Intravenous lipomas of head and neck: an exceptional entity and its clinical implications.

Intravenous lipomas (IVLs) of the head and neck are uncommon benign tumors that develop within the venous walls, often detected incidentally during imaging for unrelated issues. While usually asymptomatic, these IVLs can cause congestive venous symptoms like swelling, paresthesia or pain in the head and neck and upper limbs, or even venous thromboembolism. The precise diagnosis of IVLs is predominantly achieved through computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with CT being the most frequently used method.

Retroperitoneal Soft Tissue Sarcoma: Emerging Therapeutic Strategies.

Retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (RPS) is a rare and heterogenous disease for which surgery is the cornerstone of treatment. However, the local recurrence rate is much higher than in soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities since wide resection is usually unfeasible in RPS due to its large size, indistinct tumour borders, anatomical constraints and the thinness of the overlying peritoneum. Local recurrence is the leading cause of death for low-grade RPS, whereas high-grade tumours are prone to distant metastases.

Artificial intelligence and change management in small and medium-sized enterprises: an analysis of dynamics within adaptation initiatives.

Given the increasingly significant role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the global economy and the ever more competitive markets in which these companies operate, SMEs' ability to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is of utmost importance. Due to constantly evolving social, environmental, and technological scenarios, the managers of these firms must increasingly focus on incorporating new tools such as AI into SME operations in order to enjoy their benefits. However, the subjectivity and complexity of this adaptation process makes integrated analyses of key factors challenging.

The current role of secondary cytoreductive surgery for recurrent ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer represents worldwide the second most frequent and the most fatal gynecological malignancy, with approximately two thirds of the patients presenting with advanced disease. Cytoreductive surgery, primary or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy is the standard of care for these patients. Despite the improvement in quality of cytoreductive surgery as well as development of novel drugs and chemotherapy regimens, still most women with ovarian cancer will ultimately develop recurrent disease and die of their disease.

Radiotherapy and Breast Reconstruction: What Is the Ideal Timing? A Narrative Review.

Introduction: Women undergoing mastectomy choose to pursue breast reconstruction (BR) in order to reduce their body image distress.Adjuvant chest wall irradiation is associated with a negative cosmetic outcome. The aim of our review was to identify the optimal timing of BR relating to radiotherapy delivery.

Past connections with the mainland structure patterns of insular species richness in a continental-shelf archipelago (Aegean Sea, Greece).

Recent research in island biogeography has highlighted the important role of late Quaternary sea-level fluctuations in shaping biogeographic patterns in insular systems but focused on oceanic systems. Through this study, we aim investigate how late Quaternary sea-level fluctuations shaped species richness patterns in continental-shelf island systems. Focusing on the Aegean archipelago, we first compiled maps of the area's geography using published data, under three sea-level stands: (a) current; (b) median sea-level over the last nine glacial-interglacial cycles (MSL); and (c) Last Glacial Maximum (LGM).

Hyperthermia During Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy With Paclitaxel or Docetaxel for Ovarian Cancer: Is There Any Benefit?

Background/aim: Intraperitoneal chemotherapy with taxanes provides high locoregional drug concentrations. Regarding their synergy with hyperthermia, results have been inconclusive. In this in vitro study, the thermal enhancement of the effect of paclitaxel and docetaxel on ovarian cancer cells under conditions mimicking those during hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is evaluated.

Low Testosterone and Semen Parameters in Male Partners of Infertile Couples Undergoing IVF with a Total Sperm Count Greater than 5 Million.

Low serum testosterone is found in approximately 15% of subfertile men. Although testosterone is essential in spermatogenesis, it is unclear whether low testosterone levels may have a negative impact on the semen parameters of men belonging to infertile couples with a total sperm count greater than 5 million. Furthermore, it is debatable whether the initial evaluation of the subfertile male should include an endocrine assessment.

Early pregnancy loss in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome after IVM versus standard ovarian stimulation for IVF/ICSI.

Study Question: Is the incidence of early pregnancy loss (EPL) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) higher after IVM of oocytes than after ovarian stimulation (OS) for IVF/ICSI?

Summary Answer: Women with PCOS who are pregnant after fresh embryo transfer have a higher probability of EPL following IVM, but after frozen embryo transfer (FET), no significant difference in the incidence of EPL was observed following IVM compared to OS.

What Is Known Already: There is conflicting evidence in the current literature with regard to the risk of EPL after IVM of oocytes when compared with OS. Because of the limited sample size in previous studies, the use of different IVM systems and the possible bias introduced by patient characteristics and treatment type, firm conclusions cannot be drawn.

An overview and update of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian cancer.

Introduction: Despite, the strong rationale and evidence of the benefit of postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer, it has not been widely adopted, mainly due to its high morbidity and logistical difficulties. Intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a more tolerable and technically feasible method of intraperitoneal chemotherapy, whereas other potential advantages include homogenous drug distribution, application before tumor regrowth and combination with hyperthermia, which is directly cytotoxic and enhances the efficacy of many drugs.

Areas Covered: In this review, the authors explain the rationale and indications for cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and HIPEC in advanced ovarian cancer.

Intrauterine G-CSF Administration in Recurrent Implantation Failure (RIF): An Rct.

This study investigates the effects of intrauterine G-CSF on endometrial thickness, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate in a recurrent implantation failure (RIF) group with normal endometrium. This study was designed as a prospective randomized controlled trial with the involvement of 157 RIF group pati; ents. The RIF group was formed on the basis of the RIF criteria: "The failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after the transfer of at least four good-quality embryos in a minimum of three fresh or frozen cycles to a woman under the age of 40 years.

Detailed and applied anatomy for improved rectal cancer treatment.

Rectal anatomy is one of the most challenging concepts of visceral anatomy, even though currently there are more than 23,000 papers indexed in PubMed regarding this topic. Nonetheless, even though there is a plethora of information meant to assist clinicians to achieve a better practice, there is no universal understanding of its complexity. This in turn increases the morbidity rates due to iatrogenic causes, as mistakes that could be avoided are repeated.

Platelet-rich Plasma Improves Healing of Pressure Ulcers as Objectively Assessed by Digital Planimetry.

Introduction: The effectiveness of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in chronic wounds remains controversial.

Objective: The aim of this prospective study is to objectively assess the impact of PRP therapy on pressure ulcer (PU) healing utilizing digital planimetry.

Materials And Methods: Eligible patients included those with PUs with a surface area ⟩ 1 cm2 and ⟩ 3 months' duration.

Late local, peritoneal and systemic recurrence of renal angiomyolipoma: A case report.

Renal angiomyolipoma (AML) is a relatively rare tumor that is generally considered as merely benign. However, epithelioid AML (EAML), an uncommon subtype, is associated with potentially malignant behavior. We herein present the case of a 60-year old male patient who had undergone left nephrectomy with left adrenalectomy and lymphadenectomy for a renal tumor 12 years earlier, and presented to our hospital with dull abdominal pain.

The evolving management of small bowel adenocarcinoma.

Background: Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is rare despite the fact that the small bowel represents the longest part and has the largest surface of all alimentary tract sections. Its incidence is 50-fold lower than that of colorectal carcinoma. It is often diagnosed at an advanced stage due to atypical and late symptoms, its low index of suspicion, difficult endoscopic access and poor detection by radiological imaging, resulting in impaired outcome.

Biological Features of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Objective: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have a supportive role in hematopoiesis and as components of the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment may present alterations during acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and be affected by chemotherapeutic agents. We examined the biological and functional characteristics of MSCs in ALL diagnosis and treatment and their effect on MSC qualitative properties.

Materials And Methods: Immunophenotypic characterization, evaluation of clonogenicity, and proliferative capacity were measured.

Pharmacological principles of intraperitoneal and bidirectional chemotherapy.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is associated with a significant pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic benefit and can, alone or in combination with systemic chemotherapy (bidirectional chemotherapy), be used for treating primary and secondary peritoneal surface malignancies. Due to the peritoneal-plasma barrier, high intraperitoneal drug concentration can be achieved by intraperitoneal chemotherapy, whereas systemic concentration remains low. Bidirectional chemotherapy may provide in addition adequate drug concentrations from the side of the subperitoneal space to the peritoneal tumour nodules.

Treatment of peritoneal metastases from small bowel adenocarcinoma.

Background/purpose: Peritoneal metastases (PM) affect approximately one third of patients with metastatic small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA). Treatment options are (1) systemic therapy ± palliative surgery and (2) cytoreductive surgery with intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS + IPC). Due to scarce evidence, PM from SBA represents a therapeutic challenge.

Treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy-current perspectives.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis (ptc) represents advanced malignant disease and has generally been associated with a grim prognosis. Peritoneal surface malignancy is often the major source of morbidity and mortality; it is of major concern in cancer management. Although ptc is categorized as metastatic disease, it represents a special disease pattern considered to be a locoregional disease limited to the abdominal cavity.

Anthropometric Analysis of the Face.

Background: Facial anthropometric analysis is essential for planning cosmetic and reconstructive facial surgery, but has not been available in detail for modern Greeks. In this study, multiple measurements of the face were performed on young Greek males and females to provide a complete facial anthropometric profile of this population and to compare its facial morphology with that of North American Caucasians.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-one direct facial anthropometric measurements were obtained from 152 Greek students.

Optimal drugs for HIPEC in different tumors.

Although there is adequate evidence to support treatment of primary and secondary peritoneal surface malignancies with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), the latter procedure is still far from standardized and optimization of its aspects may be warranted. Significant variations remain in HIPEC procedures and include also the drug choice. In this manuscript the characteristics of the optimal HIPEC drug will be discussed.

Multicenter epidemiological study to assess the population of CKD patients in Greece: results from the PRESTAR study.

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a relatively common condition not only associated with increased morbidity and mortality but also fuelling End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Among developed nations, Greece has one of the highest ESRD incidence rates, yet there is limited understanding of the epidemiology of earlier stages of CKD.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey of pre-dialysis CKD outpatients in nephrology clinics in the National Health Care system between October 2009 and October 2010.

Lipomatous tumours of the head and neck: a spectrum of biological behaviour.

Lipomatous tumours are rare in the head and neck region. Their biological behaviour varies greatly, from absolutely benign to histologically benign but locally infiltrative and, finally, invasive with metastatic potential. Each lipomatous tumour has to be treated accordingly.