Spirulina () Improved Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Characteristics and Microbiota and Did Not Affect Organ Fibrosis Induced by a Fructose-Enriched Diet in Wistar Male Rats.

Spirulina () is reported to play a role in improving nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and intestinal microbiota (IM). To study spirulina's effects in the improvement of NAFLD characteristics, IM, and pancreatic-renal lesions induced by a fructose-enriched diet, 40 Wistar healthy male rats, weighing 200-250 g, were randomly divided into four groups of 10, and each rat per group was assigned a diet of equal quantities (20 g/day) for 18 weeks. The first control group (CT) was fed a standardized diet, the second group received a 40% fructose-enriched diet (HFr), and the third (HFr-S5) and fourth groups (HFr-S10) were assigned the same diet composition as the second group but enriched with 5% and 10% spirulina, respectively.

Outcomes of conventional and advanced energy devices in laparoscopic surgery: a systematic review.

Introduction: Hemostasis is an important step in all surgical procedures. Mechanical methods of hemostasis have been gradually abandoned in favor of electrosurgery. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of electrosurgical instruments utilized in minimally invasive gynecological procedures.

Obstructed Hemivagina and Ipsilateral Renal Anomaly Syndrome: A Systematic Review about Diagnosis and Surgical Management.

Obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis (OHVIRA) syndrome is a rare congenital defect of the Müllerian ducts characterized by uterus didelphys, unilateral obstructed hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal agenesis. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the main symptoms and presentation of the OHVIRA syndrome, as well as the different types of management, fertility, and obstetrical outcomes. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases since inception to May 1, 2022, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement.

Clinical Outcomes after the Use of Antiadhesive Agents in Laparoscopic Reproductive Surgery.

Introduction: Intra-abdominal adhesions are abnormal fibrous attachments between tissues and organs that can be congenital or acquired. Adhesion formation is a critical postoperative complication that may lead to bowel obstruction, chronic abdominal pain, and infertility. Physical barrier agents separate opposing peritoneal surfaces in the critical 5-day period of remesotheliazation.

Systematic review of fetal and placental metastases among pregnant patients with cancer.

Introduction: Little is known about placental and fetal metastases among pregnant women with cancer. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to identify the clinical and pathological characteristics, treatment trends and prognosis of this entity.

Methods: We searched PubMed and EMBASE to identify the publications reporting on placental and fetal metastases through September 2021, according to the PRISMA statement.

What can we learn from cancer of unknown primary in canine oncology?

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) represents a heterogeneous group of metastatic tumors that lack an identifiable primary site despite an extensive diagnostic work-up. It is a well-recognized entity that is characterized by early dissemination, aggressive clinical course, unpredictable metastatic pattern, intrinsic treatment resistance, and a dismal prognosis. Despite the molecular diagnostic workup and personalized therapy, the expected improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of CUP have not been achieved.

Peritoneal Carcinomatosis of Colorectal Origin in Cyclosporine Immunosuppressed Rats.

Objective: We evaluate the seeding step of peritoneal carcinomatosis cancer as a surrogate for the role of the omentum in colorectal tumors.

Methods: The study included 5 groups of adult male Sprague Dawley rats: immunocompetent rats (group 1), immunosuppressed rats without omentectomy (group 2), immunosuppressed rats with omentectomy (group 3), immunosuppressed rats with omentectomy receiving NSAID (group 4), and immunosuppressed rats without omentectomy receiving NSAID (group 5). Except for group 1, the rats were immunosuppressed using cyclosporine orally at a dose of 25 mg/kg/day that was started 48 hours before tumor cell infiltration in the peritoneum.

Does the induced membrane have antibacterial properties? An experimental rat model of a chronic infected nonunion.

Introduction: The Masquelet procedure proved its efficiency in treating infected nonunion filling bony gaps up to 25 cm. Yet the use of local antibiotics is still questionable in the daily practice with lack of evidence regarding its usefulness in controlling infection. An experimental rat model is put in place to study the antibacterial properties of the induced membrane produced during the first stage of Masquelet.

Laparoscopic management of uncommon benign uterine tumors: a systematic review.

The objective of the study was to review the reported cases of uncommon benign uterine tumors managed by laparoscopy. Medline database was searched using predefined search terms linked to atypical leiomyomas, leiomyoma variants, laparoscopy and morcellation. Quality of articles was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool.

A Novel Surgical Intervention for an Uncommon Entity: Laparoscopy-Assisted Resection of a Vaginal Septum in Obstructed Hemivagina and Ipsilateral Renal Anomaly Syndrome.

The management of the obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal anomaly, or OHVIRA syndrome, requires vaginal access compromising sometimes the hymenal integrity. A vaginoplasty is the most commonly performed procedure in such scenarios. However, the necessity to maintain the hymen integrity may limit this technique.

Fructose threshold for inducing organ damage in a rat model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

A fructose-enriched diet has been shown to be associated with an increase in fatty infiltration of liver, kidney, and pancreas. Our objective was to determine the concentration threshold at which a fructose-enriched diet induces damage in these organs. We hypothesized that a 20% fructose-enriched diet will induce steatosis or histopathological changes in the kidneys or pancreas.

From the dry lab to the operating room: the first transferability study of hysteroscopic skills.

Objective: The aim of this study is to prove that a short dry lab training prior to the surgery is efficient to acquire basic hysteroscopic skills and that these skills are transferable directly to the operation theater.

Methods: Thirty-nine gynecologists who never attended a training course or practiced hysteroscopy before were evaluated. Participants were randomly divided into trainees (n = 21) and control (n = 18).

Pilot Study of a New Model of Bariatric Surgery: Laparoscopic Intestinal Bipartition-Safety and Efficacy Against Metabolic Disorders.

Background: Despite the availability of many gastric surgery techniques to reduce obesity and its associated comorbidities, most of these procedures can result in life-threatening conditions including lifetime chronic illnesses and death. Vertical sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass have been reported to improve obesity-related comorbidities such as T2DM, but the long-term efficacy of these two procedures is unknown, and their significant impact on long-term weight loss was diminished by complications as reported in previous studies. Recently, laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS) was developed to achieve sustained weight loss (Buchwald et al.

The role of smartphone game applications in improving laparoscopic skills.

Background: Virtual games (VGs) have a positive impact on laparoscopic skills. Time spent playing, the console and the type of game used correlate with the speed of acquisition of laparoscopic skills and their preservation.

Methods: A total of 45 university medical students with no previous surgical experience were divided into three groups: gamers (n=20), control (n=10) and intervention (n=15).

Validation Study of a Portable Home Trainer Using a Pad for Laparoscopic Practice.

The aim of this study was to describe and validate a homemade laparoscopic trainer. The abdominal cavity is simulated within a 3-mm-thick stainless steel model. Thirty-four participants were evaluated in a pilot study to validate our model.

Characteristics of Gastric Cancer in Lebanon: a Descriptive Study from a Single Institutional Experience.

Background: The epidemiology of gastric cancer in the Middle East has never been described. Therefore, the characteristics of gastric cancer in the Lebanese population will be reported in this study.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective study that included all patients diagnosed with gastric cancer at Hotel Dieu de France University Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon between 2010 and 2016 was conducted.

Data on clinical significance of second trimester inflammatory biomarkers in the amniotic fluid in predicting preterm delivery.

In this article second trimester amniotic fluid biomarkers are measured for correlation with preterm delivery. One additional milliliter of amniotic fluid is collected during amniocentesis for dosages of IL-6, MMP-9, CRP and glucose levels, along with maternal serum CRP and glucose. MMP-9 and Il-6 levels were measured with the corresponding Human Quantikine(R) ELISA Kit (R&D systems) according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Prediction of preterm delivery by second trimester inflammatory biomarkers in the amniotic fluid.

Objective: To search for a correlation between mid-pregnancy altered levels of inflammatory markers and preterm delivery.

Methods: A prospective cohort series included 39 patients undergoing amniocentesis one additional milliliter of amniotic fluid (AF) was stored for later dosage of interleukin-6 (Il-6), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), glucose and C-reactive protein (CRP). Maternal serum CRP and glucose levels were also obtained.

Characteristics of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease induced in wistar rats following four different diets.

Background/objectives: The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has increased worldwide in parallel with overnutrition characterized by high-fat and high-carbohydrate intake. Our objective was to establish, in 16 weeks, a model of NAFLD in Wistar pathogen-free rats following four dietary types.

Materials/methods: Forty (6 weeks old) healthy Wistar male rats, weighing an average of 150 g were randomly divided into four groups of ten and assigned a diet with the same quantity (15 g/rat/day), but with different composition.

Characteristics of incident female breast cancer in Lebanon, 1990-2013: Descriptive study of 612 cases from a hospital tumor registry.

Despite the fact that breast cancer is a major health issue, very few studies describe its characteristics in the Arab world or the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon. We report in this article a retrospective pilot study of the characteristics of breast cancer in Lebanon. The pathological characteristics of 624 patients diagnosed between 1990 and 2013 randomly chosen from the archives of an oncology clinic affiliated to Hotel Dieu de France Hospital are analyzed.

First description of a primitive neuroectodermal tumor arising in the nose.

We report the case of a 12-year-old girl, who consulted us with one-year history of an 8 mm nose lesion that was painless and firm upon palpation. The lesion was resected conservatively. Immunohistochemistry was in favor of a primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET)/Ewing's sarcoma lesion, excluding epithelial, lymphoid, and other tumors.

Fundoplication combined with mediogastric plication.

Background: The purpose of this pilot study was to demonstrate the feasibility and procedural safety of laparoscopic fundoplication combined with mediogastric plication in patients with a body mass index of 32-35 kg/m(2).

Methods: Sixteen patients underwent laparoscopic fundoplication combined with mediogastric plication. All procedures were performed with the patient under general anesthesia.

Radiofrequency application to the growth plate in the rabbit: a new potential approach to epiphysiodesis.

Background: Radiofrequency energy is being used more and more frequently in orthopaedics, mainly in the treatment of bone tumors. We postulated that radiofrequency ablation may produce growth plate lesions similar to those observed in the bone and conducted this study to see whether radiofrequency may be used as a technique for producing epiphysiodesis.

Methods: We randomized 60 8-week-old female New Zealand white rabbits into 3 groups.