An atypical abdominal manifestation of retroperitoneal teratoma: Case report.

Introduction & Importance: Teratomas, typically situated in midline areas like the sacrococcygeal region, may rarely manifest in the retroperitoneal region. Often asymptomatic and incidentally discovered, they can lead to complications such as infection, tumor rupture, or, exceptionally, peritonitis.

Case Presentation: In a 2-year-old child with a history of trauma, an atypical presentation of acute abdomen and peritonitis was observed.

Comparative analysis of bone and soft tissue vs. visceral synovial sarcoma: Demographic, clinical, and survival outcomes; a retrospective population-based study.

Background: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is typically diagnoses in young adults and usually appears in the extremities and soft tissues. However, it can sometimes arise in visceral organs. This study examines the differences in patient demographics, clinical features, and survival rates between soft tissue and visceral synovial sarcoma.

Cancer Cell Small Molecule Secretome Induces the Immune Checkpoint NKG2A and Dysfunction of Human CD8+ T Cells.

PD-1 blockade has been approved for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. However, many HNSCC patients do not respond to this treatment, and other tumor microenvironmental factors may promote resistance to PD-1 blockade. We previously identified increased expression of the inhibitory receptor NKG2A on CD8+ T cells in HNSCC tumors compared with T cells in matching PBMC samples.

Association of Surgical Approaches and Outcomes in Total Mesorectal Excision and Margin Status for Rectal Cancer.

Introduction: Despite being a key metric with a significant correlation with the outcomes of patients with rectal cancer, the optimal surgical approach for total mesorectal excision (TME) has not yet been identified. The aim of this study was to assess the association of the surgical approach on the quality of TME and surgical margins and to characterize the surgical and long-term oncologic outcomes in patients undergoing robotic, laparoscopic, and open TME for rectal cancer.

Methods: Patients with primary, nonmetastatic rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent either lower anterior resection or abdominoperineal resection via robotic (Rob), laparoscopic (Lap), or open approaches were selected from the US Rectal Cancer Consortium database (2007-2017).

Reliability and validity of Urdu PARENTS for assessing non-technical skills of paediatric residents in a teaching hospital in Pakistan.

Purpose: The primary objective of our study is twofold. First, we assessed nontechnical skills (NTSs), such as the cognitive, social, and personal skills of postgraduate residents (PGRs), from paediatric caregivers' perspectives in a paediatric emergency department (PED) of a tertiary care hospital. Second, we evaluated the reliability and validity of the 'Parents' Assessment of Residents Enacting Non-Technical Skills' (PARENTS) instrument in its Urdu-translated version, ensuring its applicability and accuracy in the Pakistani context.

The Outcome of Purse-string Versus Conventional Wound Closure Techniques in Patients Undergoing Stoma Reversal: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Patients undergoing stoma reversal may experience surgical site infections and poor scarring. A purse-string closure approach may lower the incidence of surgical site infections due to its inherent ability to drain wound exudates. This study compared the frequency of surgical site infections and the cosmetic outlook of the scar among patients undergoing stoma reversal with linear and purse-string skin closure techniques.

Enteric tube position on preoperative radiographs predicts clinical outcomes in neonatal congenital diaphragmatic hernia with and without prenatal diagnosis.

Objective: Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) is diagnosed prenatally in ~60% of cases. Prenatal measures typically guide management and prognostication. Simple postnatal prognosticators are needed when prenatal diagnosis is lacking.

Use of simulation based technology in pre-clinical years improves confidence and satisfaction among medical students.

Objective: To determine perception of medical students about learning from integrated simulated clinical skill sessions as part of the undergraduate curriculum.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Centre for Innovation in Medical Education, Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi, from July 2018 to February 2019, and comprised first year medical students undertaking the Respiration and Circulation module of the curriculum. Quantitative data was collected using a questionnaire and the responses were assessed on a five-point Likert scale.

Postoperative biliary anastomotic strictures after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background: Biliary anastomotic stricture (BAS) is an uncommon complication of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). As PDs are performed more frequently, BAS may become a more common pathologic entity requiring clinical engagement. The aim of this study was to report the incidence of BAS in the modern era of pancreatic surgery and identify risk factors associated with it.

Correction to: 14 Years' experience of esophageal replacement surgeries.

The quality of the images published in the original version was not satisfactory. The better version images are provided below.

Gastrointestinal trichobezoar: An experience with 17 cases.

Background: Trichobezoar is an exceedingly rare entity in children and mimics other chronic ailments such as abdominal tuberculosis or malignancy. Delayed diagnosis and management result in various complications. The study was conducted to describe our experience with 17 consecutive cases of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) trichobezoars.

14 Years' experience of esophageal replacement surgeries.

Background: Esophageal replacement is a challenge to the therapeutic skills of surgeons and a technically demanding operation in the pediatric age group. Various conduits and routes have been described in the literature, each with their specific advantages and disadvantages. We carried out this retrospective study to share our experience of esophageal replacement.

KRAS mutational status impacts pathologic response to pre-hepatectomy chemotherapy: a study from the International Genetic Consortium for Liver Metastases.

Background: A major response to pre-hepatectomy chemotherapy has been associated with improved survival in patients who undergo resection of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). However, the role of tumor biology, as exemplified by overall and codon-specific KRAS mutational status, in predicting response to chemotherapy is not well defined.

Methods: Pathologic response was characterized as minor or major depending on the percentage of remnant viable cells (>50% vs <50%, respectively).

Combined Hepatic Resection and Radio-frequency Ablation for Patients with Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis: A Viable Option for Patients with a Large Number of Tumors.

Background/aim: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is thought to result in inferior prognosis than hepatic resection among patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). However, resection plus RFA may be an option for patients with a large number of tumors (≥4 liver lesions) and borderline resectability.

Materials And Methods: A total of 717 patients with CRLM who underwent hepatic resection +/- RFA at two tertiary institutions between 09/01/2000-12/01/2015 were eligible for inclusion in this study.