Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are major concerns in the healthcare system. An individual diagnostic approach and personalized therapy are key areas of an effective therapeutic process. The major aims of this study were: (1) to assess leading patient problems related to symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of CVDs, (2) to examine patients’ opinions about the healthcare system in Poland, and (3) to provide a proposal of practical solutions. The 27-point author’s questionnaire was distributed in the Cardiology Department of the Tertiary Care Centre between 2nd September–13th November 2021. A total of 132 patients were recruited, and 82 (62.12%; n_male = 37, 45.12%; n_female = 45, 54.88%) was finally included. The most common CVDs were arrhythmias and hypertension (both n = 43, 52.44%). 23 (28.05%) patients had an online appointment. Of the patients, 66 (80.49%) positively assessed and obtained treatment, while 11 (13.41%) patients declared they received a missed therapy. The participants identified: (1) waiting time (n = 31; 37.80%), (2) diagnostic process (n = 18; 21.95%), and (3) high price with limited availability of drugs (n = 12; 14.63%) as the areas that needed the strongest improvement. Younger patients more often negatively assessed doctor visits (30–40 yr.; p = 0.02) and hospital interventions (40–50 yr.; p = 0.008). Older patients (50–60 years old) less often negatively assessed the therapeutic process (p = 0.01). The knowledge of the factors determining patient adherence to treatment and satisfaction by Medical Professionals is crucial in providing effective treatment. Areas that require the strongest improvement are: (1) waiting time for an appointment and diagnosis, (2) limited availability and price of drugs, and (3) prolonged, complicated diagnostic process. Providing practical solutions is a crucial aspect of improving CVDs therapy.

Background/Objectives: Anthracyclines remain a pivotal element of numerous tumor management regimens; however, their utilization is associated with a range of adverse effects, the most significant of which is cardiotoxicity. Research is constantly being conducted to identify substances that could be incorporated into ongoing cancer chemotherapy to mitigate anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Recently, the apelinergic system has received a lot of attention in this field due to its involvement in cardiovascular regulation. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the ability of the apelinergic system to inhibit the cardiotoxic effects of anthracycline—doxorubicin (DOX). Methods: In this study, 54 Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into seven groups and received intraperitoneal injections with DOX once a week for 4 consecutive weeks. The osmotic pumps provided a continuous release of NaCl (control groups), apelin-13 and elabela at two different doses, and the apelin receptor (APJ) antagonist ML221. Electrocardiography (ECG) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with assessment of left ventricular (LV) systolic parameters were conducted on the first and last days of the experiment. Results: Lower doses of APJ agonists prevented the prolongation of QT and QTc intervals induced by DOX, while higher doses of these drugs exerted no such effect. The TTE examination confirmed DOX-induced LV systolic dysfunction. Moreover, the TTE examination revealed an improvement in the LV systolic parameters in the DOX-treated groups that were simultaneously administered APJ agonists. Conclusions: Our findings support the use of apelin and elabela as potential cardioprotective agents against anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity.

Introduction: Benign intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal tumors constitute about 65% of primary spinal neoplasms. Certain primary malignant or metastatic intradural lesions, although infrequent, may resemble their primary counterparts. Moreover, despite significant advances in the operative techniques, morbidity following treatment of IDEM tumors remains a considerable problem. Therefore, the current review aimed to summarize the most important data about radiological features of IDEM tumors on MRI and discuss optimal treatment of these lesions. Materials and methods: A systematic search was conducted based on MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Clinical Trial.gov, CENTRAL, EBSCO, and Embase according to the PRISMA statement on 8 July 2024. Extracted data were synthesized only qualitatively since the obtained data were not suitable for conducting the meta-analysis. Results: A total of 1003 records were identified in the database search. After considering eligibility criteria, 33 articles were further analyzed, of which 5 discussed diagnostic aspects and 28 evaluated treatment outcomes. Conclusion: The multidisciplinary approach, combining advanced diagnostic imaging, surgical innovation, radiation therapy, and emerging technologies, provides a comprehensive framework for the effective management of intradural extramedullary tumors. Continued research and clinical trials are essential to refine these strategies, enhance diagnostic precision, and optimize treatment outcomes for patients with spinal tumors.

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) comprise a group of tumours that can develop in various internal organs, but in this review, we will describe only those arising in the lungs, thyroid, and thymus. Pulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasms (pulmonary NENs) account for approximately 25% of all lung cancers. They are classified into four groups of tumours: typical carcinoids (TCs), atypical carcinoids (ACs), small cell lung carcinoma, and large cell lung carcinoma. This review focuses on TC and AC. The treatment consists mainly of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical resection, but novel drugs like atezolizumab are also utilised. The most common neuroendocrine neoplasm of the thyroid gland is medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), which commonly possesses RET protooncogene mutations. MTC is treated by a total thyroidectomy. Recently, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have emerged as an effective treatment option for patients with advanced MTC. Neuroendocrine tumours of the thymus (NETTs) are also being treated with a radical surgery.

Background: Surgical decompression is regarded as standard treatment for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). However, the timing of surgery remains a critical yet unresolved issue in clinical practice. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of symptom duration on surgical outcomes and determine the optimal timing for surgery. Methods: A systematic search was conducted on 16th November 2025 using PubMed, Ovid, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to identify eligible articles. Studies comprising patients with DCM undergoing surgery, assessing outcome by mJOA score at a minimum of 12 months of follow-up, were included. A risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the Quality in Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) tool. Results: From 1522 records, 14 studies encompassing a total of 3162 patients were included in the current meta-analysis. Symptom duration was significantly associated with postoperative mJOA score according to univariate (OR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.64–2.81) and multivariate data (OR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.23–2.57). Meta-regression showed that neither baseline mJOA score nor age affected the association. Moreover, early surgery resulted in reduced neck pain and disability measured by the NDI score (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.24–1.95), but not quality of life according to EQ-5D (OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 0.74–2.89). At the 6-month and 12-month cut-off points, patients with longer symptom duration had significantly worse outcomes in terms of mJOA score, and after exclusion of high-risk-of-bias studies, only at the 12-month cut-off point. However, the test for subgroup differences was insignificant (p = 0.89). Conclusion: Longer symptom duration is associated with poor surgical outcomes. Therefore, the duration of symptoms should be regarded as a clinically meaningful factor when counseling patients with DCM and planning surgical intervention. An optimal threshold for symptom duration, indicating when the surgery should be performed to prevent poor outcomes, cannot be recommended due to limitations of published data and needs to be established by further well-designed prospective studies. Future research should also aim to define optimal time cut-offs across different degrees of DCM severity and varied disease trajectories.