Cancer screening techniques aim to detect premalignant lesions and enable early intervention to delay the onset of cancer while keeping incidence constant. Technology advancements have led to the development of powerful tools such as microfluidic technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning algorithms, and electrochemical biosensors to aid in early cancer detection. Non-invasive cancer screening methods like virtual colonoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography have also been developed to provide comprehensive pictures of organs and detect cancer early. This review article provides an overview of recent advances in cancer screening in microfluidic technology, artificial intelligence, and biomarkers through a narrative literature search. Microfluidic devices enable easy handling of sub-microliter volumes and have become a promising tool for cancer detection, drug screening, and modeling angiogenesis and metastasis in cancer research. Machine learning and artificial intelligence have shown high accuracy in oncology-related diagnostic imaging, reducing the manual steps in lesion detection and providing standardized and accurate results, with potential for global standardization in areas like colon polyps, breast cancer, and primary and metastatic brain cancer. A biomarker-based cancer diagnosis is promising for early detection and effective therapy, and electrochemical biosensors integrated with nanoparticles offer multiplexing and amplification capabilities. Understanding these advanced technologies' basics, achievements, and challenges is crucial for advancing their use in oncology.

Background/Objectives: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists are increasingly used worldwide for weight and hyperglycemia management. There is an ongoing debate on the presence of increased gastric residue, leading to complications such as aspiration and overall safety in patients receiving upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. We aimed to study the effect of GLP-RAs on endoscopy outcomes. Methods: We conducted a detailed search of online databases to select the studies which provided details of the effects of GLP-RAs on patients undergoing endoscopy. The outcomes of interest were odds of retained gastric content (RGC), aspiration risk, and aborted and repeated procedures. A random effect model was used to calculate the pooled odds of outcomes with a 95% CI. We further calculated the pooled odds of predictive factors associated with an increased rate of retained gastric residues in the study population. Results: We included 12 studies with a total of 105,515 patients, of which 32,144 were on GLP-1 RAs and 73,273 were in the control group. A total of 234 (0.73%) aspiration events in GLP-RA users were noted compared to 257 (0.35%) events in the control group. No increased odds (1.26, 95% CI 0.86–1.87, I² 34%) of aspiration were found in GLP-1 users compared to the non-GLP-1 group. Patients on GLP-1 RA had increased RGC compared to the control group (OR 6.30, 95% CI 5.30–7.49, I² 0%). The pooled odds of aborted (OR 5.50, 95% CI 3.25–9.32, I² 0%) and repeated procedures (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.42–3.38, I² 0%) were significantly higher in GLP-1 RA users. Patients taking Tirazepatide had the highest percentage of RGC (18.9%), while exenatide users had the lowest rate (6.2%) of food retention. Patients undergoing concomitant colonoscopy were found to have significantly low pooled odds of RGC (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.04–0.48). GLP-1 RAs use was independently associated with increased odds of RGC (3.91, 95% CI 3.21–4.62, I² 0%). The results were homogenous and stayed consistent in the sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: Although the odds of RGC and aborted procedures are high in the GLP-1 RAs group compared to the control, no significant difference in the odds of aspiration was found between the two groups. Simple measures such as a clear liquid diet for 24 h, as routinely set for patients undergoing colonoscopy, may reduce the risk of retaining gastric residue in these patient populations.

To keep inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in remission, mesalamine is frequently utilized. It primarily targets the inflammatory response and lowers prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis. It can be applied topically, orally, or as a suppository. It is typically well tolerated, but occasionally it can cause serious side effects, leading to a variety of medical problems. We describe two cases of severe mesalamine-induced toxicity, one of which manifested as cardiomyopathy and the other as pneumonitis. However, early detection and treatment of the side effects can be lifesaving.

Efficacy and safety of polyethylene glycol in combination with linaclotide versus polyethylene glycol alone for colonoscopy: a grade-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis

Melanoma is one of the most notorious tumors due to its appearance in unusual locations. The most frequent site is the skin; however, it can sporadically develop as a primary tumor in the esophagus. However, as symptoms appear later, if the primary site is in the gastrointestinal system, it is frequently detected at the metastatic stage. We hereby describe a case of primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus that presented due to dysphagia with solid food and on further workup, found to be at the metastatic stage.