A right colectomy case study: transitioning to the Hugo RAS system with a novel 3-ports technique in experienced robotic colorectal practice.

Introduction: Advancements in robotic technology have revolutionized general surgery, with new platforms and continuous improvements enhancing surgical procedures. Our unit adopted the Da Vinci Si model in 2012 and later the X model for various abdominal surgeries. In early 2023, we integrated the Hugo RAS system by Medtronic into our practice following comprehensive training.

Holmium-166 Transarterial Radioembolization for the Treatment of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Case Series.

Background: Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is used to treat primary and secondary malignancies in the liver that are not amenable to curative resection. Accumulating evidence demonstrates the efficacy and safety of TARE with yttrium-90 (Y), which is the most widely used radionuclide for TARE, and later with holmium-166 (Ho) for various indications. However, the safety and efficacy of Ho TARE in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remains to be studied.

Expression of connexins and pannexins in diseased human liver.

Connexin proteins can form hexameric hemichannels and gap junctions that mediate paracrine and direct intercellular communication, respectively. Gap junction activity is crucial for the maintenance of hepatic homeostasis, while connexin hemichannels become particularly active in liver disease, such as hepatitis, fibrosis, cholestasis or even hepatocellular carcinoma. Channels consisting of connexin-like proteins named pannexins have been directly linked to liver inflammation and cell death.

Connexin and Pannexin (Hemi)Channels: Emerging Targets in the Treatment of Liver Disease.

Connexin proteins are the building blocks of hemichannels, which dock further between adjacent cells to form gap junctions. Gap junctions control the intercellular exchange of critical homeostasis regulators. By doing so, gap junctions control virtually all aspects of the hepatic life cycle.

The interval approach: an adaptation of the liver-first approach to treat synchronous liver metastases from rectal cancer.

Background: The waiting interval after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is an interesting therapeutic window to treat patients with synchronous liver metastases (SLM) from rectal cancer.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of 18 consecutive patients (M/F 10/8, age (range) 60 (51-75) years) from five institutions who underwent liver resection of SLM during the waiting interval after CRT for rectal adenocarcinoma.

Results: All patients underwent interval liver surgery for a median (range) of 4 (2-14) liver metastases.

Strategies, models and biomarkers in experimental non-alcoholic fatty liver disease research.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease encompasses a spectrum of liver diseases, including simple steatosis, steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is currently the most dominant chronic liver disease in Western countries due to the fact that hepatic steatosis is associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome and drug-induced injury. A variety of chemicals, mainly drugs, and diets is known to cause hepatic steatosis in humans and rodents.

Experimental models of liver fibrosis.

Hepatic fibrosis is a wound healing response to insults and as such affects the entire world population. In industrialized countries, the main causes of liver fibrosis include alcohol abuse, chronic hepatitis virus infection and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. A central event in liver fibrosis is the activation of hepatic stellate cells, which is triggered by a plethora of signaling pathways.

Laparoscopic evaluation shows deficiencies in memory ring deployment during small ventral hernia repair.

Background: With the introduction of a self-expanding, memory-containing, circular hernia patch, surgeons have been enthusiastic about its use to repair ventral hernias smaller than 3 cm in diameter. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency, reliability, and safety of the device laparoscopically with respect to adequate deployment of the patch.

Methods: During 1 year all patients with small ventral hernias were treated with this memory-containing patch and were inspected by laparoscopy.