Issues with the targeted therapy of non­small cell lung cancer with thyroid metastases: A case report.

Lung cancer is a common malignancy that has usually already metastasized at the time of diagnosis; however, thyroid metastases are extremely rare. Echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion has been observed in 3-7% of cases of lung adenocarcinoma. ALK inhibitor therapy has been shown to exert a positive effect on disease progression. The present study describes the case of a patient with ALK-positive non-small cell lung carcinoma and thyroid metastases who exhibited a minimal response to ALK inhibitor therapy in the primary lesion, but had a complete pathological response in the thyroid, as confirmed by a thyroid biopsy. The present case report undermines the need for further evidence from genomic testing following this different tumor course in thyroid tissue.

A Rare Pathological Phenotype of Endometrioid Serous and Clear-Cell Ovarian Cancer with PIK3CA Mutations in Relation to The Excellent Response of Alpelisib.

Patients with metastatic ovarian cancer who develop resistance to standard therapy with or without platinum need to search for other therapeutic choices. Therefore, identifying genetic alterations and selecting an approach to treatment using precision medicine techniques are important. In a patient diagnosed with mixed-type ovarian cancer after surgery, adjuvant therapy was applied with a combination of carboplatin and taxane, but the disease recurred. Upon evaluation of the patient as having platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), combination therapy with bevacizumab was initially successful. However, disease progression was again observed, and molecular analysis revealed the presence of an E545K mutation in the PIK3CA gene; therefore, a selective PI3K inhibitor, alpelisib, was used as a treatment under the compassionate-use protocol. The patient's complications improved after receiving the alpelisib medication. The patient has been in complete remission for over two years. This case serves as a rare example that confirms the utility of alpelisib in managing mixed-type ovarian cancer.

Violence in emergency service: The situation of general surgeons in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Violence in healthcare in public health is a problem about socio-economic and personal development that is un-fortunately seen in every service but more frequently in emergency departments. In our study, we aimed to determine the violence experiences of general surgeons in the emergency room and their perceptions about it. METHODS: The study is designed in a cross-sectional type. We sent a survey containing 11 questions to the e-mails of 941 general surgeons registered in the National Trauma and Emergency Surgery Association in August-September 2019. The rate of participation to the online survey was 9.98%. RESULTS: The participants who have been subjected to violence in anyway and who have never encountered violence were 64.9% and 16.0%, respectively. Female surgeons composed 10.6% of the participants and their rate of exposure to violence was 90.0%. When the number of patients accepted by the surgeon increased, the rate of being exposed to violence rose (p=0.014). Those who're ex-posed to verbal violence applied to courts less frequently (p=0.046). The surgeons whose had to applied to courts could not receive remarkable support from their institutions. The participants stated that who're source of violence should get effective punishments and victims should be strongly supported. CONCLUSION: The specialists exposed to violence in the emergency room include general surgeons. Increase of the risk of ex-posure to violence for surgeons correlates workload. Verbal violence moved to the court stage has observed less frequently than the physical. It would be appropriate to take serious sanctions strengthened by legal regulations as the first step toward a solution.

Serum levels of inflammatory markers CRP, ESR and albumin in relation to survival for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with several chronic inflammatory conditions. It is increasingly understood that the inflammation may be part of the carcinogenic process and prognostically important. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the serum levels of three inflammation markers in relation to survival in HCC patients. METHODS: We retrospectively examined the serum levels of CRP, albumin and ESR, both singly and in combination, in relation to patient survival. RESULTS: Survival worsened with increase in CRP or ESR or decrease in albumin levels. Combinations of CRP plus albumin or CRP plus ESR were associated with an even greater range of survival (3-fold), together with significant differences in maximum tumor diameter (PVT) and percent of patients with portal vein thrombosis (PVT). The triplet of CRP plus albumin plus ESR was associated with a sevenfold difference in survival, comparing low vs high parameter levels. These significant differences were found in patients with small or large tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Combinations of CRP with albumin or ESR or all three parameters together significantly related to differences in survival and to differences in MTD and percent PVT, in patients with both small and large size HCCs.

Osteoprotegerin is More than a Possible Serum Marker in Liver Fibrosis: A Study into its Function in Human and Murine Liver.

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) serum levels are associated with liver fibrogenesis and have been proposed as a biomarker for diagnosis. However, the source and role of OPG in liver fibrosis are unknown, as is the question of whether OPG expression responds to treatment. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the fibrotic regulation of OPG production and its possible function in human and mouse livers. OPG levels were significantly higher in lysates of human and mouse fibrotic livers compared to healthy livers. Hepatic OPG expression localized in cirrhotic collagenous bands in and around myofibroblasts. Single cell sequencing of murine liver cells showed hepatic stellate cells (HSC) to be the main producers of OPG in healthy livers. Using mouse precision-cut liver slices, we found OPG production induced by transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1) stimulation. Moreover, OPG itself stimulated expression of genes associated with fibrogenesis in liver slices through TGFß1, suggesting profibrotic activity of OPG. Resolution of fibrosis in mice was associated with decreased production of OPG compared to ongoing fibrosis. OPG may stimulate fibrogenesis through TGFß1 and is associated with the degree of fibrogenesis. It should therefore be investigated further as a possible drug target for liver fibrosis or biomarker for treatment success of novel antifibrotics.

Management of enteroatmospheric fistula thanks to new isolation technique.

We aimed to present our method called as new isolation technique with stopper (NITS) to manage enteroatmospheric fistula (EAF) in an open abdomen (OA). The patient was a 71-year-old male with Hartmann colostomy and incisional hernia. A dual mesh was used for incisional hernia repair after colorectal anastomosis. The patient was urgently re-admitted to hospital due to EAF on the postoperative 30th day. The NITS application was performed twice at different times. General anesthesia was not required for the applications, but sterile conditions in operation room were provided. A Penrose drain was sutured with 5/0 polydioxanone onto the mucosa of EAF orifice. A small pool was created to protect enteric content from leakage. The leak test was performed by spilling saline into this pool. The sponge with visceral organ protector around the pool was adhered by adhesive sterile drape, and one opening was performed on drape. Negative pressure therapy was launched with -75 mmHg in continuous form. EAF was isolated from the OA wound and sponge with the help of stopper performed with adaptable and obstacle ring paste. After these two applications, EAF was converted to stoma. The anastomosis of small intestine was performed 45 days later. In our NITS system, control of EAF may be successfully provided besides prevention of loss of enteric fluid and electrolyte. Advantages of NITS: 1) Successful control in all types of EAF is possible with NITS. 2) The required material for NITS system can be found easily. 3) All types of EAF can be converted into stoma in a short time. Consequently, the therapy of EAF in Björck 4 OA patients may be carried out successfully with NITS method.

Treatment with vacuum-assisted closure system: A case of anastomotic leak after upper gastrointestinal surgery.

Presently described is a case treated via stent and vacuum-assisted closure (VAC). The patient developed an oesophagojejunostomy leak (OL) on the ninth postoperative day after a radical total gastrectomy. The patient was a 55-year-old male patient with adenocarcinoma localized to the small curvature on the corpus of the stomach. Relaparatomy was performed for the OL, including placement of an uncovered stent. The abdomen was washed 4 times. As the OL did not decrease, 2 covered stents (22 mm and 18 mm in diameter and 80 mm long) were inserted endoscopically. The OL continued to contaminate the abdomen. One tip of the VAC sponge was placed next to the anastomosis, and the other tip was removed from the left upper quadrant. Another VAC closure set was placed in the abdomen. Both VAC closures were connected to separate vacuum devices with 75 mmHg of pressure. VAC dressings were changed at regular intervals every 3 days, and these steps were repeated 7 times over 21 days. The covered stents were removed endoscopically in the final operation. Fistulography revealed that the OL was completely closed, and the VAC dressings were removed. The skin was closed by separating the subcutaneous oil layer of the fascia. VAC therapy can not only provide serious abdominal sepsis treatment and primary source control, but also accelerate granulation development and, in this case, quickly closed the anastomotic leakage.