Lung cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death. Its poor prognosis can be attributed to the patients' advanced or metastatic presentation at the time of diagnosis. To improve and accelerate the diagnosis, better therapeutic and diagnostic methods are constantly being sought. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short nucleotide sequences of single-stranded, non-coding RNA that function as critical post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. They are identified not only intracellularly, but also in physiological and pathological body fluids. These molecules are responsible for the regulation of approximately 33% of human genes, either regulating the expression of both oncogenes and suppressor genes or acting directly as an oncogene or suppressor gene itself. MiRNAs can contribute to the formation of cancer. The high specificity and sensitivity of miRNAs have been demonstrated with various malignant diseases, and for this reason, they raise particular interest as new and perspective biomarkers of tumours. Our work summarises the available information from recent years regarding the possibility of using miRNAs as biomarkers in the diagnosis of neoplasms. In this review, we focused on malignant pleural effusions with an emphasis on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
BACKGROUND Improving clinical outcomes in mental health disorders involves both identifying and disseminating new treatments. Interest in the uptake of novel rapid acting antidepressants, like ketamine and related compounds, for psychiatric disorders is accelerating and medical education on their use is required. OBJECTIVE The paper describes an initiative of a small UK group of academic clinicians and psychiatry trainees that during the COVID-19 pandemic launched the first free online journal club dedicated to educating and connecting international ketamine researchers and clinicians on the use of ketamine in psychiatric disorders. The journal club met routinely and the format consisted of various segments which evolved to allow for bidirectional discussions, sharing of ideas, and networking between presenters and audience members. The formal presentations were recorded and uploaded to a website. METHODS A website, mass emailing and word of mouth were used to announce the reoccuring online journal club. Evaluation was conducted by two anonymous online surveys, for speakers and audience members respectively, and emailed to a mailing list between November 2021 to February 2022. Speakers were given 14 statements, and audience members 12 statements, to which they could either agree, disagree, or neither agree nor disagree with. They were asked to select their primary career role and leave an optional written feedback. Survey statements were categorized according to satisfaction and impact. Responses were compared between both groups and summarized alongside lessons learned from designing the format. RESULTS The journal club had met online 24 times by the end of the study. An average of 51 participants either attended live and or watched the recordings from each session. Twenty-four speakers from 8 countries, consisting mostly of clinicians and clinician-researchers, had presented their most recent ketamine publications to an audience of international professionals. Thirty total survey responses were obtained, 12 from speakers (40%) and 18 from audience members (60%). From the surveys, there was an overall agreement to statements between the speakers and audience members for the perceived satisfaction and impact of the journal club’s format, and positive written feedback was received. CONCLUSIONS In terms of designing the best format for the sharing of new ketamine research publications within the scientific community, there is an ongoing need for further evaluation of the current group's model. A larger sample size and a more methodologically rigorous approach is needed to support its generalisability for delivering evidence-based virtual medical education.
IntroductionTransapical aortic valve implantation (TA-AVI) has been widely introduced for treatment of patients with severe aortic stenosis in the last decade. Here we report our first clinical experience with 10 patients using the second-generation transapical Symetis Acurate TA aortic valve designed for transapical implantation.AimTo evaluate the results of transapical access in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) among patients with unsuitable vascular access.Material and methodsAll patients had been assessed by a local heart team and were disqualified from surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) and the transfemoral TAVI approach. Mean age was 75.4 ±3.9 years (range: 68–80), with 20% being female. Logistic EuroSCORE (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation) and STS (Society of Thoracic Surgeons) were 15.4 ±8.9% and 20.5 ±4.5%, respectively.ResultsAll implantations were performed successfully in the intra-annular and subcoronary position. There were no conversions to surgical AVR. All patients survived 30-day follow-up. No strokes or transient ischemic attacks were reported. There was no need for pacemaker implantation and none of the patients demonstrated moderate or significant paravalvular leakage. The mean aortic gradients improved significantly from a baseline of 57.0 ±19.2 mm Hg to a 30-day value of 14.2 ±4.1 mm Hg.ConclusionsOur initial clinical results indicate satisfactory functionality in patients after trans-apical implantation of the Symetis Acurate aortic valve. The procedure of implantation seems to be straightforward and may be considered in patients in whom a transfemoral approach is not a good option.
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