Appendicitis after endoscopic band ligation for massive ileocecal hemorrhage.

A 68-year-old man was admitted with hematochezia. Emergency computed tomography showed multiple diverticula throughout the colon. Initial colonoscopy on day 2 showed no active bleeding, but massive hematochezia on day 3 led to the performance of an emergency endoscopy. Substantial bleeding in the ileocecal area obscured the visual field, making it challenging to view the area around the bleeding site. Two endoscopic band ligations (EBLs) were applied at the suspected bleeding sites. Hemostasis was achieved without active bleeding after EBL. However, the patient developed lower right abdominal pain and fever (39.4°C) on day 6. Urgent computed tomography revealed appendiceal inflammation, necessitating emergency open ileocecal resection for acute appendicitis. Pathological examination confirmed acute phlegmonous appendicitis, with EBLs noted at the appendiceal orifice and on the anal side. This case illustrates the efficacy of EBL in managing colonic diverticular bleeding. However, it also highlights the risk of appendicitis due to EBL in cases of ileocecal hemorrhage exacerbated by poor visibility due to substantial bleeding. Endoscopists need to consider this rare but important complication when performing EBL in similar situations.

Effect of perioperative rehabilitation exercise on postoperative outcomes in patients aged ≥65 years undergoing gastrointestinal surgery: A multicenter randomized controlled trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the effect of perioperative rehabilitation exercise, initiated shortly after hospital admission, on postoperative outcomes in elderly patients. DESIGN: A prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label, and assessor-blinded clinical trial. SETTING: Hospital wards. PATIENTS: Elderly patients (≥65 years, n = 160) scheduled for gastrointestinal surgery between June 2021 and November 2022 were enrolled and randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were divided into two groups base on whether they had received a specific type of exercise program initiated after hospital admission and continued until 30 days after surgery. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was the Comprehensive Complications Index (CCI) measured at 30 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes were the rate of complications, number of complications, patient satisfaction, hospital readmission, postoperative length of stay, gastrointestinal function recovery, postoperative quality of life and psychological status. Intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses were conducted. MAIN RESULTS: ITT analysis showed a significantly lower 30-day CCI in the intervention group (ß: -6.31; 95 % Confidence Interval [CI], -11.26 to -1.37, P = 0.013). Compared to controls, the intervention group had a decreased rate of hospital readmission (Odds Ratio: 0.00; 95 % CI, 0.00 to 0.32, P = 0.022), less number of complications (ß: -0.57; 95 % CI, -1.03 to -0.11, P = 0.016), as well as lower rate of postoperative anxiety (ß: -0.74; 95 % CI, -1.42 to -0.06, P = 0.033) and depression scores (ß: -1.13; 95 % CI, -0.97 to -1.30, P = 0.008). Additionally, the intervention group reported higher satisfaction (ß: 0.98; 95 % CI, 0.33 to 1.64, P = 0.004) and Euro quality of life-Visual Analogue Scale scores (ß: 8.88; 95 % CI, 2.48 to 15.28, P = 0.007). Similar results were found in the PP analysis. CONCLUSION: Perioperative rehabilitation exercise has a positive impact on postoperative complications, quality of life and psychological well-being in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery, even when implemented after hospital admission.

AMP kinase: A promising therapeutic drug target for post-COVID-19 complications.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has resulted in severe respiratory issues and persistent complications, particularly affecting glucose metabolism. Patients with or without pre-existing diabetes often experience worsened symptoms, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic approaches. AMPK, a crucial regulator of cellular energy balance, plays a pivotal role in glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and inflammatory responses. AMPK activation, through allosteric or kinase-dependent mechanisms, impacts cellular processes like glucose uptake, fatty acid oxidation, and autophagy. The tissue-specific distribution of AMPK emphasizes its role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis throughout the body. Intriguingly, SARS-CoV-2 infection inhibits AMPK, contributing to metabolic dysregulation and post-COVID-19 complications. AMPK activators like capsaicinoids, curcumin, phytoestrogens, cilostazol, and momordicosides have demonstrated the potential to regulate AMPK activity. Compounds from various sources improve fatty acid oxidation and insulin sensitivity, with metformin showing opposing effects on AMPK activation compared to the virus, suggesting potential therapeutic options. The diverse effects of AMPK activation extend to its role in countering viral infections, further highlighting its significance in COVID-19. This review explores AMPK activation mechanisms, its role in metabolic disorders, and the potential use of natural compounds to target AMPK for post-COVID-19 complications. Also, it aims to review the possible methods of activating AMPK to prevent post-COVID-19 diabetes and cardiovascular complications. It also explores the use of natural compounds for their therapeutic effects in targeting the AMPK pathways. Targeting AMPK activation emerges as a promising avenue to mitigate the long-term effects of COVID-19, offering hope for improved patient outcomes and a better quality of life.

Orbital and peri-ocular parffinoma: case series and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Paraffinoma is a rare and intriguing condition in medicine. In this disorder, an orbital lipogranulomatosis reaction is caused by the penetration of mineral oils (particularly paraffin) into the tissues surrounding the eye. METHODS: In this report, we discuss six cases of paraffinoma affecting the eye socket following sinus surgery. For previous cases literature review, we obtained articles from searching in the PubMed, Scopus, Scholar Google and, Science of Web databases. RESULTS: After the reporting of 6 paraffinoma cases and literature review, the data related to the disease were categorized into the categories of disease definition, differential diagnosis, clinical manifestation, radiological manifestation, and histopathological diagnosis and treatment methods. CONCLUSIONS: Paraffinoma is a rare and time-delayed diagnosis after various surgeries and therefore may challenge the physician to make the correct diagnosis at first. It is necessary for ophthalmologists to consider this diagnosis in cases of masses around the eyelid and orbit in patients with a history of sinus and nose surgery in other differential diagnoses.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Brucella Endocarditis: A Case Series.

Purpose:  Brucella endocarditis is a rare complication with a high mortality risk. This research aims to evaluate patients diagnosed with Brucella Endocarditis and review clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment strategies to serve as a foundation for future research in managing Brucella endocarditis and improving patient care and outcomes. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with Brucella endocarditis from 2011 to 2022. The study included patients of all ages and genders who were diagnosed based on positive serum serology or blood culture in conjunction with clinical presentation. Diagnostic criteria for endocarditis were based on evidence of endocardial involvement, as confirmed by echocardiographic findings consistent with infective endocarditis. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results: Nine patients were included in this study. The most common presenting symptom was shortness of breath. Treatment regimens included Doxycycline and Rifampicin, always in combination with other antibiotics. Surgical intervention was necessary for two-thirds of the patients. Complications, such as septic shock, stroke, and heart failure, were observed in most cases. Six patients achieved clinical and microbiological cures, while one-third of the patients died. The deaths were primarily attributed to patients being deemed unsuitable for surgery due to a high surgical risk, based on their comorbidities and clinical assessments. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of initiating an appropriate antibiotic regimen in a timely manner. Particularly in patients with pre-existing heart diseases, surgical intervention can significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce complications associated with Brucella endocarditis.

Laparoscopic myomectomy without uterine manipulator for maintaining endometrial cavity integrity.

Background: Preserving the integrity of the endometrial cavity is crucial, particularly for preserving fertility during laparoscopic myomectomy (LM). This study aimed to compare the uterine breaching rate and clinical outcomes of LM performed with and without a uterine manipulator. Methods: Data from women who underwent LM at our hospital between January 2020 and June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcomes included endometrial cavity breaching rate, conversion rate, abdominal port count, operative time, hospitalization duration, and blood loss. The secondary outcomes included adverse events such as postoperative anemia and emphysema. Results: We analyzed the data from 50 participants, comparing those with (n=30) and without (n=20) manipulators. No significant differences were observed in age, body mass index, surgical time, hospitalization, blood loss, or hemoglobin drop. However, the incidence of endometrial cavity breach was higher in the manipulator group (p=0.007). The manipulator group required fewer abdominal ports (p < 0.001) than the manipulator group. Increased myoma size was associated with increased blood loss and surgical time. Conclusions: The clinical outcomes of LM without a uterine manipulator were comparable to those of LM with a manipulator. The absence of a manipulator may aid in preserving the integrity of the endometrial cavity. An increase in myoma size was associated with longer surgical time and greater blood loss, while uterine manipulator use was linked to fewer trocars.

Bladder rupture 11 years after partial cystectomy for bladder endometriosis: A case report and review of literature.

Partial cystectomy is often performed to treat bladder endometriosis. However, there are no reports of bladder rupture more than 10 years after cystectomy. A 55-year-old woman with a history of laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and partial cystectomy for bladder endometriosis at the age of 44 years presented with worsening dysuria, decreased urine output, and malaise for over a week. Blood tests revealed elevated creatinine and BUN levels indicating renal failure. Transvaginal ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed large amounts of peritoneal fluid. Abdominocentesis was performed, and peritoneal fluid analysis confirmed the presence of urinary ascites, which was indicative of bladder rupture. Retrograde cystography revealed contrast leakage into the bladder wall. Therefore, a diagnosis was made of with bladder rupture and pseudo-renal failure. If abdominal pain and peritoneal fluid are present after bladder endometriosis surgery, bladder rupture should be considered in the differential diagnosis even after a long postoperative period.

The Role of WHO Surgical Checklists in Reducing Postoperative Adverse Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

Surgical safety remains a critical aspect of modern healthcare, particularly as the number of surgical procedures continues to rise, placing greater demands on resources and increasing the potential for errors. In response to this challenge, various mitigation strategies have been implemented to improve operative outcomes. One such strategy, introduced by the WHO in 2008, is the Surgical Safety Checklist. Despite its widespread adoption globally, its acceptance remains limited in developing countries. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, specifically the sign-in, time-out, and sign-out components, on reducing post-operative adverse effects in surgical patients. A single-step search strategy was employed across multiple databases, including Medline, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane Database, ProQuest, Index Copernicus, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Additionally, reference lists of identified reports and articles were manually searched to identify further relevant studies. Only studies published in English before September 2022 that focused exclusively on the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist were included. Studies on other checklists or those with confounding factors, such as international surgical outcomes studies, were excluded from this analysis. After screening 17,821 publications based on their titles and abstracts, 93 studies met the initial inclusion criteria and underwent full retrieval and assessment for methodological quality. Ultimately, 13 studies were deemed of sufficient quality to be included in the review. Among these, 10 studies reported outcomes related to complication rates, with nine of them demonstrating a decrease in complication rates following checklist implementation. Similarly, 13 studies reported outcomes related to mortality rates, with 12 reporting a decrease in mortality rates associated with checklist use. In conclusion, the application of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist has been shown to improve surgical outcomes by reducing post-operative adverse effects, including mortality and complication rates. However, further research is warranted to assess the checklist's impact on the quality of life of surgical patients, which would contribute to enhancing its overall acceptability. Continued investigation into these areas will help further strengthen the evidence supporting the widespread adoption and effective implementation of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist across diverse healthcare settings globally.

Ultrasound assessment of the frequency and variation of arteries in the interscalene region.

PURPOSE: Given the abundance of arteries in the neck, a significant risk of puncturing arteries exists when performing a brachial plexus block. Therefore, it is important to confirm the presence of arteries when performing a brachial plexus block via the interscalene approach. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and variations of arteries in the interscalene region in healthy Japanese adults using ultrasonography. METHODS: This is an observational study at a university hospital. We analyzed videos of the brachial plexus recorded in another study using an ultrasound device and then investigated the frequency of the presence of arteries and the location of arteries in the interscalene region. RESULTS: Among 68 cases, 48 (70.6%) had one or more arteries in the interscalene region (63 arteries in total). The artery frequency on the ventral side of the 5th cervical nerve (C5), between C5 and the 6th cervical nerve (C6), between C6 and the 7th cervical nerve (C7), between C7 and the 8th cervical nerve (C8), and on the dorsal side of C8 was 19.1%, 1.5%, 35.3%, 29.4%, and 7.4%, respectively. The artery frequencies between C6 and C7 and between C7 and C8 were higher than those between C5 and C6 and on the dorsal side of C8. CONCLUSION: Interscalene observations using ultrasound devices revealed a high artery frequency, with numerous topographic variations.

Colonic Perforation in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: A Case Series Highlighting Surgical Management and Outcomes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has primarily been characterized by respiratory symptoms, but emerging evidence suggests multi-organ involvement, including the gastrointestinal tract. This case report aims to highlight colon perforation as a rare but significant complication in COVID-19 patients. We present two cases of male patients, aged 38 and 33, who were admitted with severe COVID-19 symptoms and required intubation and ventilator support. Both patients developed abdominal distension during their ICU stay, prompting surgical consultations. In the first case, a 38-year-old male developed septic shock and abdominal distension on day 29 of his hospital stay. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a 2 mm perforation in the sigmoid colon, which was managed with Hartmann's procedure. In the second case, a 33-year-old male developed abdominal distension one week post-admission. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a 2 mm perforation in the mid-transverse colon, managed initially with a primary two-layer repair and later with a transverse loop colostomy due to additional perforations. These cases emphasize the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for gastrointestinal complications, such as colon perforation, in COVID-19 patients. Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for managing this life-threatening complication. Further research is needed to understand the incidence and underlying mechanisms of colon perforation in COVID-19 patients.

The Problem to a Solution: A Case of Local Anesthetic-Related Acute Pancreatitis.

Although rare, local anesthetic use has been associated with adverse central nervous system and cardiovascular adverse events. One complication is local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST), wherein the anesthetic agent inadvertently enters systemic circulation resulting in widespread inhibition of fast-gated sodium channels. Organs dependent on aerobic metabolism, such as the heart and brain, are especially susceptible to toxic injury resulting in cardiovascular collapse. Lipid emulsion therapy is a mainstay treatment of LAST; however, it may inadvertently cause lipid-induced necrotizing pancreatitis. We present a 71-year-old female with a non-contributory past medical history who presented for elective open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the right wrist after a fall onto the right hand one week prior. A supraclavicular brachial plexus block was planned to deliver regional analgesia for ORIF of the right wrist. Shortly after the introduction of the local anesthetic agent, our patient became bradycardic and hypotensive. The patient's heart rate and systolic blood pressure remained in the low 45s and 50s, respectively, refractory to multiple doses of phenylephrine and ephedrine. Suspicion for LAST syndrome was high and lipid emulsion therapy was started. Once stabilized, the patient was transported to the ICU requiring manual ventilation, where she later reported flank pain. Labs drawn were notable for elevated triglyceride, lipase, and amylase levels of over 3000, 600, and 700, respectively. CT imaging confirmed acute necrotizing pancreatitis. The patient's ICU stay was uncomplicated with stabilization of vitals and discharge 10 days later. A follow-up with gastroenterology (GI) was scheduled after two weeks. Since discharge, the patient noted intermittent abdominal aches. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and MRI were performed after liver function tests (LFTs) were found to be elevated during her follow-up appointment. MRI showed liquefaction necrosis of 80% of the pancreas, with a 14-centimeter fluid collection pushing on the distal common bile duct, causing extrinsic obstruction. MRCP revealed no stones. Advanced GI performed a transgastric cystogastrostomy with lumen apposing metal stent placement in the common bile duct, and drained the fluid from the obstructing cyst. Cytopathology came back as virtually acellular. Liver enzymes began to downtrend appropriately and the patient was discharged soon after. Follow-up at two and four days post-discharge confirmed resolution of symptoms.

Indication-based analysis of laser interstitial thermal therapy: a propensity score-matched comparison of outcomes for brain tumor versus epilepsy indications.

OBJECTIVE: Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive procedure used to ablate abnormal tissue in a targeted fashion. It is most commonly used to treat epileptic foci, brain tumors, and radiation necrosis. This study aimed to compare immediate postoperative outcomes between these indications. METHODS: This study analyzed clinical data from the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) from 2016 to 2019 and identified 2234 patients who underwent LITT procedures using ICD-10 codes. The authors analyzed patient demographics, complications, discharge disposition, readmission rates, and mortality. Following propensity score matching, 317 patients treated for epilepsy and 323 patients treated for brain tumors were compared. RESULTS: The mean ages were similar (epilepsy: 45.7 vs tumor: 49.0 years, p = 0.55), as were the proportions of female patients (epilepsy: 45.4% vs tumor: 52.9%, p = 0.83), all-payer costs (p = 0.81), income quartiles (p = 0.58), insurance types (p = 0.70), frailty rates (p = 0.85), and comorbid disease burdens as assessed by ECI score (p = 0.73). No significant differences were observed in rates of hemorrhage (p = 0.1), pulmonary embolism (p = 0.32), or infection (p = 0.16). However, the tumor cohort had higher rates of deep vein thrombosis (3.4% vs < 3.15%, p = 0.045), nonroutine discharge (26.6% vs 16.4%, p = 0.04), and 1-year hospital readmission (32.5% vs 18.6%, p = 0.006). One-year mortality rates were similar (tumor: 3.4% vs epilepsy: < 3.15%, p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: While postoperative complications and 1-year mortality rates were similar among patients undergoing LITT for epilepsy and brain tumors, the tumor cohort experienced higher rates of deep vein thrombosis, nonroutine discharge, and 1-year hospital readmission.

Effects of different endovascular treatments on cerebral perfusion changes and stroke recurrence in patients with intracranial atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: In patients with refractory intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD), percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTBA) is less complex but typically results in higher postprocedural residual stenosis than percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stenting (PTAS). METHODS: This study included patients with symptomatic ICAD with 70-99% stenosis treated with either PTBA or PTAS. All patients underwent preprocedural and postprocedural CT perfusion, which was processed by automated RAPID software. The rate of cerebral perfusion change was defined as the ratio of the volume of perfusion change to the preprocedural perfusion volume. Perioperative complications within a 30-day follow-up period were documented. Baseline characteristics, degree of stenosis before and after procedures, perioperative complications, and the rates of cerebral perfusion change were compared between groups. Patients were followed up for stroke recurrence within 1 year postprocedure, with survival analysis used to examine the relationship between procedure type and recurrence. RESULTS: Between March and December 2021, 107 patients were enrolled: 30 (28.0%) were treated with PTBA and 77 (72.0%) with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stenting (PTAS). The PTBA group showed higher postprocedural residual stenosis than the PTAS group (P<0.004). The cerebral perfusion change rates were not significantly different between the groups (P=0.891). Three (3.9%) complications occurred in the PTAS group and none in the PTBA group during the 30-day follow-up. Stroke recurrence did not significantly differ between the procedures (P=0.960). CONCLUSIONS: Immediate cerebral perfusion changes and the rate of stroke recurrences have no significant difference between the two groups.

Addition of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio to Pre-DAA FIB-4 does not increase prediction value for de novo liver complications in hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) achieve high sustained virologic response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C patients; yet a proportion of patients still experience de novo liver complications after SVR. Identification of risk factors is clinically important. FIB-4 index is a useful noninvasive tool to assess fibrosis, while neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a biomarker for systemic inflammation. Our study aimed to investigate whether the addition of NLR can increase the prediction power of pre-DAA FIB-4 for de novo liver complications after SVR. METHODS: We recruited patients via The Taiwan HCV Registry (TACR) and National Health Insurance Registry Database. The inclusion criteria were patients who achieved SVR12 after DAA and were followed for at least 24 months after SVR12. Liver complications included ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal bleeding, and HCC. RESULTS: Totally 7657 patients were recruited from 2013 to 2018. Among them, 3674 patients (48.0%) had a FIB-4 value > 3.25 and 491 patients (6.4%) had a NLR >4 before DAA. After two-year of follow-up after SVR 12, 214 patients (2.8%) developed de novo liver complications. Factors associated with liver complications included male gender, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, chronic kidney disease, and pre-DAA FIB-4 >3.25 in multivariate analyses. Addition of NLR slightly did not increase the power of predicting liver complications. CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of de novo liver complications after SVR is low during short-term follow-up. Elevated pre-DAA FIB-4 is associated with de novo liver complications after SVR, whereas the addition of pre-DAA NLR does not increase the prediction power.

Traumatic Ulceration of the Vestibular Mucous Membrane After Insertion of Four Mini-Implants in the Atrophied Mandible: A Case Report.

This clinical report describes how a decubital ulcer arose from the direct contact of the vestibular movable mucous membrane against mini-implant balled-type heads after the mini-implant insertion in the edentulous atrophic mandible of a 78-year-old patient who was not wearing a conventional mandibular complete denture for more than 10 years. Due to severe alveolar ridge atrophy, mini-implant insertion (2.0 mm wide) was an option without extensive surgical procedures. The patient signed the informed consent. A few days after the implant insertion, injury, inflammation, and induration of the vestibular movable mucous membrane were observed on the movable vestibular mucosa on the right side, opposing the mini-implants. The cause of inflammation was attributed to increased perioral muscle tonus which pushed the movable mucosa onto the mini-implant heads and caused mechanical trauma. During the period of edentulism, the perioral muscle tonus increased, directing the mucous membrane of the lips and cheeks against residual ridge to enable food comminution. To treat the persistent decubitus, a bulk of dental composite resin was placed around mini-implant heads and light-cured to protect the mucosa from further mechanical trauma, as the patient did not possess an old mandibular denture to cover the mini-implant heads. Vestibuloplastic surgery (disinsertion of movable attachments and deepening of the vestibulum) was also done. After the surgery, a silicone splint, resembling an occlusal rim, was made to protect the mucous membrane, keep medicaments for faster epitalization in place, to decrease perioral muscle tonus before the new dentures' delivery, and to prevent movable tissue relapse. The custom impression, jaw relationship determination, and try-in of the artificial teeth setup were made with sutures still in place. After the denture delivery and implant loading, the patient was instructed to sleep with the dentures to protect the movable mucous membrane. One year later, almost no peri-implant marginal bone loss was observed, attached and peri-implant mucosa were healthy, and the patient was delighted.

Comparison of postoperative complications and outcomes following primary versus revision discectomy: A national database analysis.

Background: Lumbar microdiscectomy is a surgical procedure that is frequently used in the treatment of symptomatic lumbar herniation. Differences in outcomes following primary and revision lumbar microdiscectomy have been previously studied, with reports of comparably satisfactory results from the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial. In this study, we further investigate these outcomes, including length of stay, bleeding events, and durotomy. We hypothesized that length of stay, incidence of bleeding events, and dural tear would be greater in the revision cohort. Methods: The ACS-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for patients undergoing single-level primary and revision lumbar microdiscectomy between 2019 and 2022. Eligibility for inclusion was determined by age >18 years and current procedural terminology codes 63030 and 63042. Patients with preoperative sepsis or cancer were excluded. Length of stay, wound infection, bleeding events requiring transfusion, cerebrospinal fluid leak, dural tear, and neurological injury were compared between the cohorts. Multivariable Poisson regression adjusted for demographics and comorbidities, including age, sex, race, body mass index, diabetes, smoking, and hypertension, was used to determine if revision was predictive of complications. Results: A total of 37,669 patients were included, of whom 3,635 (9.6%) required revision surgery. Patients in the revision cohort were older (54.25 ± 15.7 vs. 50.85 ± 16.0 years, P < 0.001) and had higher proportions of male (59.0% vs. 55.7%, P < 0.001) and non-Hispanic White patients (82.0% vs. 77.4%, P < 0.001). Length of stay (1.11 ± 2.5 vs. 1.58 ± 2.7, P < 0.001) and rates of wound infection (2.1% vs. 1.4%, P = 0.002) and bleeding events requiring transfusion (1.3% vs. 0.7%, P < 0.001) were greater in the revision cohort compared to primary patients. Differences in cerebrospinal fluid leak (0.2% vs. 0.1%, P = 0.116), dural tear complication (0.01% vs. 0.01%, P = 0.092), and neurological injury (0.008% vs. 0.006%, P = 0.691) between the revision and primary cohorts were nonsignificant. Poisson log-linear regression adjusted for demographics and comorbidities demonstrated revision as a significant predictor for length of stay (χ 2 = 462.95, P < 0.001), wound infection (χ 2 = 9.22, P = 0.002), and bleeding events (χ 2 = 9.74, P = 0.002), while it was a nonsignificant predictor of cerebrospinal fluid leak (χ 2 = 2.61, P = 0.106), dural tear (χ 2 = 2.37, P = 0.123), and neurological injury (χ 2 = 0.229, P = 0.632). Conclusion: Revision surgery was a significant predictor of increased length of stay, wound infection, and bleeding events requiring transfusion. Surgeons and patients alike should be aware of increased risk for complications following revision lumbar microdiscectomy compared to primary discectomy.

Using artificial intelligence and promoter-level transcriptome analysis to identify a biomarker as a possible prognostic predictor of cardiac complications in male patients with Fabry disease.

Fabry disease is the most frequently occurring form of lysosomal disease in Japan, and is characterized by a wide variety of conditions. Primarily, the three major types of concerns associated with Fabry disease observed during adulthood that must be prevented are central nervous system, renal, and cardiac complications. Cardiac complications, such as cardiomyopathy, cardiac muscle fibrosis, and severe arrhythmia, are the most common mortality causes in patients with Fabry disease. To predict cardiac complications of Fabry disease, we extracted RNA from the venous blood of patients for cap analysis of gene expression (CAGE), performed likelihood ratio tests for each RNA expression dataset obtained from individuals with and without cardiac complications, and analyzed the correlation between cardiac functional factors observed using magnetic resonance imaging data extracted using artificial intelligence algorithms and RNA expression. Our findings showed that CHN1 expression was significantly higher in male Fabry disease patients with cardiac complications and that it could be associated with many cardiac functional factors. CHN1 encodes a GTPase-activating protein, chimerin 1, which is specific to the GTP-binding protein Rac (involved in oxidative stress generation and the promotion of myocardial fibrosis). Thus, CHN1 is a potential predictive biomarker of cardiac complications in Fabry disease; however, further studies are required to confirm this observation.

Life-Threatening Reaction to Lifesaving Medication: Stepwise Approach to Severe Adverse Reactions to PCSK-9 Monoclonal Antibodies.

Typical side effects of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 monoclonal antibodies including influenza-like illness and injection site reactions, are minor and well tolerated. This case, however, highlights a less common but severe reaction, indicating the need for clinicians to understand and manage potential rare side effects noted with biologics.

Reporting and Grading of Complications in Urological Surgery: Current Trends and Future Perspectives.

There has been a growing need for enhancements in healthcare delivery, especially for the improvement of surgical outcomes. Therefore, implementing consistent reporting of complications enables the evaluation of data quality and facilitates its comparison. There are currently many available reporting and grading systems each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. In this comprehensive review, we tried to present and assess each of them by demonstrating their criteria and their strong and weak points. To sum up, it seems that there is a need for developing a new reporting and categorization system for complications that are specific to urology.