Screening and verification of microRNA promoter methylation sites in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The promoter methylation mode of microribonucleic acid (miRNA) plays a crucial role in the process of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to screen and verify the miRNA methylation sites associated with the overall survival (OS) and clinical characteristics of HCC patients. Methylation-related data were from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). R software was utilized to screen the methylation sites. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm was utilized to develop the miRNA promoter methylation models. Then, methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was performed with 146 HCC tissues to verify the accuracy of the vascular infiltration-related model. Additionally, we verified the functions of vascular infiltration-related miRNA by utilizing cells transfected with miR-199a-3p mimic. The model for predicting OS of HCC patients contained eight methylation sites. The Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that the model could divide HCC patients into high- and low-risk groups (P < .0001). COX regression analysis suggested that the model (P < .001; 95% CI, 1.264-2.709) and T category (P < .001; 95% CI, 1.472-3.119) were independent risk factors for affecting OS of HCC patients. The model for predicting vascular infiltration, pathological grade, and clinical stage contained 7, 10, and 9 methylation sites respectively, with their area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values 0.667, 0.745, and 0.725, respectively. The functional analysis suggested that miRNA methylation is involved in various biological processes such as WNT, MAPK, and mTOR signaling pathways. The accuracy of the vascular infiltration-related model was consistent with our previous bioinformatics assay. And upregulation of miR-199a-3p decreased migration and invasion abilities. The screened miRNA promoter methylation sites can be served as biomarkers for judging OS, vascular infiltration, pathology grade, and clinical stage. It can also provide new targets for improving the treatment and prognosis of HCC patients.

Total removal of anaplastic meningioma infiltrating an artery by performing an A3-A3 side-to-side anastomosis.

Background: Meningiomas are histologically benign tumors and generally have a good prognosis. However, some are classified as high-grade meningiomas due to their strong invasion of surrounding tissues and high postoperative recurrence rates, resulting in a poor prognosis. Postoperative radiotherapy is often administered for the most malignant anaplastic meningiomas; however, its contribution to improving prognosis and reducing recurrence rates in patients with residual tumors is limited. Case Description: We present here a 48-year-old man with an anaplastic meningioma that recurred repeatedly and had invaded the right anterior cerebral artery (ACA) despite two postoperative radiotherapy sessions. Dissecting the tumor from the blood vessels was extremely difficult and would only have achieved a partial resection. However, we achieved complete resection by performing a pericallosal artery-pericallosal artery (A3-A3) side-to-side anastomosis and excising the infiltrated blood vessels along with the tumor en bloc. No neurological deficits or complications, such as cerebral infarction, were detected postoperatively. Conclusion: Although reports of performing an A3-A3 side-to-side anastomosis to enable complete resection of tumors invading the ACA are extremely rare worldwide, this procedure should be recognized as a safe and effective treatment option when complete tumor resection is strongly desired, as in the present patient.

A rare incidence of primary Synovial Spindle Cell Sarcoma in a 46-year-old male, successfully managed by surgical intervention-A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare form of Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS) which results from the malignant proliferation of mesenchymal cells. Specific etiologies are not yet known, and its incidence rate ranges between 0.81 and 1.42 per 1 million individuals. Its gender-specific prevalence is almost the same between males and females and it is unique from other subtypes of STS in that it's slow growing and in almost half the cases, patients present with distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 46-year-old previously healthy male patient, who complained from a right lower extremity painless bulge, which began to be visibly noticeable by the patient 2 months prior to admission. There were no signs of allocated inflammation nor lower limb ischemia. Radiology revealed an irregular mass formation conformant with neoplasia. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Surgical resection of the mass along with synthetic graft replacement of the concomitant vascular bundle. Histopathological analysis of the resected mass revealed a monophasic synovial spindle cell sarcoma. CONCLUSION: SS is a rare neoplasm poses a grave risk for patients due to its malignant pathophysiology and the wide margin of misdiagnoses. It is pivotal to set-up proper preoperative diagnostic guidelines for it and maintain high clinical suspicion so that we can bring down the high rates of the morbidity and mortality which ensue from this malignancy.

Cystic renal oncocytoma mimicking renal cell carcinoma.

Cystic renal lesions are one of the commonly encountered urological conditions. They can be either benign or malignant. The Bosniak classification is employed to differentiate benign cysts from the malignant ones and to recommend treatment options. Bosniak type 4 cysts are mostly malignant. Rarely, benign tumors can be encountered in Bosniak type 4 cysts. We present a 59-year-old female who presented with a hilar Bosniak type 4 cyst in the right kidney. She underwent open exploration of the right renal tumor. The tumor was infiltrating into the renal vessels and could not be separated from the renal vein. In view of preoperative and intraoperative suspicion of malignancy, radical nephrectomy was done. Postoperative histopathological examination revealed the tumor to be an oncocytoma. The benign nature of the cyst could not be conclusively determined by preoperative investigations and intraoperative findings. Postoperative histological examination uncovered the rare cystic presentation of this benign tumor.

[Vascular surgical aspects in abdominal surgery : Results from a tertiary care center over a 10-year time period]. / Gefäßchirurgische Aspekte in der Viszeralchirurgie : Ergebnisse aus einem tertiären Zentrum über einen Zeitraum von 10 Jahren.

AIM: To investigate the perioperative management and outcome of patients undergoing abdominal surgery with additional vascular (comorbid) alterations for internal quality assurance of the clinical results. METHODS: Over a defined study period all consecutive cases of the aforementioned profile were documented and retrospectively analyzed as part of an ongoing prospective monocentric observational study to reflect the daily surgical practice. RESULTS: Over 10 years (from January 1999 to December 2008), a total of 113 cases were registered. Pancreas resection including vascular reconstruction showed the highest percentage (30.1%). Within the target patient groups, similar outcome data were found compared with international reports. An exception was in the case of mesenteric ischemia, where open surgery was more frequently used in comparison to the study situation (included together were patients treated by surgery and interventions). The majority of vascular alterations during the postoperative course and iatrogenic lesions occurred following pancreas resection. In the therapeutic profile there are two particularly important measures, namely open surgery on one hand and image-guided radiology as well as endoscopy on the other hand. The majority of patients with a rare visceral artery aneurysm (considerable potential for rupture or erosion) were more frequently treated with image-guided interventional radiology versus open surgery. This conforms to the current well-established sequential patient (individual), results, and, in particular, risk-adapted staged treatment approach. CONCLUSION: Additional vascular surgical treatment of problematic situations during abdominal surgery or in emergency cases is not daily routine; however, it is a challenging field including a considerable potential for complications (morbidity) and definitely mortality. This requires an experienced surgeon with high expertise, if possible in a center for vascular medicine.

[Complex pelvic and sarcoma surgery with vascular replacement]. / Komplexe Becken- und Sarkomchirurgie mit Gefäßersatz.

Due to optimization of surgical techniques in surgical oncology and vascular surgery, the most modern approaches of anesthesia and intensive care medicine and effective multimodal therapeutic strategies, locally advanced malignant tumors are resected more frequently with a potentially curative intent. In the case of extensive tumors with infiltration of vital vascular structures or of structures which are crucial for extremity preservation, the necessary surgical procedure for complete tumor removal poses a major challenge for the surgeon and incorporates a high risk of perioperative morbidity for the patient. The decision to attempt tumor resection should therefore always be based on a concept considering all aspects of the malignant disease. The treating team should be highly experienced in this complex field of surgery, not only with respect to the surgical approach but also regarding the management of postoperative complications. In this article relevant aspects of decision making, surgical technique and postoperative outcome for malignant tumors involving vascular structures of the retroperitoneum and pelvis are presented.

Collagen-based biological glue after Appleby operation for advanced gastric cancer.

Pancreatic fistula is a common complication of distal pancreatectomy; although various surgical procedures have been proposed, no clear advantage is evident for a single technique. We herein report the case of a 38-year-old patient affected by an advanced gastric carcinoma infiltrating the pancreas body, with extensive nodal metastases involving the celiac trunk, who underwent total gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy, distal pancreatectomy and resection en bloc of the celiac trunk (Appleby operation). At the end of the demolitive phase, the pancreatic stump and the aorta at the level of the celiac ligature were covered with a layer of Tachosil(®), a horse collagen sponge made with human coagulation factors (fibrinogen and thrombin). Presenting this case, we wish to highlight the possible sealing effect of this product and hypothesize a role in preventing pancreatic fistula and postoperative lymphorrhagia from extensive nodal dissection.

Limb conservation in extremity soft tissue sarcomas with vascular involvement.

BACKGROUND: The major neurovascular involvement and large primary tumors are indication of amputation. The present study is an attempt to explore the feasibility of a limb salvage surgery in extremity sarcoma cases with major vessel involvement. Oncological outcomes and surgery-related morbidities are compared with those reported in literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of all limb salvage surgeries done in our department between 2005 and 2008 was done and four cases of extremity sarcoma of lower limb involving femoral vessels analyzed. Interpretation of data from these cases, along with review of literature, is done. RESULTS: In all these cases a wide monobloc excision was done adhering to oncological principles. This required resection of superficial femoral artery alone in two cases, resection of superficial femoral artery along with common femoral vein and femoral nerve in another, and of common femoral vein alone in yet another. Reconstruction was done in all these cases with reversed long saphenous vein graft. Histopathology of resected margins was free of tumor in all the four patients. One patient developed local recurrence and one developed distant metastsis. Two were disease free for one year with good functional limb, one has been disease-free for three years and another was disease-free at two years, after which he defaulted further follow-up. One patient developed arterial blowout which required ligation of common femoral artery which resulted in gangrene of the limb. He underwent amputation. CONCLUSION: Major neurovascular involvement in extremity sarcoma is not considered a contraindication for limb salvage surgery. Review of literature also supports our view. Post-operative wound related complications are more in this group of patients. However, long term functional outcome is good. Literature suggests a good long term local control after vascular resection and reconstruction.