Preoperative Parathyroid Needle Localization: A Minimally Invasive Novel Technique in Reoperative Settings

Background. Reoperative parathyroid surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism can be challenging. Numerous preoperative localization techniques have been employed to facilitate a more focused surgical exploration. This paper describes a novel, minimally invasive, and highly successful method of parathyroid localization. Methods. Patients with recurrent or persistent primary hyperparathyroidism underwent parathyroidectomy following CT scan or ultrasound-guided wire localization of the parathyroid. Accurate placement was confirmed by fine-needle aspiration with immunocytochemistry or PTH washout. The guide wire was left in situ to guide surgical excision of the gland. Curative resection was established by monitoring intact serum PTH levels after excision of the adenoma. Results. All ten patients underwent successful redo-targeted parathyroidectomy. Nine of the ten patients were discharged on the day of surgery. One patient was observed overnight due to transient postoperative hypocalcemia, which resolved with calcium supplementation. Conclusion. Placement of a localization wire via preoperative high-resolution ultrasound or CT can expedite reoperative parathyroid surgery. It allows identification of parathyroid adenoma via a minimally invasive approach, especially in cases where a sestamibi scan is inconclusive

Minimally Invasive Video-Assisted Thyroidectomy and Parathyroidectomy with Intraoperative Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Monitoring

Objective. Our goal is to study the feasibility of using intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) in minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy (MIVAT/P) with emphasis given to the identification of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). Methods. Consecutive series of forty-seven patients with seventy-seven recurrent laryngeal nerves at risk undergoing both MIVAT/P and IONM were enrolled in this retrospective, nonrandomized analysis study. All operations were performed by the same surgeon within an academic institution setting. All patients underwent vocal cord evaluation postoperatively. Demographics and intraoperative and postoperative complications following surgery were collected. Results. Out of seventy-seven RLNs, there was one permanent unilateral RLN injury (1.29%) in a patient with advanced papillary thyroid cancer, managed by cord injection. There was another transient RLN paresis that resolved spontaneously (1.29%). There were no instances of equipment malfunction or interference. Conclusions. To our knowledge, this is the first reported MIVAT/P series from the United States of America with a standardized IONM technique. The technical feasibility of IONM seems acceptable and may serve as a meaningful adjunct to the visual identification of nerves. Neuromonitoring during MIVAT/P is effective in providing identification of laryngeal nerves and enables surgeons to feel more comfortable with MIVAT/P. Comparative series are needed for further evaluation

Transoral robotic-assisted thyroidectomy with central neck dissection: preclinical cadaver feasibility study and proposed surgical technique

Recently, a transoral robotic-assisted technique to access the thyroid gland has been introduced. Despite the advantages this approach may have over other minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques, we found that the placement of the camera through the floor of mouth led to restricted freedom of movement. We describe our modification to this technique to overcome this problem. In a study using two fresh human cadavers, the camera port of the da Vinci robot was placed in the midline oral vestibule instead of the floor of the mouth. A transoral thyroidectomy and central neck dissection was successfully performed. Our modification led to an unfettered view of the central neck and allowed for a total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection. Our modification of transoral robotic-assisted thyroidectomy provides superior access to the central compartment of the neck over other robotic-assisted thyroidectomy techniques

Black Thyroid Associated with Thyroid Carcinoma

Objective. Black thyroid is a rare pigmented change seen almost exclusively in patients upon minocycline ingestion, and the process has previously been thought to be generally benign. There have been 61 reported cases of black thyroid. We are aware of 13 cases previously reported in association with thyroid carcinoma. This paper reports six patients with black thyroid pigmentation in association with thyroid carcinoma. Design. The medical records of six patients who were diagnosed with black thyroid syndrome, all of whom underwent thyroid surgery, were reviewed. Data on age, gender, race, preoperative fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA), thyroid function levels, and pathology reports were collected. Main Outcome. The mean age was 60 years. There were 5 females, 4 of whom were African American. All patients were clinically and biochemically euthyroid. Black pigmentation was not diagnosed in preoperative FNA, and only one patient had a preoperative diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma. The other patients underwent surgery and were found to have black pigmentation of the thyroid associated with carcinoma. Conclusions. FNA does not diagnose black thyroid, which is associated with thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid glands with black pigmentation deserve thorough pathologic examination, including several sections of each specimen

Epidemiological aspects of some equine viral diseases

Although different equine viruses’ outbreaks have been recorded. However, the most important ones in are the African horse sickness virus (AHSV), equine influenza virus (EIV), equine viral arteritis (EVA), Equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV), and equine herpes viruses (EHV). To combat these diseases, it is imperative to understand their epidemiological aspects. So, the current review aims to highlight some epidemiological aspects including; causative agents, clinical forms, history, prevalence and geographical distribution, source of infection, and methods of transmission. The AHSV mainly causes pulmonary, and cardiac forms with high morbidity and mortality rates in Africa. The EIV is found all over the world and results in respiratory signs. The EVA has low morbidity and mortality rates and is mainly found in the Americas and Europe, its significance is due to the reproductive problems as abortion in mares and subfertility in stallions. The EIAV has low morbidity and mortality rates and causes long time course disease mainly of fever, and chronic anaemia or death. The EHVs are the current most important pathogens due to their endemicity all over the world and their high morbidity. It causes respiratory, abortion, neonatal, and sometimes neurological manifestations. Aerosols and body excretions are the main sources of infection with EIV, EVA, and EHV. Venereal EVA transmission occurs through natural breeding or artificial insemination with the semen of infected or carrier stallions. The spreading of arboviruses is greatly affected by the vector activity like the AHSV which transmitted by the the Culicoide. imicola biting midges, and the EIAV by family Tabanidae. In general, it is recommended to take all epidemiological measures, including vaccinations and vector control, to limit the spread of such diseases and reduce economic losses

New Insights into the Link between Melanoma and Thyroid Cancer: Role of Nucleocytoplasmic Trafficking

Cancer remains a major public health concern, mainly because of the incompletely under�stood dynamics of molecular mechanisms for progression and resistance to treatments. The link between melanoma and thyroid cancer (TC) has been noted in numerous patients. Nucleocytoplas�mic transport of oncogenes and tumor suppressor proteins is a common mechanism in melanoma and TC that promotes tumorigenesis and tumor aggressiveness. However, this mechanism remains poorly understood. Papillary TC (PTC) patients have a 1.8-fold higher risk for developing cuta�neous malignant melanoma than healthy patients. Our group and others showed that patients with melanoma have a 2.15 to 2.3-fold increased risk of being diagnosed with PTC. The BRAF V600E mutation has been reported as a biological marker for aggressiveness and a potential genetic link between malignant melanoma and TC. The main mechanistic factor in the connection between these two cancer types is the alteration of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway activation and translocation. The mechanisms of nucleocytoplasmic trafficking associated with RAS, RAF, and Wnt signaling pathways in melanoma and TC are reviewed. In addition, we discuss the roles of tumor suppressor proteins such as p53, p27, forkhead O transcription factors (FOXO), and NF-KB within the nuclear and cytoplasmic cellular compartments and their association with tumor aggressiveness. A meticulous English-language literature analysis was performed using the PubMed Central database. Search parameters included articles published up to 2021 with keyword search terms melanoma and thyroid cancer, BRAF mutation, and nucleocytoplasmic transport in cancer

Contact osteogenesis by biodegradable 3D-printed poly(lactide-co-trimethylene carbonate)

Background To support bone regeneration, 3D-printed templates function as temporary guides. The preferred materials are synthetic polymers, due to their ease of processing and biological inertness. Poly(lactide-co-trimethylene carbonate) (PLATMC) has good biological compatibility and currently used in soft tissue regeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the osteoconductivity of 3D-printed PLATMC templates for bone tissue engineering, in comparison with the widely used 3D-printed polycaprolactone (PCL) templates. Methods The printability and physical properties of 3D-printed templates were assessed, including wettability, tensile properties and the degradation profile. Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) were used to evaluate osteoconductivity and extracellular matrix secretion in vitro. In addition, 3D-printed templates were implanted in subcutaneous and calvarial bone defect models in rabbits. Results Compared to PCL, PLATMC exhibited greater wettability, strength, degradation, and promoted osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs, with superior osteoconductivity. However, the higher ALP activity disclosed by PCL group at 7 and 21 days did not dictate better osteoconductivity. This was confirmed in vivo in the calvarial defect model, where PCL disclosed distant osteogenesis, while PLATMC disclosed greater areas of new bone and obvious contact osteogenesis on surface. Conclusions This study shows for the first time the contact osteogenesis formed on a degradable synthetic co-polymer. 3D-printed PLATMC templates disclosed unique contact osteogenesis and significant higher amount of new bone regeneration, thus could be used to advantage in bone tissue engineering.publishedVersio