New direction for surgery:Super minimally invasive surgery

The top goal of modern medicine is treating disease without destroying organ structures and making patients as healthy as they were before their sickness.Minimally invasive surgery(MIS)has dominated the surgical realm because of its lesser invasiveness.However,changes in anatomical structures of the body and reconstruction of internal organs or different organs are common after traditional surgery or MIS,decreasing the quality of life of patients post-operation.Thus,I propose a new treatment mode,super MIS(SMIS),which is defined as“curing a disease or lesion which used to be treated by MIS while preserving the integrity of the organs”.In this study,I describe the origin,definition,operative channels,advantages,and future perspectives of SMIS.

Toward less invasive coloproctology: The future is out there

Medical care has undergone remarkable improvements over the past few decades.One of the most important innovative breakthroughs in modern medicine is the advent of minimally and less invasive treatments.The trend towards employing less invasive treatment has been vividly shown in the field of gastroenterology,particularly coloproctology.Parallel to foregut interventions,colorectal surgery has shifted towards a minimally invasive approach.Coloproctology,including both medical and surgical management of colorectal diseases,has undergone a remarkable paradigm shift.The treatment of both benign and malignant colorectal conditions has gradually transitioned towards more conservative and less inva-sive approaches.An interesting paradigm shift was the trend to avoid the need for radical resection of rectal cancer altogether in patients who showed complete response to neoadjuvant treatment.The trend of adopting less invasive appro-aches to treat various colorectal conditions does not seem to be stopping soon as further research on novel,more effective and safer methods is ongoing.

Feasibility and safety of minimally invasive multivisceral resection for T4b rectal cancer:A 9-year review

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second highest cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.About 5%-10%of patients are diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer(LARC)on presentation.For LARC invading into other structures(i.e.T4b),multivisceral resection(MVR)and/or pelvic ex-enteration(PE)remains the only potential curative surgical treatment.MVR and/or PE is a major and complex surgery with high post-operative morbidity.Minimally invasive surgery(MIS)has been shown to improve short-term post-operative outcomes in other gastrointestinal malignancies,but there is little evi-dence on its use in MVR,especially so for robotic MVR.This is a single-center retrospective cohort study from 1st January 2015 to 31st March 2023.Inclusion criteria were patients diagnosed with cT4b rectal cancer and underwent MVR,or stage 4 disease with resectable systemic metastases.Pa-tients who underwent curative MVR for locally recurrent rectal cancer,or me-tachronous rectal cancer were also included.Exclusion criteria were patients with systemic metastases with non-resectable disease.All patients planned for elective surgery were enrolled into the standard enhanced recovery after surgery pathway with standard peri-operative management for colorectal surgery.Complex sur-gery was defined based on technical difficulty of surgery(i.e.total PE,bladder-sparing prostatectomy,pelvic lymph node dissection or need for flap creation).Our primary outcomes were the margin status,and complication rates.Cate-gorical values were described as percentages and analysed by the chi-square test.Continuous variables were expressed as median(range)and analysed by Mann-Whitney U test.Cumulative overall survival(OS)and recurrence-free survival(RFS)were analysed using Kaplan-Meier estimates with life table analysis.Log-rank test was performed to determine statistical significance between cumulative estimates.Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05.Meier estimates with life table analysis.Log-rank test was performed to determine statistical significance between cumulative estimates.Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05.RESULTS A total of 46 patients were included in this study[open MVR(oMVR):12(26.1%),miMVR:36(73.9%)].Patients’American Society of Anesthesiologists score,body mass index and co-morbidities were comparable between oMVR and miMVR.There is an increasing trend towards robotic MVR from 2015 to 2023.MiMVR was associated with lower estimated blood loss(EBL)(median 450 vs 1200 mL,P=0.008),major morbidity(14.7%vs 50.0%,P=0.014),post-operative intra-abdominal collections(11.8%vs 50.0%,P=0.006),post-operative ileus(32.4%vs 66.7%,P=0.04)and surgical site infection(11.8%vs 50.0%,P=0.006)compared with oMVR.Length of stay was also shorter for miMVR compared with oMVR(median 10 vs 30 d,P=0.001).Oncological outcomes-R0 resection,recurrence,OS and RFS were comparable between miMVR and oMVR.There was no 30-d mortality.More patients underwent robotic compared with laparoscopic MVR for complex cases(robotic 57.1%vs laparoscopic 7.7%,P=0.004).The operating time was longer for robotic compared with laparoscopic MVR[robotic:602(400-900)min,laparoscopic:Median 455(275-675)min,P<0.001].Incidence of R0 resection was similar(laparoscopic:84.6%vs robotic:76.2%,P=0.555).Overall complication rates,major morbidity rates and 30-d readmission rates were similar between la-paroscopic and robotic MVR.Interestingly,3-year OS(robotic 83.1%vs 58.6%,P=0.008)and RFS(robotic 72.9%vs 34.3%,P=0.002)was superior for robotic compared with laparoscopic MVR.CONCLUSION MiMVR had lower post-operative complications compared to oMVR.Robotic MVR was also safe,with acceptable post-operative complication rates.Prospective studies should be conducted to compare short-term and long-term outcomes between robotic vs laparoscopic MVR.

No effect of invasive tree species on aboveground biomass increments of oaks and pines in temperate forests

Prunus serotina and Robinia pseudoacacia are the most widespread invasive trees in Central Europe.In addition,according to climate models,decreased growth of many economically and ecologically important native trees will likely be observed in the future.We aimed to assess the impact of these two neophytes,which differ in the biomass range and nitrogen-fixing abilities observed in Central European conditions,on the relative aboveground biomass increments of native oaks Qucrcus robur and Q.petraea and Scots pine Pinus sylvestris.We aimed to increase our understanding of the relationship between facilitation and competition between woody alien species and overstory native trees.We established 72 circular plots(0.05 ha)in two different forest habitat types and stands varying in age in western Poland.We chose plots with different abundances of the studied neophytes to determine how effects scaled along the quantitative invasion gradient.Furthermore,we collected growth cores of the studied native species,and we calculated aboveground biomass increments at the tree and stand levels.Then,we used generalized linear mixed-effects models to assess the impact of invasive species abundances on relative aboveground biomass increments of native tree species.We did not find a biologically or statistically significant impact of invasive R.pseudoacacia or P.serotina on the relative aboveground,biomass increments of native oaks and pines along the quantitative gradient of invader biomass or on the proportion of total stand biomass accounted for by invaders.The neophytes did not act as native tree growth stimulators but also did not compete with them for resources,which would escalate the negative impact of climate change on pines and oaks.The neophytes should not significantly modify the carbon sequestration capacity of the native species.Our work combines elements of the per capita effect of invasion with research on mixed forest management.

Efficacy and safety of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia for ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in female reproductive system in the world,and the choice of its treatment is very important for the survival rate and prognosis of patients.Traditional open surgery is the main treatment for ovarian cancer,but it has the disadvantages of big trauma and slow recovery.With the continuous development of minimally invasive technology,minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia has been gradually applied to the treatment of ovarian cancer because of its advantages of less trauma and quick recovery.However,the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia in the treatment of ovarian cancer are still controversial.AIM To explore the efficacy and safety of general anesthesia minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of ovarian cancer.METHODS The clinical data of 90 patients with early ovarian cancer in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively.According to the different surgical treatment methods,patients were divided into study group and control group(45 cases in each group).The study group received minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia for ovarian cancer,while the control group received traditional open surgery for ovarian cancer.The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire(EORTC QLQ-C30),clinical efficacy and safety of the two groups were compared.RESULTS The intraoperative blood loss,length of hospital stay,postoperative gas evacuation time,and postoperative EORTC QLQ-C30 score of the study group were significantly better than those of the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of postoperative complications in the study group was significantly lower than in the control group(P<0.05).The two groups had no significant differences in the preoperative adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),androstenedione(AD),cortisol(Cor),cluster of differentiation 3 positive(CD3+),and cluster of differentiation 4 positive(CD4+)indexes(P>0.05).In contrast,postoperatively,the study group's ACTH,AD,and Cor indexes were lower,and the CD3+and CD4+indexes were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia in patients with early ovarian cancer can significantly improve the efficacy and safety,improve the short-term prognosis and quality of life of patients,and is worth popularizing.

Increased dependence on nitrogen-fixation of a native legume in competition with an invasive plant

Suppression of roots and/or their symbiotic microorganisms,such as mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia,is an effective way for alien plants to outcompete native plants.However,little is known about how invasive and native plants interact with the quantity and activity of nutrient-acquisition agents.Here a pot experiment was conducted with monoculture and mixed plantings of an invasive plant,Xanthium strumarium,and a common native legume,Glycine max.We measured traits related to root and nodule quantity and activity and mycorrhizal colonization.Compared to the monoculture,fine root quantity(biomass,surface area)and activity(root nitrogen(N)concentration,acid phosphatase activity)of G.max decreased in mixed plantings;nodule quantity(biomass)decreased by 45%,while nodule activity in Nfixing via rhizobium increased by 106%;mycorrhizal colonization was unaffected.Contribution of N fixation to leaf N content in G.max increased in the mixed plantings,and this increase was attributed to a decrease in the rhizosphere soil N of G.max in the mixed plantings.Increased root quantity and activity,along with a higher mycorrhizal association was observed in X.strumarium in the mixed compared to monoculture.Together,the invasive plant did not directly scavenge N from nodule-fixed N,but rather depleted the rhizosphere soil N of the legume,thereby stimulating the activity of N-fixation and increasing the dependence of the native legume on this N source.The quantity-activity framework holds promise for future studies on how native legumes respond to alien plant invasions.

Routine invasive strategy and frailty burden in non-ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction

Objective To assess the prognostic impact of a routine invasive strategy according to the frailty burden in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(NSTEMI)from the MOSCA-FRAIL clinical trial.Methods The MOSCA-FRAIL trial randomized 167 frail patients,defined by a Clinical Frailty Scale(CFS)≥4,with NSTEMI to an invasive or conservative strategy.The primary endpoint was the number of days alive and out of hospital(DAOH)one year after discharge.For this subanalysis,we compared the impact of an invasive strategy on the outcomes between vulnerable(CFS=4,n=43)and frail(CFS>4,n=124)patients.Results Compared to vulnerable patients,frail patients presented lower values of DAOH(289.8 vs.320.6,P=0.146),more read-missions(1.03 vs.0.58,P=0.046)and higher number of days spent at the hospital during the first year(10.8 vs.3.8,P=0.014).The cau-ses of readmission were mostly non-cardiac(56%).Among vulnerable patients,DAOH were similar regardless of strategy(invasive vs.conservative:325.7 vs.314.7,P=0.684).Among frailest patients,the invasive group tended to have less DAOH(267.7 vs.311.1,P=0.117).Indeed,patients with CFS>4,invasively managed lived 29 days less than their conservative counterparts.In contrast,the-re were no differences in the subgroup with CFS=4.Conclusions Adult patients with frailty and NSTEMI showed different prognosis according to the degree of frailty.A routine in-vasive strategy does not improve outcomes and might be harmful to the frailest patients.

The evolution and diurnal expression patterns of photosynthetic pathway genes of the invasive alien weed,Mikania micrantha

Mikania micrantha is a fast-growing global invasive weed species that causes severe damage to natural ecosystems and very large economic losses of forest and crop production.It has advantages in photosynthesis,including a similar net photosynthetic rate as C4 plants and a higher carbon fixation capacity.We used a combination of genomics and transcriptomics approaches to study the evolutionary mechanisms and circadian expression patterns of M.micrantha.In M.micrantha,16 positive selection genes focused on photoreaction and utilization of photoassimilates.In different tissues,98.1%of the genes associated with photoresponse had high expression in stems,and more than half of the genes of the C4 cycle had higher expression in stems than in leaves.In stomatal opening and closing,2 genes of carbonic anhydrase(CAs)had higher expression at 18:00 than at 8:00,and the slow anion channel 1(SLAC1)and high-leaf-temperature 1 kinase(HT1)genes were expressed at low levels at 18:00.In addition,genes associated with photosynthesis had higher expression levels at 7:00 and 17:00.We hypothesized that M.micrantha may undergo photosynthesis in the stem and flower organs and that some stomata of the leaves were opening at night by CO_(2)signals.In addition,its evolution may attenuate photoinhibition at high light intensities,and enhance more efficient of photosynthesis during low light intensity.And the tissue-specific photosynthetic types and different diurnal pattern of photosynthetic-related genes may contribute to its rapid colonization of new habitats of M.micrantha.

Education Programs for Invasive Procedures Involving Nurses: A Scoping Review

Background: Implementing invasive procedures is an important part of patient management by clinical nurses;however, there are gaps between nurses’ actual knowledge and skills and expected professional care capacity. Purpose: This scoping review aimed to map the existing literature related to recent institution-provided educational programs for invasive procedures involving clinical nurses. This study seeks to understand the contents of educational programs and the methods for assessing educational effects. Methods: This scoping review was completed using the following four databases: PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, Cochrane Library, and Emcare for the period 2000-2022. We included studies that used all forms of educational approaches (e.g., didactic lectures, hands-on training, or on-the-job training). This scoping review considered peer-reviewed publications published in English using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed approaches. A total of 83 studies underwent in the final analysis. Results and Conclusion: A combination of didactic lectures and hands-on training was provided as an educational program in most studies. Contrary to our prediction, educational interventions with advanced technologies such as VR are extremely rare, suggesting that the effectiveness of advanced technologies in learning invasive procedures should be examined to facilitate and retain educational effects more efficiently in future studies. Regarding the assessment of educational effects, nurses’ cognitive (i.e., theoretical knowledge about procedures), psychomotor (i.e., implementing procedures), and psychological aspects (e.g., confidence and self-efficacy in procedures) were evaluated using questionnaires and observational methods. While most studies used a one-group pretest-posttest design, the ratio of randomized controlled trials (RCT) was relatively low. Thus, an RCT design should be introduced in future studies to test the validity of the developed educational program more accurately.

Energy spectrum computed tomography multi-parameter imaging in preoperative assessment of vascular and neuroinvasive status in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Vascular and nerve infiltration are important indicators for the progression and prognosis of gastric cancer(GC),but traditional imaging methods have some limitations in preoperative evaluation.In recent years,energy spectrum computed tomography(CT)multiparameter imaging technology has been gradually applied in clinical practice because of its advantages in tissue contrast and lesion detail display.AIM To explore and analyze the value of multiparameter energy spectrum CT imaging in the preoperative assessment of vascular invasion(LVI)and nerve invasion(PNI)in GC patients.METHODS Data from 62 patients with GC confirmed by pathology and accompanied by energy spectrum CT scanning at our hospital between September 2022 and September 2023,including 46 males and 16 females aged 36-71(57.5±9.1)years,were retrospectively collected.The patients were divided into a positive group(42 patients)and a negative group(20 patients)according to the presence of LVI/PNI.The CT values(CT40 keV,CT70 keV),iodine concentration(IC),and normalized IC(NIC)of lesions in the upper energy spectrum CT images of the arterial phase,venous phase,and delayed phase 40 and 70 keV were measured,and the slopes of the energy spectrum curves[K(40-70)]from 40 to 70 keV were calculated.Arterial Core Tip:To investigate the application value of multiparameter energy spectrum computed tomography(CT)imaging in the preoperative assessment of vascular and nerve infiltration in patients with gastric cancer(GC).The imaging data of GC patients were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the accuracy and sensitivity of CT for identifying and quantifying vascular and nerve infiltration and for comparison with postoperative pathological results.The purpose of this study was to verify the clinical feasibility and potential advantages of multiparameter energy spectrum CT imaging in guiding preoperative diagnosis and treatment decision-making and to provide a new imaging basis for improving the diagnostic accuracy and prognosis of GC patients.

Assessing the effect of invasive organisms on forests under information uncertainty: The case of pine wood nematode in continental Europe

Forests worldwide are experiencing increasingly intense biotic disturbances;however,assessing impacts of these disturbances is challenging due to the diverse range of organisms involved and the complex interactions among them.This particularly applies to invasive species,which can greatly alter ecological processes in their invaded territories.Here we focus on the pine wood nematode(PWN,Bursaphelenchus xylophilus),an invasive pathogen that has caused extensive mortality of pines in East Asia and more recently has invaded southern Europe.It is expected to expand its range into continental Europe with heavy impacts possible.Given the unknown dynamics of PWN in continental Europe,we reviewed laboratory and field experiments conducted in Asia and southern Europe to parameterize the main components of PWN biology and host-pathogen interactions in the Biotic Disturbance Engine(BITE),a model designed to implement a variety of forest biotic agents,from fungi to large herbivores.To simulate dynamically changing host availability and conditions,BITE was coupled with the forest landscape model iLand.The potential impacts of introducing PWN were assessed in a Central European forest landscape(40,928ha),likely within PWN’s reach in future decades.A parameter sensitivity analysis indicated a substantial influence of factors related to dispersal,colonization,and vegetation impact,whereas parameters related to population growth manifested a minor effect.Selection of different assumptions about biological processes resulted in differential timing and size of the main mortality wave,eliminating 40%–95%of pine trees within 100 years post-introduction,with a maximum annual carbon loss between 1.3%and 4.2%.PWN-induced tree mortality reduced the Gross Primary Productivity,increased heterotrophic respiration,and generated a distinct legacy sink effect in the recovery period.This assessment has corroborated the ecological plausibility of the simulated dynamics and highlighted the need for new strategies to navigate the substantial uncertainty in the agent’s biology and population dynamics.

Minimally invasive reconstruction of extensive mid-lower ureteral strictures using a bilateral Boari flap

Objective:To describe and evaluate the technique using bilateral Boari flap ureteroneocystostomy(BBFUNC)for bilateral mid-lower ureteral strictures.Methods:We retrospectively reviewed five patients who underwent minimally invasive BBFUNC in our institution(Union Hospital,Wuhan,China)between July 2019 and December 2021.The bilateral ureters were mobilized and transected above the stenotic segments.The bladder was isolated and incised longitudinally from the middle of the anterior wall.Then,an inverted U-shaped bladder flap was created on both sides,fixed onto the psoas tendon,and anastomosed to the ipsilateral distal normal ureter.Following double-J stenting,the Boari flaps were tubularized,and the bladder was closed with continuous sutures.The patients’perioperative data and follow-up outcomes were collected,and a descriptive statistical analysis was performed.Results:No case converted to open surgery,and no intraoperative complication occurred.The median surgical time was 230(range 203-294)min.The median length of the bladder flaps was 6.2(range 4.3-10.0)cm on the left and 5.5(range 4.7-10.5)cm on the right side.All patients had not developed recurrent ureteral stenosis during the median follow-up time of 17(range 16-45)months and had a normal maximum flow rate after surgery.The median post-void residual was 7(range 0-19)mL.The maximal bladder capacity was decreased in one(20%)patient.Conclusion:The present study demonstrates that minimally invasive BBFUNC is feasible and safe in treating is limited.

Exploring the landscape of minimally invasive pancreatic surgery: Progress, challenges, and future directions

Minimally invasive surgery(MI)has become the standard of care for many surgical procedures aimed at reducing the burden on patients.However,its adoption in pancreatic surgery(PS)has been limited by the pancreas’s unique location and the complexity of the dissection and reconstruction phases.These factors continue to contribute to PS having one of the highest morbidity and mortality rates in general surgery.Despite a rough start,MIPS has gained widespread acceptance in clinical practice recently.Robust evidence supports MI distal pancreatectomy safety,even in oncological cases,indicating its potential superiority over open surgery.However,definitive evidence of MI pancre-aticoduodenectomy(MIPD)feasibility and safety,particularly for malignant lesions,is still lacking.Nonetheless,reports from high-volume centers are emer-ging,suggesting outcomes comparable to those of the open approach.The robotic PS increasing adoption,facilitated by the wider availability of robotic platforms,may further facilitate the transition to MIPD by overcoming the technical con-straints associated with laparoscopy and accelerating the learning curve.Alth-ough the MIPS implementation process cannot be stopped in this evolving world,ensuring patient safety through strict outcome monitoring is critical.Investing in younger surgeons with structured and recognized training programs can promote safe expansion.

Outcomes following minimally invasive dorsal cheilectomy for hallux rigidus:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Cheilectomy of the 1^(st)metatarsophalangeal joint(MTPJ)is one of the most common procedures for the management of hallux rigidus.However,there is no consensus regarding outcomes following minimally invasive dorsal cheilectomy(MIDC)for the management of hallux rigidus.AIM To evaluate outcomes following MIDC for the management of hallux rigidus.METHODS During November 2023,the PubMed,EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were systematically reviewed to identify clinical studies examining outcomes following MIDC for the management of hallux rigidus.RESULTS Six studies were included.In total,348 patients(370 feet)underwent MIDC for hallux rigidus at a weighted mean follow-up of 37.9±16.5 months.The distribution of patients by Coughlin and Shurna's classification was recorded in 4 studies as follows:Ⅰ(58 patients,27.1%),Ⅱ(112 patients,52.3%),Ⅲ(44 patients,20.6%).Three studies performed an additional 1^(st)MTPJ arthroscopy and debridement following MIDC.Retained intra-articular bone debris was observed in 100%of patients in 1 study.The weighted mean American orthopedic foot and ankle society score improved from a preoperative score of 68.9±3.2 to a postoperative score of 87.1.The complication rate was 8.4%,the most common of which was persistent joint pain and stiffness.Thirty-two failures(8.7%)were observed.Thirty-three secondary procedures(8.9%)were performed at a weighted mean time of 8.6±3.2 months following the index procedure.CONCLUSION This systematic review demonstrated improvements in subjective clinical outcomes together with a moderate complication rate following MIDC for the management of hallux rigidus at short-term follow-up.A moderate reoperation rate at short-term follow-up was recorded.The marked heterogeneity between included studies and paucity of high quality comparative studies limits the generation of any robust conclusions.

Invasive Procedures for Prenatal Diagnosis in Salmaniya Medical Complex in Bahrain: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

Background: Prenatal diagnosis is the process of evaluating the presence of disease or potential disease in the fetus, this enables families to be better prepared before the birth of the baby. There are non-invasive prenatal diagnosis procedures and invasive prenatal diagnosis procedures. The invasive prenatal diagnosis procedures are CVS (chorionic villus sampling) and amniocentesis. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that invasive diagnostic testing should be available to all women, regardless of age or risk. Objective: To determine the indications, outcome and results of diagnostic invasive prenatal procedures. Study setting: The obstetrics and Gynecology Department in Salmaniya Medical Complex in Kingdom of Bahrain. Study design: Retrospective descriptive study. Study subjects and Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 175 pregnant women who underwent invasive prenatal procedures (CVS and amniocentesis) between January 2013 and December 2018 at SMC in Kingdom of Bahrain. All medical records of the participants were reviewed and entered the study. According to the implemented procedures, medical records were categorized into two chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis groups. The study subject will include indications of the procedures which are advanced maternal age, hematological disorders, genetic disorders, metabolic disorders, abnormal structural findings in fetal ultrasound and previous child with aneuploidy. In addition, the study will address the complications, outcome and results of procedures. Results: About half of our indications of the procedures were due to hematological disorders (47.6%) followed by abnormal structural findings in fetal ultrasound (30.1%) then genetic disorders (15.7%), metabolic disorders (4.8%) and advanced maternal age (1.8%). Regarding complications of the procedure;threatened miscarriage or loss of pregnancy within 3 weeks was (2.3%), amniotic fluid leakage (0.7%), abdominal cramps (0.7%) and Insufficient or contaminated sample (6.2%). Regarding outcome of the pregnancy, our results showed that the loss of pregnancy was (4.8%), intrauterine fetal death or still birth was (13.9%), live birth was (63.9%), preterm delivery was (7.8%), preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM) was (1.8%), limbs reduction was (0.0%). Termination of pregnancy outside the country was (7.8%) of chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. Conclusion: CVS and amniocentesis are useful outpatient procedures to detect diagnosis or to assess whether a patient is at increased risk of having an affected fetus and that will minimize the psychological impact on the patient and to provide a proper antenatal care to the pregnant women by her obstetrician and follow up to the baby by pediatrician. In this study it was observed that most of the patients who underwent the procedure were couples either carrier or affected to sickle cell disease or Beta thalassemia.

Application Research of PETD Combined with MRI Nerve Root Water Imaging in the Minimally Invasive Treatment of LDH

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PETD combined with nerve root water imaging of MRI for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 62 patients with lumbar disc herniation from March 2019 to March 2021. The study included an experimental group of 30 patients and a control group of 32 patients. The experimental group underwent PETD combined with nerve root water imaging of MRI, while the control group received traditional PETD treatment. The visual analogue scoring method (VAS score), and JOA lumbar spine function score before and after surgery were compared between the two groups, and efficacy was assessed and compared using the MacNab score. Results: The mean operation time was significantly reduced in the experimental group (56.43 &#177;10.40 minutes) compared to the control group (65.69 &#177;14.12 minutes). The VAS score was compared between the two groups with preoperative (p = 0.624), one month after surgery (p = 0.325), three months after surgery (p = 0.676), one year after surgery (p = 0.341);The JOA score was compared between the two groups with preoperative (p = 0.961), one month after the surgery (p = 0.266), three months after surgery (p = 0.185), one year after surgery (p = 0.870), they were no significant statistical difference;The efficacy evaluation of the last follow-up Macnab showed that all the 30 patients in the experimental group were excellent, 31 of 32 patients in the control group were excellent, 1 case was good;There was no statistical difference in the comparison between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The study concludes that the combined approach of PETD with nerve root water imaging of MRI is a safe, effective, and more efficient alternative to conventional PETD for treating lumbar disc herniation.

Epidemiological observations of invasive group B Streptococcus infections in six major hospitals in Peninsular Malaysia

Objective:To address the lack of research on invasive group B Streptococcus(GBS)infections in Malaysia and Southeast Asia through a comprehensive analysis of GBS isolates obtained from hospitals.Methods:Medical records from patients with GBS infection isolated from the sterile site,such as blood and cerebrospinal fluid from 14 July 2019 to 15 December 2020,were reviewed from six major hospitals in Peninsular Malaysia.Inclusion criteria were invasive GBS,sterile sites and non-repeated GBS isolated from the same patients in the same admission.Viable isolates were re-identified for GBS and serotyped.Results:A total of 118 patients were eligible,with a majority of non-pregnant adults(76.3%).Over half of the patients(62.7%)had underlying medical conditions,with diabetes as the most common disease,followed by respiratory disease,renal disease,cardiovascular disease and skin and soft tissue disease.The most common manifestations were sepsis,followed by soft tissue abscess,diabetic foot ulcer,wet gangrene and cellulitis.The overall mortality was 7.6%.The most common serotype was serotype桋.Conclusions:Invasive GBS infection among non-pregnant adults showed a rising trend,particularly among diabetic individuals.The study underscores the importance of reducing risk factors and highlights the necessity of developing GBS vaccination as a preventive strategy for both infants and adults.

Histologic subtypes of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

The majority of bladder cancers(BCs)are non-muscle invasive BCs(NMIBCs)and show the morphology of a conventional urothelial carcinoma(UC).Aberrant morphology is rare but can be observed.The classification and characterization of histologic subtypes(HS)in UC in BC have mainly been described in muscle in-vasive bladder cancer(MIBC).However,the currently used classification is ap-plied for invasive urothelial neoplasm and therefore,also valid for a subset of NMIBC.The standard transurethral diagnostic work-up misses the presence of HS in NMIBC in a considerable percentage of patients and the real prevalence is not known.HS in NMIBC are associated with an aggressive phenotype.Conse-quently,clinical guidelines categorize HS of NMIBC as“(very)high-risk”tumors and recommend offering radical cystectomy to these patients.Alternative strategies for bladder preservation can only be offered to highly selected patients and ideally within clinical trials.Novel treatment strategies and biomarkers have been established MIBC and NMIBC but have not been comprehensively invest-igated in the context of HS in NMIBC.Further evaluation prior to implementation into clinical practice is needed.

Photosynthetic response dynamics in the invasive species Tithonia diversifolia and two co-occurring native shrub species under fluctuating light conditions

To determine the invasiveness of invasive plants,many studies have compared photosynthetic traits or strategies between invasive and native species.However,few studies have compared the photosynthetic dynamics between invasive and native species during light fluctuations.We compared photosynthetic induction,relaxation dynamics and leaf traits between the invasive species,Tithonia diversifolia and two native species,Clerodendrum bungei and Blumea balsamifera,in full-sun and shady habitats.The photosynthetic dynamics and leaf traits differed among species.T.diversifolia showed a slower induction speed and stomatal opening response but had higher average intrinsic water-use efficiency than the two native species in full-sun habitats.Thus,the slow induction response may be attributed to the longer stomatal length in T.diversifolia.Habitat had a significant effect on photosynthetic dynamics in T.diversifolia and B.balsamifera but not in C.bungei.In shady habitat,T.diversifolia had a faster photosynthetic induction response than in full-sun habitat,leading to a higher average stomatal conductance during photosynthetic induction in T.diversifolia than in the two native species.In contrast,B.balsamifera had a larger stomatal length and slower photosynthetic induction and relaxation response in shady habitat than in full-sun habitat,resulting in higher carbon gain during photosynthetic relaxation.Nevertheless,in both habitats,T.diversifolia had an overall higher carbon gain during light fluctuations than the two native species.Our results indicated that T.diversifolia can adopt more effective response strategies under fluctuating light environments to maximize carbon gain,which may contribute to its successful invasion.

Predicting hepatocellular carcinoma: A new non-invasive model based on shear wave elastography

BACKGROUND Integrating conventional ultrasound features with 2D shear wave elastography(2D-SWE)can potentially enhance preoperative hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)predictions.AIM To develop a 2D-SWE-based predictive model for preoperative identification of HCC.METHODS A retrospective analysis of 884 patients who underwent liver resection and pathology evaluation from February 2021 to August 2023 was conducted at the Oriental Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital.The patients were divided into the modeling group(n=720)and the control group(n=164).The study included conventional ultrasound,2D-SWE,and preoperative laboratory tests.Multiple logistic regression was used to identify independent predictive factors for RESULTS In the modeling group analysis,maximal elasticity(Emax)of tumors and their peripheries,platelet count,cirrhosis,and blood flow were independent risk indicators for malignancies.These factors yielded an area under the curve of 0.77(95%confidence interval:0.73-0.81)with 84%sensitivity and 61%specificity.The model demonstrated good calibration in both the construction and validation cohorts,as shown by the calibration graph and Hosmer-Lemeshow test(P=0.683 and P=0.658,respectively).Additionally,the mean elasticity(Emean)of the tumor periphery was identified as a risk factor for microvascular invasion(MVI)in malignant liver tumors(P=0.003).Patients receiving antiviral treatment differed significantly in platelet count(P=0.002),Emax of tumors(P=0.033),Emean of tumors(P=0.042),Emax at tumor periphery(P<0.001),and Emean at tumor periphery(P=0.003).CONCLUSION 2D-SWE’s hardness value serves as a valuable marker for enhancing the preoperative diagnosis of malignant liver lesions,correlating significantly with MVI and antiviral treatment efficacy.