RESUMEN
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. National screening guidelines have been implemented to identify and remove precancerous polyps before they become cancer. Routine CRC screening is advised for people with average risk starting at age 45 because it is a common and preventable malignancy. Various screening modalities are currently in use, ranging from stool-based tests (fecal occult blood test (FOBT), fecal immunochemical test (FIT), and FIT-DNA test), radiologic tests (computed tomographic colonography (CTC), double contrast barium enema), and visual endoscopic examinations (flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS), colonoscopy, and colon capsule endoscopy (CCE)) with their varying sensitivity and specificity. Biomarkers also play a vital role in assessing the recurrence of CRC. This review offers a summary of the current screening options, including biomarkers available to detect CRC, highlighting the benefits and challenges encompassing each screening modality.
RESUMEN
The first incidence of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) was reported in a Danish research facility. Even though first discovered in monkeys, rodents account for the largest reservoir of the disease. It is an encapsulated, brick-shaped double-stranded DNA virus strongly related to the smallpox virus. The risk of acquiring MPXV has been found to be inversely related to smallpox vaccination. Although the cases were initially restricted to African countries, they were first reported outside Africa in the early 2000s. MPXV is transmitted through close personal contact, most commonly through direct skin-skin contact. The fatality rates associated with the MPXV tend to vary in different regions, with Congo clad basin having the highest mortality rate. The majority of the cases of MPXV have been reported in men who have sex with men. Although optimal infection control and treatment strategies are under investigation, the current management focus is on immunization and the isolation of patients. Effective control strategies are based on implementing a method of contact tracing, quarantining exposed and infected individuals, and using vaccines. There is no proven cure for MPXV, and most infected patients recover without medical intervention. Extensive studies are being conducted to determine the efficacy of antivirals in managing MPXV, with tecovirimat being the first antiviral medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manage MPXV. The smallpox vaccine has traditionally been thought of as the most effective method of controlling the infection, possibly due to the similarities between the two viruses. However, numerous obstacles prevent the effective control of MPXV, including social isolation and stigma, poor understanding of the disease dynamics, lack of adequate patient education, and public health strategies.
RESUMEN
Angioedema (AE) is a condition that is frequently encountered in the emergency department (ED). It is a rare condition with localized, asymmetrical swelling of the skin and/or mucosa that is frequently nonpruritic and primarily affects locations with loose connective tissue. Physicians must have a thorough understanding of this condition since it can cause fatal airway compromise, which might be the presenting symptom. Histamine-mediated AE is the most common type of AE seen in EDs. However, ED physicians must be on the lookout for the less common bradykinin-mediated types of AE as these do not respond to the same therapy as histamine-mediated AE. Hospitals may lack specialized drugs or protocols, and many ED staff may be unable to identify or treat bradykinin-mediated AE. It is crucial to understand the pathophysiology of the various kinds of AE in order to optimize treatment. The goal of this review paper is to provide an overview of the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment options for bradykinin and histamine-induced AE in the ED.