Interdisciplinary and regional cooperation towards Head and Neck Cancer Interventional Radiotherapy (Brachytherapy) implementation in Southeast Asia

@#We review the evolution of Brachytherapy to interventional radiotherapy and its current and potential roles in HNC management, and the requirements and challenges towards its effective and sustainable implementation in SEA.

Oral Pyogenic Granuloma: A Narrative Review.

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a benign vascular lesion found predominantly in the oral cavity. Characterized by rapid growth and propensity to bleed, PG presents diagnostic challenges due to its similarity and alarming proliferation. This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on the epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and management of oral PG, with emphasis on recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The epidemiology of the injury is meticulously analyzed, revealing a higher incidence in women and a wide range of ages of onset. It delves into the etiopathogenesis, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the exact causal factors, although historical attributions suggest an infectious origin. It exhaustively analyzes the clinical and histopathological aspects of oral PG, offering information on its various presentations and the importance of an accurate diagnosis to guide effective treatment. It details treatment strategies, emphasizing the personalized approach based on individual patient characteristics. This comprehensive review consolidates current knowledge on oral PG, highlighting the need for further research to clarify its pathogenesis and optimize treatment protocols.

Oral Antiseptics against SARS-CoV-2: A Literature Review.

Dentists are health care workers with the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19, because the oral cavity is considered to be a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The identification of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva, the generation of aerosols, and the proximity to patients during dental procedures are conditions that have led to these health care workers implementing additional disinfection strategies for their protection. Oral antiseptics are widely used chemical substances due to their ability to reduce the number of microorganisms. Although there is still no evidence that they can prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, some preoperative oral antiseptics have been recommended as control measures, by different health institutions worldwide, to reduce the number of microorganisms in aerosols and droplets during dental procedures. Therefore, this review presents the current recommendations for the use of oral antiseptics against SARS-CoV-2 and analyzes the different oral antiseptic options used in dentistry.

Effect of 17ß-Estradiol, Progesterone, and Tamoxifen on Neurons Infected with Toxoplasma gondii In Vitro.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is the causal agent of toxoplasmosis, which produces damage in the central nervous system (CNS). Toxoplasma-CNS interaction is critical for the development of disease symptoms. T. gondii can form cysts in the CNS; however, neurons are more resistant to this infection than astrocytes. The probable mechanism for neuron resistance is a permanent state of neurons in the interface, avoiding the replication of intracellular parasites. Steroids regulate the formation of Toxoplasma cysts in mice brains. 17ß-estradiol and progesterone also participate in the control of Toxoplasma infection in glial cells in vitro. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 17ß-estradiol, progesterone, and their specific agonists-antagonists on Toxoplasma infection in neurons in vitro. Neurons cultured were pretreated for 48 h with 17ß-estradiol or progesterone at 10, 20, 40, 80, or 160 nM/mL or tamoxifen 1 µM/mL plus 17ß-estradiol at 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 nM/mL. In other conditions, the neurons were pretreated during 48 h with 4,4',4″-(4-propyl-[1H] pyrozole-1,3,5-triyl) trisphenol or 23-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionitrile at 1 nM/mL, and mifepristone 1 µM/mL plus progesterone at 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 nM/mL. Neurons were infected with 5000 tachyzoites of the T. gondii strain RH. The effect of 17ß estradiol, progesterone, their agonists, or antagonists on Toxoplasma infection in neurons was evaluated at 24 and 48 h by immunocytochemistry. T. gondii replication was measured with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction assay. 17ß-Estradiol alone or plus tamoxifen reduced infected neurons (50%) compared to the control at 48 h. Progesterone plus estradiol decreased the number of intracellular parasites at 48 h of treatment compared to the control (p < 0.001). 4,4',4″-(4-propyl-[1H] pyrozole-1,3,5-triyl) trisphenol and 23-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionitrile reduced infected neurons at 48 h of treatment significantly compared to the control (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). The Toxoplasma infection process was decreased by the effect of 17ß-estradiol alone or combined with tamoxifen or progesterone in neurons in vitro. These results suggest the essential participation of progesterone and estradiol and their classical receptors in the regulation of T. gondii neuron infection.

Quiste de colédoco Todani IVa. Reporte de caso y revision de la literatura / Choledochal Cyst Todani Iva. Case Report and Literature Review

Resumen: Las dilataciones biliares son malformaciones congénitas raras que pueden involucrar la totalidad de la vía biliar, más comunes durante la primera década de la vida. La mayoría de los casos se presentan con dolor abdominal crónico localizado en cuadrante superior derecho e ictericia. La alta sospecha clínica acompañada de estudios de imagen son indispensables para el diagnóstico. El tratamiento ha evolucionado hasta que en la actualidad la resección completa de los quistes se ha convertido en el manejo de elección, ya que presenta buena respuesta, aunque sin quedar exentos de complicaciones a largo plazo. Presentamos el caso de un paciente del sexo masculino, de 27 años de edad, con historia de dolor abdominal epigástrico de 3 meses de evolución, diagnosticado como quiste de colédoco Todani IVa por resonancia magnética. Se realizó manejo quirúrgico abierto con resección total del quiste y derivación biliodigestiva en Y de Roux sin complicaciones. Fue egresado a los 7 días postoperatorios sin eventualidades. Se realizó revisión de la literatura enfocada en el abordaje y manejo quirúrgico de casos similares.

Abstract: Biliary tree dilations are unusual congenital malformations that may involve the entire bile circulation and they are common during the first life decade. Most cases initiate with jaundice and chronic abdominal pain which localizes in right upper quadrant. High clinical suspicion accompanied by imaging studies are essential for diagnosis. Treatment has evolved until today complete cyst resection has become the treatment of choice, since it presents a good response, although without being free from long-term complications. We present the case of a 27-year-old male patient with a history of 3 months onset epigastric abdominal pain diagnosed as Todani IVa common bile duct choledochal cyst by magnetic resonance imaging. Open surgical management was performed with total resection of the cyst and biliodigestive Roux-en-Y diversion without any complications. He was discharged 7 days post-op. A review of the literature focused on the surgical approach and management of similar cases was carried out.

Carcinoma papilar difuso de tiroides: microcalcificaciones fuera del nódulo tiroideo / Diffuse Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Microcalcifications Outside the Thyroid Node

Resumen: Introducción: La incidencia de cáncer papilar de tiroides (PTC) ha aumentado de 1975 a 2015. Basados en criterios publicados, el ultrasonido (US) es muy efectivo para predecir el riesgo de malignidad. Todos estos criterios se enfocan en los nódulos tiroideos; sin embargo, 2% de los casos se pueden presentar como focos ecogénicos difusos sin un nódulo identificable. Caso: Mujer de 17 años con historia de 3 meses con una masa palpable en la región anterior derecha del cuello, sin otros síntomas. El US de cuello revela múltiples focos ecogénicos de distribución difusa en el parénquima tiroideo con un nódulo de 6 mm TI-RADS 5 en el lóbulo izquierdo y ganglio linfáticos con componentes sólidos y quísticos, pérdida del hilio graso y con puntos ecogénicos. Se le realizó tiroidectomía total con linfadenectomía bilateral. Discusión: Las microcalcificaciones son muy sugestivas de CPT. Los ecos puntiformes se correlacionan en patología con una forma de calcificación distrófica llamada cuerpos de Psammoma, los cuales se depositan en tejido no viable. La tiroiditis crónica también puede presentar calcificaciones distróficas. Por lo tanto, un parénquima tiroideo normal con presencia de microcalcificaciones, obliga a realizar una biopsia con aguja fina para descartar CPT. Estudios recientes sugieren que la lobectomía es una opción viable y debe ser la primera elección en CPT localizado (< 2 cm). Sin embargo, esto no se debe realizar en estos pacientes, ya que la presencia de microcalcificaciones difusas nos indica un tamaño del tumor mucho mayor y resultaría en un pronóstico desfavorable. Conclusión: Las microcalcificaciones difusas deben obligar al radiólogo a sospechar la variedad difusa del CPT como primera sospecha diagnóstica.

Abstract: Introduction: The incidence of thyroid papillary cancer (PTC) has increased from 1975 to 2015. Ultrasound is effective for predicting thyroid malignancy based on published criteria. All of these criteria focus on thyroid nodules but also 2% of the cases may appear as diffuse punctuate echogenic foci without an identifiable nodule. Case: A 17-year-old female with a 3-month history of a palpable mass on the right anterior side of the neck without any further symptoms. Neck ultrasound revealed multiple punctuate echogenic foci scattered along the thyroid parenchyma with a 6 mm nodule TI-RADS 5 on the left lobe, lymph nodes with cystic and solid components, loss of echogenic hilum and punctuate echogenic foci. The patient underwent a total thyroidectomy with bilateral lymphadenectomy. The pathology report revealed diffuse distribution of papillary cancer with a nodule on the left lobe and metastatic disease on the lymph nodes. Discussion: Microcalcifications are highly suggestive of PTC. Punctuate echogenic foci correlate in pathology with a form of dystrophic calcifications, called Psammoma bodies, which are deposited in nonviable tissue. Chronic thyroiditis may also present dystrophic calcifications. Thus, a normal thyroid parenchyma with microcalcifications should encourage the radiologist to perform a fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Recent studies suggest that lobectomy is a viable option and should be pursued in the setting of localized PTC (<2 cm). A lobectomy should not be performed in patients with diffuse microcalcifications since it would result in an unfavorable outcome. Conclusions: Diffuse microcalcifications should immediately make the radiologist suspect diffuse PTC as a first diagnostic option.

Does Toxoplasma gondii infection impact liver transplantation outcomes? A systematic review.

PURPOSE: Approximately one-third of the world's population has Toxoplasma gondii infection, and one of the main routes of transmission is organ transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Toxoplasma infection on liver transplantation patients. METHODOLOGY: We searched PubMed, Lilacs, Medline, Science direct, Scielo, Ebsco, Springer, Wiley, Ovid and Google Scholar for reports published up to June 2017, and a systematic review was performed. RESULTS: Twenty cases were analysed before and after liver transplantation. Primary and reactivated infections were investigated. Before transplantation, positive IgG antibodies were the predominant serological markers in donors and recipients: 40 % (D+/R-), 20 % (D+/R+) and 20 % (D-/R+). IgM was present in only 5 % of the donors (D+/R-). In four cases, the serological markers were not specified or were negative (D?/R? or D?/R-). After transplantation, IgM anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were found in 30 % of the recipients, and in 67 % of the seronegative recipients the presence of Toxoplasma DNA or tachyzoites was reported, suggesting a primary infection. Clinical symptoms were meningitis, massive cerebral oedema, encephalitis and seizures. Treatment was administered in 70 % of the patients, and 40 % died after presenting symptoms associated with Toxoplasma infection. CONCLUSIONS: Although we review Toxoplasma infection and liver transplantation cases, problems associated with the parasite may be greater than identified. Hence, follow-up studies on Toxoplasma infection in liver transplantation patients are recommended.

Systematic Review of Quality of Patient Information on Liposuction in the Internet.

BACKGROUND: A large number of patients who are interested in esthetic surgery actively search the Internet, which represents nowadays the first source of information. However, the quality of information available in the Internet on liposuction is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of patient information on liposuction available in the Internet. METHODS: The quantitative and qualitative assessment of Web sites was based on a modified Ensuring Quality Information for Patients tool (36 items). Five hundred Web sites were identified by the most popular web search engines. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-five Web sites were assessed after duplicates and irrelevant sources were excluded. Only 72 (29%) Web sites addressed >16 items, and scores tended to be higher for professional societies, portals, patient groups, health departments, and academic centers than for Web sites developed by physicians, respectively. The Ensuring Quality Information for Patients score achieved by Web sites ranged between 8 and 29 of total 36 points, with a median value of 16 points (interquartile range, 14-18). The top 10 Web sites with the highest scores were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of patient information on liposuction available in the Internet is poor, and existing Web sites show substantial shortcomings. There is an urgent need for improvement in offering superior quality information on liposuction for patients intending to undergo this procedure.

Quality of information for women seeking breast augmentation in the Internet.

Background Recently published data show that many women interested in breast augmentation (BA) actively search the Internet for information. The Internet is currently the main source of information on this topic. Objectives Little is known about the quality of available information on the Internet concerning BA. The goal was to evaluate this in a systematic manner using a validated and reproducible tool. Methods Women (n = 96) unrelated to medicine were asked which keywords they would use to search the Internet if they were interested in BA. Five keywords were used. Qualitative and quantitative assessment was performed with the modified Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP) tool. A total of 2500 websites containing information on BA were identified using Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ask, and AOL. Results Out of 623 eligible websites, only 153 (25%) addressed more than 20 EQIP items. Scores were higher for encyclopaedias and academic websites compared to hospital and practitioner websites. The median EQIP score was only 15 (IQR = 12-20), and quantitative postoperative morbidity and mortality risk estimates were available in only 38% and 25% of the websites, respectively. Major complications (e.g. capsular contraction, implant safety) were mentioned in only 156 (25%) of the websites. Conclusions This is the first assessment of online patient information on BA using the EQIP tool. This analysis demonstrated several shortcomings in the quality of information provided to BA candidates. There is an immediate need for better informative and educational websites regarding BA procedures that are compatible with international quality standards for plastic surgery.

The role of hormones on Toxoplasma gondii infection: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii is the causal agent of toxoplasmosis in which one third of the world's population has been infected. In pregnant women, it may cause abortion and severe damage to the fetal central nervous system. During pregnancy, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis increases throughout the second and third quarter of gestation, simultaneously progesterone and 17ß-estradiol also increase. Thus, it has been suggested that these hormones can aggravate or reduce parasite reproduction. The aim of this study was reviewing the relationship between hormones and infection caused by T. gondii in several experimental animal models and humans, focused mainly on: (a) congenital transmission, (b) parasite reproduction, (c) strain virulence, (d) levels of hormone in host induced by T. gondii infection, and (e) participation of hormone receptors in T. gondii infection. Are the hormones specific modulators of T. gondii infection? A systematic review methodology was used to consult several databases (Pub Med, Lilacs, Medline, Science direct, Scielo, Ebsco, Sprinker, Wiley, and Google Scholar) dated from September, 2013 to March, 2014. RESULTS: Thirty studies were included; eight studies in humans and 22 in animals and cell cultures. In the human studies, the most studied hormones were testosterone, progesterone, prolactin, and 17ß-estradiol. Type I (RH and BK) and Type II (Prugniaud, SC, ME49, T45, P78, and T38) were the most frequent experimental strains. CONCLUSIONS: Thirty-five years have passed since the first studies regarding T. gondii infection and its relationship with hormones. This systematic review suggests that hormones modulate T. gondii infection in different animal models. However, given that data were not comparable, further studies are required to determine the mechanism of hormone action in the T. gondii infectious process.

[Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas: a case report and a review of the literature]. / Tumor sólido pseudopapilar de páncreas: presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

The solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas is a rare neoplasm, representing 0.13% to 2.7% of all pancreatic tumors. This neoplasm is more common in young women between the third and fourth decade of life. It may produce nonspecific symptoms and in many cases is asymptomatic, being diagnosed incidentally. A 28-year-old woman with no previous medical history presented epigastric pain for the last 3 months. Physical examination was normal. When an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed, a submucosal lesion was observed in the posterior wall of the stomach. A computed tomography and a magnetic resonance imaging were done and both showed a 2.8 cm-diameter tumor in the body of the pancreas. She underwent a spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (Warshaw surgery), evolved favourably and was discharged at the sixth postoperative day. The pathological diagnosis of the surgical specimen was a solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas. Surgery is the gold-standard treatment for this condition, given the facts that no other treatment have proven being effective and often surgical treatment is curative because of the tumor's low malignant potential.

Tumor sólido pseudopapilar de páncreas: presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura. / [Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas: a case report and a review of the literature].

The solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas is a rare neoplasm, representing 0.13

to 2.7

of all pancreatic tumors. This neoplasm is more common in young women between the third and fourth decade of life. It may produce nonspecific symptoms and in many cases is asymptomatic, being diagnosed incidentally. A 28-year-old woman with no previous medical history presented epigastric pain for the last 3 months. Physical examination was normal. When an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed, a submucosal lesion was observed in the posterior wall of the stomach. A computed tomography and a magnetic resonance imaging were done and both showed a 2.8 cm-diameter tumor in the body of the pancreas. She underwent a spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (Warshaw surgery), evolved favourably and was discharged at the sixth postoperative day. The pathological diagnosis of the surgical specimen was a solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas. Surgery is the gold-standard treatment for this condition, given the facts that no other treatment have proven being effective and often surgical treatment is curative because of the tumors low malignant potential.

Tumor sólido pseudopapilar de páncreas: presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura / [Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas: a case report and a review of the literature].

The solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas is a rare neoplasm, representing 0.13

of all pancreatic tumors. This neoplasm is more common in young women between the third and fourth decade of life. It may produce nonspecific symptoms and in many cases is asymptomatic, being diagnosed incidentally. A 28-year-old woman with no previous medical history presented epigastric pain for the last 3 months. Physical examination was normal. When an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed, a submucosal lesion was observed in the posterior wall of the stomach. A computed tomography and a magnetic resonance imaging were done and both showed a 2.8 cm-diameter tumor in the body of the pancreas. She underwent a spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (Warshaw surgery), evolved favourably and was discharged at the sixth postoperative day. The pathological diagnosis of the surgical specimen was a solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas. Surgery is the gold-standard treatment for this condition, given the facts that no other treatment have proven being effective and often surgical treatment is curative because of the tumor’s low malignant potential.

Aplicación del score de clavien en el servicio de cirugía general / Useful utilization of clavien's score to classify surgical complications

Introducción: la falta de información de resultados negativos es una deficiencia importante en la literatura médica, lo cual hace difícil evaluar los resltados de las nuevas terapéuticas. Clavien y colaboradores, propusieron una clasificación que es útil para el estudio de las complicaciones quirúrgicas. El objetivo de este trabajo, fue, aplicar el nuevo Score de Clavien y colaboradores en el Servicio de Cirugía General del Sanatorio Allende, evaluando las complicaciones quirúrgicas. Matirial y métodos: es un estudio prospectivo observacional de los pacientes que fueron intervenidos por cirugías electivas o de urgencia por el Servicio de Cirugía General del Sanatorio Allende durante los meses de marzo a septiembre del 2010. Se utilizó el trabajo de Clavien para clasificar las cirugías y las complicaciones quirúrgicas. Algunos pacientes tuvieron más de una complicación, pero sólo se registró la más importante. Resultados: se analizó un total de 1.117 cirugías, se registró una morbilidad general del 5,19% y una mortalidad del 0,53%. Las cirugías tipo A se complicaron en un 3,93%, las cirugías tipo B se complicaron en un 5,53% y las tipo C se complicaron en un 23,07%. Pacientes complicados según la clasificación, Grado I 18,96%, II 36,2%; IIIa 8,62%; IIIb 15,51%; IVa 8,62%; IVb 1,72%; V 10,34%. Conclusión: el Score de Clavien y colaboradores, nos resultó un método útil, objetivo y fácil para llevar los estudios estadísticos en nuestro servicio de cirugía y comparar las diferentes terapéuticas posibles para las complicaciones.

Introduction: the lack of information about negative results is an important deficiency in medical literature, making difficult to evaluate new therapeutics results. Clavien and colleagues suggested a useful classification for the study of surgical complications. The aim of this work was to analyze surgical complications according to Clavien's score in Sanatorio Allende's General Surgery Department. Materials and Methods: it is a prospective observational study of every patient who went under scheduled or urgent surgery in Sanatorio Allende during the period of time March-September 2010. Clavien's score was used to classify surgical complications. Some patient had more than one complication, the most important was the one taken into account. Results: A total of 1,117 surgeries were analyzed, obtaining a morbility of 5,19 % and a mortality of 0,53 %. A 3,93 % of type A surgeries got complicated, while a 5,53 % of type B surgeries and a 23.07% of type C surgeries. Complicated patients according to classification were: Grade I 18,96%; II 36,2%; IIIa 8,62%; IIIb 15,51 %; IVa 8,62%; IVb 1.72%; V 10,34%. Conclusion: Clavien's Score was a useful, easy and objective method to apply statistical methods to our surgical department and let us compare the different therapeutics for the complications registered.