Glioma and glioblastoma multiform (GBM) remain among the most debilitating and life-threatening brain tumors. Despite advances in diagnosing approaches, patient follow-up after treatment (surgery and chemoradiation) is still challenging for differentiation between tumor progression/recurrence, pseudoprogression, and radionecrosis. Radiomics emerges as a promising tool in initial diagnosis, grading, and survival prediction in patients with glioma and can help differentiate these post-treatment scenarios. Preliminary published studies are promising about the role of radiomics in post-treatment glioma/GBM. However, this field faces significant challenges, including a lack of evidence-based solid data, scattering publication, heterogeneity of studies, and small sample sizes. The present review explores radiomics’s capabilities in following patients with glioma/GBM status post-treatment and to differentiate tumor progression, recurrence, pseudoprogression, and radionecrosis.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains a significant global health problem, with ongoing debates about the most effective treatment approach. While donepezil monotherapy has been traditionally used, recent interest has focused on combining it with memantine. This updated meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of donepezil monotherapy versus its combination with memantine for treating AD. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases up to February 14, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing donepezil monotherapy with donepezil combined with memantine in AD patients were included. The quality of each selected study was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) risk-of-bias tool. Data on cognitive function, measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Severe Impairment Battery (SIB), were extracted and analyzed using a random-effects model. A total of four RCTs, including 1930 patients, met the inclusion criteria. Analysis using a forest plot revealed no significant difference in MMSE scores between monotherapy and combination therapy (OR = 0.54, 95 % CI: 0.06–4.60, p > 0.05). However, SIB scores showed a significant improvement with combination therapy (OR = 7.00, 95 % CI: 1.13–43.24, p < 0.05). Both analyses exhibited high heterogeneity (I² = 72 % for MMSE; I² = 89 % for SIB). The funnel plots suggested minor publication bias for the MMSE outcomes, but some asymmetry was observed in the results for SIB. This meta-analysis suggests that combination therapy with donepezil and memantine significantly benefits patients with severe cognitive impairment, as assessed by the SIB, compared to donepezil monotherapy. However, no significant advantage was observed in MMSE scores. The high heterogeneity among studies highlights the need for cautious interpretation and calls for larger, well-designed randomized controlled trials to further elucidate the comparative efficacy of these two therapeutic approaches in Alzheimer's disease.

SGLT-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) lower blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes by inhibiting renal glucose reabsorption. While the relationship between SGLT-2i and breast cancer remains inconclusive, emerging evidence suggests potential anticancer properties. This systematic review and meta-analysis compares the effects of SGLT-2i and DPP-4i on breast cancer incidence and related mortality to clarify current conflicting evidence. An extensive literature search was conducted using MeSH terms and relevant keywords related to SGLT-2 inhibitors, breast cancer, and mortality across PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar up to August 12, 2023. Additionally, reference lists of the included studies were manually screened to identify further eligible articles. Data on the impact of SGLT-2 inhibitors on breast cancer and its associated mortality were extracted from the included studies. Findings were presented using hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) displayed in a forest plot. At the same time, heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic, applying a random-effects model for significant heterogeneity. Seven cohort studies involving 408,026 individuals were included. SGLT-2 inhibitors were not associated with a significant difference in breast cancer risk compared to DPP-4 inhibitors (HR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.82–1.30, p > 0.05), but were linked to a 30% reduction in breast cancer–specific mortality and improved overall survival (HR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.65–0.77, p < 0.05). The impact of SGLT-2 inhibitors and DPP-4 inhibitors on breast cancer incidence appears to be comparable. However, SGLT-2 inhibitors may confer a greater reduction in breast cancer–related mortality and potentially improve overall patient survival compared to DPP-4 inhibitors. Given the observed heterogeneity among existing studies, larger, high-quality randomized controlled trials are warranted to validate these findings.