Gastric mesenchymal tumors are a pathology that is increasing in incidence in recent years but the treatment is not yet standardized. The laparoscopic approach to these lesions is a modern option, with the patient benefiting from the advantages of minimally invasive surgery. Methods: We included in the study 4 patients operated laparoscopically for suspicion of gastric GISTs between Mars 2019 and May 2022. From a prospectively kept database, we extracted the following characteristics: age, sex, length of postoperative hospital admission, operation time, tumor location, tumor size, histopathological assessment of resection margins, intraoperative blood loss, and incidence of postoperative complications. Results: Average tumor size was 4.3 cm, ranging from 4 to 6 cm. Laparoscopic wedge resection was possible in all cases. There was no conversion, no episode of tumor rupture or spillage, and no major intraoperative complications. Histology confirmed a GIST in 3 of 4 cases. In one case histological workup showed gastric schwannoma. Conclusion: Laparoscopic wedge resection for gastric stromal tumors, even larger than 5 cm, appears to be safe and feasible in selected patients, with acceptable operative time and oncological outcome after an intermediate follow-up. More important than the size of tumors that are approached laparoscopically is their location and the possibility of a stenosis-free resection.
Total hip replacement surgery (THR) is one of the most common surgeries performed in modern orthopedics, and in most cases offers a significant improvement in the quality of the patient's life. However, after some time, wear and osteolysis do appear, which leads to the need for revision surgery. With the indication being widened to a more young and active population, the need for extending the lifespan of the prosthesis is mandatory. Although several bearing surfaces have been studied over the years, and a lot of couplings are in use, the choice of the right combination of materials is still controversial. Biotribology tries to answer some of the current questions regarding the best bearing surface to use, being the branch of science and technology that studies friction, wear, and lubrication of different materials in the human body. In the present day, a large number of materials are in use for total hip replacement, but choosing the right combination of materials is still controversial, and is being done on one hand by the surgeon’s experience and on the other hand by the age and activity of the patient. The objective of this review is to try to present the main advantages and disadvantages of different materials and try to answer the most difficult question of them all: What is the right material to use for THR-bearing surfaces?
Low levels of vitamin D in patients with osteoarthritis (ΟΑ) rather adversely affect the structure and function of articular cartilage. Low levels of vitamin D are also associated with joint pain, limited physical activity, quality of life, as well as decreased muscle strength, primarily in the lower extremities with adverse OA progression. A high percentage of low vitamin D levels was found in patients with OA and joint arthroplasty as well as a less satisfactory postoperative follow-up in patients with low vitamin D levels. The administration of vitamin D supplementation in patients with knee osteoarthritis has been associated with improved articular cartilage architecture, and reduced joint pain, combined with improved functionality and quality of life in patients with OA.
Melanoma is one of the most common types of malignancy in the world, and one known to carry a very poor prognosis until recent years. This review aims to outline the events in the history of the disease and the impact made by the discoveries along the way, as well as the modern-day consensus by referencing the updated literature regarding the present approach and future directions. In the last two decades, several studies and research have brought significant improvement in the diagnosis and clinical management of melanomas. The development of sentinel lymph node biopsy has brought major changes to the surgical approach to the disease, and modern therapies based on recently developed knowledge changed the death sentence this diagnosis once meant to a manageable condition despite its aggressiveness, keeping in mind that early diagnosis and safe margin excision remain the best and most optimistic course of treatment.
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition with genetic determinism characterized by the presence of well- defined, erythematous plaques, covered by white, pearly, stratified scales, located on the extension areas, the skin of the scalp, intertriginous regions. The origin of psoriasis is multifactorial, involving hereditary and environmental pathogenic mechanisms. It is triggered by various risk factors involving a variety of processes, such as inflammation, antigen presentation, cell signaling, and transcriptional regulation.
