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Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024: Patients with liver pathology benefit from image-guided interventions. Training for interventional procedures is recommended to be performed on liver phantoms until a...
: Patients with liver pathology benefit from image-guided interventions. Training for interventional procedures is recommended to be performed on liver phantoms until a basic proficiency is reached. In the last 40 years, several attempts have been made to develop materials to mimic the imaging characteristics of the human liver in order to create liver phantoms. There is still a lack of accessible, reproducible and cost-effective soft liver phantoms for image-guided procedure training. : Starting from a CT-scan DICOM file, we created a 3D-printed liver mold using InVesalius (Centro de Tecnologia da informação Renato Archer CTI, InVesalius 3 open-source software, Campinas, Brazil) for segmentation, Autodesk Fusion 360 with Netfabb (Autodesk software company, Fusion 360 2.0.19426 with Autodesk Netfabb Premium 2023.0 64-Bit Edition, San Francisco, CA, USA) for 3D modeling and Stratasys Fortus 380 mc 3D printer (Stratasys 3D printing company, Fortus 380 mc 3D printer, Minneapolis, MN, USA). Using the 3D-printed mold, we created 14 gelatin-based liver phantoms with 14 different recipes, using water, cast sugar and dehydrated gelatin, 32% fat bovine milk cream with intravenous lipid solution and technical alcohol in different amounts. We tested all these phantoms as well as ex vivo pig liver and human normal, fatty and cirrhotic liver by measuring the elasticity, shear wave speed, ultrasound attenuation, CT-scan density, MRI signal intensity and fracture force. We assessed the results of the testing performed, as well as the optical appearance on ultrasound, CT and MRI, in order to find the best recipe for gelatin-based phantoms for image-guided procedure training. : After the assessment of all phantom recipes, we selected as the best recipe for transparent phantoms one with 14 g of gelatin/100 mL water and for opaque phantom, the recipes with 25% cream. : These liver gelatin-based phantom recipes are an inexpensive, reproducible and accessible alternative for training in image-guided and diagnostic procedures and will meet most requirements for valuable training.
PubMed: 38929969
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123440 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024This study aims to assess the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the corneal epithelial layer of keratoconus patients. DNA was extracted from corneal epithelial...
This study aims to assess the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the corneal epithelial layer of keratoconus patients. DNA was extracted from corneal epithelial samples procured from ten individual keratoconus eyes and three healthy controls. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was performed to detect ocular microbiota using an agnostic approach. Metagenomic sequencing revealed a low microbial read count in corneal epithelial samples derived from both keratoconus eyes (average: 530) and controls (average: 622) without a statistically significant difference ( = 0.29). Proteobacteria were the predominant phylum in both keratoconus and control samples (relative abundance: 72% versus 79%, respectively). The overall low microbial read count and the lack of difference in the relative abundance of different microbial species between keratoconus and control samples do not support the hypothesis that a chronic corneal infection is implicated in the pathogenesis of keratoconus. These findings do not rule out the possibility that an acute infection may be involved in the disease process as an initiating event.
PubMed: 38929928
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123399 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Jun 2024Radical trachelectomy allows for fertility preservation in patients with early cervical cancer not qualifying as "low-risk" as defined by ConCerv. This study reports on...
Radical trachelectomy allows for fertility preservation in patients with early cervical cancer not qualifying as "low-risk" as defined by ConCerv. This study reports on the 10-year surgical, oncological, and obstetrical experience of patients treated by radical abdominal trachelectomy at an Austrian tertiary care center. A retrospective chart analysis and telephone survey of all patients with FIGO stage IA2-IB2 (2018) cervical cancer treated by radical abdominal trachelectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy between 2013 and 2022 were performed. Radical abdominal trachelectomy was attempted in 29 patients, of whom 3 patients underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Three cases, including one after neoadjuvant therapy, required conversion to radical hysterectomy due to positive margins; four cases had positive lymph nodes following surgical staging and were referred to primary chemo-radiotherapy. Twenty-two (75.9%) successful abdominal radical trachelectomies preserving fertility were performed. According to final histopathology, 79.3% of tumors would not have met the "low-risk"-criteria. At a median follow-up of 64.5 (25.5-104.0) months, no recurrence was observed. Eight (36.4%) patients attempted to conceive, with a live birth rate of 62.5%. Radical abdominal trachelectomy appears oncologically safe in early-stage cervical cancers that do not fulfill the "low-risk"-criteria. Strict preoperative selection of patients who might qualify for more conservative surgical approaches is strongly recommended.
PubMed: 38929833
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060611 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine May 2024Over the years, various researchers have attempted to compare digital cephalometry with the conventional manual approach. There is a need to comprehensively analyze the... (Review)
Review
Over the years, various researchers have attempted to compare digital cephalometry with the conventional manual approach. There is a need to comprehensively analyze the findings from the earlier studies and determine the potential advantages and limitations of each method. The present systematic review aimed to compare the accuracy of digital and manual tracing in cephalometric analysis for the identification of skeletal and dental landmarks. A systematic search was performed using the keywords "Digital" AND "Manual" AND "Cephalometry" to identify relevant studies published in the English language in the past decade. The electronic data resources consulted for the elaborate search included the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Scopus, ERIC, and ScienceDirect with controlled vocabulary and free text terms. A total of = 20 studies were identified that fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria within the timeframe of 2013 to 2023. The data extracted from the included articles and corresponding meta-analyses are presented in the text. The findings of the present systematic review and meta-analysis revealed trends suggesting that digital tracing may offer reliable measurements for specific cephalometric parameters efficiently and accurately. Orthodontists must consider the potential benefits of digital cephalometry, including time-saving and user-friendliness.
PubMed: 38929786
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060566 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine May 2024In reconstructive surgery, local flaps might develop tissue necrosis or partial flap loss especially after previous irradiation, which may be necessary in many tumor...
BACKGROUND
In reconstructive surgery, local flaps might develop tissue necrosis or partial flap loss especially after previous irradiation, which may be necessary in many tumor entities. The application of stem cells seems promising to improve flap perfusion and might be a possible solution to optimize flap survival.
METHODS
Twenty rats received harvesting of bilateral random pattern fasciocutaneous flaps. The right flaps received 20 Gy ionizing radiation 4 weeks prior to the surgery, while the left flaps served as the non-irradiated control. After flap harvest, four different stem cell mixtures (5 × 10 ASC, ASC-HUVEC, MSC, MSC-HUVEC) were applied under both right and left flaps using 1 mL fibrin glue as the delivery vehicle. Flap size and its necrotic area were examined clinically. Two weeks after the surgery, HE staining and immunohistochemical staining for CD68 and ERG, as well as PCR analysis (Interleukin 6, HIF-1α and VEGF), were performed.
RESULTS
Application of ASCs, ASCs-HUVECs and MSCs resulted in a lower number of CD68-stained cells compared to the no cell group. The expression of Hif1α was higher in the ASC group compared to those in the MSC and previously treated no cell groups. Treatment with MSCs and MSCs-HUVECs prevented shrinking of the flaps in this series.
CONCLUSION
Application of ASCs, MSCs and ASCs-HUVECs was shown to have an antiinflammatory effect. Treatment with MSCs and MSCs-HUVECs can prevent early shrinking of the flaps.
PubMed: 38929774
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060554 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical-pathological profile in young patients with thyroid cancer. We realized a retrospective study on patients with...
The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical-pathological profile in young patients with thyroid cancer. We realized a retrospective study on patients with thyroid neoplasms who underwent surgery at the "Pius Brinzeu" County Clinical Emergency Hospital in Timisoara, Romania. A comparative analysis of some parameters between two groups, young patients (<45 years) versus patients ≥45 years, was performed. A total of 211 patients met the study inclusion criteria, mostly females (86.26%) with a female/male ratio of 6.81:1. In patients <45 years old (25.64%), papillary thyroid carcinoma was identified in 51.85% of cases; in 53.85% of cases, the tumor was >1 cm; 13.46% had extrathyroidal extension ( = 0.0430); 21.15% capsule invasion ( = 0.1756); 23.08% lympho-vascular invasion ( = 0.0048); and 13.46% of cases locoregional nodal invasion ( = 0.0092). Thyroid cancer in young people was associated with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and tumor progression parameters, identifying more cases of extrathyroidal extension, locoregional nodal invasion, lympho-vascular invasion and perineural invasion in young patients compared to older ones. For a better understanding of this pathology and to improve diagnosis and therapeutic management, more studies are needed for these patients.
PubMed: 38929679
DOI: 10.3390/life14060696 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Adenoma detection rate (ADR) is challenging to measure, given its dependency on pathology reporting. Polyp detection rate (PDR) (percentage of screening colonoscopies...
Adenoma detection rate (ADR) is challenging to measure, given its dependency on pathology reporting. Polyp detection rate (PDR) (percentage of screening colonoscopies detecting a polyp) is a proposed alternative to overcome this issue. Overall PDR from all colonoscopies is a relatively novel concept, with no large-scale studies comparing overall PDR with screening-only PDR. The aim of the study was to compare PDR from screening, surveillance, and diagnostic indications with overall PDR and evaluate any correlation between individual endoscopist PDR by indication to determine if overall PDR can be a valuable surrogate for screening PDR. Our study analyzed a prospectively collected national endoscopy database maintained by the National Institute of Health from 2009 to 2014. Out of 354,505 colonoscopies performed between 2009-2014, 298,920 ( = 110,794 average-risk screening, = 83,556 average-risk surveillance, = 104,770 diagnostic) met inclusion criteria. The median screening PDR was 25.45 (IQR 13.15-39.60), comparable with the median overall PDR of 24.01 (IQR 11.46-35.86, = 0.21). Median surveillance PDR was higher at 33.73 (IQR 16.92-47.01), and median diagnostic PDR was lower at 19.35 (IQR 9.66-29.17), compared with median overall PDR 24.01 (IQR 11.46-35.86; < 0.01). The overall PDR showed excellent concordance with screening, surveillance, and diagnostic PDR (r > 0.85, < 0.01, 2-tailed). The overall PDR is a reliable and pragmatic surrogate for screening PDR and can be measured in real time, irrespective of colonoscopy indication.
PubMed: 38929637
DOI: 10.3390/life14060654 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jun 2024Chromophobe RCC (ChRCC) carries the best prognosis among all RCC subtypes, yet it lacks a proper grading system. Various systems have been suggested in the past, causing...
Chromophobe RCC (ChRCC) carries the best prognosis among all RCC subtypes, yet it lacks a proper grading system. Various systems have been suggested in the past, causing much controversy, and Avulova et al. recently proposed a promising four-tier grading system that takes into consideration tumor necrosis. Dysregulation of the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway plays a key role in ChRCC pathogenesis, highlighting its molecular complexity. The present retrospective study aimed to evaluate the prognostic factors associated with a more aggressive ChRCC phenotype. Seventy-two patients diagnosed with ChRCC between 2004 and 2017 were included in our study. Pathology reports and tissue blocks were reviewed, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed in order to assess the expressions of CYLD (tumor-suppressor gene) and mTOR, among other markers. Univariate analysis was performed, and OS was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. In our study, 74% of patients were male, with a mean age of 60 years, and the mean tumor size was 63 mm (±44). The majority (54%) were followed for more than 10 years at intervals ranging between 44 and 222 months. The risk of death was significantly higher for patients that were classified as Grade 4 in the Avulova system (HR: 5.83; 95% CI, 1.37-24.7; : = 0.017). As far as the IHC is concerned, mTOR expression was associated with an HR of 8.57 (95% CI, 1.91-38.5; = 0.005), and CYLD expression was associated with an HR of 17.3 (95% CI, 1.57-192; = 0.02). In our study, the Avulova grading system seems to be positively correlated with OS in patients diagnosed with ChRCC. Furthermore, an elevated mTOR expression also shows a negative correlation with OS, whereas an elevated CYLD expression does not seem to exert a protective role. However, because only a small proportion (4.2%) of our patients died due to ChRCC, despite the long follow-up period, the results must be interpreted with caution. Further research is needed to validate our findings.
Topics: Humans; Male; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Female; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Kidney Neoplasms; Prognosis; Aged; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; Neoplasm Grading; Adult; Immunohistochemistry; Deubiquitinating Enzyme CYLD; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Biomarkers, Tumor
PubMed: 38929613
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060996 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jun 2024: Gastric metastasis from invasive ductal breast cancer (BC) is rare. It mainly occurs in patients with lobular BC. The occurrence of multiple metastases is typically... (Review)
Review
: Gastric metastasis from invasive ductal breast cancer (BC) is rare. It mainly occurs in patients with lobular BC. The occurrence of multiple metastases is typically observed several years after the primary diagnosis. Endoscopic findings of gastric metastasis of the BC were usually the linitis plastic type. : A 72-year-old women who underwent right modified radical mastectomy (MRM) 10 month ago was referred after being diagnosed with early gastric cancer (EGC) during systemic chemotherapy. EGC type I was found at gastric fundus, and pathologic finding showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Metachronous double primary tumor EGC was considered. : A laparoscopic total gastrectomy was performed, and postoperative pathology revealed submucosa invasion and two lymph node metastases. A pathologic review that focused on immunohistochemical studies of selected antibodies such as GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3), gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 (GCDFP-15), cytokeratin 7 (CK7) was performed again, comparing previous results. As a result, gastric metastasis from BC was diagnosed. After totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy, palliative first-line chemotherapy with paclitaxel/CDDP was performed. Two months after gastrectomy, she was diagnosed with para-aortic lymph node metastasis and multiple bone metastases. She expired six months after gastrectomy. : Gastric metastasis from invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast, which is clinically manifested as EGC, is a very rare condition. If there is a history of BC, careful pathological review will be required.
Topics: Humans; Female; Stomach Neoplasms; Aged; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast; Gastrectomy; Diagnosis, Differential; Lymphatic Metastasis
PubMed: 38929597
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060980 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) May 2024: The purpose of the study was to analyze the relationships among several clinical factors and also the tumor topography and surgical strategies used in patients with... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
: The purpose of the study was to analyze the relationships among several clinical factors and also the tumor topography and surgical strategies used in patients with colorectal cancer. We designed an analytical, observational, retrospective study that included patients admitted to our emergency surgical department and diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The study group inclusion criteria were: patients admitted during 2020-2022; patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer (including the ileocecal valve); patients who benefited from a surgical procedure, either emergency or elective. : In our study group, consisting of 153 patients, we accounted for 56.9% male patients and 43.1% female patients. The most common clinical manifestations were pain (73.2% of the study group), followed by abdominal distension (69.3% of the study group) and absence of intestinal transit (38.6% of the study group). A total of 69 patients had emergency surgery (45.1%), while 84 patients (54.9%) benefited from elective surgery. The most frequent topography of the tumor was the sigmoid colon, with 19.60% of the patients, followed by the colorectal junction, with 15.68% of the patients, and superior rectum and inferior rectum, with 11.11% of the patients in each subcategory. The most frequent type of procedure was right hemicolectomy (21.6% of the study group), followed by rectosigmoid resection (20.9% of the study group). The surgical procedure was finished by performing an anastomosis in 49% of the patients, and an ostomy in 43.1% of the patients, while for 7.8% of the patients, a tumoral biopsy was performed. : Colorectal cancer remains one of the most frequent cancers in the world, with a heavy burden that involves high mortality, alterations in the quality of life of patients and their families, and also the financial costs of the medical systems.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Colorectal Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Aged; Middle Aged; Elective Surgical Procedures; Cohort Studies; Aged, 80 and over; Adult; Emergencies
PubMed: 38929515
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060898