Human pluripotent stem cell-derived inner ear organoids recapitulate otic development in vitro.

Our molecular understanding of the early stages of human inner ear development has been limited by the difficulty in accessing fetal samples at early gestational stages. As an alternative, previous studies have shown that inner ear morphogenesis can be partially recapitulated using induced pluripotent stem cells directed to differentiate into inner ear organoids (IEOs). Once validated and benchmarked, these systems could represent unique tools to complement and refine our understanding of human otic differentiation and model developmental defects.

Outcomes of cavotricuspid isthmus-dependent flutter ablation: randomized study comparing single vs. multiple catheter procedures-the SIMPLE study.

Background: Catheter ablation is recommended as first-line therapy for patients with symptomatic typical AFl. Although the conventional multi-catheter approach is the standard of care for cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation, a single-catheter approach was recently described as a feasible alternative. The present study sought to compare safety, efficacy, and efficiency of single vs.

A hybrid clinical and electrocardiographic score to predict the origin of outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias.

Background: To predict the outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias (OTVA) site of origin (SOO) before the ablation procedure has important practical implications. The present study sought to prospectively evaluate the accuracy of a clinical and electrocardiographic hybrid algorithm (HA) for the prediction of OTVAs-SOO, and at the same time to develop and to prospectively validate a new score with improved discriminatory capacity.

Methods: In this multicenter study, we prospectively enrolled consecutive patients referred for OTVA ablation (N = 202), and we divided them in a derivation sample and a validation cohort.

Second Adjuvant Radioiodine Therapy after Reoperation for Locoregionally Persistent or Recurrent Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

 Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) has increased incidence. Intermediate- and high-risk patients have lymph node relapse rate ranging from 10 to 50%, and receive multiple reinterventions, increasing the morbidity of the disease. Currently, there are no established guidelines for the use of second radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy after the reintervention for local recurrence.

Pleural and pulmonary dissemination patterns from gastric adenocarcinoma among patients with treated primary disease in Latin America.

Purpose: Latin America is one of the regions with the highest incidence of gastric cancer. Even though, there are not reports about the patterns of pleuro-pulmonary metastases in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma treated with curative intent and the prognosis according to each dissemination pattern.

Material And Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma treated with curative intent at the National Cancer Institute (INC) between 2010 and 2017.

Lung Metastasectomy from Colorectal Cancer, 10-year Experience in a South American Cancer Center.

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the survival outcomes and factors associated with prognosis in patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy with colorectal cancer (CRC) in a cancer center in South America.

Material And Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients that underwent lung metastasectomy due to CRC at National Cancer Institute (INC), Colombia between 2007 and 2017 was performed and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis along with log-rank test and Cox regression multivariate analysis were completed.

Results: Seventy-five patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma were included in the study.

Relationship between the posterior atrial wall and the esophagus: Esophageal position during atrial fibrillation ablation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation ablation implies a risk of esophageal thermal injury. Esophageal position can be analyzed with imaging techniques, but evidence for esophageal mobility is inconsistent.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze esophageal position stability from one procedure to another and during a single procedure.

A standardized stepwise zero-fluoroscopy approach with transesophageal echocardiography guidance for atrial fibrillation ablation.

Purpose: There is growing interest in performing fluoroless radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) due to the increasing awareness of risk associated with radiation exposure of patients and professional staff. The present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a stepwise transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-guided zero-fluoroscopy approach (ZFA) for RFA.

Methods: Consecutive patients (n = 111) referred for AF-ablation were prospectively enrolled with intention to RFA with ZFA.

Personalized paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ablation by tailoring ablation index to the left atrial wall thickness: the 'Ablate by-LAW' single-centre study-a pilot study.

Aims: To determine if adapting the ablation index (AI) to the left atrial wall thickness (LAWT), which is a determinant of lesion transmurality, is feasible, effective, and safe during paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) ablation.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients referred for PAF first ablation. Left atrial wall thickness three-dimensional maps were obtained from multidetector computed tomography and integrated into the CARTO navigation system.

International Neurotrauma Training Based on North-South Collaborations: Results of an Inter-institutional Program in the Era of Global Neurosurgery.

Shortage of general neurosurgery and specialized neurotrauma care in low resource settings is a critical setback in the national surgical plans of low and middle-income countries (LMIC). Neurotrauma fellowship programs typically exist in high-income countries (HIC), where surgeons who fulfill the requirements for positions regularly stay to practice. Due to this issue, neurosurgery residents and medical students from LMICs do not have regular access to this kind of specialized training and knowledge-hubs.

A South American Experience With Postoperative Complications Following Chest Wall Reconstruction for Neoplasms.

Background: This study aims to report postoperative complications of chest wall reconstructions due to resections of primary or secondary neoplasms in a South American cancer institution and their association with prosthesis reconstruction.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of patients with primary or secondary chest wall neoplasms who underwent resection and reconstruction between November 2008 and October 2018 at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogota, Colombia.

Results: A total of 77 patients were analyzed, 50 were women (64.

Impact of a predefined pacemapping protocol use for ablation of infrequent premature ventricular complexes: A prospective, multicenter study.

Background: Pacemapping (PM) is a useful maneuver for aiding premature ventricular complex (PVC) ablation. Its standalone clinical value is still to be defined.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the efficacy of a predefined PM protocol for low-burden PVC ablation, regardless of their site of origin (SOO) and the presence of structural heart disease.

MANual vs. automatIC local activation time annotation for guiding Premature Ventricular Complex ablation procedures (MANIaC-PVC study).

Aims: To assess potential benefits of a local activation time (LAT) automatic acquisition protocol using wavefront annotation plus an ECG pattern matching algorithm [automatic (AUT)-arm] during premature ventricular complex (PVC) ablation procedures.

Methods And Results: Prospective, randomized, controlled, and international multicentre study (NCT03340922). One hundred consecutive patients with indication for PVC ablation were enrolled and randomized to AUT (n = 50) or manual (MAN, n = 50) annotation protocols using the CARTO3 navigation system.

Lung nodule radio-guided localization and uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery resection.

Since the introduction of lung nodule radio-guided localization, multiport video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery resection has been widely described. To date, only one series has reported the use of uniportal approach. Our objective is to describe the experience of a single institution of lung nodule radio-guided localization and uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery resection.

Recommendations of the Colombian Consensus Committee for the Management of Traumatic Brain Injury in Prehospital, Emergency Department, Surgery, and Intensive Care (Beyond One Option for Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Stratified Protocol [BOOTStraP]).

 Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global public health problem. In Colombia, it is estimated that 70% of deaths from violence and 90% of deaths from road traffic accidents are TBI related. In the year 2014, the Ministry of Health of Colombia funded the development of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for the diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with severe TBI.

The Evolving Concept of Damage Control in Neurotrauma: Application of Military Protocols in Civilian Settings with Limited Resources.

Objective: The aim of the present review was to describe the evolution of the damage control concept in neurotrauma, including the surgical technique and medical postoperative care, from the lessons learned from civilian and military neurosurgeons who have applied the concept regularly in practice at military hospitals and civilian institutions in areas with limited resources.

Methods: The present narrative review was based on the experience of a group of neurosurgeons who participated in the development of the concept from their practice working in military theaters and low-resources settings with an important burden of blunt and penetrating cranial neurotrauma.

Results: Damage control surgery in neurotrauma has been described as a sequential therapeutic strategy that supports physiological restoration before anatomical repair in patients with critical injuries.