Abstract: 2‘-Hydroxycinnamaldehyde (HCA), a natural product isolated from the bark of Cinnamomum cassia, that has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. In this study, we explored whether HCA preconditioning could protect heart against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induced oxidative injury through cytosolic Bcl-2–associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) upregulation. In vivo HCA preconditioning was performed intraperitoneally 50 mg/kg body weight three times/week for 2 weeks before cardiac I/R injury in adult male Wistar rats. Animals were divided into sham control (SHAM), I/R and HCA preconditioning plus I/R (HCA+I/R) groups. We determined left ventricular pressure cardiac hemodynamics, microcirculation, electrocardiogram, infarct size, oxidative stress, western blot, immunohistochemistry and cytokine array assay. HCA pretreatment through BAG3 overexpression inhibited H2O2 induced H9c2 cell death. Cardiac I/R injury enhanced ST segment elevation, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, infarct size, myocardial disruption, tissue edema, erythrocyte accumulation, leukocyte infiltration, reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, 8-isoprostane, caspase 3 mediated apoptosis, 4HNE/GPX4 mediated ferroptosis and fibrosis but decreased microcirculation, cytosolic BAG3 and Beclin-1/LC3 II mediated autophagy in the I/R hearts. HCA preconditioning significantly depressed these oxidative injury by increased cardiac cytosolic BAG3 and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. HCA preconditioning significantly decreased cardiac I/R enhanced mitochondrial fission DRP1 expression. Our data suggest HCA preconditioning can efficiently improve myocardial I/R injury evoked cardiac dysfunction, apoptosis, ferroptosis and mitochondrial fission and autophagy inhibition through cardiac BAG3 and Nrf2/HO-1 upregulation.

Abstract: Background and objective: The Systemic Immune Inflammation Index (SII), a non-invasive bi-omarker utilizing platelet, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts, serves as an objective and pre-dictive indicator for the comprehensive assessment of host immune status and inflammation in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of SII in advanced-stage NSCLC patients. Methods: This analytical observational study with a retrospective cohort design included 65 advanced-stage NSCLC patients who received a mini-mum of three cycles of chemotherapy from January 2020 to December 2022 at Dr. M Djamil Hospital Padang. Survival duration was defined as the period (in months) from the initiation of therapy until the patient either deceased or completed the observation phase, with the last fol-low-up in December 2023. Survival was categorized into two groups: less than one year and equal to or exceeding one year. The optimal SII cut-off values for one-year survival were deter-mined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: The average SII in the group with less than one-year survival was higher compared to the other group (3,414.95 x 109/L vs 1,517.95 x 9/L). The ROC analysis revealed an Area Under the Curve (AUC) value of 0.745 (95% CI 0.62-0.87). The ideal SII cutoff for predicting one-year survival was 1760.00 x 109/L, with a sensitivity of 74% and specificity of 81%. Conclusion: The study's robust findings demonstrate that higher SII values are linked to shorter survival in advanced-stage NSCLC patients. The SII serves as a promising prognostic

Abstract: Abstract Glioblastoma (GB) remains a major challenge owing to its extremely aggressive nature and resistance to conventional therapies. This review focuses on the intricate roles of progenitor cells, microglia, and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in orchestrating GB pathogenesis and therapy resistance. Glioma stem cells (GSCs), derived from progenitor cells, are important drivers of tumor initiation and recurrence and exhibit remarkable plasticity and resistance to treatment. Microglia, the immune cells of the brain, are hijacked by GB cells to create an immunosuppressive microenvironment that supports tumor growth and resistance to therapy. ncRNAs, including microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), regulate multiple resistance mechanisms by modulating gene expression and influencing the interactions between progenitor cells and microglia. This review highlights new insights into these interconnected signaling pathways and explores potential therapeutic strategies targeting these molecular players to overcome treatment resistance and improve outcomes in patients with GB. Keywords: Microglia; Non-coding RNA; Glioblastoma; Progenitors Cells, Glioma, Stem Cells.

Abstract: The liver is supplied by a dual blood flow system consisting of the portal vein and hepatic artery. Imaging techniques for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been developed along with blood flow imaging, which visualizes the amount of arterial and portal blood flow. The diagnosis of HCC differentiation is important for early stage liver cancer screening and determination of treatment strategies. Dynamic computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) includes blood flow imaging and MRI with contrast-enhanced ultrasound and liver-specific contrast agents are used in combination. In addition, unlike the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) (version 1.1), which is the standard for determining treatment efficacy for solid tumors in general, tumor necrosis is generally considered a treatment effect in HCC, and the modified RECIST and Liver Cancer Direct Effectiveness Criteria (RECICL) are widely used. Familiarity with the definitions, criteria, and potential challenges of the mRECIST and RECICL is essential for their effective application in clinical practice.

Abstract: Due to the ever-increasing interest in the use of rare earth metals in medicine, in this review we considered the interaction of cerium dioxide nanoparticles with the main excipients used in the development of cerium-containing pharmaceutical compositions for biomedical applications. The review was conducted on the international databases PubMed and ScienceDirect, and included original research and literature reviews. Publications devoted to the use of cerium dioxide in disease diagnosis, analysis of other substances, and branches of scientific knowledge other than medicine were excluded. Following the selection process, 171 publications were analyzed. Based on the experimental results and the possibility to extrapolate them to humans, we compared polyacrylate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, dextran, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, polycarboxylic acids, in particular citric acid and its salts, lecithin and phosphatidylcholine in the context of conservation of biological effects of cerium dioxide and its physicochemical properties, as well as the degree of study of these combinations.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: The aim is to study the possibilities of biomedical application of gadolinium oxide nanoparticles (Gd2O3 NPs) synthesized under industrial conditions, evaluating its physicochemical properties, redox activity, biological activity and safety towards different human cell lines. Methods: The powderofGd2O3 NPs was studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX). The redox activity of different concentrations of Gd2O3 NPs was studied by optical spectroscopy (OS) method in the photochemical degradation process of methylene blue dye upon irradiation with optical source. Biological activity was studied on different human cell lines (keratinocytes, fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)) with evaluation of the effect of a wide range of Gd2O3 NPs concentrations (10-2- 10-6M) on metabolic and proliferative cellular activity (MTT test, direct cell counting, dead cell assessment, visual assessment of cytoarchitectonics). On MSC culture, the test of migration activity assessment on a model wound was performed. Results: From TEM data, the size of the nanoparticles ranged from 2 nm to 45 nm with a maximum distribution of 20-25 nm, which was in agreement with other methods. XRD analysis revealed that the f Gd2O3 nanoparticles had a cubic structure (C-form) of f Gd2O3 (Ia3) with lattice parameter a = 10.79(9) Å. Raman spectroscopy showed that the f Gd2O3 nanoparticles had a high degree of crystallinity. By investigating the photooxidative degradation of methylene blue dye in the presence of f Gd2O3 NPs under red light irradiation, it was found that f Gd2O3 nanoparticles showed weak antioxidant activity, which depended on the particle content in the solution. At a concentration of 10-3M, the highest antioxidant activity of f Gd2O3 nanoparticles was observed when the reaction rate constant of dye photodegradation decreased by 5.5% to 9.4x10-3 min-1. When the concentration of f Gd2O3 NPs in solution was increased to 10-2M upon irradiation with a red light source, their antioxidant activity changed to pro-oxidant activity, accompanied by a 15% increase in the reaction rate of methylene blue degradation. Studies on cell lines showed a high level of safety and regenerative potential of Gd2O3 NPs, which stimulated fibroblast metabolism at concentrations of 10-2M to 10-3M (27% enhancement), stimulated keratinocyte metabolism at concentrations of 10-3M-10-5M, and enhanced keratinocyte proliferation by an average of 35% at concentrations of 10-4M; accelerated the migration of MSCs, enhancing their proliferation, promoting the healing of the model wound. Conclusions: The results of the study demonstrated the safety and high regenerative potential of redox-active Gd2O3 NPs towards different cell lines. This may be the basis for further research to develop nanomaterials based on Gd2O3 NPs for skin wound healing and in regenerative medicine generally.

Abstract:

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive malignancy, and the current 5-year survival rate in the United States, according to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program data, approximates 12%. Although the current standard for resectable pancreatic cancer most commonly includes neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to a curative resection, surgery in the majority of patients has historically been palliative. The latter interventions include open or laparoscopic bypass of the bile duct or stomach in cases of obstructive jaundice or gastric outlet obstruction, respectively. Non-surgical interventional therapies started with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD), both as a palliative maneuver in unresectable patients with obstructive jaundice and to improve liver functions in patients in whom surgery was delayed. Likewise, interventional radiologic techniques included placement of plastic and ultimately self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) through PTBD tracts in patients unresectable for cure as well as percutaneous cholecystostomy in patients who developed cholecystitis in the context of malignant obstructive jaundice. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and stent placement (plastic/SEMS) was subsequently used both preoperatively and palliatively, and this was followed by, or undertaken in conjunction with, endoscopic gastro-duodenal SEMS placement for gastric outlet obstruction. Although endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was initially used to cytologically diagnose and stage pancreatic cancer, early palliation included celiac block or ablation for intractable pain. However, it took the development of lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) to facilitate a myriad of palliative procedures: Cholecystoduodenal, choledochoduodenal, gastrohepatic and gastroenteric anastomoses for cholecystitis, obstructive jaundice, and gastric outlet obstruction, respectively. In this review, we synopse these procedures which have variably supplanted surgery for the palliation of pancreatic cancer in this rapidly evolving field.

Abstract: Neuroendocrine tumors are tumors that can develop in any organ but show a predilection for the pancreas. These can be secreting or non-secreting tumors, they can be well differentiated or poorly differentiated, or neuroendocrine carcinomas. Surgical treatment is the only treatment with curative intent, but postoperatively it shows an increased incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistulas. We carried out a retrospective study, which included 26 patients with neuroendocrine tumors and neuroendocrine carcinomas, for whom we performed cephalic duodenopancreatectomies, distal pancreatectomies or enucleation. In our study group, the incidence of pancreatic fistula was 28%, and a series of risk factors such as the type of surgery, histological type, obesity and dynamic hemoglobin value was indicated.

Abstract: Background: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a rare, immune-mediated inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system (CNS), typically characterized by the acute onset of multifocal demyelination. The pathogenesis of ADEM remains unclear, but it is believed to be triggered by an autoimmune response, often following viral infections or vaccinations. Case report: This case report describes a 3-year-old child who developed ADEM after receiving two concurrent influenza vaccines: one for seasonal influenza and one for the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. The patient presented with motor regression, mild pleocytosis in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and typical MRI findings of ADEM. Steroid pulse therapy resulted in rapid improvement, and the patient recovered fully without sequelae. Results: Although the influenza vaccine has been linked to ADEM in some studies, it remains uncertain whether the simultaneous administration of both vaccines contributed to the onset of ADEM. Conclusions: This case highlights the need for further research into the potential risks of administering multiple influenza vaccines simultaneously, especially in pediatric populations.

Abstract: Osteoporosis is commonly evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for bone mineral density (BMD). Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scans provide an alternative for opportunistic osteoporosis assessment. This study aimed to evaluate screening thresholds for osteoporosis based on CT attenuation values in Hounsfield units (HU) of L1-L4 vertebrae from abdominal CT scans, compared to DXA assessments of the lumbar spine and hips. Conducted retrospectively over about two years, the analysis included 109 patients who had both CT and DXA scans within 12 months, excluding those with metal artifacts affecting the vertebrae. CT attenuation values in the trabecular region of the vertebrae were measured and compared among three groups based on the lowest T-score from DXA. In a predominantly female cohort (mean age 66.3 years), significant correlations were found between the CT HU values of L1-L4 vertebrae and the lowest T-score. CT HU values differed significantly among normal (17.4%), low bone mass (46.8%), and osteoporosis (35.8%) groups (P < 0.001). A HU threshold of ≤142 at the L1 vertebra showed 91.9% sensitivity and 48.4% specificity, while a threshold of ≤160 HU showed 97.3% sensitivity and 31.3% specificity for screening osteoporosis. In conclusion, this study supports the utility of non-contrast CT with these HU thresholds as an opportunistic osteoporosis assessment.