Surgery, Gastroenterology and Oncology

Objective: This randomized clinical open-label study compares the impact of Seton fistulectomy and Laser fistulectomy on patients' quality of life (QoL) and continence in patients with cryptoglandular anal fistula (AF), using the Short Form-36 Quality of Life, fecal incontinence quality of life (SF-36, FIQL) questionnaire, and Wexner continence score.

Patients and Methods: Fifty patients, aged 18–65 years, with primary or recurrent cryptoglandular AF underwent surgical interventions, including Seton fistulectomy and Laser fistulectomy....[more]

Background: The tricuspid valve remains the least studied of the four cardiac valves, and there is still no consensus on the optimal surgical approach for its repair or replacement. A growing body of evidence favours minimally invasive access routes, which may reduce operative morbidity without compromising the quality of the surgical correction.

Aim: To compare the early postoperative outcomes of isolated tricuspid valve surgery performed through a median sternotomy versus a right anterolateral thoracotomy.

Patients and Methods: This p....[more]

Introduction: Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive tumor with a high rate of recurrence and metastasis. The addition of pembrolizumab in the neoadjuvant setting is the current standard treatment for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer. Although immunotherapy improves treatment efficacy, its toxicity may impair patients' quality of life.

Objective: To investigate the quality of life of women with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer receiving immunotherapy and to compare it with the quality of life of women with early ho....[more]

Background: Anti-HBs antibody levels can wane over years after hepatitis B vaccination. Vitamin D may influence the immune response to booster vaccination in previously seronegative individuals.

Objective: to evaluate the association between vitamin D status and persistence of anti-HBs antibodies 20 years after primary infant HBV vaccination, and the response to a booster dose in seronegative individuals, with exploratory assessment of vitamin D supplementation.

Patients and Methods: A prospective cohort study was co....[more]