Invasive Medical Interventions Research Articles

Alternate-day fasting delays pubertal development in normal-weight mice but prevents high-fat diet-induced obesity and precocious puberty

Background/ObjectivesChildhood obesity, particularly in girls, is linked to early puberty onset, heightening risks for adult-onset diseases. Addressing childhood obesity and precocious puberty is vital to mitigate societal burdens. Despite existing costly and invasive medical interventions, introducing lifestyle-based alternatives is essential. Our study investigates alternate-day fasting’s (ADF) impact on pubertal development in normal-weight and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese female mice.MethodsFour groups of female mice were utilized, with dams initially fed control chow during and before pregnancy. Post-parturition, two groups continued on control chow, while two switched to an HFD. Offspring diets mirrored maternal exposure. One control and one HFD group were subjected to ADF. Morphometry and hormone analyses at various time points were performed.ResultsOur findings demonstrate that ADF in normal-weight mice led to reduced body length, weight, uterine, and ovarian weights, accompanied by delayed puberty and lower levels of sex hormones and growth hormone (GH). Remarkably, GH treatment effectively prevented ADF-induced growth reduction but did not prevent delayed puberty. Conversely, an HFD increased body length, induced obesity and precocious puberty, and altered sex hormones and leptin levels, which were counteracted by ADF regimen. Our data indicate ADF’s potential in managing childhood obesity and precocious puberty.ConclusionsADF reduced GH and sex hormone levels, contributing to reduced growth and delayed puberty, respectively. Therefore, parents of normal-weight children should be cautious about prolonged overnight fasting. ADF prevented HFD-induced obesity and precocious puberty, offering an alternative to medical approaches; nevertheless, further studies are needed for translation into clinical practice.

Coronary artery disease management in older adults: revascularization and exercise training.

The mean age of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is steadily increasing. In older patients, there is a tendency to underutilize invasive approach, coronary revascularization, up-to-date pharmacological therapies, and secondary prevention strategies, including cardiac rehabilitation. Older adults with CAD commonly exhibit atypical symptoms, multi-vessel disease involvement, complex coronary anatomy, and a higher presence of risk factors and comorbidities. Although both invasive procedures and medical treatments are characterized by a higher risk of complications, avoidance may result in a suboptimal outcome. Often, overlooked factors, such as coronary microvascular disease, malnutrition, and poor physical performance, play a key role in determining prognosis, yet they are not routinely assessed or addressed in older patients. Historically, clinicians have relied on sub-analyses or observational findings to make clinical decisions, as older adults were frequently excluded or under-represented in clinical studies. Recently, dedicated evidence through randomized clinical trials has become available for older CAD patients. Nevertheless, the management of older CAD patients still raises several important questions. This review aims to comprehensively summarize and critically evaluate this emerging evidence, focusing on invasive management and coronary revascularization. Furthermore, it seeks to contextualize these interventions within the framework of improved risk stratification tools for older CAD patients, through user-friendly scales along with emphasizing the importance of promoting physical activity and exercise training to enhance the outcomes of invasive and medical treatments. This comprehensive approach may represent the key to improving prognosis in the complex and growing patient population of older CAD patients.

Modulating the magnetic properties of Fe3C/C encapsulated core/shell nanoparticles for potential prospects in biomedicine

In the pursuit of alternative and less invasive medical treatments, magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) have gained significant relevance. Iron carbides NPs stand out for their higher saturation magnetizations compared to iron oxides, while maintaining a suitable biocompatibility. In this work, high control is achieved over the composition and morphology of Fe3C/C encapsulated core/shell nanoparticles through fine-tuning of the sol-gel synthesis parameters. Specifically, the impact of decreasing each surfactant concentration added, nt, the same both for oleylamine (ON) and oleic acid (OA), has been explored. A minimum value for such parameter denoted by nt,min. was required to produce pure Fe3C@C NP-composites. For nt < 4 mmol, some minor α-Fe impurities arise, and the effective carburization becomes unstable due to insufficient carbon. The magnetic properties of the materials prepared were optimized by reducing the excess carbon from surfactants, resulting in saturation magnetization values of 86 emu/g. (for pure Fe3C at nt = 5 mmol) and 102 emu/g (for Fe3C and <2 % w.t. of α-Fe impurity at nt = 4 mmol). In view of this, several cytotoxicity studies for different Fe3C@C samples were conducted, exhibiting excellent biocompatibility in cell-based assays, which could lead to potential application at the forefront of biomedical fields.

FAPI PET uptake patterns after invasive medical interventions: a single center retrospective analysis.

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-inhibitor (FAPI)-PET tracers allow imaging of the FAP-expressing cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF) and also the normal activated fibroblasts (NAF) involved in inflammation/fibrosis that may be present after invasive medical interventions. We evaluated [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 uptake patterns post-medical/invasive non-systemic interventions. This single-center retrospective analysis was conducted in 79 consecutive patients who underwent [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT. Investigators reviewed prior patient medical/invasive interventions (surgery, endoscopy, biopsy, radiotherapy, foreign body placement (FBP) defined as implanted medical/surgical material present at time of scan) and characterized the anatomically corresponding FAPI uptake intensity both visually (positive if above surrounding background) and quantitatively (SUVmax). Interventions with missing data/images or confounders of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 uptake (partial volume effect, other cause of increased uptake) were excluded. Available correlative FDG, DOTATATE and PSMA PET/CTs were analyzed when available. 163 medical/invasive interventions (mostly surgeries (49%), endoscopies (18%) and non-surgical biopsies (10%)) in 60 subjects were included for analysis. 43/163 (26%) involved FBP. FAPI uptake occurred in 24/163 (15%) of interventions (average SUVmax 3.2 (mild), range 1.5-5.1). The median time-interval post-intervention to FAPI-PET was 47.5months and was shorter when FAPI uptake was present (median 9.5months) than when absent (median 60.1months; p = 0.001). Cut-off time beyond which no FAPI uptake would be present post-intervention without FBP was 8.2months, with a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 82, 90, 99 and 31% respectively. No optimal cutoff point could be determined when considering interventions with FBP. No significant difference was detected between frequency of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 and [18F]FDG uptake in intervention sites. Compared to [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11, [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 revealed more frequent and intense post-interventional tracer uptake. [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 uptake from medical/invasive interventions without FBP appears to be time dependent, nearly always absent beyond 8months post-intervention, but frequently present for years with FBP.

Ralstonia mannitolilytica Infections: A Systematic Review of Case Reports Unveiling Clinical Patterns and Therapeutic Insights.

Ralstonia mannitolilytica is an emerging opportunistic pathogen that has been increasingly reported in clinical settings. Despite its low pathogenicity in immunocompetent individuals, it poses a significant threat to immunocompromised patients, particularly those with underlying medical conditions or invasive medical interventions. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact and management strategies based on the analysis of individual case reports on Ralstonia mannitolilytica . A comprehensive search of PubMed was conducted from inception until July 31, 2023, using the terms "Ralstonia mannitolilytica" and/or "Pseudomonas thomasii". Inclusion criteria for our systematic review included human-centered case reports of Ralstonia mannitolilytica infections, excluding case series and review articles. Data extraction followed PRISMA guidelines, including study details and patient characteristics. Case reports were systematically assessed using the JBI critical appraisal checklist, evaluating patient demographics, clinical history, diagnostic methods, interventions, post-intervention outcomes, adverse events, and lessons learned to minimize bias risk. A total of 17 case reports of Ralstonia mannitolilytica infections were included in our systematic review. Studies published from 2001 to 2023 revealed diverse global contributions, with 29.41% from China. Infection origins varied, with catheter-related cases being predominant. Mortality was reported in two studies. Antibiotic sensitivity analysis showed sensitivity to third-generation cephalosporins, notably Ceftazidime. Quality appraisal revealed that all studies had a low risk of bias, ensuring the overall robustness of the case reports. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding Ralstonia mannitolilytica infections, given their varied clinical presentations and antibiotic responses. The study also underscores the necessity for precise identification, customized treatments, and ongoing research to manage these infections effectively.

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing practices and observed seroconversions among dialysis facilities in Georgia.

Individuals receiving hemodialysis for end-stage kidney disease are at increased risk of infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) due to regular and frequent receipt of invasive medical treatment in a shared space. This study assessed infection prevention and control practices in dialysis facilities, evaluated HCV and HBV testing practices, and estimated the number of cases of seroconversion for HCV and HBV infection in dialysis facilities in Georgia. We invited all 27 dialysis centers that provide maintenance dialysis in Georgia to participate in a facility-based survey during April-June 2021. In total, 68.2% (n = 15/22) of facilities performed anti-HCV screening upon admission to the center. At the majority of facilities (n = 21/22, 95.5%), HBV screening was performed upon admission to the center. A total of 329 anti-HCV positive patients were reported from 20 of 22 facilities, 29.5% (n = 97/329) were HCV RNA positive, 18.2% (n = 60/329) were HCV RNA negative, and 52.3% (n = 172/329) were not tested or their result was missing. Overall, 200 HBsAg-positive patients were reported from the same 20 facilities. At 10 facilities: 39 patients from seven facilities seroconverted for HCV infection, and 31 patients from eight dialysis facilities seroconverted for HBV infection. We identified a high number of HBV and HCV seroconversions among dialysis patients in Georgia suggesting serious gaps in infection control practices. Strict adherence to infection prevention and control practices is essential to prevent transmission of HCV and HBV infections through contaminated equipment and surfaces.

Historical and contemporary management of infantile hemangiomas: a single-center experience.

Objective: This study explores the 22-year evolution of Infantile Hemangiomas (IHs) treatment strategies at a single-center hospital, aiming to establish an individualized IHs management protocol. Methods: Retrospective review of IHs infants 2000-2022 at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Jiangxi Provincial Children's Hospital. Results: In our study of 27,513 IHs cases, 72.2% were female, with the median age at first hospital visit being 25 days. The majority of cases had localized and superficial lesions primarily on the head, face, and neck (67.5%). Ulceration rates fell from 21.1% to 12.6% with the introduction of propranolol. Management strategies have shifted over time, with the proportion of cases undergoing expectant management dropping from 32.9% to 12.4%. Since 2008, 26.1% of patients were treated with oral propranolol, largely replacing corticosteroids. Topical β-blockers have been used in 12.1% of cases, leading to a reduction in local injection therapy from 20.8% to 13.2%. Laser therapy, introduced in 2016, has been used in 13.8% of cases, while surgical excision has dropped from 25.0% to 8.5% due to alternative treatment options. Combination therapy was used in 8.8% of cases post-2015, indicating a rising trend. Drawing from the evolution of IHs management strategies, an individualized protocol for the management of IHs was successfully established. Conclusion: Treatment for IHs has evolved over recent decades, with less invasive medical interventions increasingly replacing more invasive methods. Furthermore, a personalized treatment protocol established in this study could boost the cure rate of IHs while minimizing potential side effects and complications.

Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter and Enterobacterales Causing Neonatal Sepsis at a Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Indonesia

Introduction: Increasing resistance to multiple classes of antimicrobials, leading to multidrug resistance (MDR), provides a major challenge for the management of bloodstream infections in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The dissemination of Acinetobacter and Enterobacterales species were of great importance owing to their high prevalence and resistance against a broad spectrum of available antimicrobials, thereby exacerbating the prognosis for afflicted patients. This study aimed to highlight neonatal sepsis cases caused by MDR Acinetobacter and Enterobacterales in the NICU of a tertiary healthcare center in Surabaya, Indonesia. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya, from January 2020 to August 2022. Documented cases of neonatal sepsis were identified from electronic medical records under the ICD-10 P36 code. Continuous monitoring of blood culture was performed following the initial suspicion of sepsis, complemented with semiautomated antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Results: A total of 75 out of 125 culture-proven neonatal sepsis cases were reported caused by Acinetobacter baumannii ( n = 19; 15.2%) and Enterobacterales ( n = 56; 44.8%) species. These organisms exhibited the MDR rates of 78.9% and 91.1%, respectively. Klebsiella pneumoniae ( K. pneumoniae) emerged as the predominant Enterobacterales, demonstrating an MDR rate of 92.1%. Possible extensively- and possible pan-drug-resistant organisms were also identified at a concerning rate in Acinetobacter (73.7% and 21.1%, respectively) and Enterobacterales (28.6% and 1.8%, respectively). The susceptibility of Acinetobacter to carbapenems was notably low (26.3%), whereas Enterobacterales exhibited a relatively higher susceptibility rate (75%). Notably, 9 and 37 documented deaths were associated with neonatal sepsis because of MDR Acinetobacter and Enterobacterales, respectively. Lower birth weight and shorter length of NICU stay were significantly related to mortality in neonatal sepsis. Conclusion: The alarming rate of MDR underscores further investigations on the extent of inappropriate antibiotic usage in the unit, particularly concerning neonates requiring invasive medical interventions and those with foundational clinical risk factors.

Patterns of toxic stress and trauma for pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT): creating a model of responsive intervention

Background It is well documented that invasive medical treatment, such as Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT), can be stressful and potentially traumatic for children, leading to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS) after treatment. Despite this evidence, little is known about the patterns of stress and trauma that develop throughout the HSCT admission. Purpose To examine patterns of toxic stress and trauma that develop throughout the pediatric HSCT admission and understand how music therapists, as members of the interdisciplinary psychosocial care team, may proactively intervene to mitigate the impact of traumatic experiences. Method A two-phase retrospective longitudinal multi-case design was used with a combination of time series and template analyses. Sample The sample included 14 pediatric patients (aged 0–17) undergoing HSCT at a large pediatric hospital in the Midwestern United States. Findings The results were identifiable patterns of toxic stress and trauma and a model of care for music therapy that is responsive to the identified patterns.

Epithelial lining inspired protective shield for prolonged endotracheal intubation

Endotracheal intubation often suffers from side effects due to inherent defects of the endotracheal tube (ETT) itself, posing a formidable challenge for minimally invasive medical interventions. Inspired by biological functions of the epithelial lining, a novel concept of a protective shield is proposed and engineered onto the surface of commercially-available ETTs via a gas-phase fluorination technology. The direct gas-solid reaction enables fluorinated decoration adaptively to both outer and inner surfaces of ETTs for all-round protection. The protective shield composed by the fluorinated coating not only shows high stability to harsh conditions, excellent hydrophilic lubrication, and good biocompatibility, but also exhibits a favorable anti-biofouling property to a broad spectrum of biofoulings and strong antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Crediting the above merits, in vivo experiments affirm that the ETT with the protective shield is efficacious to migrate intubation-related complications in two aspects: reducing mucosal injury and inflammation caused by the outer surface friction, and preventing biofilm formation and airway obstruction to maintain inner tube patency. This work opens an avenue for updating EETs to meet clinic needs and holds promise towards the development of invasive biomedical devices.

Сепсис-асоційоване ураження нервової системи в передчасно народжених дітей із дуже малою масою тіла

The immaturity of the organs and systems of preterm born children significantly complicates the differentiation between physiological and pathological changes in the brain. The etiology of brain damage in premature babies is complex and multifactorial, and even with the most favorable course of the neonatal period, they require additional respiratory support, a large number of invasive medical interventions and have a high risk of infectious complications. Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is defined as diffuse or multifocal cerebral damage that is caused by a systemic response to infection even without clinical or laboratory evidence of direct brain infection. Purpose - to determine the clinical features of sepsis-associated brain damage in prematurely born children &lt;32 weeks gestation with a birth weight &lt;1500 g. Materials and methods. 38 prematurely born children, who were divided into two groups, were examined. The Group I (n=14) included children who were diagnosed with sepsis in the early neonatal period. The Group II (n=24) included prematurely born, in which no septic lesions were observed. Results. Children of both groups were born in a state of severe and moderate asphyxia. Analysis of associations between maternal, obstetric, and antenatal factors showed a significant prevalence of such factors as prelabor rupture of membranes, сervical weakness, rupture of the fetal bladder, and placement of an obstetric pessary in children with sepsis. All children with sepsis had pneumonia, acute kidney injury, and brain injury in the neonatal period. In the neurological status of children with very low birth weight who underwent SAE, the seizure syndrome, 3-4 grade intraventricular hemorrhages, periventricular leukomalacia, complications in the form of post-hemorrhagic ventriculomegaly were significantly more common. Conclusions. In children with very low birth weight who underwent SAE, convulsive syndrome, 3-4 grade intraventricular hemorrhages, and periventricular leukomalacia were significantly more common. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.

Features of a Systematic Approach to the Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections in the Russian Federation and abroad

Relevance. Health care-associated infections (HAIs) are one of the global problems of modern healthcare with a negative trend in the growth of this pathology throughout the world, which is due to a complex of reasons, among which the resistance of pathogens of hospital infections to antimicrobials is important, as well as gaps in organization of epidemiological surveillance due to a number of objective and subjective factors (complication of technologies and expansion of the practice of invasive medical interventions, turnover and shortage of personnel in medical institutions, etc.).The purpose of the work is to study the experience of organizing measures for the prevention of HCAI from the standpoint of a systematic approach in Russia and in foreign countries that have the best practices in this area. The purpose of the work is to study the experience of organizing measures for the prevention of HCAI from the standpoint of a systematic approach in Russia and in foreign countries that have the best practices in this area.The results are based on the study of the basic principles of the system approach, its tools, functional organization and universalization, the use of a comprehensive analysis in relation to different areas of medical activity and types of medical care, the sequence of development and implementation of new methods in Russian and foreign experience in the implementation of epidemiological surveillance for HCAI. Problems in the field of organization and practical implementation of preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of HCAI have been identified, and urgent tasks for improving the epidemiological safety of medical activity have been identified.Conclusion. Differences were noted in approaches to the prevention of HAIs in Russia and abroad, concerning the resource provision of molecular biological monitoring of HAI pathogens, as well as the features of teamwork, targeted communication in medical teams and in explanatory work, as well as the implementation of training programs for relatives to care for patients with HAI. Measures are proposed to increase the commitment of medical personnel and collectives in general, other employees of medical organizations to epidemiologically safe skills in their professional activities, to develop patient education programs for personal prevention of HCAI.

A Re-Purposing Strategy: Sub-Lethal Concentrations of an Eicosanoid Derived from the Omega-3-Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Resolvin D1 Affect Dual Species Biofilms.

The fungal species Candida parapsilosis and the bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus may be responsible for hospital-acquired infections in patients undergoing invasive medical interventions or surgical procedures and often coinfect critically ill patients in complicating polymicrobial biofilms. The efficacy of the re-purposing therapy has recently been reported as an alternative to be used. PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) may be used alone or in combination with currently available traditional antimicrobials to prevent and manage various infections overcoming antimicrobial resistance. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effects of Resolvin D1 (RvD1) as an antimicrobial on S. aureus and C. parapsilosis, as well as the activity against the mixed biofilm of the same two species. Microdilution assays and time-kill growth curves revealed bacterial and fungal inhibition at minimum concentration values between 5 and 10 μg mL-1. In single-species structures, an inhibition of 55% and 42% was reported for S. aureus and C. parapsilosis, respectively. Moreover, RvD1 demonstrated an eradication capacity of 60% and 80% for single- and mixed-species biofilms, respectively. In association with the inhibition activity, a downregulation of genes involved in biofilm formation as well as ROS accumulation was observed. Eradication capability was confirmed also on mature mixed biofilm grown on silicone platelets as shown by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In conclusion, RvD1 was efficient against mono and polymicrobial biofilms in vitro, being a promising alternative for the treatment of mixed bacterial/fungal infections.

Historical Therapies for Suspected Autonomic Dysregulation in Meniere's Disease.

This narrative review examines how speculative belief that the autonomic nervous system causes Meniere's Disease (MD) led otolaryngologists to adopt invasive surgical procedures and medical treatments still offered today. Google Scholar, PubMed. A comprehensive literature review (1860-2022) was performed using the terms "Meniere AND (sympathetic OR sympathectomy OR vasomotor OR cervical ganglion)," returning 5360 items. All abstracts were briefly reviewed, relevant publications selected for further study, and key articles discussed by all authors. As it became clear that betahistine was related to the historical narrative, an additional search was performed using "Betahistine AND Meniere AND (vasomotor OR sympathetic OR sympathectomy OR cervical ganglion OR autonomic)," which yielded 336 results. In the 19th and 20th centuries, growing knowledge of human anatomy led the scientific community to speculate that autonomic dysregulation caused many medical conditions. Excessive sympathetic mediated vasomotor changes were thought to cause hypertension, ischemia, and tissue damage. Clinicians applied the hypothesis to MD, assigning the sympathetic nervous system responsible for vertigo secondary to paroxysmal vasospasm and for hearing loss to poor cochlear nutrition. Despite limited animal experiments and isolated clinical observations, otolaryngologists performed sympathectomies, and, in the 1970s, replaced the procedure with betahistine as an alternative medical treatment. Premature excitement about a plausible hypothesis led to unnecessary and unwarranted operations. Despite absent evidence of sympathetic overactivation in MD, surgeons eagerly adopted sympathectomies, and later betahistine. Rigorous evaluation of the validity of these treatment practices is needed. 5 Laryngoscope, 134:535-542, 2024.

Cesarean Scar Pregnancy: A Tertiary Care Center Experience

Objectives: To describe the management and treatment outcomes of cesarean scar pregnancies diagnosed in a tertiary care center. Methods: This study retrospectively described all cases of cesarean scar pregnancy diagnosed and managed at a tertiary care center over a 3-year period. Maternal demographics, clinical presentation, treatment methods, and outcomes were all included in the analysis. Results: uring the study period, 5 cases of cesarean scar pregnancy were diagnosed and managed. The median gestational age at diagnosis was 8 weeks, and all fetuses had positive cardiac activity. All cases were initially treated with systemic intramuscular (IM) methotrexate (MTX), but only one case responded well due to fetal bradycardia present prior to treatment. One patient received further management with transvaginal intracardiac potassium chloride (KCL) injection, which resulted in maternal sepsis, hemorrhage, and ICU admission. The other 3 cases were managed by transabdominal intra-gestational sac MTX +/- KCL and showed good clinical response. Two of these cases required an interval dilation &amp; curettage (D&amp;C) due to persistent vaginal spotting with no complications. Conclusions: It is recommended to avoid using systemic IM MTX as the first-line treatment for scar pregnancy unless the pregnancy is failing or non-viable. Intra-gestational sac treatment may cause persistent retained products of conception, leading to bothersome vaginal spotting. An interval ultrasound guided D&amp;C appears to be safe for managing this complication, but the exact interval needs to be determined through further studies. Sepsis is a rare complication of invasive medical treatment, and close surveillance is advised.

Using 3% retinol peeling and cosmeceuticals for the aesthetic wellness of the oncological patient after precautionary endocrine treatment: A case series.

Roughness, sagging, and skin rash are common in patients with breast cancer treated with LH-RH analog plus tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors as adjuvant postsurgical endocrine therapy. The use of topical retinol (vitamin A) has shown to be an efficacious cosmetic treatment. Peeling with an advanced retinol peel formulation based on 3% retinol, 4% triethyl citrate, 0.1% aminophil, bisabolol, and 1% vitamin E acetate, in a vehicle in an alcoholic solution has been successfully used to ameliorate skin appearance on subjects with photodamage and in the aged population. We aimed to verify its use during adjuvant chemotherapy. Four subjects experiencing skin issues during postsurgical adjuvant therapy for their breast cancer received retinol peel at least 6 weeks after stopping their postsurgery therapy as a low invasive aesthetic medical treatment to be used both at the dermatology desk and at home. Retinol peel was effective, safe, and well-tolerated, improving skin brightness and firmness in all the patients, since 4 weeks after the beginning of the treatment. Patients declared to be satisfied with the treatment and their skin appearance letting them feel better for cancer recovery, too. These preliminary observations suggest that the use of an advanced retinol peel formulation might improve skin appearance in women experiencing skin damages caused by adjuvant therapy after breast cancer surgery.

Acupuncture for chronic low back pain in older adults: Design and protocol for the BackInAction pragmatic clinical trial

BackgroundBack pain prevalence and burden increase with age; approximately one-third of U.S. adults 65 years of age and older experience lower back pain (LBP). For chronic low back pain (cLBP), typically defined as lasting three months or longer, many treatments for younger adults may be inappropriate for older adults given their greater prevalence of comorbidities with attendant polypharmacy. While acupuncture has been demonstrated to be safe and effective for cLBP in adults overall, few studies of acupuncture have either included or focused on adults ≥65 years old. MethodsThe BackInAction study is a pragmatic, multi-site, three-arm, parallel-groups randomized controlled trial designed to test the effectiveness of acupuncture needling for improving back pain-related disability among 807 older adults ≥65 years old with cLBP. Participants are randomized to standard acupuncture (SA; up to 15 treatment sessions across 12 weeks), enhanced acupuncture (EA; SA during first 12 weeks and up to 6 additional sessions across the following 12 weeks), and usual medical care (UMC) alone. Participants are followed for 12 months with study outcomes assessed monthly with the primary outcome timepoint at 6 months. DiscussionThe BackInAction study offers an opportunity to further understand the effectiveness, dose-dependence, and safety of acupuncture in a Medicare population. Additionally, study results may encourage broader adoption of more effective, safer, and more satisfactory options to the continuing over-reliance on opioid- and invasive medical treatments for cLBP among older adults. Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04982315. Clinical trial registration date: July 29, 2021.

Legal Discrepancies and Expectations of Women: Abortion, Fetal Therapy, and NICU Care.

Over the past several decades in which access to abortion has become increasingly restricted, parents' autonomy in medical decision-making in the realms of fetal care and neonatal intensive care has expanded. Today, parents can decide against invasive medical interventions at gestational ages where abortions are forbidden, even in cases where neonates are expected to be seriously ill. Although a declared state interest in protecting the lives of fetuses and newborns contributes to justifications for restricting women's autonomy with regards to abortion, it does not fully explain this discrepancy. We believe that social portrayals of women as complying with or shirking their reproductive function play a major role in explaining it. The growing divide between a woman's rights as a reproductive being and as a parent suggest that abortion restriction is rooted in a historical societal desire for women to serve as reproducers and in the corresponding fear of them abandoning this allotted role in pursuit of social equality. The Dobbs v. Jackson (2022) decision is not based in a view of abortion as a medical act occurring between a doctor and patient, as Roe v. Wade (1973) did, but decision-making about fetal therapy or NICU care is still viewed as occurring between a doctor and patient or surrogate because in this act a woman is seen as fulfilling her role as mother.

Hysteroscopic Endometrial Ablation: From Indications to Instrumentation and Techniques-A Call to Action.

The development of minimally invasive techniques has led to the creation of innovative alternatives in cases where traditional methods are not applicable. In modern gynecology, hysteroscopy has become the gold standard for the evaluation and treatment of intrauterine pathology. Endometrial ablation (EA) is a procedure that uses different types of energy to destroy the endometrium and is currently used as an alternative technique in cases of heavy menstrual bleeding when medical treatment has failed and uterine preservation is desired. The aim of this review was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and clinical outcomes of hysteroscopic EA as an alternative in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding. A detailed computerized search of the literature was performed in the main electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library), from 1994 to June 2022, to evaluate the outcomes in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) undergoing EA using hysteroscopic and non-hysteroscopic techniques. Only scientific publications in English were included. Twelve articles on the current use of endometrial ablation were included. Data on patient symptoms, tools used for EA, primary outcomes, and adverse events were recorded. EA should be considered an effective and safe approach in the management of patients with abnormal uterine bleeding caused by benign pathology, in whom medical treatment has failed or is contraindicated. Due to the lack of evidence, it would be interesting to determine whether EA would also have a role in the treatment of women with premalignant lesions, avoiding invasive surgical procedures or medical treatment in those patients for whom hysterectomy or the use of hormonal treatment is contraindicated.

СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ АСПЕКТЫ РАЗВИТИЯ ЛУЧЕВОЙ ДИАГНОСТИКИ ПРИ ПНЕВМОНИИ

We consider modern development of diagnostic radiology in pneumonia, and establish available types of diagnostic radiology for this disease. The work will focus on radio diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia. Several studies have been carried out on the problem of diagnosing community-acquired pneumonia, and new data are constantly emerging on various aspects of this issue. Regular updating of knowledge on this subject is necessary. Specialists use diagnostic radiology methods to detect pneumonia very often, including those caused by the new coronavirus infection COVID-19. These methods are also used to assess the complications of the disease, differential diagnosis with other lung diseases, as well as to determine the severity and dynamics of changes, to evaluate the effectiveness of therapy. Radiation methods are also needed to detect and evaluate the nature of pathological changes in other anatomical areas and as a means of control for invasive medical interventions. This research is also aimed at highlighting the most important criteria for radio diagnosis of pathological changes in the lungs in patients with pneumonia (including those caused by a new coronavirus infection) according to national and foreign authors.