Single-site port robotic-assisted hysterectomy: a systematic review

Introduction

Robotic single-port hysterectomy is a rather new technique.

Materials and Methods

We performed a systematic literature review to evaluate the till-now evidence regarding the use of robotic single-port hysterectomy technique as a method of management in gynecological pathologies.

Results

The till-now used port systems are discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of such a technique, as well as the indications and contraindications of it are also presented. Such a technically challenging operation seems to have similar results regarding blood loss and surgical time while the cosmetic outcome is better compared to the classic robotic hysterectomy. The technical difficulties include loss of instrumental triangulation, reduced operative working place, reduced visualization, instrumental crowding and clashing. The ways to overcome such difficulties are also described.

Conclusion

The need of technique standardization is the future aim.     

Breastfeeding in Byzantine icon art

Introduction

The Mary Galaktotrophousa is a representation of the Virgin breastfeeding the infant Jesus.

Materials

The origin of this theme goes back to Antiquity when images of gods feeding humans were considered as an example that should be imitated by human. In the early days of Christianity, the Fathers of the Church recognized on the feature of Mary the ideal exemplary of maternity.

Conclusion

The image of the Virgin breastfeeding the Holy Child, except the theological interpretation of the gesture, underline the fact that breastfeeding represents one of the most substantial gestures in the woman nature.     

Five-year incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among cardiovascular disease-free Greek adults: findings from the ATTICA study

Objective

We evaluated the 5-year incidence of diabetes in an adult population from Greece.

Research design and methods

3042 individuals (>18 years), free of cardiovascular disease, participated in the baseline examination (during 2001–2002). Of this sample, 1012 men and 1035 women were found alive at the time of follow-up, while 32 (2.1%) men and 22 (1.4%) women died during this period. The rest were lost to follow-up. Incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus was evaluated in 1806 participants who did not have diabetes at baseline.

Results

The age-adjusted 5-year incidence of diabetes was 5.5% (men, 5.8%; women, 5.2%). A linear trend was observed between diabetes incidence and age (5.6% increases in incidence per 1-year difference in age, p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR per 1 yr = 1.04, 95% CI 1.02–1.06), waist (OR per 1 cm = 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.003), physical activity (OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.35–1.02) and family history of diabetes (OR = 2.65, 95% CI 1.58–4.53), as well as fasting glucose levels (OR per 1 mg/dl = 1.05, 95% CI 1.03–1.07), were the most significant baseline predictors for diabetes, after adjusting for various potential confounders. Additionally, presence of metabolic syndrome at baseline evaluation 2.95-fold the risk of diabetes (95% CI 1.89–4.61), and showed better classification ability than the model that contained the components of the syndrome (ie, correct classification rate: 94.5% vs. 92.3%).

Conclusion

Our findings show that a 5.5% incidence rate of diabetes within a 5-year period, which suggests that the prevalence of this disorder in Greece is rising. Aging, heredity, and metabolic syndrome were the most significant determinants of diabetes.     

The effect of clinical characteristics and dietary habits on the relationship between education status and 5-year incidence of cardiovascular disease: the ATTICA study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to investigate whether clinical characteristics and dietary habits influence the association between education status and 5-year incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: From 2001 to 2002, 1,514 men and 1,528 women (>18 year) without known CVD were enrolled. In 2006, the 5-year follow-up was performed (31% participants were lost to follow-up). Development of fatal or non-fatal CVD (coronary heart disease, acute coronary syndromes, stroke, or other CVD) was defined according to WHO-ICD-10 criteria. Education status was measured in years of school, while baseline dietary habits were assessed through a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (EPIC-Greek). The Mediterranean-Diet-Score was applied to assess overall adherence to this pattern using scores of 11 food-variables and alcohol, according to the principles of the Mediterranean-diet. RESULTS: The 5-year incidence of CVD was 108 (11.0%) cases in men and 62 (6.1%) cases in women (P < 0.001); 32 (1.6%) of these events were fatal (21 in men). People in the low education group had significantly higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemias, were more likely to be sedentary and smokers, compared to high group. Moreover, compared to high, people in low education group had less healthy dietary habits, as assessed using the diet score (P < 0.001). Multi-adjusted analysis revealed that low education was positively associated with 5-year incidence of CVD, after adjusting for age and sex (HR = 1.64; 95%CI 1.05-2.55); however this association lost its significance when clinical characteristics and dietary habits were taken into account (HR = 1.31; 95%CI 0.63-2.74). CONCLUSIONS: Low education seems to increase CVD risk, an observation that was partially explained by baseline clinical characteristics and unhealthy dietary choices of people belonging into this group.     

Exploring the epidemiological characteristics of cancers of unknown primary site in an Australian population: implications for research and clinical care

OBJECTIVES: To investigate incidence, mortality and case survival trends for cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) and consider clinical implications. METHOD: South Australian Cancer Registry data were used to calculate age-standardised incidence and mortality rates from 1977 to 2004. Disease-specific survivals, socio-demographic, histological and secular predictors of CUP, compared with cancers of known primary site, and of CUP histological types, using multivariable logistic regression were investigated. RESULTS: Incidence and mortality rates increased approximately 60% between 1977--80 and 1981--84. Rates peaked in 1993--96. Male to female incidence and mortality rate ratios approximated 1.3:1. Incidence and mortality rates increased with age. The odds of unspecified histological type, compared with the more common adenocarcinomas, were higher for males than females, non-metropolitan residents, low socio-economic areas, and for 1977--88 than subsequent diagnostic periods. CUP represented a higher proportion of cancers in Indigenous patients. Case survival was 7% at 10 years from diagnosis. Factors predictive of lower case survival included older age, male sex, Indigenous status, lower socio-economic status, and unspecified histology type. CONCLUSION: Results point to poor CUP outcomes, but with a modest improvement in survival. The study identifies socio-demographic groups at elevated risk of CUP and of worse treatment outcomes where increased research and clinical attention are required.     

Using the Statecharts paradigm for simulation of patient flow in surgical care

Computer simulation of patient flow has been used extensively to assess the impacts of changes in the management of surgical care. However, little research is available on the utility of existing modeling techniques. The purpose of this paper is to examine the capacity of Statecharts, a system of graphical specification, for constructing a discrete-event simulation model of the peri-operative process. The Statecharts specification paradigm was originally developed for representing reactive systems by extending the formalism of finite-state machines through notions of hierarchy, parallelism, and event broadcasting. Hierarchy permits subordination between states so that one state may contain other states. Parallelism permits more than one state to be active at any given time. Broadcasting of events allows one state to detect changes in another state. In the context of the peri-operative process, hierarchy provides the means to describe steps within activities and to cluster related activities, parallelism provides the means to specify concurrent activities, and event broadcasting provides the means to trigger a series of actions in one activity according to transitions that occur in another activity. Combined with hierarchy and parallelism, event broadcasting offers a convenient way to describe the interaction of concurrent activities. We applied the Statecharts formalism to describe the progress of individual patients through surgical care as a series of asynchronous updates in patient records generated in reaction to events produced by parallel finite-state machines representing concurrent clinical and managerial activities. We conclude that Statecharts capture successfully the behavioral aspects of surgical care delivery by specifying permissible chronology of events, conditions, and actions.     

Capsular tension ring-based in vitro capsule opacification model

PURPOSE: To evaluate a capsular tension ring (CTR)-supported anterior and posterior capsule opacification (PCO) model in cadaver eyes. The effect of CTR designs on lens capsule shape and lens epithelial cell (LEC) growth were investigated in vitro. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. METHODS: Following open-sky extracapsular cataract extraction, CTR models were implanted in 32 eyes of 16 human donors. The lens capsule expansion by the CTRs was evaluated. The capsular bags supported by the CTRs were excised and maintained at physiological conditions for up to 3 months. The area of LEC coverage over the posterior capsule surface was objectively determined twice a day using a graticule. RESULTS: After CTR implantation, all lens capsules could be safely excised and transferred into organ culture. The CTR designs resulted in different shapes of lens capsule expansion. Complete LEC confluence occurred after a mean of 8.25 days+/-2.87 (SD) with the AcriRing KR10 (AcriTec), 6.50+/-1.0 days with the Acrimed, 8.62+/-3.34 days with the InjectoRing (Corneal), 9.00+/-1.87 days with the Morcher 14C, 9.33+/-0.75 days with the Morcher 2A, and 6.25+/-0.5 days with the Ophthalmic Innovation CTR. CONCLUSION: The CTR-supported in vitro PCO model offers a physiological method to support the lens capsule and is a reproducible system for the study of LEC proliferation.     

Idiopathic macular holes: ultrastructural aspects of surgical failure

PURPOSE: To investigate the ultrastructure of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) and epiretinal tissue in eyes with idiopathic macular holes that were not successfully closed by one operation. METHODS: A second vitrectomy with en bloc removal of the ILM and epimacular tissue was performed in 16 eyes with full-thickness macular holes after surgical failure. The specimens were processed for transmission electron microscopy. In 5 of 16 eyes, specimens of first macular hole surgery were also analyzed. RESULTS: Fibrocellular proliferation at the vitreal side of the ILM was found in all specimens from second vitrectomy. Myofibroblasts and fibroblasts were predominant. Cells were frequently observed as irregular accumulations rather than regular multilayers at the ILM. Masses of newly formed collagen were found distributed between cells and ILM. All specimens from first macular hole surgery were characterized by regular cellular layers and the presence of native vitreous collagen. CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with idiopathic macular holes that were found not to be closed early after the first vitrectomy show massive proliferation of cells and newly formed collagen irregularly distributed at the remaining ILM. After surgical intervention, ILM remnants and collagen may represent a stimulus for the early formation of tangential traction preventing successful macular hole closure.     

糖尿病视网膜病变中微动脉瘤荧光素渗出与视网膜增厚的关系

目的:观察糖尿病视网膜病变患者血管荧光素造影微动脉瘤处渗出与视网膜增厚的关系。方法:选取糖尿病视网膜病变患者24例38眼,首次及末次血管荧光素造影检查确定是否存在微动脉瘤荧光素渗出。根据毛细血管闭塞区的位置选取微动脉瘤荧光素渗出与未渗出各1眼配对进行对比。在微动脉瘤和直径为1mm区域使用光学相干断层成像术(OCT)测量视网膜厚度。结果:微动脉瘤荧光素渗出眼视网膜厚度明显高于未渗出眼(356±69μmvs318±56μm,P<0.001),渗出眼平均增长厚度高于未渗出眼(95%的可信区间为25～51μm,P<0.001).在直径为1mm区域,渗出眼视网膜厚度和平均增长厚度均明显高于未渗出眼(351±67μmvs319±59μm;最小值311±62μmvs284±60μm;最大值389±78μmvs352±66μm)。结论:血管荧光素造影显示微动脉瘤荧光素渗出可以增加视网膜厚度,并运用高分辨率OCT测量。因此,对糖尿病视网膜病变患者早期诊断微动脉瘤荧光素是否渗出可以抑制视网膜增厚。