C-reactive Protein-to-albumin Ratio in Spinal Epidural Abscess: Association with Post-treatment Complications.

Introduction: Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a complex medical condition with high morbidity and healthcare costs. Clinical presentation and laboratory data may have prognostic value in forecasting morbidity and mortality. C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) demonstrates promise for the prediction of adverse events in multiple orthopaedic and nonorthopaedic surgical conditions.

Stimuli-responsive nanoassemblies for targeted delivery against tumor and its microenvironment.

Despite the emergence of various cancer treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, their use remains restricted owing to their limited tumor elimination efficacy and side effects. The use of nanoassemblies as delivery systems in nanomedicine for tumor diagnosis and therapy is flourishing. These nanoassemblies can be designed to have various shapes, sizes, and surface charges to meet the requirements of different applications.

Germline Variants Associated with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Predisposition Identified through Whole-Exome Sequencing.

The current understanding of genetic susceptibility factors for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is still incomplete. To identify novel germline variants associated with NPC predisposition, we analysed whole-exome sequencing data from 119 NPC patients from Singapore with a family history of NPC and/or with early-onset NPC, together with 1337 Singaporean participants without NPC. Variants were prioritised and filtered by selecting variants with minor allele frequencies of <1% in both local control (n = 1337) and gnomAD non-cancer (EAS) (n = 9626) cohorts and a high pathogenicity prediction (CADD score > 20).

Utility of the Iwate difficulty scoring system for laparoscopic right posterior sectionectomy: do surgical outcomes differ for tumors in segments VI and VII?

Introduction: The Iwate Score (IS) have not been well-validated for specific procedures, especially for right posterior sectionectomy (RPS). In this study, the utility of the IS was determined for laparoscopic (L)RPS and the effect of tumor location on surgical outcomes was investigated.

Methods: Post-hoc analysis of 647 L-RPS performed in 40 international centers of which 596L-RPS cases met the inclusion criteria.

Peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion techniques by the nephrologist.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter is the lifeline of PD patients, and despite the overall strength of the PD program in many countries, PD catheter survival remains the major weakness of the program. The prompt and effective implantation of the PD catheter, as well as speedy management of complications arising from catheter insertion, remains crucial for the success of the program.

Defining Global Benchmarks for Laparoscopic Liver Resections: An International Multicenter Study.

Objective: To establish global benchmark outcomes indicators after laparoscopic liver resections (L-LR).

Background: There is limited published data to date on the best achievable outcomes after L-LR.

Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of a multicenter database of 11,983 patients undergoing L-LR in 45 international centers in 4 continents between 2015 and 2020.

Pediatric Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis: An Aggressive Presentation.

Encountering a young child with an enlarging painless facial swelling often raises concerns in the treating physician about the possibility of a congenital lesion or an unfavorable pediatric tumor. We discuss a case of a female child who presented with multiple craniofacial swellings, which turned out to be Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). She was subsequently diagnosed with multisystem LCH (MS-LCH) with risk-organ involvement, which included the craniofacial bones, skin, hemopoietic system, and liver.

Application of chitosan-based nanoparticles in skin wound healing.

The rising prevalence of impaired wound healing and the consequential healthcare burdens have gained increased attention over recent years. This has prompted research into the development of novel wound dressings with augmented wound healing functions. Nanoparticle (NP)-based delivery systems have become attractive candidates in constructing such wound dressings due to their various favourable attributes.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of difficulty scoring systems for laparoscopic and robotic liver resections.

Introduction: The ability to stratify the difficulty of minimally invasive liver resection (MILR) allows surgeons at different phases of the learning curve to tackle cases of appropriate difficulty safely. Several difficulty scoring systems (DSS) have been formulated which attempt to accurately stratify this difficulty. The present study aims to review the literature pertaining to the existing DSS for MILR.

Comparison between the difficulty of laparoscopic limited liver resections of tumors located in segment 7 versus segment 8: An international multicenter propensity-score matched study.

Background: Presently, according to different difficulty scoring systems, there is no difference in complexity estimation of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) of segments 7 and 8. However, there is no published data supporting this assumption. To date, no studies have compared the outcomes of laparoscopic parenchyma-sparing resection of the liver segments 7 and 8.

Effectiveness of a Nutritional Mobile Application for Management of Hyperphosphatemia in Patients on Hemodialysis: A Multicenter Open-Label Randomized Clinical Trial.

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of a phosphate mobile app (PMA), MyKidneyDiet-Phosphate Tracker ©2019, on hemodialysis (HD) patients with hyperphosphatemia. A multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial design allowed randomization of patients with hyperphosphatemia to either the usual care group (UG; receiving a single dietitian-led session with an education booklet) or the PMA group (PG). Thirty-three patients in each intervention group completed the 12-week study.

Serial Tumor Molecular Profiling of Newly Diagnosed HER2-Negative Breast Cancers During Chemotherapy in Combination with Angiogenesis Inhibitors.

Background: Breast cancers are heterogeneous with variable clinical courses and treatment responses.

Objective: We sought to evaluate dynamic changes in the molecular landscape of HER2-negative tumors treated with chemotherapy and anti-angiogenic agents.

Patients And Methods: Newly diagnosed HER2-negative breast cancer patients received low-dose sunitinib or bevacizumab prior to four 2-weekly cycles of dose-dense doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide.

Laparoscopic versus open caudate lobe liver resections: a 1:2 propensity score-matched controlled study based on a single institution experience.

Background: Despite the wide use of laparoscopy for liver resection, laparoscopic caudate lobe resections(L-CLR) remain technically challenging, only attempted by experts in the field. The primary objective of this study was to determine the safety and compare the perioperative outcomes of L-CLR with O-CLR based on our single institution experience in a 1:2 propensity score-matched controlled study based on our single institution experience.

Methods: Between 2004 and 2020, 67 consecutive patients who underwent CLR at Singapore General Hospital were identified.

Factors associated with and impact of open conversion on the outcomes of minimally invasive left lateral sectionectomies: An international multicenter study.

Background: Despite the rapid advances that minimally invasive liver resection has gained in recent decades, open conversion is still inevitable in some circumstances. In this study, we aimed to determine the risk factors for open conversion after minimally invasive left lateral sectionectomy, and its impact on perioperative outcomes.

Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of 2,445 of 2,678 patients who underwent minimally invasive left lateral sectionectomy at 45 international centers between 2004 and 2020.

Autoantibodies and autoimmune disorders in SARS-CoV-2 infection: pathogenicity and immune regulation.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease associated with the respiratory system caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The aim of this review article is to establish an understanding about the relationship between autoimmune conditions and COVID-19 infections. Although majority of the population have been protected with vaccines against this virus, there is yet a successful curative medication for this disease.

A systematic review and network meta-analysis of outcomes after open, mini-laparotomy, hybrid, totally laparoscopic, and robotic living donor right hepatectomy.

Background: A systematic review and network meta-analysis was performed to compare outcomes after living donor right hepatectomy via the following techniques: conventional open (Open), mini-laparotomy (Minilap), hybrid (Hybrid), totally laparoscopic (Lap), and robotic living donor right hepatectomy (Robotic).

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Scopus were searched from inception to August 2021 for comparative studies of patients who underwent living donor right hepatectomy.

Results: Nineteen studies comprising 2,261 patients were included.

Fast Melt Cocoa Butter Tablet: Effect of Waxes, Starch, and PEG 6000 on Physical Properties of the Preparation.

A fast melt tablet (FMT) is well regarded as an alternative delivery system that might help resolve a patient's non-compliance issue. The main objective of this study was to develop a cocoa butter-based FMT. Additives, namely 5-15% of PEG 6000, beeswax, paraffin wax, and corn starch, were incorporated into the cocoa butter-based FMT to study the effects of these additives with the physical characteristic of a cocoa butter FMT.

The Prospects of King in Skin Care.

The importance of cosmetics in our lives is immeasurable. Covering items from daily personal hygienic products to skincare, it has become essential to consumers that the items that they use are safe and effective. Since natural products are from natural sources, and therefore considered "natural" and "green" in the public's eyes, the rise in demand for such products is not surprising.

Pan-cancer pervasive upregulation of 3' UTR splicing drives tumourigenesis.

Most mammalian genes generate messenger RNAs with variable untranslated regions (UTRs) that are important post-transcriptional regulators. In cancer, shortening at 3' UTR ends via alternative polyadenylation can activate oncogenes. However, internal 3' UTR splicing remains poorly understood as splicing studies have traditionally focused on protein-coding alterations.

Multi-photon microscopy for the evaluation of interstitial fibrosis in extended criteria donor kidneys: A proof-of-concept study.

Introduction: To evaluate the initial use of label-free second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging with two-photon excitation (2PE) auto-fluorescence in multiphoton microscopy (MPM) for the quantification of collagen/fibrosis on preimplantation biopsies of extended criteria donors (ECD).

Materials And Methods: Twenty preimplantation core biopsies were extracted from 10 donor kidney samples, of which originated from seven donors. Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) and Remuzzi scores of biopsies were calculated.

Otalgia and Facial Nerve Palsy: Common Symptoms Revealing the Uncommon Pathology of Middle Ear Lymphoma.

Lymphoma of the middle ear and mastoid is uncommon and is rarely diagnosed early. The clinical presentation occurs due to consequences of extensive progressive disease. It can manifest as benign middle ear pathologies such as otitis media; other presentations include facial nerve palsy, hearing loss, and vestibular dysfunction.