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Uterus transplantation was a transformative innovation in reproductive medicine and organ transplantation in general, and an alternative for the treatment of infertility. The problem of infertility affects 8–12% of the population of reproductive age, causing an enormous social impact. Uterus transplantation, a relatively new treatment, has emerged as an excellent option for couples with absolute uterine infertility. The first uterus transplant performed was in 2000, in Saudi Arabia. At this same time, a Swedish researcher began several experimental works with uterine transplantation in different animal models. Only more than a decade after the first attempt in humans was a second case performed, in Turkey, in 2011. The first transplant in the Americas was performed in the United States of America, in 2016, with a deceased donor. In the same year, in Brazil, the group from Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, performed the first uterus transplant in Latin America, also with a deceased donor. This Brazilian case resulted in the world’s first birth from a deceased donor uterus transplant in December 2017, making Brazil and Hospital das Clínicas in a vanguard position in the world transplant scenario. Even so, we have today more than 100 transplants performed on the planet, with the birth of more than 70 children.
The preoperative evaluation of serum tumor markers provides valuable prognostic and therapeutic insights in solid malignancies. Although not diagnostic by themselves, increased preoperative concentrations often reflect greater tumor burden, advanced disease stage, and unfavorable clinical outcomes.
The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and diagnostic-prognostic potential of the tumor markers aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) and activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) in the blood of rectal cancer patients under the influence of short- or long-term radio-/chemoradiotherapy (RTx/RCTx).
Serum samples taken from patients with rectal carcinoma (n=164) at different time points during and after RTx/RCTx were retrospectively examined to determine whether these markers could predict disease progression and long-term survival.
Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed the prognostic relevance of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) staging, while no significant associations were observed between serum levels of the investigated biomarkers and individual patient or tumor characteristics such as age, sex, or tumor stage. Overall, ALCAM and ALDH1 in this limited patient cohort exhibited elevated serum levels compared with healthy controls, and tumor tissues demonstrated stage-dependent increases in marker expression (UICC III/IV versus I/II).
Serum concentrations of ALCAM and ALDH1 were significantly elevated in our patient cohort with rectal cancer but showed no significant correlation with tumor stage or survival, whenever serum samples were obtained either during or after neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy, which may be particularly due to the limited number of studied subjects. Although their prognostic utility remains limited, their consistent elevation in cancer patients underscores their potential value in early detection or as components of a broader biomarker panel.
Complete neoadjuvant treatment for gastric cancer is not always tolerated due to nutritional and clinical reasons, such as gastric outlet obstruction. In this context, upfront surgery becomes an alternative.
The aim of the study was to compare upfront resection with neoadjuvant systemic therapy followed by surgery and identify factors influencing their outcomes.
Retrospective study of 410 patients with locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma followed between 2012 and 2020, comparing upfront surgery and perioperative treatment. Patients with early tumor (cT1N0), metastasis, and stump cancer were excluded. The comparison was stratified by stage without the influence of systemic treatment (primary stage). Resections with D2 dissection, no residual tumor (no R2), and no complications were considered optimal surgery.
Upfront resection was performed in 216 patients (85% of upfront surgeries). Gastrectomy after neoadjuvant treatment was performed in 47 cases (76% of indications), and another four were resected among 39 previous unsuccessful surgeries (10%). In total, there were 51 resections after chemotherapy. Independent factors associated with overall survival at 60 months were: preoperative chemotherapy (57.3% vs. 40.7%, p=0.029); complication rate; D2 lymphadenectomy; and primary stage. Initial cases showed a better outcome in the neoadjuvant group without statistical significance (p=0.447), but it was present in more advanced tumors (p=0.027). Optimal surgery was achieved in 68.6% of the neoadjuvant group and 51.9% of the upfront group (p=0.030) and resulted in similar overall survival (56.6% vs. 52.4%, p=0.904).
Optimal upfront surgery followed by adjuvant therapy, particularly with D2 dissection, is effective and was not statistically inferior to neoadjuvant treatment.
The Pringle maneuver remains a widely used technique in hepatic surgery with varying opinions on its effects on postoperative outcomes and survival, requiring evidence-based evaluation of its impact on liver function and long-term results.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the intermittent Pringle maneuver on postoperative liver function and survival in hepatectomy patients, focusing on early dysfunction markers as prognostic factors.
In this retrospective cohort of 198 patients (106 women and 92 men; mean age, 59 years), the Pringle group showed longer surgical times (226.87±82.18 vs. 184.00±80.90 min, p<0.001) and extended intensive care unit stays (4.02±2.1 vs 3.11±1.9 days, p=0.026), but lower bilirubin levels (2.18±0.33 vs. 3.13±0.39 mg/dL, p=0.049). Multivariate analysis revealed that the Pringle maneuver reduced mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR]=0.540, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.333–0.876, p=0.013). Early liver dysfunction markers strongly predicted worse outcomes: elevated bilirubin nearly doubled mortality risk (HR 1.975, 95%CI 1.100–3.545, p=0.023), and decreased prothrombin activity tripled it (HR 3.055, 95%CI 1.839–5.075, p<0.001).
While the Pringle maneuver extends operative time and intensive care unit stay, it demonstrates a protective effect on survival. Early postoperative liver dysfunction strongly predicts poor outcomes, emphasizing the importance of careful postoperative monitoring regardless of vascular control strategy. These findings suggest that a controlled intermittent Pringle maneuver offers survival benefits when properly timed.
Malabsorption of micronutrients including calcium and vitamin D may lead to pathological bone fractures in the late postoperative period of bariatric surgery.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on bone mineral density (BMD) and calcium and vitamin D intake after 3 years of surgery.
Cross-sectional study that included 66 patients in the late postoperative period of bariatric surgery to analyze their BMD. Anthropometric and demographic data were collected, and a 24-hour recall questionnaire was carried out to assess food consumption patterns. BMD was assessed by bone densitometry of the femur and spine, and the values were expressed as z-scores.
The mean age was 40.1 years, 86.4% were female. RYGB was performed in 60.3% and SG in 39.7%. There was no significant difference between the techniques when comparing anthropometry, body composition, and food consumption patterns. There was a positive correlation, after RYGB, between femoral z-score, calcium and vitamin D intake, and multivitamin supplementation. A total of 12.7% of the sample had compromised bones, and among these, 87.5% underwent RYGB, 100% had inadequate consumption of calcium and vitamin D, and 12.5% were in menopause.
A small percentage of the sample showed bone loss after RYGB and SG. The type of surgery was not a significant factor in changing BMD. However, all those affected had a low intake of calcium and vitamin D.
Groove pancreatitis (GP) is a rare and segmental form of chronic pancreatitis that affects the pancreaticoduodenal sulcus. Its pathophysiology is still not well known, and several etiological factors have been attributed, with chronic alcohol consumption being the most common association. Its treatment still generates controversy. The initial clinical approach followed by endoscopic therapies prevails. Surgery is indicated when these treatment options fail.
The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical, imaging, and surgical treatment data of a series of patients diagnosed with GP.
The clinical, radiological, surgical, and postoperative follow-up data were analyzed, in addition to the histopathological results of chronic pancreatitis, in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy.
A total of eight patients were included, of whom six were male, and their mean age was 45 years. The main symptom presented was long-standing abdominal pain with the use of analgesics and weight loss; all patients were chronic alcoholics. Imaging methods defined the diagnosis of GP in the preoperative period in five patients. In three patients, the preoperative diagnosis was neoplasia of the head of the pancreas. All patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy and one patient developed pancreatic fistula. There was a regression of pain in all patients.
For patients with GP who do not respond to the clinical approach, or in the face of diagnostic doubt, pancreaticoduodenectomy constitutes a good therapeutic option.
Weight loss (WL) is the most commonly used datum to measure the results of metabolic and bariatric surgery. The amount of WL is generally directly and proportionally associated with the improvement in quality of life (QoL), as the greater the former, the greater the perception of well-being.
To assess the relationship between the amount of weight lost after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and self-perceived improvement in quality of life (QoL).
The medical records of patients who underwent LRYGB between January 2017 and December 2019 with a minimum follow-up of 3 years were analyzed. The data obtained in the subgroups made up according to percentage of total weight loss (%TWL), age, and time elapsed since surgery were compared with the self-perceived QoL by the Short Form Survey 36 (SF-36) questionnaire.
A total of 95 individuals (71.6% women) with an average age of 45 years and an average postoperative (PO) follow-up of 61.1 months were enrolled. The mean pre- and postoperative weight was 114 kg and 73.4 kg, respectively, and the mean %TWL was 35.6%. According to the comparison between the data from the medical records and the self-perceived QoL assessment, D1 (physical functioning) was the best scoring domain, while D3 (pain) was the worst. There was a significant improvement of the D4 (general health) domain in patients with %TWL greater than 30% (p<0.05), D7 (role emotional), and D8 (mental health) domains in patients older than 45 years (p<0.05) and better results in D7 (role emotional) domain in patients over 5 years after surgery (p<0.05).
Greater weight loss and age and longer time after surgery showed important self-perceived improvement in QoL after LRYGB in some assessment domains, both physical and emotional.
Patients with advanced cancer experience a range of distressing symptoms. Palliative care (PC) emerges as an essential area to be implemented by health systems in the care of patients with irreversible diseases and beyond therapeutic possibilities.
To compare the perception of caregivers of patients in palliative care offered by two public hospitals using the CODETM questionnaire; to determine the score obtained by the questionnaire and its usefulness in the evaluation of the palliative care offered.
The post-death questionnaire “Care of the Dying Evaluation” (CODETM) was applied to the family members who accompanied the patients in the last days, assessing the perception of the quality of care provided to the patient and the level of support to the family.
No statistical difference in demographics. Participants who received palliative care had higher scores in the score, as well as in the ward and ICU unit compared to the emergency unit. The predictive cut-off value for adequate palliative care practice was 97 points, corresponding to 78.6% of the score.
There was no statistical difference between the caregivers’ perception of the care offered to patients between the two hospitals, being worse in the emergency unit. The cut-off value was 78.6% and was considered adequate and the CODETM questionnaire was a useful tool in the evaluation of palliative care offered by hospitals to patients and can be applied to propose improvements in palliative care. Therefore, there is a need for an instrument that can constantly classify and qualify the care provided to patients and their families in order to offer dignified, comprehensive and humanized care, as proposed by the CODETM questionnaire
Rectal cancer remains a significant clinical challenge with demand for conclusive biomarkers, essential in prognostication and therapy monitoring of neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment strategies.
The aim of the study was to evaluate AXL and cellular mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (C-MET) biomarkers for cancer stem cells and to correlate them with clinicopathological characteristics and patient outcome data with respect to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.
Serum levels of soluble surface markers AXL and C-MET were retrospectively analyzed in 164 rectal cancer patients with additional immunofluorescent analyses of their primary tumor tissues.
Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed the prognostic significance of Union for International Cancer Control stages, but with no significant correlation between investigated markers with patient age, gender, or tumor stage. In contrast, tumor tissues demonstrated stage-dependently increased marker expression. While AXL was detected at low levels, C-MET exhibited a bimodal distribution, with elevated levels seen in most patients, particularly post-neoadjuvant therapy and non-significantly in the subgroup with poorer response to neoadjuvant therapy (p=0.074).
AXL serum levels in the rectal cancer cohort were significantly different from healthy subjects but did not correlate with tumor stage or survival during and after neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy. Soluble C-MET levels in the blood, influenced by neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, may serve as a predictive marker for treatment response.
Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are highly prevalent conditions with a significant public health impact, highlighting the need for effective management strategies. Bariatric surgery is widely recognized for promoting sustained weight loss and high rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus remission.
This study investigated the preoperative blood glucose response to a very low-calorie diet as a functional predictor of type 2 diabetes mellitus remission following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
198 participants who followed a very low-calorie diet (600 kcal/day) during the preoperative period were included, with glycemic response monitoring.
Complete remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus occurred in 66.7% of patients. Two years after surgery, patients with blood glucose levels below 143 mg/dL on the second day of the very low-calorie diet had a higher likelihood (over 70%) of achieving complete remission type 2 diabetes mellitus in the late postoperative period.
Preoperative capillary blood glucose levels demonstrated good specificity in predicting remissions. These findings reinforce the clinical utility of early glycemic control as a valuable indicator for predicting the success of surgical treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Desenvolvido por Surya MKT