Clinical and Genetic Characteristics of Thymoma Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis and Myocarditis

BackgroundOur study investigated a special series of thymoma with autoimmune hepatitis and myocarditis and tried to reveal the gene expression profiles of this series of thymoma.MethodsFrom 2011 to 2019, a total of 13 special thymoma patients presented with autoimmune hepatitis and myocarditis, accounting for about 1.26% of thymoma patients undergoing surgery in Beijing TongRen Hospital. Clinical data were retrospectively collected. All samples were harvested during surgical procedures, and analyzed to identify changes in gene expression using the CapitalBio mRNA microarray analysis, the Whole exome sequencing analysis (WES), qPCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) tools.ResultsAfter surgery, patient symptoms were relieved gradually. Levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine amiotransferase (ALT) increased to some extent within 1 to 3 months after surgery, and fluctuated, and then, gradually decreased close to normal within 6 months after surgery. Enrichment analysis of Kyoto Genome and Genome Encyclopedia (KEGG) pathway was performed and enrichment results were visualized. It indicated that gene expression of 5 signaling pathways, including cell cycle and p53 signaling pathway, were generally abnormal. P53 expression was up-regulated in all tumor tissues. However, IHC and qPCR analysis showed that there was no significant difference in p21 expression between normal and tumor tissue. Results of WES showed that only one driver gene-MDM4 amplified 4 fold in 53.2% thymoma cells. Further qPCR and IHC analysis confirmed the up-regulation of the expression of p53 and mdm4 in 13 thymoma patients with autoimmune hepatitis and myocarditis.ConclusionOur study reveals the clinical and genetic characteristics of thymoma patients with autoimmune hepatitis and myocarditis. For this special category of thymoma, the up-regulation of p53 and mdm4 plays an important role in the occurrence of thymoma and autoimmune hepatitis/myocarditis.

Low incidence of postoperative nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, and aspiration pneumonia in geriatric dogs receiving maropitant, famotidine, and fentanyl as part of an anesthesia protocol

OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of and potential risk factors for postoperative regurgitation and vomiting (PORV), postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and aspiration pneumonia in geriatric dogs using premedication with maropitant and famotidine, intraoperative fentanyl, and postoperative fentanyl as part of an anesthetic protocol. ANIMALS 105 client-owned geriatric dogs that underwent general anesthesia for a major surgical procedure between January 2019 and March 2020. PROCEDURES Medical records were reviewed to collect data on signalment, historical gastrointestinal signs, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, indication for surgery, duration of anesthesia and surgery, patient position during surgery, mode of ventilation, and perioperative administration of maropitant, famotidine, anticholinergics, opioids, colloidal support, NSAID, corticosteroids, and appetite stimulants. The incidence of postoperative regurgitation, vomiting, nausea, and aspiration pneumonia was calculated, and variables were each analyzed for their association with these outcomes. RESULTS 2 of 105 (1.9%) dogs regurgitated, 1 of 105 (1.0%) dogs developed aspiration pneumonia, 4 of 105 (3.8%) dogs exhibited nausea, and no dogs vomited. Identified possible risk factors included older age (≥ 13 years old) for postoperative regurgitation, regurgitation for postoperative aspiration pneumonia, and high ASA score (≥ 4) for both regurgitation and aspiration pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The use of an antiemetic protocol including maropitant, famotidine, and fentanyl in geriatric dogs resulted in very low incidences of PORV, PONV, and aspiration pneumonia. Future prospective studies are warranted to further evaluate and mitigate postoperative risks.

A novel technique for fence-post tube placement in glioma using the robot-guided frameless neuronavigation technique under exoscope surgery: patient series

BACKGROUND Robotic technology is increasingly used in neurosurgery. The authors reported a new technique for fence-post tube placement using robot-guided frameless stereotaxic technology with neuronavigation in patients with glioma. OBSERVATIONS Surgery was performed using the StealthStation S8 linked to the Stealth Autoguide cranial robotic guidance platform and a high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) surgical microscope. A surgical plan was created to determine the removal area using fence-post tube placement at the tumor and normal brain tissue boundary. Using this surgical plan, the robotic system allowed quick and accurate fence-post tube positioning, automatic alignment of the needle insertion and measurement positions in the brain, and quick and accurate puncture needle insertion into the brain tumor. Use of a ventricular drainage tube for the outer needle cylinder allowed placement of the puncture needle in a single operation. Furthermore, use of a high-resolution 3D exoscope allowed the surgeon to simultaneously view the surgical field image and the navigation screen with minimal line-of-sight movement, which improved operative safety. The position memory function of the 3D exoscope allowed easy switching between the exoscope and the microscope and optimal field of view adjustment. LESSONS Fence-post tube placement using robot-guided frameless stereotaxic technology, neuronavigation, and an exoscope allows precise glioma resection.

STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF PROPOFOL & ETOMIDATE AS AN INDUCTION AGENT ON HAEMODYNAMIC CHANGES DURING INDUCTION & ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION

Introduction: Laryngoscopy and subsequent tracheal intubation cause a fugitive tachycardia and hypertension as a result of sympathoadrenal stimulation. Careful selection of anestheshetic is thus required, as cardiovascular reserve is decreased in certain patients, so as to avoid undue depressions of cardiac and circulatory function Aims And Objectives: This randomized double blind prospective study had been designed for comparative evaluation of inj propofol 2.5 mg/kg, inj Etomidate 0.3 mg/kg an induction agent on haemodynamic changes such as HR, SBP, DBP, MAP and oxygen saturation during induction and tracheal intubation and also to study the adverse effects the two drugs under study Material And Methods: After approval from medical ethics committee, Dr D Y Patil Medical College and Hospital, Pune, the study was carried out on sixty (60) patients undergoing elective surgeries under standard general anesthesia. ? All patients were premedicated with Ondansetron 0.1mg/kg i.v., inj midazolam 0.02mg/kg and inj fentanyl 2 mcg/kg i.v. ? All patients pre-oxygenated with 100% oxygen for 3 min, all vital parameters recorded (T1) ? Group P received inj. propofol 2.5 mg/kg i.v. and group E received Etomidate 0.3mg/kg i.v. over 30 sec and vital parameters recorded as (T2) ? Inj succinylcholine as muscle relaxant given after administering induction agent, laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation attempted with appropriate sized endotracheal tube. All vital parameters recorded during laryngoscopy(T3), periodic monitoring of vital parameters carried out at 1,2,3,5 and 10 minutes intervals post intubation ? Further the patient was maintained on O2 /N2O / Isoflurane and Vecuronium i.v. top-ups as and when required ? At the end of surgery, patient reversed with inj. Glycopyrrolate 0.008mg/kg i.v. along with inj. Neostigmine 0.05mg/kg intravenously and extubated after gaining consciousness and adequate power ? Patient shifted to recovery room observed for any side effects such as nausea, vomiting, Result: The demographic profile was comparable. There was no statistically considerable difference between the two study groups with respect to baseline parameters of HR, SBP, DBP, MAP and SpO2. There was decrease in mean heart rate seen in group P compared to group E at post induction (T2), after intubation 1 min, 2min, the values were statistically significant with P value <0.05,.and decrease in mean SBP, mean DBP AND MAP in group P compared to group E at post induction (T2), after intubation 1,2 3, 5 min values were statistically significant with p value <0.05 Pain on injection was more in group P 26 out of 30(86.7%) than group E, which was statistically significant with p value <0.05 Incidence of myoclonus was more in group E 23 patients out of 30(76.7%) compared to group P which was statistically significant with p value <0.05. In group P 2 out of 30 patients (6.7%) had vomiting and in group E 3 out of 30 patients (10%) had vomiting, difference was statistically insignificant with p value >0.05 Conclusion: A• Both, Propofol and etomidate are safe induction agents A• Etomidate maintains better haemodynamic stability than propofol as induction agent A• Pain on injection was more with propofol. However, myoclonus was more with etomidate A• Both drugs were associated with no significant side effects/complication.

SEVERE COVID-19 IN PATIENT AT EARLY POSTOPERATIVE PERIOD AFTER WHIPPLE’S OPERATION WITH MARGINAL PORTAL VEIN RESECTION

Introduction. Pancreatoduodenectomy (PDR or Whipple’s operation) remains the only effective radical method of surgery for tumors of the pancreatic head, distal common bile duct and Vater’s papilla. The most frequent complications of the early postoperative period are: gastrostasis, pancreatic fistula, postoperative bleeding and pulmonary complications. According to World Health Organization (WHO) and reviews, severe COVID-19 usually occurs in older age patients, and in patients with oncological diseases. Case description. Patient V., 64 years old, due to a tumor of the head of the pancreas with invasion of the distal common bile duct and the development of obstructive jaundice, underwent PDR. Histopathologically, ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head, G-2, was confirmed. The PDR operation was performed within healthy tissues, which was confirmed by histopathology. On the second day after surgery, patient was admitted to ICU because of respiratory failure, the SARS-CoV-2 antigen test was positive, we suggest that the patient was in the latent period of COVID-19 disease during the surgery. Patient received hormone therapy, anticoagulants in therapeutic doses, O2-therapy. On the 5th day, because of severe ARDS, the patient was intubated, on the 7th day - convalescent plasma transfused (1 dose). On the 9th day, a tracheostomy was applied for airways care and early activation. Respiratory support was provided twelve days. Patient received early activation, exercises, as well as early enteral nutrition. After ICU discharge, patient’s condition was complicated by the gastro-intestinal bleeding, blood transfusion and embolization of the dorsal pancreatic artery were performed. On the day 66th after surgery patient was discharged home in satisfactory condition. Conclusion. General care and early activation of the patient within early tracheostomy, convalescent plasma usage and the well-coordinated work of the surgical and anesthesiological teams allows timely identification and elimination of early postoperative complications after Whipple’s operation with marginal resection of the portal vein.

PSI-Guided Mandible-First Orthognathic Surgery: Maxillo-Mandibular Position Accuracy and Vertical Dimension Adjustability

In orthognathic surgery, patient-specific osteosynthesis implants (PSIs) represent a novel approach for the reproduction of the virtual surgical planning on the patient. The aim of this study is to analyse the quality of maxillo-mandibular positioning using a hybrid mandible-first mandibular-PSI-guided procedure on twenty-two patients while the upper maxilla was fixed using manually bent stock titanium miniplates. The virtual surgical plan was used to design PSIs and positioning guides, which were then 3D printed using biocompatible materials. A Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scan was performed one month after surgery and postoperative facial skeletal models were segmented for comparison against the surgical plan. A three-dimensional cephalometric analysis was carried out on both planned and obtained anatomies. A Spearman correlation matrix was computed on the calculated discrepancies in order to achieve a more comprehensive description of maxillo-mandibular displacement. Intraoperatively, all PSIs were successfully applied. The procedure was found to be accurate in planned maxillo-mandibular positioning reproduction, while maintaining a degree of flexibility to allow for aesthetics-based verticality correction in a pitch range between −5.31 and +1.79 mm. Such a correction did not significantly affect the achievement of planned frontal symmetry.

Short-Term Pre-Operative Protein Caloric Restriction in Elective Vascular Surgery Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

(1) Background: Vascular surgery operations are hampered by high failure rates and frequent occurrence of peri-operative cardiovascular complications. In pre-clinical studies, pre-operative restriction of proteins and/or calories (PCR) has been shown to limit ischemia-reperfusion damage, slow intimal hyperplasia, and improve metabolic fitness. However, whether these dietary regimens are feasible and safe in the vascular surgery patient population remains unknown. (2) Methods: We performed a randomized controlled trial in patients scheduled for any elective open vascular procedure. Participants were randomized in a 3:2 ratio to either four days of outpatient pre-operative PCR (30% calorie, 70% protein restriction) or their regular ad-libitum diet. Blood was drawn at baseline, pre-operative, and post-operative day 1 timepoints. A leukocyte subset flow cytometry panel was performed at these timepoints. Subcutaneous/perivascular adipose tissue was sampled and analyzed. Follow-up was one year post-op. (3) Results: 19 patients were enrolled, of whom 11 completed the study. No diet-related reasons for non-completion were reported, and there was no intervention group crossover. The PCR diet induced weight loss and BMI decrease without malnutrition. Insulin sensitivity was improved after four days of PCR (p = 0.05). Between diet groups, there were similar rates of re-intervention, wound infection, and cardiovascular complications. Leukocyte populations were maintained after four days of PCR. (4) Conclusions: Pre-operative PCR is safe and feasible in elective vascular surgery patients.

Case Report: Superficial Circumflex Iliac Artery Perforator Flap for Tongue Reconstruction Following the Hemiglossectomy

Objective: Therapeutic evaluation of applying superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap in tongue reconstruction after hemiglossectomy.Methods: We retrospectively collected a total number of 14 patients who received SCIP flap reconstruction for tongue defects at the Fujian Medical University affiliated Union Hospital, between November 2016 and November 2020. We evaluated the clinical features of the flap, analyzed the postoperative functions and esthetic effects after 6 months of the tongue reconstruction.Results: All the SCIP flaps survived successfully after the operation, the recipient site tongue bodies were well reconstructed 6 months after the surgery. Patient speech and swallowing functions were well recovered during the follow-up. The scars in the donor site were concealed with limited numbness.Conclusions: With the advantages of the hidden donor site and aesthetic benefits, the SCIP flap is a reliable option for the reconstruction of the tongue defect after hemiglossectomy.