Long-term assessment of collagenase treatment for Dupuytren’s contracture:A 10-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND Enzymatic fasciotomy with collagenase clostridium histolyticum(CCH)has revolutionized the treatment for Dupuytren’s contracture(DC).Despite its benefits,the long-term outcomes remain unclear.This study presented a comprehensive 10-year follow-up assessment of the enduring effects of CCH on patients with DC.AIM To compare the short-term(12 wk)and long-term(10 years)outcomes on CCH treatment in patients with DC.METHODS A cohort of 45 patients was treated with CCH at the metacarpophalangeal(MCP)joint and the proximal interphalangeal(PIP)joint and underwent systematic reevaluation.The study adhered to multicenter trial protocols,and assessments were conducted at 12 wk,7 years,and 10 years post-surgery.RESULTS Thirty-seven patients completed the 10-year follow-up.At 10 years,patients treated at the PIP joint exhibited a 100%recurrence.However,patients treated at the MCP joint only showed a 50%recurrence.Patient satisfaction varied,with a lower satisfaction reported in PIP joint cases.Recurrence exceeding 20 degrees on the total passive extension deficit was observed,indicating a challenge for sustained efficacy.Significant differences were noted between outcomes at the 7-year and 10-year intervals.CONCLUSION CCH demonstrated sustained efficacy when applied to the MCP joint.However,caution is warranted for CCH treatment at the PIP joint due to a high level of recurrence and low patient satisfaction.Re-intervention is needed within a decade of treatment.

Imperative for long-term management and surveillance in Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease(KD)is a significant pediatric vasculitis known for its potential to cause severe coronary artery complications.Despite the effectiveness of initial treatments,such as intravenous immunoglobulin,KD patients can experience long-term cardiovascular issues,as evidenced by a recent case report of an adult who suffered a ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction due to previous KD in the World Journal of Clinical Cases.This editorial emphasizes the critical need for long-term management and regular surveillance to prevent such complications.By drawing on recent research and case studies,we advocate for a structured approach to follow-up care that includes routine cardiac evaluations and preventive measures.

Heart-shaped anastomosis for Hirschsprung's disease: Operative technique and long-term follow-up

AIM: To study the long-term therapeutic effect of 'heartshaped' anastomosis for Hirschsprung's disease.METHODS: From January 1986 to October 1997, we performed one-stage 'heart-shaped' anastomosis for 193 patients with Hirschsprung's disease (HD). One hundred and fiftytwo patients were followed up patients (follow-up rate 79%).The operative outcome and postoperative complications were retrospectively analyzed.RESULTS: Early complications included urine retention in 2patients, enteritis in 10, anastomotic stricture in 1, and intestinal obstruction in 2. No infection of abdominal cavity or wound and anastomotic leakage or death occurred in any patients. Late complications were present in 22 cases,including adhesive intestinal obstruction in 2, longer anal in 5, incision hernia in 2, enteritis in 6, occasional stool stains in 7 and 6 related with improper diet. No constipation or incontinence occurred in any patient.CONCLUSION: The early and late postoperative complication rates were 7.8% and 11.4% respectively in our 'heartshaped anastomosis' procedure. 'Heart-shaped'anastomosis procedure for Hirschsprung's disease provides a better therapeutic effect compared to classic procedures.

Comparison of safety,efficacy,and long-term follow-up between“one-step”and“step-up”approaches for infected pancreatic necrosis

BACKGROUND Although the“Step-up”strategy is the primary surgical treatment for infected pancreatic necrosis,it is not suitable for all such patients.The“One-step”strategy represents a novel treatment,but the safety,efficacy,and long-term follow-up have not yet been compared between these two approaches.AIM To compare the safety,efficacy,and long-term follow-up of two surgical approaches to provide a reference for infected pancreatic necrosis treatment.METHODS This was a retrospective analysis of infectious pancreatic necrosis patients who underwent“One-step”or“Step-up”necrosectomy at Xuan Wu Hospital,Capital Medical University,from May 2014 to December 2020.The primary outcome was the composite endpoint of severe complications or death.Patients were followed up every 6 mo after discharge until death or June 30,2021.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 21.0 and GraphPad Prism 8.0,and statistical significance was set at P<0.05.RESULTS One-hundred-and-fifty-eight patients were enrolled,of whom 61 patients underwent“One-step”necrosectomy and 97 patients underwent“Step-up”necrosectomy.During the long-term follow-up period,40 patients in the“Onestep”group and 63 patients in the“Step-up”group survived.The time from disease onset to hospital admission(53.69±38.14 vs 32.20±20.75,P<0.001)and to initial surgical treatment was longer in the“Step-up”than in the“One-step”group(54.38±10.46 vs 76.58±17.03,P<0.001).Patients who underwent“Step up”necrosectomy had a longer hospitalization duration(65.41±28.14 vs 52.76±24.71,P=0.02),and more interventions(4.26±1.71 vs 3.18±1.39,P<0.001).Postoperative inflammatory indicator levels were significantly lower than preoperative levels in each group.Although the incisional hernia incidence was higher in the“One-step”group,no significant difference was found in the composite outcomes of severe complications or death,new-onset organ failure,postoperative complications,inflammatory indicators,long-term complications,quality of life,and medical costs between the groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Compared with the“Step-up”approach,the“One-step”approach is a safe and effective treatment method with better long-term quality of life and prognosis.It also provides an alternative surgical treatment strategy for patients with infected pancreatic necrosis.

Long-term Follow-up Study on Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia Subtype and Its Relation to Expression of P53,Bcl-2 and PCNA

Objective： To investigate the correlation of typies of gastric intestinal metaplasia（IM）, expression of p53, bcl-2 and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen（PCNA）, with the lesion＇s evolution. Methods： A total of 80 patients with IM（53 male and 27 female, 35-64 years old） from an area with high-risk of gastric cancer（GC） in China were enrolled into this prospective study, including 28 cases of type Ⅰ （complete）, 25 cases of type Ⅱ （incomplete） , and 27 cases of type Ⅲ （incomplete）. Of the 80 cases, 62 cases including 19 cases of type Ⅰ, 22 type Ⅱ and 21 type Ⅲ, were followed up for 5-14 years（49 cases for 14 years, 6 for 10 years, and 7 for 5 years）. All of the 80 cases were studied immunohistochemically for the expression of p53, bcl-2 and PCNA. Results： The rate of p53-expressing cases was higher in type Ⅲ（25.9%） than in type Ⅰ（10.7%） and type Ⅱ （12.0%）, but without statistical significance（P=0.3070）. The positive rate of bcl-2 was obviously lower in type Ⅰ （21.4%） and type Ⅱ （24.0%） than in type Ⅲ（37.0%）, but not statistically significant（P=0.4223）. We observed difference in PCNA labelling index （LI） between type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ（P=0.0037）, and the difference was particularly significant in type Ⅰ as compared with type Ⅲ（P〈0.0001）. There was no statistical significance between type I and type II （P=0.0616）. Evolution into GC was detected in 0%, 4.5%, and 14.3% of type Ⅰ, type Ⅱ, and type Ⅲ IM cases, respectively. Progression to dysplasia was detected in 31.6%, 18.2%, and 14.3% of type Ⅰ, type Ⅱ, and type Ⅲ IM cases, respectively. Persistence of IM was documented in 31.6%, 45.5%, and 42.9% of type Ⅰ, type Ⅱ, and type Ⅲ IM cases, respectively. Regression of IM was documented in 36.8%, 31.8%, and 28.6% of type Ⅰ, type Ⅱ, and type ⅢIM cases, respectively. In progressive, persistent and regressive groups, the positive rates of p53 were 17.6%, 16.0% and 15.0%, bcl-2 were 29.4%, 36.0% and 25.0%, and PCNA LIs were 24.953±14.477, 23.752±12.934 and 25.105±10.055, respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups. Conclusion： The present follow-up study indicated that type Ⅲ had a higher risk for development of cancer than type Ⅰ or Ⅱ. PCNA LI was significantly higher in type Ⅲthan in type Ⅰ and Ⅱ, suggesting that cell proliferation in type Ⅲwas more active. Our data also indicated that the expression of p53 and bcl-2 had no apparent association with the particular type and the expression of p53, bcl-2 and PCNA had no apparent correlation with evolution of IM. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to verify present observation.

Long-term safety of laser in situ keratomileusis in eyes with thin corneas： 5-year follow-up

AIM： To investigate the long term（≥5 y） efficacy, predictability, and safety of laser in situ keratomileusis（LASIK） in eyes with thin corneas [central corneal thickness（CCT） 〈500 μm]. METHODS： A total of 339 patients met the criteria of this study. Finally, 175 eyes of 89 patients who had thin corneas and underwent LASIK≥5 y ago returned to our clinic and included in this study. Preoperative parameters recorded included uncorrected visual acuity（UCVA）, corrected distance visual acuity（CDVA）, manifest refraction, CCT and corneal topography. At returning visits, in addition to visual acuity and manifest refraction, ultrasound CCT and corneal topography were performed. Optical coherence tomography was used to measure the CCT, LASIK flap thickness, and residual stromal bed thickness（RSBT）. Safety index, efficacy index, percentage of eyes within ±0.5 D and ±1.0 D of refraction, percent tissue altered（PTA）, and percentage stromal bed thickness（PSBT） were calculated. RESULTS： The safety index was 1.09 and efficacy index was 0.99. The percentages of eyes within ±0.5 D and ±1.0 D were 71.2% and 87.7%, respectively. The mean PTA was 40%±6%（range 20% to 55%）; 76 eyes（43.4%） had PTA 〈40% and 99 eyes（56.6%） had PTA≥40%. The mean RSBT was 303±27 μm（range 240 to 390 μm）, and 2 eyes had RSBT〈250 μm. The mean PSBT was 61%±9%（range 51% to 85%）. No eyes developed ectasia. CONCLUSION： In this cohort with the PSBT of 50% or more, LASIK is safe with follow-up for at least 5 y.

Is long-term follow-up without surgical treatment a valid option for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis?

We read the article titled,“Long-term follow-up of liver alveolar echinococcosis using echinococcosis multilocularis ultrasound classification,”by Schuhbaur J with great interest.However,we found some worthwhile issues that we believe should be discussed with the authors,and have provided our comments in this letter.It would be valuable if the authors could provide further information about the clinical stages,follow-up time,and clinical outcomes of the patients.

Stent-assisted coiling of intracranial carotid ophthalmic segment aneurysm segment aneurysms:Long-term follow-up from a single center

Background:To evaluate the efficacy of stent-assisted coiling(SAC)for the treatment of carotid ophthalmic segment aneurysm segment aneurysms(OSAs)of the internal carotid artery(ICA)through detailed long-term follow-up of a large patient cohort.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 88 consecutive patients with OSAs between January 2009 and January 2020 at our center.Angiographic results were evaluated using the modified Raymond grading system and clinical outcomes were evaluated using the mRS scale.The primary endpoints were major aneurysm recurrence and poor clinical outcomes for at least 18 months of follow-up.The patients were asked to attend clinical follow-up assessments and possibly undergo DSA or MR via telephone.Results:We enrolled 88 patients with 99 OSAs treated with coiling,of whom 76 were treated with SAC.The coiling procedures were successful in all 88 patients.Overall,complications occurred in 8 patients(9.1%).No procedure-related mortality was observed.67(76.1%)experienced immediate aneurysm occlusion at the end of the procedure.Long-term angiographic follow-up(18 months)was available in 45/88 aneurysms(51%)(average 18.7±5.2 months).Four patients continued their follow-up for 5 years after initial aneurysm treatment.After a clinical follow-up time of 28.7 months(range,12-51 months),85 patients(95.5%)achieved favorable clinical outcomes(mRS scores of 0-2).Conclusions:This study indicates that SAC treatment is a safe and effective therapeutic alternative for ruptured and unruptured OSAs.The procedural risks are low with relatively long-term effectiveness.

Patient satisfaction and follow-up adherence to glaucoma case management clinic in China

AIM:To assess glaucoma patient satisfaction and follow-up adherence in case management and identify associated predictors to improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes.METHODS:In this cross-sectional study,a total of 119 patients completed a Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-18 and a sociodemographic questionnaire.Clinical data was obtained from the case management system.Follow-up adherence was defined as completing each follow-up within±30d of the scheduled time set by ophthalmologists during the study period.RESULTS:Average satisfaction scored 78.65±7,with an average of 4.39±0.58 across the seven dimensions.Age negatively correlated with satisfaction(P=0.008),whilst patients with follow-up duration of 2 or more years reported higher satisfaction(P=0.045).Multivariate logistics regression analysis revealed that longer follow-up durations were associated with lower follow-up adherence(OR=0.97,95%CI,0.95-1.00,P=0.044).Additionally,patients with suspected glaucoma(OR=2.72,95%CI,1.03-7.20,P=0.044)and those with an annual income over 100000 Chinese yuan demonstrated higher adherence(OR=5.57,95%CI,1.00-30.89,P=0.049).CONCLUSION:The case management model proves effective for glaucoma patients,with positive adherence rates.The implementation of this model can be optimized in the future based on the identified factors and extended to glaucoma patients in more hospitals.

Clinical manifestations,diagnosis and long-term prognosis of adult autoimmune enteropathy:Experience from Peking Union Medical College Hospital

BACKGROUND Autoimmune enteropathy(AIE)is a rare disease whose diagnosis and long-term prognosis remain challenging,especially for adult AIE patients.AIM To improve overall understanding of this disease’s diagnosis and prognosis.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the clinical,endoscopic and histopathological characteristics and prognoses of 16 adult AIE patients in our tertiary medical center between 2011 and 2023,whose diagnosis was based on the 2007 diagnostic criteria.RESULTS Diarrhea in AIE patients was characterized by secretory diarrhea.The common endoscopic manifestations were edema,villous blunting and mucosal hyperemia in the duodenum and ileum.Villous blunting(100%),deep crypt lymphocytic infiltration(67%),apoptotic bodies(50%),and mild intraepithelial lymphocytosis(69%)were observed in the duodenal biopsies.Moreover,there were other remarkable abnormalities,including reduced or absent goblet cells(duodenum 94%,ileum 62%),reduced or absent Paneth cells(duodenum 94%,ileum 69%)and neutrophil infiltration(duodenum 100%,ileum 69%).Our patients also fulfilled the 2018 diagnostic criteria but did not match the 2022 diagnostic criteria due to undetectable anti-enterocyte antibodies.All patients received glucocorticoid therapy as the initial medication,of which 14/16 patients achieved a clinical response in 5(IQR:3-20)days.Immunosuppressants were administered to 9 patients with indications of steroid dependence(6/9),steroid refractory status(2/9),or intensified maintenance medication(1/9).During the median of 20.5 months of followup,2 patients died from multiple organ failure,and 1 was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.The cumulative relapse-free survival rates were 62.5%,55.6%and 37.0%at 6 months,12 months and 48 months,respectively.CONCLUSION Certain histopathological findings,including a decrease or disappearance of goblet and Paneth cells in intestinal biopsies,might be potential diagnostic criteria for adult AIE.The long-term prognosis is still unsatisfactory despite corticosteroid and immunosuppressant medications,which highlights the need for early diagnosis and novel medications.

The natural course of bacillus Calmette-Guerin induced bladder lesions:A long-term follow-up study and systematic review

Objective:Bacillus Calmette-Gue´rin(BCG)instillation is the standard adjuvant treatment for intermediate-and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer after transurethral resection.Nevertheless,its toxicity often causes bladder complications.On follow-up cystoscopy,post-BCG bladder lesions can be pathologically benign,urothelial carcinoma recurrence,or other types of bladder malignancy.Only a small number of case reports have been published on post-BCG bladder lesions.Their clinical features,natural course,and management remain unknown.Methods:We retrospectively studied cystoscopic videos and medical records of BCG-treated bladder cancer patients at our center.During a long-term follow-up,we took biopsies on tumor-like lesions and described their changes.In addition,we summarized previous studies on post-BCG bladder lesions by systematic literature searching and review.Results:We described a series of three cases with post-BCG bladder lesions mimicking tumor recurrence from a total of 38 cases with follow-up data for more than 5 years.Those lesions could last,grow,or disappear spontaneously,and remain pathological benign for years.In systematic review,we identified and analyzed a total of 15 cases with post-BCG bladder lesions with detailed clinical information.Eleven of the 15 were benign and have a good prognosis with nephrogenic adenoma being the most common pathological type.Conclusion:Based on previous studies and our experience,benign lesions after BCG instillation cannot distinguish with cancer recurrence by cystoscopy alone,even under narrow band imaging mode.Nonetheless,given most of them have a good prognosis,random biopsy or transurethral resection might be spared in the patients with long-term negative biopsy and urine cytology.

Per-oral endoscopic myotomy is safe and effective for pediatric patients with achalasia:A long-term follow-up study

BACKGROUND Per-oral endoscopic myotomy(POEM)is emerging as a prefer treatment option for pediatric achalasia.However,data are limited on the long-term efficacy of POEM in children and adolescents with achalasia.AIM To evaluate the safety and long-term efficacy of POEM for pediatric patients with achalasia and compare those outcomes with adult patients.METHODS This retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients with achalasia who underwent POEM.Patients aged under 18 years were included in the pediatric group;patients aged between 18 to 65 years who underwent POEM in the same period were assigned to the control group.For investigation of long-term followup,the pediatric group were matched with patients from the control group in a 1:1 ratio.The procedure-related parameters,adverse events,clinical success,gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)after POEM,and quality of life(QoL)were evaluated.RESULTS From January 2012 to March 2020,POEM was performed in 1025 patients aged under 65 years old(48 in the pediatric group,1025 in the control group).No significant differences were observed in the occurrence of POEM complications between the two groups(14.6%vs 14.6%;P=0.99).Among the 34 pediatric patients(70.8%)who underwent follow-up for 5.7 years(range 2.6-10.6 years),clinical success was achieved in 35 patients(35/36;97.2%).No differences were observed in post-POEM GERD occurrence(17.6%vs 35.3%;P=0.10).QoL was significantly improved in both groups after POEM.CONCLUSION POEM is safe and effective for pediatric patients with achalasia.It can achieve significant symptoms relief and improve QoL.

Melanosis of the vulva: A long-term follow-up from Brisbane, Australia

Object: To determine if vulvar melanosis progressed to melanoma over a period of 20 years or more. Methods: In 2010 the hospital records from the Royal Brisbane Hospital Vulvar Clinic between 1976 and 1988 were reviewed and cross checked with the state wide Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer (QCGC) data base to determine if any patient had been lost to follow up and subsequently developed a vulvar melanoma. Data collected were stored and analysed using the computer software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 11.0. Results: None of the 12 patients developed vulval melanoma in the years up to 2010. Conclusion: In this small group, followed for more than 20 years, melanosis was not a precursor of melanoma. One patient, who attended the Vulvar Clinic but was not included in this melanosis study, was found to have co-existing melanosis well away from her melanoma in situ and malignant melanoma at presentation. It was not possible to determine if these findings represented a progression of the benign to malignant. Biopsy of abnormal hyper pigmented vulvar skin is recommended. Current knowledge suggests that vulvar melanosis is a benign condition but to be on the safe side follow up of all hyper pigmented vulval lesions to detect early malignant change is recommended.

Long-term outcomes after endoscopic removal of malignant colorectal polyps:Results from a 10-year cohort

BACKGROUND Choosing an optimal post-polypectomy management strategy of malignant colorectal polyps is challenging,and evidence regarding a surveillance-only strategy is limited.AIM To evaluate long-term outcomes after endoscopic removal of malignant colorectal polyps.METHODS A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate outcomes after endoscopic removal of malignant colorectal polyps between 2010 and 2020.Residual disease rate and nodal metastases after secondary surgery and local and distant recurrence rate for those with at least 1 year of follow-up were invest-igated.Event rates for categorical variables and means for continuous variables with 95%confidence intervals were calculated,and Fisher’s exact test and Mann-Whitney test were performed.Potential risk factors of adverse outcomes were RESULTS In total,135 lesions(mean size:22.1 mm;location:42%rectal)from 129 patients(mean age:67.7 years;56%male)were enrolled.The proportion of pedunculated and non-pedunculated lesions was similar,with en bloc resection in 82%and 47%of lesions,respectively.Tumor differentiation,distance from resection margins,depth of submucosal invasion,lymphovascular invasion,and budding were reported at 89.6%,45.2%,58.5%,31.9%,and 25.2%,respectively.Residual tumor was found in 10 patients,and nodal metastasis was found in 4 of 41 patients who underwent secondary surgical resection.Univariate analysis identified piecemeal resection as a risk factor for residual malignancy(odds ratio:1.74;P=0.042).At least 1 year of follow-up was available for 117 lesions from 111 patients(mean follow-up period:5.59 years).Overall,54%,30%,30%,11%,and 16%of patients presented at the 1-year,3-year,5-year,7-year,and 9-10-year surveillance examinations.Adverse outcomes occurred in 9.0%(local recurrence and dissemination in 4 patients and 9 patients,respectively),with no difference between patients undergoing secondary surgery and surveillance only.CONCLUSION Reporting of histological features and adherence to surveillance colonoscopy needs improvement.Long-term adverse outcome rates might be higher than previously reported,irrespective of whether secondary surgery was performed.

Isolated mitral valve replacement with Guangdong-Ⅰ porcine bioprostheses in rheumatic heart valve disease: analysis of 166 cases with long-term follow-up

Objective To study the long-term effects of mitral valve replacement with bioprostheses in rheumatic heart valve disease. Methods 166 patients with rheumatic heart valve disease underwent isolated mitral valve replacement from Jan. 1978 to Dec. 1985. 79 Patients were male and 87 female. Patients’ age ranged from 11 to 53 years [mean (29.4 ± 9.9) years]. The patients were classified into two groups: group 1 (age【 30 years) included 84 patients, group 2 (age≥30 years) 82 cases. Mean CTR is 0.68 *0.08. Most patients were in NYHA function class Ⅲ-Ⅳ. 76. 3% of patients had atrial fibrillation. 6 patients had pre-operative cerebral vascular accidents. Postoperative deaths were excluded. Follow-up extended from 0.4 year to 19.4 years. Results Actuarial estimate of survival rate at 14 years is (52.5 ± 7.0)%. Heart function was improved to class Ⅰ - Ⅱ in most of patients. Late structural valve deterioration occurred in 89 patients. Among them, 59 were re-operated. Actuarial estimate of freedom from

Pseudoaneurysm formation following transarterial embolization of traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula with detachable balloon:An institutional cohort long-term study

BACKGROUND The goal of therapy for traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula(TCCF)is the elimination of fistula while maintaining patency of the parent artery.The treatment for TCCF has evolved from surgery to endovascular management using detachable balloons,coils,liquid embolic agents,covered stents,or flow-diverter stent through arterial or venous approaches.Despite the withdrawal of detachable balloons from the market in the United States since 2004,transarterial embolization with detachable balloons has currently remained the best initial treatment for TCCF in several countries.However,the pseudoaneurysm formation following transarterial detachable balloon embolization has rarely been observed in long-term follow-up.AIM To determine the occurrence and long-term follow-up of pseudoaneurysm after transarterial detachable balloon for TCCF.METHODS Between January 2009 and December 2019,79 patients diagnosed with TCCF were treated using detachable latex balloons(GOLDBAL)of four sizes.Pseudoaneurysm sizes were stratified into five grades for analysis.Initial and follow-up assessments involved computed tomography angiography at 1 month,6 month,1 year,and longer intervals for significant cases.Clinical follow-ups occurred semi-annually for 2 years,then annually.Factors analyzed included sex,age,fistula size and location,and balloon size.RESULTS In our cohort of 79 patients treated for TCCF,pseudoaneurysms formed in 67.1%,with classifications ranging from grade 0 to grade 3;no grade 4 or giant pseudoaneurysms were observed.The majority of pseudoaneurysms did not progress in size,and some regressed spontaneously.Calcifications developed in most large pseudoaneurysms over 5-10 years.Parent artery occlusion occurred in 7.6%and recurrent fistulas in 16.5%.The primary risk factors for pseudoaneurysm formation were identified as the use of specific balloon sizes,with balloon SP and No.6 significantly associated with its occurrence(P=0.005 and P=0.002,respectively),whereas sex,age,fistula size,location,and the number of balloons used were not significant predictors.CONCLUSION Pseudoaneurysm formation following detachable balloon embolization for TCCF is common,primarily influenced by the size of the balloon used.Despite this,all patients with pseudoaneurysms remained asymptomatic during long-term follow-up.

Loss to Specialized Cardiology Follow-Up in Adults Living with Congenital Heart Disease

Background:Much has been written about the loss to follow-up in the transition between pediatric and adult Congenital Heart Disease(CHD)care centers.Much less is understood about the loss to follow-up(LTF)after a successful transition.This is critical too,as patients lost to specialised care are more likely to experience mor-bidity and premature mortality.Aims:To understand the prevalence and reasons for loss to follow-up(LTF)at a large Australian Adult Congenital Heart Disease(ACHD)centre.Methods:Patients with moderate or highly complex CHD and gaps in care of>3 years(defined as LTF)were identified from a comprehensive ACHD data-base.Structured telephone interviews examined current care and barriers to clinic attendance.Results:Overall,407(22%)of ACHD patients(n=1842)were LTF.The mean age at LTF was 31(SD 11.5)years and 54%were male;311(76%)were uncontactable.Compared to adults seen regularly,lost patients were younger,with a greater socio-economic disadvantage,and had less complex CHD(p<0.05 for all).We interviewed 59 patients(14%).The top 3 responses for care absences were“feeling well”(61%),losing track of time(36%),and not needing fol-low-up care(25%).Conclusions:A large proportion of the ACHD population becomes lost to specialised cardiac care,even after a successful transition.This Australian study reports younger age,moderate complexity defects,and socio-economic disadvantage as predictive of loss to follow-up.This study highlights the need for novel approaches to patient-centered service delivery even beyond the age of transition and resources to maintain patient engagement within the ACHD service.

Subtalar Dislocation:Long-Term Follow-Up and CT-Morphology

Introduction: Although rare, subtalar dislocations are severe injuries with long-term alterations such as clinical dysfunction or painful posttraumatic arthritis. The objective of this study was to investigate long-term morphological changes of subtalar dislocations and to correlate them to clinical function. Based on the conclusions, suggestions for therapy guidelines were made in order to improve the functional outcome. Methods: Twenty-two patients (12 with a medial, 9 with a lateral and 1 with an anterior dislocation) were re-examined with an average follow-up time of 10 years. Radiological results of a computer tomography examination of the hindfoot were related to the clinical outcome, and both were discussed in the context of further parameters, such as additional injuries, time until reduction, and post-reduction treatment. Results: Additional injuries were found to affect the clinical outcome and/or the radiological changes. Predictive factors for limited range of motion were severe skin trauma and traumatic brain injuries. Factors that predicted both poor clinical function and clear signs of arthritis included complex talus, ankle and calcaneus fractures, long time until reduction, and infection. Conclusions: In many cases, radiological results can be correlated to clinical outcomes. However, the modulating effects of additional injuries should be considered when planning therapy. In cases with additional fractures of the talus and the calcaneus, suffering pain may be reduced by an early arthrodesis of the talo-cal-canear joint. In cases involving a long stay on an intensive care unit, early functional treatment by passive motion should be discussed in special cases to improve the clinical outcome.

Essential role of postoperative follow-up in the management of clear cell sarcoma

Clear cell sarcoma(CCS)is a rare melanocytic soft tissue sarcoma known for itspropensity to metastasize to the lymph nodes and typically has an unfavorableprognosis.Currently,surgical resection is the primary treatment for localizedCCS,while radiotherapy and chemotherapy are preferred for metastatic cases.The roles of adjuvant chemotherapy,radiotherapy,and lymph node dissection arecontroversial.Although immunotherapy has emerged as a promising avenue inCCS treatment research,there are no established clinical standards for postoperativefollow-up.This editorial discusses a recent article by Liu et al,with afocus on current diagnostic modalities,treatment approaches,and the challengingprognosis associated with CCS.Our aim is to underscore the importance of longtermpatient follow-up in CCS management.

Tailoring Iron-Ion Release of Cellulose-Based Aerogel-Coated Iron Foam for Long-Term High-Power Microbial Fuel Cells

The presence of iron(Fe) has been found to favor power generation in microbial fuel cells(MFCs). To achieve long-term power production in MFCs, it is crucial to effectively tailor the release of Fe ions over extended operating periods. In this study, we developed a composite anode(A/IF) by coating iron foam with cellulose-based aerogel. The concentration of Fe ions in the anode solution of A/IF anode reaches 0.280 μg/mL(Fe^(2+) vs. Fe^(3+) = 61%:39%) after 720 h of aseptic primary cell operation. This value was significantly higher than that(0.198 μg/mL, Fe^(2+) vs. Fe^(3+) = 92%:8%) on uncoated iron foam(IF), indicating a continuous release of Fe ions over long-term operation. Notably, the resulting MFCs hybrid cell exhibited a 23% reduction in Fe ion concentration(compared to a 47% reduction for the IF anode) during the sixth testing cycle(600-720 h). It achieved a high-power density of 301 ± 55 mW/m^(2) at 720 h, which was 2.62 times higher than that of the IF anode during the same period. Furthermore, a sedimentary microbial fuel cell(SMFCs) was constructed in a marine environment, and the A/IF anode demonstrated a power density of 103 ± 3 mW/m^(2) at 3240 h, representing a 75% improvement over the IF anode. These findings elucidate the significant enhancement in long-term power production performance of MFCs achieved through effective tailoring of Fe ions release during operation.