Estimation of blood loss during adult burn surgery.

Introduction: Large burns excision and graft can produce major blood loss. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the blood loss in relation with the excision size in square centimeters (cm) in adults.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a monocentric, observational, prospective and open study in a burn intensive care unit.

Effect of curcumin on the cell surface markers CD44 and CD24 in breast cancer.

Human breast cell lines are often characterized based on the expression of the cell surface markers CD44 and CD24. CD44 is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein that regulates cell adhesion and cell-cell, as well as cell-extracellular matrix interactions. CD24 is expressed in benign and malignant solid tumors and is also involved in cell adhesion and metastasis.

Outcomes and prognostic factors for postsurgical pulmonary vein stenosis in the current era.

Background: The optimal management and prognostic factors of postsurgical pulmonary vein stenosis remain controversial. We sought to determine current postsurgical pulmonary vein stenosis outcomes and prognostic factors in a multicentric study in the current era.

Methods: Seventy-five patients with postsurgical pulmonary vein stenosis who underwent 103 procedures in 14 European/North American centers (2000-2012) were included retrospectively.

Re-repair of the failed mitral valve: insights into aetiology and surgical management.

Objectives: Mitral valve (MV) repair is the gold standard for treatment of degenerative mitral regurgitation. A variety of surgical techniques allow surgeons to achieve a high rate of MV repair even with MV diseases of other aetiologies. However, a certain number of repairs fail over time.

Contribution of diagnostic tests for the etiological assessment of uveitis, data from the ULISSE study (Uveitis: Clinical and medicoeconomic evaluation of a standardized strategy of the etiological diagnosis).

Purpose: ULISSE is the only study that prospectively assessed the efficiency of a standardized strategy, compared to an open strategy for the etiologic diagnosis of uveitis. Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of the tests prescribed in the ULISSE study to clarify their relevance.

Methods: ULISSE is a non-inferiority, prospective, multicenter and cluster randomized study.

Long-term survival after glioblastoma resection: hope despite poor prognosis factors.

Background: In spite of aggressive multimodal treatment, survival for patients with glioblastoma (GBM) remains short. Nevertheless, some patients survive much longer than expected and become long-term survival patients. The extent of resection (EoR), Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS), age and methyl-guanine methyltransferase gene (MGMT) methylation are well-defined prognostic factors, but the characteristics of patients with long-term survival (LTS, survival of at least three years after diagnosis) has not been fully determined yet.

Sarcoidosis, inorganic dust exposure and content of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid: the MINASARC pilot study.

Inhalation of mineral dust was suggested to contribute to sarcoidosis. We compared the mineral exposome of 20 sarcoidosis and 20 matched healthy subjects. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were treated by digestion-filtration and analyzed by transmission electron microscopy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma imaging systems: why they exist, how they have evolved, and how they differ.

Over the past 16 years, several scientific organizations have proposed systems that incorporate imaging for surveillance, diagnosis, staging, treatment, and monitoring of treatment response of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These systems are needed to standardize the acquisition, interpretation, and reporting of liver imaging examinations; help differentiate benign from malignant observations; improve consistency between radiologists; and provide guidance for management of HCC. This review article discusses the historical evolution of HCC imaging systems.

Necrolytic Migratory Erythema: A Forgotten Paraneoplastic Condition.

Background: Necrolytic migratory erythema (NME) is most commonly a paraneoplastic condition. It is the dermatologic manifestation classically associated with glucagonoma pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour. Glucagonoma syndrome has been defined by the constellation of secreting tumour associated with overproduction by the α-cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans, abnormally elevated blood level of glucagon, and skin findings of NME.

Primary Pulmonary Vein Stenosis: Outcomes, Risk Factors, and Severity Score in a Multicentric Study.

Background: Primary pulmonary vein stenosis (PPVS) still carries a poor prognosis, and prognostic factors remain controversial. The aim of this study was to determine outcomes and prognostic factors after PPVS repair in the current era.

Methods: Thirty patients with PPVS and a normal pulmonary vein (PV) connection operated on in 10 European/North American centers (2000-2012) were included retrospectively.

Liver segmentation: indications, techniques and future directions.

Objectives: Liver volumetry has emerged as an important tool in clinical practice. Liver volume is assessed primarily via organ segmentation of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images. The goal of this paper is to provide an accessible overview of liver segmentation targeted at radiologists and other healthcare professionals.

Anastomotic ulcers in short bowel syndrome: New suggestions from a multidisciplinary approach.

Background And Aims: Anastomotic ulceration (AU) is a rare potential life-threatening complication that may occur after intestinal resection. The diagnosis is often delayed after a long-lasting history of refractory anemia. The pathogenesis remains unknown and there are no established therapies.

Kaposi Sarcoma Associated With Iatrogenic Immunosuppression: A Rare Complication of Bullous Pemphigoid Treatment.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune bullous disease requiring immunosuppressive therapy. Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is an angioproliferative tumor associated with the opportunistic viral infection human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8). It is a well-known condition associated with longstanding human immunodeficiency virus infection, but it may also occur in the context of iatrogenic immunosuppression.

Myelopathy secondary to a spinal cord compression induced by C2 nerve tumors during head rotation.

Introduction: It is well known that nerve root tumors developing in the spinal canal can be responsible for spinal cord compression leading to myelopathy and neurological deficits. We report the case of a patient with bilateral C2 neurofibromas presenting with a myelopathy of the upper cervical spine with no spinal cord compression on standard magnetic resonance imaging. The spinal cord compression occurred between the cervical neurofibromas only during head rotation.

Feasibility, safety and efficacy of two-stage hepatectomy for bilobar liver metastases of colorectal cancer: a LiverMetSurvey analysis.

Background: The combination of liver resection and chemotherapy has become the standard of care for colorectal liver metastases (LM). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of two-stage hepatectomy (TSH) on the long-term survival of patients with bilobar LM.

Methods: We included adult (over-18) patients from the LiverMetSurvey registry with confirmed multiple colorectal LM and having undergone either one-stage hepatectomy or TSH with curative intent.

Clinical and laboratory features of the most common Clostridium difficile ribotypes isolated in Belgium.

Background: Previous studies comparing Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) due to different ribotypes have been conflicting, and many have only compared small numbers of cases or few ribotypes.

Aim: To compare patient and episode characteristics for CDI due to different ribotypes.

Methods: The ribotyping results from 3333 toxin-producing isolates collected from 110 Belgian hospitals between October 2010 and December 2015 were matched to clinical data from the national CDI surveillance database.

Recanalization and rupture after intracranial aneurysm treatment.

Background: Treatment of intracranial aneurysm (ICA) can sometimes require several procedures. The aim of this study was to analyze the risk of recanalization and rupture recurrence after ICA treatment by endovascular coiling (EVC) or surgical clipping (SC) on a very long follow-up.

Methods: Clinical data of 373 consecutive patients treated in our group between January 1996 and December 2006 as well by EVC as by SC for ruptured (RIA) or unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA), were reviewed.

Comparison of MRI- and CT-based semiautomated liver segmentation: a validation study.

Purpose: To compare the repeatability, agreement, and efficiency of MRI- and CT-based semiautomated liver segmentation for the assessment of total and subsegmental liver volume.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in 31 subjects who underwent contemporaneous liver MRI and CT. Total and subsegmental liver volumes were segmented from contrast-enhanced 3D gradient-recalled echo MRI sequences and CT images.

Feasibility of monomodal analgesia with IV alfentanil during burn dressing changes at bedside (in spontaneously breathing non-intubated patients).

Introduction: The severe pain related to repeated burn dressing changes at bedside is often difficult to manage. However these dressings can be performed at bedside on spontaneously breathing non-intubated patients using powerful intravenous opioids with a quick onset and a short duration of action such as alfentanil. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the protocol which is used in our burn unit for pain control during burn dressing changes.

Air pollution and ST-elevation myocardial infarction: A case-crossover study of the Belgian STEMI registry 2009-2013.

Background: Previous studies have shown that air pollution particulate matter (PM) is associated with an increased risk for myocardial infarction. The effects of air pollution on the risk of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), in particular the role of gaseous air pollutants such as NO and O and the susceptibility of specific populations, are still under debate.

Methods: All patients entered in the Belgian prospective STEMI registry between 2009 and 2013 were included.

Predictors of Recurrence and Successful Treatment Following Obstetric Fistula Surgery.

Objective: To determine factors contributing to recurrence and successful treatment of obstetric fistula (OF).

Materials And Methods: Data were collected from OF patients in Saint Luc Hospital Kisantu (DR of Congo) between 2007 and 2013. Patients underwent surgical treatment and were evaluated after a follow-up period of 3 months.

Ras protein expression as a marker for breast cancer.

Breast cancer, the most common neoplasm in women of all ages, is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. Markers to help to predict the risk of progression and ultimately provide non-surgical treatment options would be of great benefit. At present, there are no available molecular markers to predict the risk of carcinoma progression to invasive cancer; therefore, all women diagnosed with this type of malignancy must undergo surgery.