Frequency and Focus of in Vitro Studies of Microglia-Expressed Cytokines in Response to Viral Infection: A Systematic Review.

It is well known that as part of their response to infectious agents such as viruses, microglia transition from a quiescent state to an activated state that includes proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory phases; this behavior has been described through in vitro studies. However, recent in vivo studies on the function of microglia have questioned the two-phase paradigm; therefore, a change in the frequency of in vitro studies is expected. A systematic review was carried out to identify the microglial cytokine profile against viral infection that has been further evaluated through in vitro studies (pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory), along with analysis of its publication frequency over the years. For this review, 531 articles published in the English language were collected from PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO and ResearchGate. Only 27 papers met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. In total, 19 cytokines were evaluated in these studies, most of which are proinflammatory; the most common are IL-6, followed by TNF-α and IL-1ß. It should be pointed out that half of the studies were published between 2015 and 2022 (raw data available in https://github.com/dadriba05/SystematicReview.git ). In this review, we identified that evaluation of pro-inflammatory cytokines released by microglia against viral infections has been performed more frequently than that of anti-inflammatory cytokines; additionally, a higher frequency of evaluation of the response of microglia cells to viral infection through in vitro studies from 2015 and beyond was noted.

Comparing perspectives: frontal and oblique endoscopic ultrasound.

The oblique-view echoendoscope is currently the sole tool for ultrasound-guided endoscopic procedures (EUS) in most hospital centers, despite its limitations like a lack of forward vision, issues with needle angle, and restricted accessory device size due to channel angulation. However, our study revealed no significant differences between the oblique and frontal endoscopes, except for minor variations in specific regions. For routine diagnostic studies, interchangeability between the devices is feasible. The anticipated advantages of the frontal device may emerge more prominently in future therapeutic procedures. This suggests that, while the oblique-view echoendoscope remains the primary tool, the frontal device holds potential for evolving roles in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

Endoscopic Management of a Long-Duration Esophageal Food Impaction: A Case Report.

Foreign object ingestion (FOI) is a potentially life-threatening pathology that affects all ages, from children to older adults. The classification includes true FOI and esophageal food impaction (EFI), and each presents unique challenges. Endoscopic intervention is often required to prevent complications. Flexible endoscopes are the preferred management tool, ensuring a high success rate and safety. The following text presents a case of a 48-year-old male with a 5-day undiagnosed esophageal food impaction and the approach taken.

Gastrointestinal Kaposi: A Rare Case Unveiling the Presentation and Management Challenges of an Uncommon Neoplasm in the Digestive Tract.

Gastrointestinal Kaposi's sarcoma (GI-KS), which is frequently observed in individuals with HIV/AIDS, tends to manifest with vague symptoms or may not show any symptoms at all. These symptoms can include abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and low levels of iron in the blood, and they may worsen as the tumor enlarges, leading to more severe issues such as blockage or perforation of the bowel. Diagnosis usually requires an endoscopy to confirm the presence of GI-SK in individuals showing symptoms. In this case report, we describe a 29-year-old Hispanic male with vague symptomatology, anemia, and a probable unknown bleeding site.

Unmasking the Mimic: Radionecrotic Lesion Masquerading as Brain Neoplasia on Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Corpus callosotomy is a therapeutic approach for drug-resistant epilepsy, with positive outcomes observed in managing atonic seizures. Despite a decline in its usage, radiosurgical callosotomy remains a viable option for drug-resistant epilepsy due to its low risks of post-radiation neoplasia, albeit not with exceptions. Brain radionecrosis is characterized by tissue death and vascular endothelial damage following the procedure. Despite the low risk of intracranial secondary malignancy associated with radiation in some cases, post-radiation lesions might present with distinct characteristics needing a thorough diagnostic approach. Herein, we present a unique case of a patient with focal epilepsy who developed a radionecrotic lesion following radiosurgical callosotomy, affecting the anterior cingulate cortex, and mimicking a central nervous system (CNS) tumor. Molecular imaging techniques, including 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18-FDG PET/CT) and 11C-acetate PET/CT scans, were employed to differentiate the lesion from a tumor. This case underscores the importance of considering radionecrosis as a differential diagnosis in patients who undergo radiosurgical callosotomy presenting with ring-like enhancement lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).