A case of intra-abdominal textiloma mimicking a mesenteric tumor.

INTRODUCTION: A textiloma or gossypiboma is a retained surgical material in the body after an operation. It may be asymptomatic or revealed by complications such as occlusion, perforation, and fistulization. CASE REPORT: We report a case of intraabdominal textiloma mimicking a mesenteric tumor. The patient has a history of open cholecystectomy. She was referred to our department for the discovery on abdominal computed tomography scan (CT-scan) of a mass in the mesentery. A laparotomy was performed observing a textiloma which was resected with part of the small intestine. The evolution was satisfactory for the patient. DISCUSSION: Intraabdominal textiloma is the most frequently observed foreign body left after a surgical procedure. They can be asymptomatic or discovered incidentally for another cause. We describe two types of immune responses, tansudative and exudative response, depending on the antigenicity of the foreign body. Surgical resection is the gold standard of treatment. CONCLUSION: Although they are rare, these foreign bodies can present real complications after an open surgery.

ChatGPT and the Future of Digital Health: A Study on Healthcare Workers' Perceptions and Expectations.

This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and intended practices of healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia towards ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot, within the first three months after its launch. We also aimed to identify potential barriers to AI Chatbot adoption among healthcare professionals. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1057 HCWs in Saudi Arabia, distributed electronically via social media channels from 21 February to 6 March 2023. The survey evaluated HCWs' familiarity with ChatGPT-3.5, their satisfaction, intended future use, and perceived usefulness in healthcare practice. Of the respondents, 18.4% had used ChatGPT for healthcare purposes, while 84.1% of non-users expressed interest in utilizing AI Chatbots in the future. Most participants (75.1%) were comfortable with incorporating ChatGPT into their healthcare practice. HCWs perceived the Chatbot to be useful in various aspects of healthcare, such as medical decision-making (39.5%), patient and family support (44.7%), medical literature appraisal (48.5%), and medical research assistance (65.9%). A majority (76.7%) believed ChatGPT could positively impact the future of healthcare systems. Nevertheless, concerns about credibility and the source of information provided by AI Chatbots (46.9%) were identified as the main barriers. Although HCWs recognize ChatGPT as a valuable addition to digital health in the early stages of adoption, addressing concerns regarding accuracy, reliability, and medicolegal implications is crucial. Therefore, due to their unreliability, the current forms of ChatGPT and other Chatbots should not be used for diagnostic or treatment purposes without human expert oversight. Ensuring the trustworthiness and dependability of AI Chatbots is essential for successful implementation in healthcare settings. Future research should focus on evaluating the clinical outcomes of ChatGPT and benchmarking its performance against other AI Chatbots.

COVID-19 and its aftermath, new drivers of infertility?

Abstract: Law 40/2004, the Italian piece of legislation governing access to assisted reproductive technologies (ART), is relatively young, compared to the number of years that have passed since the first attempts at ART in the world. Still, such a law has undergone several revisions in recent years, mostly by court rulings, and such changes are indeed necessary in light of the constant evolution in ART innovations. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic struck on a global scale, disrupting virtually all aspects of social and economic life. COVID-19's impact on fertility has to do, although it is not limited to, the distribution and function of ACE2 in the female reproductive system: such receptors are in fact expressed extensively in the ovaries, uterus, vagina and placenta. We point out that overcoming the "demographic winter" Italy has been going through, compounded by the pandemic, will require major adjustments in the way we ensure access to ART services in an equitable, sustainable and affordable fashion for all who wish to fulfill their reproductive potential and have been prevented to do so by legal, regulatory and financial factors.

Telemedicine, Telepsychiatry and COVID-19 Pandemic: Future Prospects for Global Health.

There is no denying that demand for telemedicine and telepsychiatry services has been on the rise, as the COVID-19 pandemic engulfed the world and upset the daily lives and certainties of us all. Such growth, however, calls for a comprehensive analysis and assessment of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in such innovative approaches, which are bound to change and evolve as the fourth industrial revolution unfolds before our eyes. The authors have set out to analyze the complexities and distinctive features of telemedicine and telepsychiatry by focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of such approaches and analyzing research findings, recommendations, and guidelines by scientific societies and institutions, for the ultimate purpose of striking a tenable balance between technological innovations and the ethics and moral imperative of guaranteeing equal access to care for everyone, irrespective of social and financial status. The European regulatory and legislative scenario has been briefly outlined, and the standards for the medicolegal sustainability of such practices have been explored. Ultimately, in order to improve accessibility without compromising the quality of care, new broadly shared ethical standards, best practices, and guidelines need to be prioritized. National legislative initiatives and the international sharing of information need to be encouraged, for the ultimate purpose of optimizing and harmonizing telemedicine-based care for the sake of all patients. As technology moves forward and evolves, so must the normative standards and guidelines on which professionals must be able to rely when delivering telemedicine-based care in an ethically and legally viable fashion. From that perspective, addressing the digital divide means enabling more people to receive care and should therefore be seen as part and parcel of the effort to uphold the universal human right to health.

Patient Counselling and Medicolegal Aspects of Hair Transplant Surgery.

Hair transplantation being an elective aesthetic surgery, the importance of informed consent cannot be overstated. Explaining the condition of hair loss, the causes, progress, prognosis, and all available treatment options is a part of this process. Providing conflict-free information, ensuring that the patient comprehends this information, and allowing him/her to make the decision to authorize the surgeon to perform the procedure is the moral obligation of the hair transplant surgeon. The benefits of this approach are noticeable and one of the most effective ways to have a satisfied patient and reduce the possibility of claims.