Intravenous administration of recombinant Phα1ß: Antinociceptive properties and morphine tolerance reversal in a cancer-associated pain model.

Cancer-related pain is considered one of the most prevalent symptoms for those affected by cancer, significantly influencing quality of life and treatment outcomes. Morphine is currently employed for analgesic treatment in this case, however, chronic use of this opioid is limited by the development of analgesic tolerance and adverse effects, such as digestive and neurological disorders. Alternative therapies, such as ion channel blockade, are explored. The toxin Phα1ß has demonstrated efficacy in blocking calcium channels, making it a potential candidate for alleviating cancer-related pain. This study aims to assess the antinociceptive effects resulting from intravenous administration of the recombinant form of Phα1ß (r-Phα1ß) in an experimental model of cancer-related pain in mice, tolerant or not to morphine. The model of cancer-induced pain was used to evaluate these effects, with the injection of B16F10 cells, followed by the administration of the r-Phα1ß, and evaluation of the mechanical threshold by the von Frey test. Also, adverse effects were assessed using a score scale, the rotarod, and open field tests. Results indicate that the administration of r-Phα1ß provoked antinociception in animals with cancer-induced mechanical hyperalgesia, with or without morphine tolerance. Previous administration of r-Phα1ß was able to recover the analgesic activity of morphine in animals tolerant to this opioid. r-Phα1ß was proved safe for these parameters, as no adverse effects related to motor and behavioral activity were observed following intravenous administration. This study suggests that the concomitant use of morphine and r-Phα1ß could be a viable strategy for pain modulation in cancer patients.

Repeated pancreatic resection for pancreatic metastases from renal cell Carcinoma: A Spanish multicenter study (PANMEKID).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recurrent isolated pancreatic metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) after pancreatic resection is rare. The purpose of our study is to describe a series of cases of relapse of pancreatic metastasis from renal cancer in the pancreatic remnant and its surgical treatment with a repeated pancreatic resection, and to analyse the results of both overall and disease-free survival. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective study of patients undergoing pancreatic resection for RCC pancreatic metastases, from January 2010 to May 2020. Patients were grouped into two groups depending on whether they received a single pancreatic resection (SPS) or iterative pancreatic resection. Data on short and long-term outcome after pancreatic resection were collected. RESULTS: The study included 131 pancreatic resections performed in 116 patients. Thus, iterative pancreatic surgery (IPS) was performed in 15 patients. The mean length of time between the first pancreatic surgery and the second was 48.9 months (95 % CI: 22.2-56.9). There were no differences in the rate of postoperative complications. The DFS rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 86 %, 78 % and 78 % vs 75 %, 50 % and 37 % in the IPS and SPS group respectively (p = 0.179). OS rates at 1, 3, 5 and 7 years were 100 %, 100 %, 100 % and 75 % in the IPS group vs 95 %, 85 %, 80 % and 68 % in the SPS group (p = 0.895). CONCLUSION: Repeated pancreatic resection in case of relapse of pancreatic metastasis of RCC in the pancreatic remnant is justified, since it achieves OS results similar to those obtained after the first resection.

Megavoltage radiotherapy effects on organs of the reticuloendothelial system.

PURPOSE: To study the uptake capacity of cells from the reticuloendothelial system after irradiation with high-energy X-rays. METHODS: Eighteen male Wistar rats were distributed in three groups: group A (n = 6): control, unirradiated animals studied alongside animals from group B; group B (n = 6) and group C (n = 6): animals irradiated and studied after 24 and 48 hours, respectively. The rats were anesthetized and placed on a 10 MV linear accelerator. Next, they were irradiated in the abdominal region, with 8 Gy. Twenty-four (groups A and B) and 48 hours later (group C), a colloidal carbon solution (1 mL/kg) was intravenously injected in the tail vein. Fifty minutes later, the spleens and livers were withdrawn and prepared to be studied. Kupffer cells and splenic macrophages containing carbon pigments were counted in an optical microscope. Arithmetic means were calculated for each group and compared among them. RESULTS: X-rays were associated with a reduced number of Kupffer cells containing colloidal carbon, proliferation and enlargement of biliary ducts, hypoplasia, and hepatocyte necrosis. In the irradiated spleen, the colloidal carbon uptake was concentrated in the marginal zone around the white pulp, with an inexpressive uptake of pigments by macrophages from white and red pulps. CONCLUSIONS: The X-rays in the rat abdomen are associated with a reduction in the Kupffer cells uptake of colloidal carbon, hepatocyte disorders, bile duct proliferation, and splenic uptake of colloidal carbon concentrated in the marginal zone.

Especificidades dos erros cometidos e do tempo despendido na actividade discriminação perceptiva de símbolos gráficos em alunos com dificuldades de aprendizagem / Specifics of errors and time spent in perceptual discrimination of graphic symbols in students with learning difficulties / Particularidades de los errores cometidos y el tiempo empleado en la actividad de la discriminación perceptiva de símbolos gráficos en estudiantes con dificultades de aprendizaje

A discriminação perceptiva de símbolos depende da organização perceptiva do sujeito da ação como sistema bio-psico-social complexo. Objectivo: estudo de especificidades da discriminação perceptiva de símbolos em alunos com dificuldades de aprendizagem. Amostra: 550 participantes ­ 275 com e 275 sem dificuldades de aprendizagem; idades 7 ­ 15 anos; escolaridade ­ 1º, 2º e 3º ciclo do ensino básico. Instrumentos metodológicos ­ entrevista clínico--psicológica, observação psicológica, Teste de Símbolos e Dígitos (SDMT). Resultados: Alunos com dificuldades de aprendizagem tendem a evidenciar mais emparelhamentos dígito-símbolo incorretos e menos corretos e a despenderem bastante mais tempo na execução da tarefa; portanto, executam menos emparelhamentos corretos por minuto, comparativamente a alunos sem dificuldades de aprendizagem. Conclusão: Nas dificuldades de aprendizagem, cometem-se mais erros e assinalam-se menos emparelhamentos correctos na tarefa de emparelhamento, quando há limites no tempo de execução; caso contrário, a disponibilidade de tempo compensa, reduzindo a quantidade de incorreções. Nas dificuldades de aprendizagem, é necessário mais tempo para executar a tarefa de emparelhamento, devido ao processamento de informação mais lento; tempo consumido na decodificação e identificação das correspondências dígito-símbolo e a discriminação perceptiva não se infirma com a rapidez necessária à simultaneidade e automatização do ato. (AU)

The perceptual discrimination of symbols depends on the perceptual organization of the individual as a complex bio-psychosocial system in action. Objective: To study the specifics of perceptual discrimination of symbols in students with learning difficulties. Sample: 550 participants - 275 with learning difficulties and 275 without; aged 7 to 15; educational levels ranging from the 1st to 3rd cycles of basic education. Methodological instruments included clinical-psychological interviews, psychological observations, and the Symbols Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Results: Students with learning difficulties tend to display more incorrect and fewer correct digit-symbol pairings, and they invest considerably more time in task execution. Consequently, they achieve fewer correct pairings per minute compared to students without learning difficulties. Conclusion: Learning difficulties are associated with increased errors and fewer correct pairings in the task of pairing symbols when time constraints exist. Conversely, when ample time is available, it mitigates the quantity of inaccuracies. Learning difficulties necessitate more time for task completion due to slower information processing. The time spent on decoding, identifying digit-symbol correspondences, and perceptual discrimination does not align with the speed required for simultaneity and automation of the task. (AU)

La discriminación perceptiva de los símbolos depende de la organización perceptiva del sujeto de la acción como un complejo sistema bio-psico-social. Objetivo: estudiar las especificidades de la discriminación perceptiva de símbolos en estudiantes con dificultades de aprendizaje. Muestra: 550 parti-cipantes - 275 con y 275 sin dificultades de aprendizaje; edades de 7 a 15 años; escolaridad - 1º, 2º y 3º ciclo de educación básica. Instrumentos metodológicos: entrevista clínico-psicológica, observación psicológica, Test de Símbolos y Dígitos (SDMT). Resultados: Los estudiantes con dificultades de aprendizaje tienden a mostrar una mayor cantidad de emparejamientos dígito-símbolo incorrectos y menos correctos y dedican mucho más tiempo a la ejecución de la tarea; por lo tanto, realizan menos emparejamientos correctos por minuto, en comparación con los estudiantes sin dificultades de aprendizaje. Conclu-sión: En las dificultades de aprendizaje se cometen más errores y se notan menos emparejamientos correctos en la tarea de emparejamiento, cuando hay límites en el tiempo de ejecución; de lo contrario, la disponibilidad de tiempo es compensatoria, reduciendo el número de inexactitudes. En las dificultades de aprendizaje, se necesita más tiempo para realizar la tarea de empareja-miento, debido al procesamiento más lento de la información; el tiempo que se consume en decodificar e identificar las correspondencias dígito-símbolo y la discriminación perceptiva no ocurre tan rápidamente como es necesario para la simultaneidad y automatización del acto. (AU)

Treatment of Peritoneal Surface Malignancies by Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) in Spain: Results of the National Registry of the Spanish Group of Peritoneal Oncologic Surgery (REGECOP).

INTRODUCTION: Treatment of Peritoneal Surface Malignancies (PSM) with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has achieved results never seen before in these patients, which classically have a poor prognosis. The possibility of conducting clinical trials in these diseases is complicated, since some of them are rare, so the analysis of large databases provides very valuable scientific information. The aim of this study is to analyze the global results of the National Registry of the Spanish Group of Peritoneal Oncologic Surgery (REGECOP), whose objective is to register all patients scheduled for HIPEC nationwide. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of the data recorded in the REGECOP from 36 Spanish hospitals from 2001 to 2021. There were 4159 surgical interventions in 3980 patients. RESULTS: 66% are women and 34% are men with a median age of 59 years (range 17-86). 41.5% of the patients were treated for Peritoneal Metastases (PM) of colorectal cancer (CRC); 32.4% were women with ovarian cancer (OC) with PM; 12.8% were treated for pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP); 6.2% had PM from gastric cancer (GC); 4.9% had PM of non-conventional origin; and, finally, 2.1% of cases were patients diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. The median Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) was 9 (0-39), and complete cytoreduction was achieved in 81.7% of the procedures. Severe morbidity (Dindo-Clavien grade III-IV) was observed in 17.7% of surgeries, with 2.1% mortality. Median hospital stay was 11 days (0-259). Median overall survival (OS) was 41 months for CRC patients, 55 months for women with OC, was not reached in PMP patients, was 14 months for GC patients, and 66 months in mesothelioma patients. CONCLUSIONS: large databases provide extremely useful data. CRS with HIPEC in referral centers is a safe treatment with encouraging oncologic results in PSM.

Recommendations for the optimal management of peritoneal metastases in patients with colorectal cancer: a TTD and GECOP-SEOQ expert consensus statement.

Peritoneal metastases (PM) occur when cancer cells spread inside the abdominal cavity and entail an advanced stage of colorectal cancer (CRC). Prognosis, which is poor, correlates highly with tumour burden, as measured by the peritoneal cancer index (PCI). Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) in specialized centres should be offered especially to patients with a low to moderate PCI when complete resection is expected. The presence of resectable metastatic disease in other organs is not a contraindication in well-selected patients. Although several retrospective and small prospective studies have suggested a survival benefit of adding hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) to CRS, the recently published phase III studies PRODIGE-7 in CRC patients with PM, and COLOPEC and PROPHYLOCHIP in resected CRC with high-risk of PM, failed to show any survival advantage of this strategy using oxaliplatin in a 30-min perfusion. Final results from ongoing randomized phase III trials testing CRS plus HIPEC based on mitomycin C (MMC) are awaited with interest. In this article, a group of experts selected by the Spanish Group for the Treatment of Digestive Tumours (TTD) and the Spanish Group of Peritoneal Oncologic Surgery (GECOP), which is part of the Spanish Society of Surgical Oncology (SEOQ), reviewed the role of HIPEC plus CRS in CRC patients with PM. As a result, a series of recommendations to optimize the management of these patients is proposed.

Ultrasound in cervical traumatic neuromas after neck dissection in thyroid carcinoma patients: descriptive analysis and diagnostic accuracy.

Objective: Cervical traumatic neuromas (CTNs) may appear after lateral neck dissection for metastatic thyroid carcinoma. If they are misdiagnosed as metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) in follow-up neck ultrasound (US), unnecessary and uncomfortable fine-needle aspiration biopsy are indicated. The present study aimed to describe US features of CTNs and to assess the US performance in distinguishing CTNs from abnormal LNs. Subjects and methods: Retrospective evaluation of neck US images of 206 consecutive patients who had lateral neck dissection as a part of thyroid cancer treatment to assess CTN´s US features. Diagnostic accuracy study to evaluate US performance in distinguishing CTNs from abnormal LNs was performed. Results: Eight-six lateral neck nodules were selected for analysis: 38 CTNs and 48 abnormal LNs. CTNs with diagnostic cytology were predominantly hypoechogenic (100% vs. 45%; P = 0.008) and had shorter diameters than inconclusive cytology CTNs: short axis (0.39 cm vs. 0.50 cm; P = 0.03) and long axis (1.64 cm vs. 2.35 cm; P = 0.021). The US features with the best accuracy to distinguish CTNs from abnormal LNs were continuity with a nervous structure, hypoechogenic internal lines, short/long axis ratio ≤ 0.42, absent Doppler vascularization, fusiform morphology, and short axis ≤ 0.48 cm. Conclusion: US is a very useful method for assessing CTNs, with good performance in distinguishing CTNs from abnormal LNs.

Sweat conductivity for diagnosing cystic fibrosis after positive newborn screening: prospective, diagnostic test accuracy study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of sweat conductivity among newborns and very young infants. DESIGN: Prospective, population-based, diagnostic test accuracy study. SETTING: Public Statewide Newborn Screening Programme where the incidence rate of cystic fibrosis (CF) is ≈1:11 000. PATIENTS: Newborns and very young infants with positive two-tiered immunoreactive trypsinogen. INTERVENTIONS: Sweat conductivity and sweat chloride were performed simultaneously, on the same day and facility by independent technicians, with the cut-off values of 80 mmol/L and 60 mmol/L, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), overall accuracy, positive and negative likelihood ratios (+LR, -LR) and post (sweat conductivity (SC)) test probability were calculated to assess SC performance. RESULTS: 1193 participants were included, 68 with and 1108 without CF, and 17 with intermediate values. The mean (SD) age was 48 (19.2) days, ranging from 15 to 90 days. SC yielded sensitivity of 98.5% (95% CI 95.7 to 100), specificity of 99.9% (95% CI 99.7 to 100), PPV of 98.5% (95% CI 95.7 to 100) and NPV of 99.9% (95% CI 99.7 to 100), overall accuracy of 99.8% (95% CI 99.6 to 100), +LR of 1091.7 (95% CI 153.8 to 7744.9) and -LR of 0.01 (95% CI 0.00 to 0.10). After a positive and negative sweat conductivity result, the patient's probability of CF increases around 350 times and drops to virtually zero, respectively. CONCLUSION: Sweat conductivity had excellent accuracy in ruling in or ruling out CF after positive two-tiered immunoreactive trypsinogen among newborns and very young infants.

Wide-Awake Olecranon Fracture Fixation: Is it Possible?

Purpose: The wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet technique has been widely performed in hand and wrist surgery with remarkable results. However, its use on the elbow has rarely been reported. Here we describe the use of wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet in olecranon fracture fixation in 4 cases. Methods: Tumescent anesthesia was injected from the proximal ulna to approximately 10 cm distally and into the periosteum and fracture site, approximately 25 minutes before skin incision. The fracture underwent closed reduction and was fixed using a long 6.5-mm cancellous screw with a washer through a small incision. No tourniquet was applied and none or mild sedation was administered. At the end of the operation, patients were asked to perform active elbow flexion-extension and forearm pronosupination movements under an image intensifier to test the range of motion and fracture stability. Results: The surgical procedure was completed in all 4 cases. Two patients reported mild pain during ulnar medullary canal reaming, with pain scores of 3 and 4 on a 10-point scale, respectively. One case was resolved with additional local anesthetic injection. The other case required the administration of intravenous propofol. Both patients were able to actively move the elbow at the end of the operation. Conclusions: The use of wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet for olecranon fracture fixation has the advantage of obviating the need for an arm tourniquet, general anesthesia or heavy sedation, preoperative tests, and discontinuing routine medications (including anticoagulants). The stability of the elbow fixation was tested by active motion during surgery. This simple, safe, low-cost, and reproducible technique may be a good option for patients with contraindications or high risk of general or regional nerve block anesthesia. Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic IV.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma in a High Volume Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Unit.

Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (PM) is a rare neoplasm, traditionally associated with a poor prognosis. There are other varieties of PM that are even less frequent and of uncertain malignancy. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has achieved prolonged survival in selected patients. The aim of this study is to analyze the patients with PM assessed in our center. Clinicopathological characteristics, diagnostic procedures and survival results from patients with PM appraised at our unit, according to the applied treatment, were analyzed. Seventeen patients were assessed between 2007 and 2019. Three cases had multicystic PM that were treated with complete CRS + HIPEC; all patients are alive and free of disease after a long follow-up. Three other cases had biphasic PM; a curative treatment could be performed in none of them, and their survival was minimal (<6 moths). Lastly, 11 cases with epithelioid PM were treated. Two cases were considered unresectable at laparoscopy (PCI 39); one of them had a long survival (67 months) with three iterative laparoscopic palliatives HIPECs for refractory ascites. The other nine cases were treated with curative CRS + HIPEC, with a median PCI of 14 (range 4-25), and a median overall survival (OS) of 58 months, with a 5-year OS of 47.4%. In conclusion, CRS + HIPEC, when possible, appears to be the optimal treatment for patients with PM. Knowledge of this therapeutic option is crucial, both to offer it to patients and to avoid delays in their referral to appropriate centers for treatment.

Gastric Cancer with Peritoneal Metastases: Current Status and Prospects for Treatment.

Gastric cancer (GC) has a poor prognostic and only one in four patients will have survived by 5 years after diagnosis. These poor results are due to the fact that most patients are diagnosed in advanced stages; peritoneal metastases (PM) are especially frequent and are difficult to treat. Currently, PM are considered a terminal stage of GC with a poor survival rate and are treated with palliative systemic chemotherapy. Since the beginning of the century, the treatment of PM from different origins has evolved; cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have become the treatment of choice for many malignant diseases that affect the peritoneum. CRS and HIPEC have also been used for patients with GC and PM, achieving survival results that have never been achieved when using systemic chemotherapy alone. The use of HIPEC can even prevent the development of peritoneal recurrences in patients with locally advanced GC as adjuvant therapy, can reduce the volume of peritoneal disease as neoadjuvant therapy, and can control symptoms in a palliative setting. The aim of this review is to collate the current scientific evidence regarding the treatment of PM of GC origin with surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Prevenção de lesão por pressão: capacitação para Agentes Comunitários de Saúde da atenção primária de uma cidade do agreste de Pernambuco / Prevenção de lesão por pressão: capacitação para Agentes Comunitários de Saúde da atenção primária de uma cidade do agreste de Pernambuco / Pressure injury prevention: training for Community Health Agents in primary care in a city in the rural region of Pernambuco / Pressure injury prevention: training for Community Health Agents in primary care in a city in the rural region of Pernambuco

Introdução: A Lesão por Pressão é definida por um trauma que acomete a pele, tecido ou estrutura subjacente que, na maioria dos casos, a região acometida encontra-se sobre uma proeminência óssea, ou está relacionada com uso de dispositivo médico. Objetivo: Capacitar Agentes Comunitários de Saúde acerca da prevenção da lesão por pressão. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo tipo pesquisa-ação, de caráter quantitativo, utilizando-se de uma capacitação para Agentes Comunitários de Saúde de uma cidade do Agreste de Pernambuco acerca da prevenção da lesão por pressão. Foi dividido em três fases: Primeira fase (aplicação do pré-teste); Segunda fase (capacitação dos Agentes Comunitários de Saúde sobre a temática); Terceira fase (aplicação do pós-teste). Resultados: A amostra foi composta por 119 Agentes Comunitários de Saúde da atenção primária do município de Garanhuns-PE, sendo todos moradores neste município. A maior quantidade de participantes foi do gênero feminino (81,5%), a faixa etária variou de 18 a 72 anos, tendo maior predominância entre 41 e 50 anos (31,1%). Com relação ao grau de escolaridade, houve uma maior predominância quem tem ensino médio completo (43,7%), já sobre o tempo de atuação a maior quantidade foi de quem têm mais de 10 anos de atuação (70,6%). Quando analisado os dados do pré-teste e pós-teste, evidenciou-se uma evolução no nível de conhecimento sobre a prevenção da lesão por pressão, bem como conceitos, características e pontos relevantes sobre a temática. Conclusão: Os dados do presente estudo mostraram que houve uma evolução do nível de conhecimento sobre a prevenção da lesão por pressão por parte dos Agentes Comunitários de Saúde. AU

Introduction: Pressure Injury is defined as a trauma that affects the skin, tissue or underlying structure, in which, in most cases, the affected region is located on a bony prominence, or is related to the use of a medical device. Objective: To train Community Health Agents about the prevention of pressure injuries. Methods: This is an action-research study, of a quantitative nature, using training for Community Health Agents in a city in the Agreste region of Pernambuco about the prevention of pressure injuries. It was divided into three phases: First phase (application of the pre-test); Second phase (training of Community Health Agents on the subject); Third phase (application of the post-test). Results: The sample consisted of 119 Community Health Agents of primary care in the municipality of Garanhuns-PE, all of whom live in this municipality. The largest number of participants were female (81.5%), the age group ranged from 18 to 72 years old, with a greater predominance between 41 and 50 years old (31.1%). With regard to the level of education, there was a greater predominance of those who had completed high school (43.7%), while in relation to the time of work, the largest number was of those with more than 10 years of work (70.6%). When analyzing the pre-test and post-test data, there was evidence of an evolution in the level of knowledge about pressure injury prevention, as well as concepts, characteristics and relevant points on the subject. Conclusion: The data from this study showed that there was an evolution in the level of knowledge about the prevention of pressure injuries by Community Health Agents. AU

Ultrasound in cervical traumatic neuromas after neck dissection in thyroid carcinoma patients: descriptive analysis and diagnostic accuracy

ABSTRACT Objective: Cervical traumatic neuromas (CTNs) may appear after lateral neck dissection for metastatic thyroid carcinoma. If they are misdiagnosed as metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) in follow-up neck ultrasound (US), unnecessary and uncomfortable fine-needle aspiration biopsy are indicated. The present study aimed to describe US features of CTNs and to assess the US performance in distinguishing CTNs from abnormal LNs. Subjects and methods: Retrospective evaluation of neck US images of 206 consecutive patients who had lateral neck dissection as a part of thyroid cancer treatment to assess CTN's US features. Diagnostic accuracy study to evaluate US performance in distinguishing CTNs from abnormal LNs was performed. Results: Eight-six lateral neck nodules were selected for analysis: 38 CTNs and 48 abnormal LNs. CTNs with diagnostic cytology were predominantly hypoechogenic (100% vs. 45%; P = 0.008) and had shorter diameters than inconclusive cytology CTNs: short axis (0.39 cm vs. 0.50 cm; P = 0.03) and long axis (1.64 cm vs. 2.35 cm; P = 0.021). The US features with the best accuracy to distinguish CTNs from abnormal LNs were continuity with a nervous structure, hypoechogenic internal lines, short/long axis ratio ≤ 0.42, absent Doppler vascularization, fusiform morphology, and short axis ≤ 0.48 cm. Conclusion: US is a very useful method for assessing CTNs, with good performance in distinguishing CTNs from abnormal LNs.

Megavoltage radiotherapy effects on organs of the reticuloendothelial system

Purpose: To study the uptake capacity of cells from the reticuloendothelial system after irradiation with high-energy X-rays. Methods: Eighteen male Wistar rats were distributed in three groups: group A (n = 6): control, unirradiated animals studied alongside animals from group B; group B (n = 6) and group C (n = 6): animals irradiated and studied after 24 and 48 hours, respectively. The rats were anesthetized and placed on a 10 MV linear accelerator. Next, they were irradiated in the abdominal region, with 8 Gy. Twenty-four (groups A and B) and 48 hours later (group C), a colloidal carbon solution (1 mL/kg) was intravenously injected in the tail vein. Fifty minutes later, the spleens and livers were withdrawn and prepared to be studied. Kupffer cells and splenic macrophages containing carbon pigments were counted in an optical microscope. Arithmetic means were calculated for each group and compared among them. Results: X-rays were associated with a reduced number of Kupffer cells containing colloidal carbon, proliferation and enlargement of biliary ducts, hypoplasia, and hepatocyte necrosis. In the irradiated spleen, the colloidal carbon uptake was concentrated in the marginal zone around the white pulp, with an inexpressive uptake of pigments by macrophages from white and red pulps. Conclusions: The X-rays in the rat abdomen are associated with a reduction in the Kupffer cells uptake of colloidal carbon, hepatocyte disorders, bile duct proliferation, and splenic uptake of colloidal carbon concentrated in the marginal zone.

WALANT Technique in Percutaneous Scaphoid Osteosynthesis.

Scaphoid fractures account for 50 to 70% of all carpal bone fractures. Percutaneous scaphoid osteosynthesis can use the dorsal or volar approach, both with good results, and is most commonly performed under general anesthesia or regional nerve block. The wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique is already considered a safe and cost-effective technique in hand surgery around the world. Local anesthesia with epinephrine causes vasoconstriction, which obviates the need for tourniquet and, consequently, the need to use patient sedation. Thus, the possibility of testing fixation stability under physiological forces is another great advantage of using local anesthesia. In the technique described in the present paper, active wrist and hand motion can be tested immediately after scaphoid fixation. Wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet has been increasingly used in soft-tissue hand surgery and in the fixation of metacarpal and phalangeal fractures. However, to date, there is no published literature addressing the use of this technique in percutaneous scaphoid osteosynthesis. The purpose of the present technical note is to describe the use of WALANT for both the dorsal and volar approaches in percutaneous scaphoid osteosynthesis.

WALANT Technique in Percutaneous Scaphoid Osteosynthesis / WALANT na osteossíntese percutânea do escafoide

Abstract Scaphoid fractures account for 50 to 70% of all carpal bone fractures. Percutaneous scaphoid osteosynthesis can use the dorsal or volar approach, both with good results, and is most commonly performed under general anesthesia or regional nerve block. The wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique is already considered a safe and cost-effective technique in hand surgery around the world. Local anesthesia with epinephrine causes vasoconstriction, which obviates the need for tourniquet and, consequently, the need to use patient sedation. Thus, the possibility of testing fixation stability under physiological forces is another great advantage of using local anesthesia. In the technique described in the present paper, active wrist and hand motion can be tested immediately after scaphoid fixation. Wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet has been increasingly used in soft-tissue hand surgery and in the fixation of metacarpal and phalangeal fractures. However, to date, there is no published literature addressing the use of this technique in percutaneous scaphoid osteosynthesis. The purpose of the present technical note is to describe the use of WALANT for both the dorsal and volar approaches in percutaneous scaphoid osteosynthesis.

Resumo As fraturas do escafoide representam entre 50 e 70% de todas as fraturas dos ossos do carpo. A osteossíntese percutânea do escafoide pode usar a abordagem dorsal ou volar, ambas com bons resultados. É mais comumente realizada sob anestesia geral ou bloqueio nervoso regional. A técnica de anestesia local com o paciente totalmente acordado e sem torniquete (WALANT, na sigla em inglês) já é considerada uma técnica segura e eficaz na cirurgia da mão. A anestesia local com epinefrina causa vasoconstrição, o que evita o uso de torniquete e, consequentemente, a necessidade de sedação do paciente. Assim, a possibilidade de testar a estabilidade da fixação sob forças fisiológicas é outra grande vantagem do uso da anestesia local. Na técnica descrita aqui, o movimento ativo do punho e da mão pode ser testado imediatamente após a fixação escafoide. A técnica WALANT tem sido cada vez mais utilizada na cirurgia da mão em partes moles e na fixação de fraturas de metacarpo e falanges. No entanto, até o momento, não há literatura publicada abordando o uso dessa técnica na osteossíntese percutânea do escafoide. O objetivo desta nota técnica é descrever o uso de WALANT tanto para a abordagem dorsal quanto volar na osteossíntese percutânea do escafoide.

Impact of Preoperative Chemotherapy Features on Patient Outcomes after Hepatectomy for Initially Unresectable Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases: A LiverMetSurvey Analysis.

Background: Prognostic factors have been extensively reported after resection of colorectal liver metastases (CLM); however, specific analyses of the impact of preoperative systemic anticancer therapy (PO-SACT) features on outcomes is lacking. Methods: For this real-world evidence study, we used prospectively collected data within the international surgical LiverMetSurvey database from all patients with initially-irresectable CLM. The main outcome was Overall Survival (OS) after surgery. Disease-free (DFS) and hepatic-specific relapse-free survival (HS-RFS) were secondary outcomes. PO-SACT features included duration (cumulative number of cycles), choice of the cytotoxic backbone (oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based), fluoropyrimidine (infusional or oral) and addition or not of targeted monoclonal antibodies (anti-EGFR or anti-VEGF). Results: A total of 2793 patients in the database had received PO-SACT for initially irresectable diseases. Short (<7 or <13 cycles in 1st or 2nd line) PO-SACT duration was independently associated with longer OS (HR: 0.85 p = 0.046), DFS (HR: 0.81; p = 0.016) and HS-RFS (HR: 0.80; p = 0.05). All other PO-SACT features yielded basically comparable results. Conclusions: In this international cohort, provided that PO-SACT allowed conversion to resectability in initially irresectable CLM, surgery performed as soon as technically feasible resulted in the best outcomes. When resection was achieved, our findings indicate that the choice of PO-SACT regimen had a marginal if any, impact on outcomes.

GECOP-MMC: phase IV randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) with mytomicin-C after complete surgical cytoreduction in patients with colon cancer peritoneal metastases.

BACKGROUND: The French PRODIGE 7 trial, published on January 2021, has raised doubts about the specific survival benefit provided by HIPEC with oxaliplatin 460 mg/m2 (30 minutes) for the treatment of peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer. However, several methodological flaws have been identified in PRODIGE 7, specially the HIPEC protocol or the choice of overall survival as the main endpoint, so its results have not been assumed as definitive, emphasizing the need for further research on HIPEC. It seems that the HIPEC protocol with high-dose mytomicin-C (35 mg/m2) is the preferred regime to evaluate in future clinical studies. METHODS: GECOP-MMC is a prospective, open-label, randomized, multicenter phase IV clinical trial that aims to evaluate the effectiveness of HIPEC with high-dose mytomicin-C in preventing the development of peritoneal recurrence in patients with limited peritoneal metastasis from colon cancer (not rectal), after complete surgical cytoreduction. This study will be performed in 31 Spanish HIPEC centres, starting in March 2022. Additional international recruiting centres are under consideration. Two hundred sixteen patients with PCI ≤ 20, in which complete cytoreduction (CCS 0) has been obtained, will be randomized intraoperatively to arm 1 (with HIPEC) or arm 2 (without HIPEC). We will stratified randomization by surgical PCI (1-10; 11-15; 16-20). Patients in both arms will be treated with personalized systemic chemotherapy. Primary endpoint is peritoneal recurrence-free survival at 3 years. An ancillary study will evaluate the correlation between surgical and pathological PCI, comparing their respective prognostic values. DISCUSSION: HIPEC with high-dose mytomicin-C, in patients with limited (PCI ≤ 20) and completely resected (CCS 0) peritoneal metastases, is assumed to reduce the expected risk of peritoneal recurrence from 50 to 30% at 3 years. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT number: 2019-004679-37; Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05250648 (registration date 02/22/2022, ).

Minimally Invasive Interphalangeal Arthrodesis.

Distal interphalangeal joint fusion is usually the surgical treatment for primary or posttraumatic osteoarthrosis when conservative measures fail. All fusion techniques aim for solid fusion with joint chondral resection, bone to bone contact and stable fixation in an adequate position. This is performed with an open dorsal approach considering the risks of soft tissue complications. We describe a technique of resecting bone cartilage and getting stable fixation with 2 mini incisions, 1 lateral and 1 in the digital pulp. Using a digital block anesthesia and under fluoroscopy, a small round burr is introduced into the joint by a lateral joint line stab incision. The joint space is enlarged by manual traction on the finger. After adequate cartilage resection, good bone to bone contact in an adequate position is fixed with a cannulated Herbert screw inserted percutaneously by the finger pulp. We describe 4 cases operated with this technique, 3 for pain and 1 for esthetics. All 4 demonstrated good results and were satisfied. X-rays showed solid fusion in 8 to 12 weeks. There was one complication with skin burning because of the burr heating and the authors describe how to avoid it. Minimally invasive distal interphalangeal joint fusion is a simple, reproducible technique that maintains the important steps for a solid arthrodesis with the advantage of preserving the soft tissue envelope.