Purpose: To assess the feasibility and short-term efficacy of maintenance enzalutamide following first-line docetaxel plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with high-volume, metastatic castration-naive prostate cancer (mCNPC). Materials and Methods: The present study included 38 consecutive patients with mCNPC who did not have disease progression with ADT plus docetaxel between October 2022 and October 2023. Patients received a switch maintenance therapy with enzalutamide until progression, unacceptable toxicity, or patient withdrawal. Endpoints included time to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression and safety. Results: Among the 38 patients, the median age was 68 years, and the most frequently observed metastatic site was bone (n=36), followed by lymph nodes (n=28), lung (n=8), and liver (n=1). The median duration of firstline docetaxel was 2.8 months (range, 2.7–5.0 months). At the time of commencing maintenance enzalutamide, the median PSA was 3.2 ng/mL (range, 0.01–258 ng/mL). Maintenance enzalutamide was generally welltolerated. A total of 11 patients (28%) discontinued enzalutamide, and the main reasons included adverse events (prolonged fatigue of grade 1 or 2, n=6), disease progression (n=3) and financial burdens (n=2). Median time to PSA progression was not reached, and 93% were PSA progression-free at 12 months. Conclusions Maintenance enzalutamide is a feasible treatment option with potential clinical benefit for patients with high-volume mCNPC who were progression-free after first-line ADT+docetaxel.

Actinidia arguta, also called as kiwiberry or hardy kiwifruit, is one of the major varieties of kiwi plants. It is small in size and has no hairs on the surface, which making it easy to be consumed. In addition, it can be cultivated in Asia, due to its cold resistance. We have been interested in the beneficial effects of the fruits of A. arguta and investigated the constituents and biological activities. A new triterpenoid, argutinic acid, along with three triterpenoids and three megastigmines were isolated from the fruits of A. arguta. The structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis including NMR, MS, UV and IR. Among the isolated compounds, two triterpenes, argutinic acid (1) and usrolic acid (4) showed α-glucosidase inhibitory activities.

To evaluate the long-term effects of submucosal Medpor implants in patients with empty nose syndrome (ENS), using the Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT) score as a measure of clinical improvement. A comprehensive search of six databases was conducted up to October 2024. The analysis included studies that examined the impact of submucosal Medpor implants on refractory ENS symptoms, as assessed by various symptom-specific questionnaires. Post-intervention SNOT scores were evaluated during follow-up periods of over 12 months, showing a statistically significant improvement in ENS symptoms (standardized mean difference [95% confidence interval]= 1.4676 [1.2067; 1.7285]; I2=37.2%). This meta-analysis indicates that submucosal Medpor implantation in patients with ENS is associated with significant long-term improvements in nasal symptoms.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells present in adult tissues that are recognized as promising candidates for cell therapy due to their ease of access, straightforward isolation, and capacity for bio-preservation with minimal loss of potency. However, the clinical application of MSCs faces significant challenges, such as donor site morbidity, underscoring the need for alternative sources. Recent studies have suggested that inferior turbinate tissues, which are commonly removed during turbinate surgery, may be a viable donor site for MSCs. Turbinate surgery is a safe and effective procedure frequently performed to alleviate nasal obstruction, a prevalent chronic condition treated by otolaryngologists. This implies that harvesting MSCs from turbinate tissue for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine could serve as a simple, minimally invasive method with faster healing and minimal risk of morbidity or scarring at the donor site. This review highlights previous research indicating that MSCs derived from human turbinate tissues maintain their stability and demonstrate multi-differentiation potential. Therefore, the turbinate could be an alternative to traditional MSC sources for producing functionally competent cells for future clinical applications.

To evaluate the long-term effects of submucosal Medpor implants in patients with empty nose syndrome (ENS), using the Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT) score as a measure of clinical improvement. A comprehensive search of six databases was conducted up to October 2024. The analysis included studies that examined the impact of submucosal Medpor implants on refractory ENS symptoms, as assessed by various symptom-specific questionnaires. Post-intervention SNOT scores were evaluated during follow-up periods of over 12 months, showing a statistically significant improvement in ENS symptoms (standardized mean difference [95% confidence interval]= 1.4676 [1.2067; 1.7285]; I2=37.2%). This meta-analysis indicates that submucosal Medpor implantation in patients with ENS is associated with significant long-term improvements in nasal symptoms.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells present in adult tissues that are recognized as promising candidates for cell therapy due to their ease of access, straightforward isolation, and capacity for bio-preservation with minimal loss of potency. However, the clinical application of MSCs faces significant challenges, such as donor site morbidity, underscoring the need for alternative sources. Recent studies have suggested that inferior turbinate tissues, which are commonly removed during turbinate surgery, may be a viable donor site for MSCs. Turbinate surgery is a safe and effective procedure frequently performed to alleviate nasal obstruction, a prevalent chronic condition treated by otolaryngologists. This implies that harvesting MSCs from turbinate tissue for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine could serve as a simple, minimally invasive method with faster healing and minimal risk of morbidity or scarring at the donor site. This review highlights previous research indicating that MSCs derived from human turbinate tissues maintain their stability and demonstrate multi-differentiation potential. Therefore, the turbinate could be an alternative to traditional MSC sources for producing functionally competent cells for future clinical applications.

To evaluate the long-term effects of submucosal Medpor implants in patients with empty nose syndrome (ENS), using the Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT) score as a measure of clinical improvement. A comprehensive search of six databases was conducted up to October 2024. The analysis included studies that examined the impact of submucosal Medpor implants on refractory ENS symptoms, as assessed by various symptom-specific questionnaires. Post-intervention SNOT scores were evaluated during follow-up periods of over 12 months, showing a statistically significant improvement in ENS symptoms (standardized mean difference [95% confidence interval]= 1.4676 [1.2067; 1.7285]; I2=37.2%). This meta-analysis indicates that submucosal Medpor implantation in patients with ENS is associated with significant long-term improvements in nasal symptoms.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells present in adult tissues that are recognized as promising candidates for cell therapy due to their ease of access, straightforward isolation, and capacity for bio-preservation with minimal loss of potency. However, the clinical application of MSCs faces significant challenges, such as donor site morbidity, underscoring the need for alternative sources. Recent studies have suggested that inferior turbinate tissues, which are commonly removed during turbinate surgery, may be a viable donor site for MSCs. Turbinate surgery is a safe and effective procedure frequently performed to alleviate nasal obstruction, a prevalent chronic condition treated by otolaryngologists. This implies that harvesting MSCs from turbinate tissue for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine could serve as a simple, minimally invasive method with faster healing and minimal risk of morbidity or scarring at the donor site. This review highlights previous research indicating that MSCs derived from human turbinate tissues maintain their stability and demonstrate multi-differentiation potential. Therefore, the turbinate could be an alternative to traditional MSC sources for producing functionally competent cells for future clinical applications.

Objectives: . In this study, we evaluated the associations between birth-related exposures, postnatal factors, and the risk of allergic rhinitis and asthma in children and adolescents. Methods: . We performed a comprehensive search of five literature databases up to May 2023. To quantify the associations of birth-related exposures (birth weight, delivery mode, prematurity, sex, maternal age, and parental allergy history) and postnatal factors (birth order, number of siblings, breastfeeding exclusivity, and breastfeeding duration) with allergic disease, we calculated pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. We conducted subgroup analyses for allergic disease type, birth order, number of siblings, and parental allergy history. The methodological quality of the identified studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: . This meta-analysis included 31 studies, encompassing 218,899 patients in total. The birth-related exposures of low birth weight, maternal age, and prematurity (less than 37 weeks gestation) were not significantly associated with the risk of asthma or allergic rhinitis during childhood or adolescence. Male sex, family history of allergy, and cesarean delivery were linked to an elevated risk of asthma or allergic rhinitis. Among postnatal factors, exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding for longer than 6 months, second or later birth order, and having siblings exhibited protective effects against allergic diseases in offspring. Conclusion . The risks of allergic rhinitis and asthma were elevated in male patients, those delivered by cesarean section, and those with a family history of allergy. Conversely, exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding for longer than 6 months, and having siblings corresponded to a reduced risk of respiratory allergic diseases.

Background and Objectives: The present study evaluated the efficacy of cryoablation of the posterior nasal nerve in alleviating symptoms associated with chronic rhinitis. Methods: A systematic review of pertinent literature sourced from PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases was conducted through May 2024. The analysis focused on studies that appraised changes in quality of life and rhinitis-associated symptomatology before and after cryoablation treatment. Results: A total of seven studies (495 patients) were included in the analysis. Significant improvements in rhinitis-related symptoms were observed in patients undergoing cryoablation, irrespective of etiology (allergic or nonallergic rhinitis). Furthermore, cryoablation yielded improvements in disease-specific quality of life, as measured by the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire. Notably, a clinically significant reduction (≥30% decrease from baseline) in total nasal symptomatology was noted in 71% of cases following cryoablation. Regarding the incidence of adverse effects, nasal dryness, epistaxis, ocular symptoms, and palatal numbness occurred in <5% of patients, while postoperative pain occurred in 10% and headache in 20% of patients who underwent treatment. In subtype analysis, the total nasal symptom score in nonallergic rhinitis showed a significantly increasing pattern over time (p=0.0017). Conclusion Cryoablation of the posterior nasal nerve appears to yield a decrease in subjective nasal symptom scores and an improvement in disease-specific quality of life. Notably, these effects persisted for up to 12 months post-treatment, with marked improvements observed in both allergic and nonallergic rhinitis subtypes.