Pulmonary metastases in urogenital cancers: Surgical treatment and outcomes

IntroductionMetastasis is remaining one of the major problems in cancer treatment. Like many other malignancies, urogenital tumors originating from kidney, prostate, testes, and bladder tend to metastasize to the lungs.The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the operative results and prognosis of pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with primary urogenital tumors.MethodsThis study was approved by the local ethical committee. We retrospectively analyzed the surgical and oncological results of patients who underwent lung resections for urogenital cancer metastases in our department between 2002 and 2018. Demographic data and clinicopathological features were extracted from the medical records. Survival outcomes according to cancer subtypes and early postoperative results of VATS and thoracotomy were analyzed.Results22 out of 126 patients referred for pulmonary metastasectomy to our department had metastases from urogenital tumors. These patients consisted of 17 males and five females. Their metastasis originated from renal cell carcinoma (RCC; n = 9), bladder tumor (n = 7), testis tumors (n = 4), and prostate cancer (n = 2). There was no intraoperative complication. Postoperative complications were seen in 2 patients.ConclusionsAlthough pulmonary metastasectomy in various types of tumors is well known and documented, the data is limited for metastases of urogenital cancers in the literature. Despite the limitations of this study, we aim to document our promising results of pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with primary urogenital tumors and wanted to emphasize the role of minimally invasive approaches.     

Diagnosis of pituitary abscess and treatment via transsphenoidal surgery: experience from 15 cases

ObjectivePituitary abscess is an often misdiagnosed, rare clinical disorder. To improve diagnostic accuracy and the efficacy of surgical and antibiotic therapy for patients with pituitary abscess, herein, we retrospectively reviewed 15 patients who presented with pituitary abscesses from 2005 to 2022.DesignRetrospective study.PatientsFifteen patients underwent transsphenoidal surgery and received antibiotic treatment.MeasurementsComplete details regarding medical history, clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, imaging studies, and treatment strategies were obtained for all patients.ResultsMost patients presented with hypopituitarism and headaches, while some presented with fever, visual disturbances, and diabetes insipidus (DI). Abscesses showed significant annular enhancement post gadolinium injection. In most patients, pituitary abscess can be cured via microscopic or endoscopic drainage of the abscess followed by antibiotic treatment. Complete cure of pituitary abscess was observed in nine patients, with six cases of prolonged hypopituitarism and only one case of recurrence. Long-term hormone replacement therapy was effective in the postoperative management of hypopituitarism.ConclusionsThe typical manifestations of pituitary abscess include hypopituitarism and headaches; the presence of an enhanced ring at the edge of the mass on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance images (MRI) is highly suggestive of pituitary abscess. We recommend antibiotic treatment for 4–6 weeks postoperatively, based on the results of bacterial cultures or metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS).     

制何首乌的炮制方法探索

目的:考察黑豆汁炖制时间对制何首乌外观性状及各类有效成分含量变化规律的影响。方法:采用HPLC同时测定不同炮制时间制何首乌样品中二苯乙烯苷、大黄素、大黄素甲醚、大黄素-8-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷、大黄素甲醚-8-O-葡萄糖苷的含量,选择Agilent ZORBAX Extend-C_(18)色谱柱(4. 6 mm×250 mm,5μm),甲醇(A)-水(B)为流动相梯度洗脱(0～30 min,5%～100%A; 30～40 min,100%A),流速1. 0 mL·min~(-1),柱温35℃,检测波长280 nm。结果:随炖制时间的增加,二苯乙烯苷含量逐渐降低,与8 h时相比,至64 h时含量降低76%;大黄素-8-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷和大黄素甲醚-8-O-葡萄糖苷2种蒽醌苷含量先上升后下降,至24 h时达最高值,炖制40 h时降至与8 h近似的水平,之后略有波动;大黄素、大黄素甲醚2种蒽醌苷元含量先上升后下降,炖制32 h时达最大值,之后缓慢降低并趋于稳定。结论:炖制时间对制何首乌中各类成分含量的影响显著,且变化趋势不尽相同,应规范制何首乌饮片的炮制时间;同时,仅以二苯乙烯苷及蒽醌类成分作为制何首乌的指标性成分依据不够充分,应考虑增加多糖类等质量控制指标。     

丹参干燥前后游离型和结合型酚酸的比较研究

丹参干燥前后,新鲜和干燥丹参中酚酸成分含量有显著性差异,即在干燥过程中随脱水增加,丹参酚酸含量显著增加。为探究丹参干燥前后游离型和结合型酚酸含量的差异及转化,该实验对丹参酚酸水解方法、水解产物、水解规律等进行研究,采用UPLC测定丹参结合型酚酸4种主要水解产物丹参素、咖啡酸二聚体(SMND-309)、咖啡酸、甘西鼠尾草酸甲(原紫草酸)以及丹参中3种主要游离酚酸成分(迷迭香酸、紫草酸和丹酚酸B)的含量。结果显示,丹参酚酸的碱水解效果显著优于酸水解,优选的碱水解条件为用含有1%抗坏血酸的2 mol·L-1氢氧化钠溶液于70℃水解4 h;游离酚酸和结合酚酸的水解产物相同;新鲜丹参中游离酚酸含量较低,结合酚酸含量较高,而干燥丹参却相反。提示丹参生长过程中已积累储存了大量的结合型酚酸,主要以酯键与细胞壁多糖结合形成了不溶性酚酸,常规方法不易检出,在干燥脱水过程中,结合型酚酸或在相关酶的作用下转化生成大量的游离酚酸。     

Prelamination of the latissimus dorsi flap for reconstruction in head and neck surgery

Free microsurgical tissue transfer of the latissimus dorsi flap may be indicated for the restoration of intra- and extraoral defects, especially when a large-sized skin island flap is required. In many cases, use of the latissimus dorsi flap for coverage of large-sized intraoral defects results in bulkiness due to the proportion of subcutaneous fat. Prelamination of free flaps appears to be a promising technique to overcome this flap bulkiness. This modification in flap design could improve the postoperative functional outcome, as well as reduce donor site morbidity. This article presents four novel clinical cases, in which the patients underwent prelamination of the latissimus dorsi flap with local skin grafts during oral cancer treatment in order to reduce the thickness of the free flap and allow tension-free primary closure of the donor site. These attempts successfully covered large-sized intraoral defects, achieving good functional outcomes with minimal donor site morbidity.     

Comparative Outcome Analysis of N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate Embolization of the False Lumen Versus Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair in Aortic Dissection

PurposeTo evaluate the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) embolization for the treatment of aortic dissection.Materials and MethodsIn this single-center retrospective study conducted from February 2003 to June 2019, NBCA embolization of an aortic false lumen was attempted in 12 patients (median age, 59 y; range, 41–68 y) and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) was performed in 53 patients (median age, 59 y; range, 37–70 y) for aortic dissection with one or more indications of persisting pain, malperfusion, rupture or impending rupture, maximal aortic diameter ≥ 55 mm, and/or rapid aortic enlargement. The main exclusion criterion for embolization was the presence of fast blood flow in the aortic false lumen on aortography. The efficacy of NBCA embolization and TEVAR was compared by evaluating technical and clinical outcomes, repeat intervention–free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS).ResultsTechnical success was achieved in 11 of the 12 patients treated with NBCA embolization (91.7%), and clinical success was achieved in 9 of these 11 (81.8%). No significant difference was found between embolization and TEVAR in clinical success rates (embolization, 81.8%; TEVAR, 84.9%; P = .409) or procedure-related complications (embolization, 1 patient [8.3%]; TEVAR, 4 patients [7.5%]; P = .701). In addition, embolization showed comparable 5-y RFS (embolization, 82.5% ± 9.3; TEVAR, 85.5% ± 4.8; P = .641) and 5-y OS (embolization, 100%; TEVAR, 95.4% ± 3.2; P = .744) rates to TEVAR.ConclusionsNBCA embolization of the false lumen in aortic dissection seems to be a safe and effective treatment modality for the closure of false lumen in selected patients.     

Physical activity as a proxy to ameliorate inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes and periodontal disease at high cardiovascular risk

While the beneficial impact of physical activity has been ascertained in a variety of pathological scenarios, including diabetes and low-grade systemic inflammation, its potential remains still putative for periodontal health. Periodontal disease has been associated with inflammatory systemic alterations, which share a common denominator with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Physical exercise, along with nutritional counseling, is a cornerstone in the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes, also able to reduce the prevalence of periodontal disease and cardiovascular risk. In addition, considering the higher incidence of periodontitis in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to healthy controls, the fascinating research question would be whether physical activity could relieve the inflammatory pressure exerted by the combination of these two diseases. This multi-disciplinary viewpoint discusses available literature in order to argument the hypothesis of a “three–way relationship” linking diabetes, periodontitis, and physical activity.