mTOR Pathway Substrates Present High Activation in Vascular Malformations and Significantly Decrease with Age.

BACKGROUND: Vascular anomalies often result in aesthetic flaws, pain, and impair the quality of life. They require challenging treatments that frequently do not provide the desired results. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is directly involved in the development of these malformations. However, the exact mechanism behind mTOR dysregulation has not been unambiguously defined. The purpose of this study is to investigate the activation of selected substrates of mTOR to partially assess its involvement in the disease process. METHODS: We analyzed tissue samples collected from patients with vascular anomalies treated in our department. We included patients with histopathological diagnoses of lymphatic, venous, capillary malformations, mixed lesions, and a control group of healthy skin samples. We stained the samples using H and E and immunohistochemistry. We used primary antibodies against p70 S6 Kinase, 4EBP1, and p-4EBP1. We graded their color reactions. The statistical analyses were performed using the FactoMineR and factoextra R v.4.1 packages. p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The analysis of 82 patients showed that healthy tissue vessels expressed lower levels of tested mTOR pathway substrates compared to high activation in vascular malformations. Elevated substrate expression in a comparison between sexes revealed higher P-4EBP1 expression in the female malformation group. We observed a decrease in mTOR substrate expression with age. CONCLUSION: The higher expression of mTOR substrates in vascular malformations compared to healthy tissue confirms their involvement in abnormal vascular development. Age-related changes in mTOR substrate expression highlight the need for timely intervention. Our study contributes to the understanding of the mTOR signaling pathway in vascular malformations and highlights its potential as a therapeutic target, contributing to personalized medicine.

Sequential, ultrasound-guided, minimally invasive pit-picking procedure with Nd:YAG laser epilation treatment for pilonidal disease.

<b><br>Aim:</b> The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate our treatment for pilonidal disease in adolescent patients, which uses ultrasonography, minimally invasive pit-picking, and Nd:YAG laser therapy.</br> <b><br>Material and methods:</b> We included 52 of 147 patients treated between June 2017 and December 2020. The patients underwent pit-picking procedures and 6-10 Nd:YAG treatments. The remnants of the cysts were removed by laser therapy, which provided easy epilation. Each patient underwent multiple ultrasound examinations during the therapy to uncover any potential newly formed asymptomatic sinuses. When such issues were identified, the pit-picking procedure was repeated on those sinuses.</br> <b><br>Results:</b> A total of 52 patients were included in this study with a 1-year follow-up following the procedure. There were 49 symptom-free patients (96%). One patient underwent surgery in another hospital because of a recurrence and 1 had a pilonidal disease relapse (4%). In the follow-up period, asymptomatic cysts were found in 2 other patients by ultrasound examination. They were all treated with a pit-picking procedure in the outpatient department with good results.</br> <b><br>Conclusions:</b> Combining sequentially repeated pit-picking procedures and Nd:YAG laser therapy is an effective treatment method for adolescent pilonidal disease. Simultaneous Nd:YAG laser therapy enables efficacious epilation of the intergluteal cleft. Repeatable ultrasonography examinations allow for early diagnosis of possible pilonidal sinus relapse.</br>.

Balloon sinuplasty in one-day surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Balloon sinus dilation is becoming an increasingly common procedure, finding a niche as an invaluable tool in endoscopic sinus surgery. AIM: To assess the effectiveness of balloon sinus dilation (BSD) in 1-day surgery in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without polyps based on our own experience. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 9 patients. The Lund-Mackay scale for computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses was assessed prior to surgery. Endoscopy was performed on the basis of the Lund-Kennedy scale and patients were asked to perform the SNOT-22 survey. Two patients underwent balloon sinuplasty under general and seven under local anaesthesia. RESULTS: Twelve maxillary and eight frontal sinuses were widened (four attempts were unsuccessful). The SNOT-22 survey was assessed the day after surgery (average of 8 points) and a month after surgery (average of 15.5 points). CONCLUSIONS: BSD only allows widening of the ostia of the maxillary, frontal and sphenoid sinuses. BSD offers shorter post-surgical recovery, and a more rapid return to work because of its less invasive and less traumatic nature.