Significance of Immune and Non-Immune Cell Stroma as a Microenvironment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma-From Inflammation to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer as well as the most prevalent cause of death in the adult patient population with cirrhosis. The occurrence of HCC is primarily caused by chronic liver inflammation that might occur because of a viral infection, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), or various lifestyle-associated factors. The objective of this review was to summarize the current knowledge regarding the microenvironment of HCC, indicating how immune- and non-immune-cell stroma might affect the onset and progression of HCC.

Micronutrient Status and Breast Cancer: A Narrative Review.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, at the same time being one of the most prevalent causes of women's death. Many factors such as alcohol, weight fluctuations, or hormonal replacement therapy can potentially contribute to breast cancer development and progression. Another important factor in breast cancer onset includes micronutrient status.

Nutritional Supplements for Skin Health-A Review of What Should Be Chosen and Why.

Supplementation of micronutrients is considered to be crucial in the reinforcement of the skin's barrier. In this paper, 14 nutritional compounds commonly used in food or pharmaceutic industries were analyzed in terms of influencing skin conditions. The major objective of this paper was to provide a narrative review of the available literature regarding several chosen compounds that are currently widely recommended as supplements that aim to maintain proper and healthy skin conditions.

Technological Advances in a Therapy of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: Insights into Current Nanotechnologies.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness and is characterized by increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and progressive optic nerve damage. The current therapeutic approaches for glaucoma management, such as eye drops and oral medications, face challenges including poor bioavailability, low patient compliance, and limited efficacy. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach to overcome these limitations and revolutionize glaucoma treatment.

How Does SARS-CoV-2 Affect Our Eyes-What Have We Learnt So Far about the Ophthalmic Manifestations of COVID-19?

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has become a worldwide threat resulting in a pandemic in 2020. SARS-CoV-2 infection manifests itself as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that is evidenced in a vast number of either specific or nonspecific symptoms. Except for typical (but nonspecific) symptoms such as fever, dry cough, or muscle weakness, the infected patients might also present atypical symptoms including neurological, dermatological, or ophthalmic manifestations.

Essentiality of Trace Elements in Pregnancy, Fertility, and Gynecologic Cancers-A State-of-the-Art Review.

Gynecological neoplasms pose a serious threat to women's health. It is estimated that in 2020, there were nearly 1.3 million new cases worldwide, from which almost 50% ended in death.

The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Fertility and Female and Male Reproductive Systems.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remains a huge challenge for contemporary healthcare systems. Apart from widely reported acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the virus affects many other systems inducing a vast number of symptoms such as gastrointestinal, neurological, dermatological, cardiovascular, and many more. Currently it has also been hypothesized that the virus might affect female and male reproductive systems; SARS-CoV-2 infection could also have a role in potential disturbances to human fertility.

Treatment Strategies of Gastric Cancer-Molecular Targets for Anti-angiogenic Therapy: a State-of-the-art Review.

Purpose: Recent studies have suggested that molecular targets for the anti-angiogenic therapy might constitute a basis for additional therapy in gastric cancer treatment. A vast number of molecules, receptors, pathways, specific interactions, and thus strategies that target gastric cancer angiogenesis specifically have been reported in numerous research articles and clinical trials.

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review of molecularly targeted treatment strategies in gastric cancer on the following databases-PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus-on September 20, 2020.

Morphometric Analysis of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Height: An Imaging Study.

Background: Little published data exist regarding normal values of disc height. Current literature relies on plain radiographs making accurate measurements of individual lumbar disc height difficult.

Objective: We seek to establish normal values for lumbar intervertebral discs in different age groups using computed tomography scans in healthy individuals.

The comprehensive anatomical spinal osteotomy and anterior column realignment classification.

OBJECTIVESpinal osteotomies and anterior column realignment (ACR) are procedures that allow preservation or restoration of spine lordosis. Variations of these techniques enable different degrees of segmental, regional, and global sagittal realignment. The authors propose a comprehensive anatomical classification system for ACR and its variants based on the level of technical complexity and invasiveness.

Minimally Invasive Lateral Transpsoas Interbody Fusion at the L4/5 Level: A Review of 61 Consecutive Cases.

Background: Reported complication rates for minimally invasive lateral transpsoas interbody fusion (MIS-LIF) vary widely. The risk of lumbar plexus injury is particularly concerning at the L4-5 disc space. We report our experience with MIS-LIF at L4-5, and discuss the risk profile of transpsoas approaches at this level.

Limitations and complications of minimally invasive spinal surgery in adult deformity.

Minimally invasive spine (MIS) surgery has rapidly progressed from simple short segment fusions to large adult deformity corrections, with radiographic and clinical outcomes as good as those of open surgery. Anterior longitudinal ligament release (ALLR) and anterior column realignment (ACR) have been key advancements in the ability to correct deformity using MIS techniques. However, patient selection and appropriate preoperative workup is critical to obtain good outcomes and for complication avoidance.

Development of Proximal Junctional Kyphosis After Minimally Invasive Lateral Anterior Column Realignment for Adult Spinal Deformity.

Background: Development of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) after correction of adult spinal deformity (ASD) undermines sagittal alignment. Minimally invasive anterior column realignment (ACR) is a powerful tool for correction of ASD; however, long-term PJK rates are unknown.

Objective: To characterize PJK after utilization of ACR in ASD correction.

Biomechanical study of rod stress after pedicle subtraction osteotomy versus anterior column reconstruction: A finite element study.

Background: In an effort to minimize rod fractures and nonunion in pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) constructs, surgeons have adopted multirod constructs and interbody cages. Anterior column realignment (ACR) with posterior column osteotomies is a minimally invasive alternative to PSO in sagittal balance correction, however, there is a paucity of evidence with respect to rod survival.

Methods: Three-dimensional (3D) finite-element-model of a T12-sacrum spine segment was used to compare a 25° PSO at L3 and an ACR with a posterior column osteotomy and 30° hyperlordotic interbody cage at L3-4.

Patients with High Pelvic Tilt Achieve the Same Clinical Success as Those with Low Pelvic Tilt After Minimally Invasive Adult Deformity Surgery.

Background: Pelvic tilt (PT) is a compensatory mechanism for adult spinal deformity patients to mitigate sagittal imbalance. The association between preop PT and postop clinical and radiographic outcomes has not been well studied in patients undergoing minimally invasive adult deformity surgery.

Objective: To evaluate clinical and radiographic outcomes in adult spinal deformity patients with high and low preoperative PT treated surgically using less invasive techniques.

Indirect decompression and reduction of lumbar spondylolisthesis does not result in higher rates of immediate and long term complications.

Nerve root decompression and spondylolisthesis reduction is typically reserved for open surgery. MIS techniques have been thought to be associated with higher rates of neurological complications. This study aims to report acute and chronic neurologic complications encountered with MIS surgery for spondylolisthesis, specifically, the incidence of nerve root injury and clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Femoral nerve and lumbar plexus injury after minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas approach: electrodiagnostic prognostic indicators and a roadmap to recovery.

Injury to the lumbosacral (LS) plexus is a well-described complication after lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas approaches to the spine. The prognosis for functional recovery after lumbosacral plexopathy or femoral/obturator neuropathy is unclear. We designed a retrospective case-control study with patients undergoing one-level lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) between January 2011 and June 2016 to correlate electrodiagnostic assessments (EDX) to physiologic concepts of nerve injury and reinnervation, and attempt to build a timeline for patient evaluation and recovery.

The Potentially Fatal Ogilvie's Syndrome in Lateral Transpsoas Access Surgery: A Multi-Institutional Experience with 2930 Patients.

Background: Ogilvie's syndrome (OS) is a relatively uncommon pathology characterized by significant colonic dilation in the absence of mechanical obstruction. If unrecognized and untreated, cecal perforation resulting in a mortality rate of 25%-71% may occur. It is a potentially underdiagnosed condition in the lateral transpsoas approach population because of its uncommon nature and imitation of other well-known pathologies.