Coronally advanced flap and combination therapy for root coverage. Clinical strategies based on scientific evidence and clinical experience

During the past three decades, several surgical techniques have been proposed to treat single and multiple gingival recessions. Evidence indicates that coronally advanced flap‐based approaches result in the best clinical results. Among all the different techniques, the use of a graft under a coronally advanced flap results in the best short‐ and long‐term outcomes in terms of root coverage and gain in keratinized tissue. The use of a coronally advanced flap + connective tissue graft would appear to be the best choice for root coverage. However, harvesting a graft from the palate adds morbidity, surgical chair‐time and requires increased surgical skills. A potential alternative could be the use of enamel matrix derivatives under a coronally advanced flap, and this achieves similar clinical outcomes and is less invasive, but adds economic costs to the treatment. Evidence shows that a coronally advanced flap alone in many instances results in complete root coverage and is stable over time. A coronally advanced flap is less invasive for the patient, requires less chair‐time and probably less surgical skill. It would therefore be desirable to use a coronally advanced flap approach when indicated. It has been hypothesized that a coronally advanced flap approach alone could be successfully applied when the residual gingiva is thick and wide, although existing evidence does not support this hypothesis in full. Accordingly, the adjunctive use of a graft or enamel matrix derivatives could be restricted to sites at which there is thin and narrow residual gingiva.     

Subcutaneous chronic implantable defibrillation systems in humans

The recent introduction of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) has raised attention about the potential of this technology for clinical use in daily clinical practice. We review the methods and results of the four studies conducted in humans for approval of this innovative technology for daily practice. Two studies using a temporary S-ICD system (acute human studies) were conducted to search for an appropriate lead configuration and energy requirements. For this purpose, 4 S-ICD configurations were tested in 78 patients at the time of transvenous (TV)-ICD implantation. The optimal configuration was tested in 49 more patients to comparatively assess the subcutaneous defibrillation threshold (S-DFT) versus the standard TV-ICD. Long-term implants were evaluated in 55 patients using an implanted system (chronic human study). The acute humans studies led to an optimal S-ICD configuration comprising a parasternal electrode and left anterolateral thoracic pulse generator. Both configurations successfully terminated 98% of induced ventricular fibrillation (VF), but significantly higher energy levels were required with S-ICD than with TV-ICD systems (36.6?±?19.8 J vs. 11.1?±?8.5 J). In the chronic study, all 137 VF episodes induced at time of implant were detected with a 98% conversion rate. Two pocket infections and four lead revisions were required during 10?±?1 months of follow-up. During this period, survival was 98%, and 12 spontaneous ventricular tachyarrhythmias were detected and treated by the device. These data show that the S-ICD systems here consistently detected and converted VF induced at time of implant as well as sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias occurring during follow-up (248).     

Subclinical anthracycline cardiotoxicity in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia in long-term remission after the AIDA protocol

Anthracycline chemotherapy remains a critical component of cancer treatment despite its established risk of cardiotoxicity. To investigate whether the AIDA protocol, which combines idarubicin, mitoxantrone, and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) results in late cardiotoxicity, 34 APL patients in long-term remission were evaluated. The cumulative dose of idarubicin and mitoxantrone were 80 mg/m(2) and 50 mg/m(2), respectively. Median follow-up was 7 years. Segmental wall motion abnormalities (SWMAs) were detected in 11 AIDA patients who still presented with an ejection fraction (EF) within normal limits (EF 56% in the AIDA group vs 59% in the control group, P=.01). However, parameters of diastolic dysfunction were significantly impaired in the AIDA group (E/A ratio: 1.04 in the AIDA group vs 1.28 in the control group, P=.001; E/E' lateral ratio: 10.04 in the AIDA group vs 5.79 in the control group, P≤.001) as well as left atrial volume (52 mL in the AIDA group vs 35 mL in the control group, P<.001). Cardiac toxicity due to anthracycline therapy is often frequent. Changes in diastolic function are helpful in the detection of subclinical anthracycline cardiotoxicity in long-term cardiac follow-up despite a preserved systolic ventricular function.     

A night of sleep deprivation alters brain connectivity and affects specific executive functions

Neurological Sciences - Sleep is a fundamental physiological process necessary for efficient cognitive functioning especially in relation to memory consolidation and executive functions, such as...     

Recurrent renal cell carcinoma: clinical and prognostic value of FDG PET/CT

Purpose

The purpose of our study was 1) to evaluate the diagnostic performance of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT), 2) to assess the impact of FDG PET/CT on treatment decision-making, and 3) to estimate the prognostic value of FDG PET/CT in the restaging process among patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods

From the FDG PET/CT databases of San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, Italy, and the Veneto Institute of Oncology in Padua, Italy, we selected 104 patients with a certain diagnosis of RCC after surgery, and for whom at least 24 months of post-surgical FDG PET/CT, clinical, and instrumental follow-up data was available. The sensitivity and specificity of FDG PET/CT were assessed by histology and/or other imaging as standard of reference. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were computed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify predictors of outcome.

Results

FDG PET/CT resulted in a positive diagnosis in 58 patients and a negative diagnosis in 46 patients. Sensitivity and specificity were 74 % and 80 %, respectively. FDG PET/CT findings influenced therapeutic management in 45/104 cases (43 %). After a median follow-up period of 37 months (± standard deviation 12.9), 51 (49 %) patients had recurrence of disease, and 26 (25 %) had died. In analysis of OS, positive versus negative FDG PET/CT was associated with worse cumulative survival rates over a 5-year period (19 % vs. 69 %, respectively; p <0.05). Similarly, a positive FDG PET/CT correlated with a lower 3-year PFS rate. In addition, univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that a positive scan, alone or in combination with disease stage III–IV or nuclear grading 3–4, was associated with high risk of progression (multivariate analysis = hazard ratios [HRs] of 4.01, 3.7, and 2.8, respectively; all p?<?0.05).

Conclusions

FDG PET/CT is a valuable tool both in treatment decision-making and for predicting survival and progression in patients affected by RCC.

     

Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery for Rectal Lesions

Methods:From November 2011 through May 2016, 31 patients (21 females, 68%), with a median age of 65 years who underwent single-port TAMIS were prospectively enrolled. Mean distance from the anal verge of the rectal tumors was 9.5 cm. Seventeen patients presented with T1 cancer, 10 with large adenoma, 2 with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and 2 with carcinoid tumor. Data concerning demographics, operative procedure and pathologic results were analyzed.Results:TAMIS was successfully completed in all cases. In 4 (13%) TAMIS was converted to standard Park''s transanal technique. Median postoperative stay was 3 days. The overall complication rate was 9.6%, including 1 urinary tract infection, 1 subcutaneous emphysema, and 1 hemorrhoidal thrombosis. TAMIS allowed an R0 resection in 96.8% of cases (30/31 cases) and a single case of local recurrence after a large adenoma resection was encountered.Conclusion:TAMIS is a safe technique, with a short learning curve for laparoscopic surgeons already proficient in single-port procedures, and provides effective oncological outcomes compared to other techniques.     

A minimally invasive surgical technique with an enamel matrix derivative in the regenerative treatment of intra-bony defects: a novel approach to limit morbidity

AIMS: This study was undertaken to describe a new surgical approach (minimally invasive surgical technique, MIST) and to evaluate preliminarily its clinical performance and patient perception associated with the application of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) in the treatment of isolated deep intra-bony defects. METHODS: Thirteen deep isolated intra-bony defects in 13 patients were surgically accessed with the MIST. This technique was designed to limit the mesio-distal flap extension and the corono-apical reflection in order to reduce the surgical trauma and increase flap stability. The incision of the defect-associated papilla was performed according to the principles of the papilla preservation techniques. EMD was applied on the debrided root surfaces. Stable primary closure of the flaps was obtained with internal modified mattress sutures. Surgery was performed with the aid of an operating microscope and microsurgical instruments. Clinical outcomes were collected at baseline and at 1 year. Intra-operative and post-operative patient perception was also recorded. RESULTS: Early wound healing was uneventful: primary wound closure was obtained and maintained in all sites with the exception of one site with a small wound dehiscence at week 1. No oedema or haematoma were noted. Patients did not report any pain. Three patients experienced slight discomfort for 2-days post-operatively. The 1-year clinical attachment level (CAL) gain was 4.8+/-1.9 mm. The 1-year percent resolution of the defect was 88.7+/-20.7%, and reached 100% of the baseline intra-bony component in seven sites. Residual probing depths (PD) were 2.9+/-0.8 mm. Differences between baseline and 1-year CAL and PD were both clinically and statistically highly significant (p<0.0001). A minimal increase of 0.1+/-0.9 mm in gingival recession between baseline and 1 year was recorded (p=0.39). CONCLUSIONS: This case cohort indicates that MIST associated with EMD resulted in excellent clinical improvements while limiting patient morbidity. These preliminary findings need to be confirmed in a larger study.     

Robotic kidney transplantation in the obese patient: 10‐year experience from a single center

Despite increasing obesity rates in the dialysis population, obese kidney transplant candidates are still denied transplantation by many centers. We performed a single‐center retrospective analysis of a robotic‐assisted kidney transplant (RAKT) cohort from January 2009 to December 2018. A total of 239 patients were included in this analysis. The median BMI was 41.4 kg/m², with the majority (53.1%) of patients being African American and 69.4% of organs sourced from living donors. The median surgery duration and warm ischemia times were 4.8 hours and 45 minutes respectively. Wound complications (mostly seromas and hematomas) occurred in 3.8% of patients, with 1 patient developing a surgical site infection (SSI). Seventeen (7.1%) graft failures, mostly due to acute rejection, were reported during follow‐up. Patient survival was 98% and 95%, whereas graft survival was 98% and 93%, at 1 and 3 years respectively. Similar survival statistics were obtained from patients undergoing open transplant over the same time period from the UNOS database. In conclusion, RAKT can be safely performed in obese patients with minimal SSI risk, excellent graft function, and patient outcomes comparable to national data. RAKT could improve access to kidney transplantation in obese patients due to the low surgical complication rate.