium-sized abdominal wall hernia repair with flat patch mesh versus three-dimensional mesh (plug) in terms of recurrence and complication rates., Methods: The medical records of 300 patients who underwent abdominal wall hernia repair using flat patch mesh versus three-dimensional mesh between January 2010 to December 2015 were reviewed. All patients were followed up after 1 month, 3 month and 1 year. The rate of recurrence, and short-term postoperative complications such as incidence of Surgical Site Infections (SSIs), hematoma and seroma were evaluated., Results: Short-term follow-up data were available for all patients. The first group was composed of 150 patients that were treated with a flat polypropylene mesh (68% presened umbilical hernia and 32% presented epigastric hernia). The second group was composed of 150 patients that were treated with a three-dimensional polypropylene mesh (60% presented umbilical hernia and 40% presented epigastric hernia). The majority of postoperative (1-month) complications were wound related, representing superficial SSI or seroma. Our results showed a statistically significant reduction of SSIs [3 (2%) vs 13 (8.6%); p = 0.038] and seroma [2 (1.3%) vs 12 (8%); p = 0.030] in the group of patients treated with plugs compared to flat-mesh group. There was no statistically significant difference in hernia recurrences., Discussion: Usage three-dimensional mesh for open small- and medium-sized umbilical or epigastric hernia repair represents a feasible and safe technique that significantly lowers the incidence of complications such as SSIs and seroma. Furthermore, compared to flat patch mesh, plugs displayed non-inferiority in terms recurrence. Further, well-designed clinical trials could be realized to investigate possible applications of plugs in treatment of small- and medium-sized umbilical and epigastric hernias., Key Words: Mesh, Umbilical Hernia.