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Based on a prior university patent, the authors developed a novel type of bioimpedance-based test method to noninvasively detect nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The development of a new potential NAFLD diagnostic procedure may help to understand the underlying mechanisms between NAFLD and severe liver diseases with a painless and easy-to-use paraclinical examination method, including the additional function to detect even the earlier stages of liver disease. The aim of this study is to present new results and the experiences gathered in relation to NAFLD progress during animal model and human clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Interventional endoscopic procedures are growing more popular, requiring innovative instruments and novel techniques. Three-dimensional printing has demonstrated great potential for the rapid development of prototypes that can be used for the early assessment of various concepts. In this work, we present the development of a flexible endoscopic instrument and explore its potential benefits. (2) Methods: The properties of the instrument, such as its maneuverability, flexibility, and bending force, were evaluated in a series of bench tests. Additionally, the effectiveness of the instrument was evaluated in an ex vivo porcine model by medical experts, who graded its properties and performance. Furthermore, the time necessary to complete various interventional endoscopic tasks was recorded. (3) Results: The instrument achieved bending angles of ±216° while achieving a bending force of 7.85 (±0.53) Newtons. The time needed to reach the operating region was 120 s median, while it took 70 s median to insert an object in a cavity. Furthermore, it took 220 s median to insert the instrument and remove an object from the cavity. (4) Conclusions: This study presents the development of a flexible endoscopic instrument using three-dimensional printing technology and its evaluation. The instrument demonstrated high bending angles and forces, and superior properties compared to the current state of the art. Furthermore, it was able to complete various interventional endoscopic tasks in minimal time, thus potentially leading to the improved safety and effectiveness of interventional endoscopic procedures in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The traditional feeding method, which started 5–7 days after upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tumor resections is the widely accepted method worldwide. ERAS protocol is becoming more and more common, but there is still not enough evidence that early postoperative oral feeding is safe following major UGI surgery. Patients and Methods: A propensity score matching study was conducted at the University of Pecs, Department of Surgery, Hungary between January 2020 and July 2022. The study included patients with UGI tumor resections where our early oral feeding (EOF) protocol were applied. Data were collected retrospectively and the EOF- group was compared with a control group, who have been cared for the traditional feeding method during this period. Results the study included 50 patients, 25 in the early oral feeding group, and 25 case-matched patients in the traditional oral feeding group. The start of the oral feeding was on day 2.09 in the EOF, and on day 5.52 in the LOF group. Statistically significant decreases were observed in the EOF group in the postoperative length of stay (8.875 days vs 12.06 days), first bowel movement, and length of postoperative intravenous fluid therapy. There were no significant differences in mortality, anastomosis insufficiency, anastomosis inflammation and stricture. Conclusions Our results confirmed, that in the EOF group the mortality and anastomosis leakages do not increase compared to the traditional feeding protocol. However EOF decreased the length of hospital stay resulted earlier recovery, and the quality of life was improved by starting early oral feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: The overall prognosis of lung cancer is poor: Only every 8 patient survives 5 years after diagnosis. This outcome is partly attributable to late diagnosis. To implement a screening program for early diagnosis, selection of high-risk individuals is essential. Our aim was to construct a personalized lung cancer risk assessment tool using geographic localization to lead the high-risk individuals to the local health care provider. METHODS: A smartphone application was created for Android and iOS mobile platforms using a risk assessment questionnaire. The software provides immediate classification into low, moderate and high-risk groups. The high-risk group is directed to the nearest screening centre based on GPS location. The complete test data set is recorded on a collection server database for further analysis. RESULTS: The application was downloaded 13 890 times and completed by 89 500 persons over a period of 20 months. The mean age of the tested users was 36.91 years (9-93 years); the majority were men living in an urban area (62.3%). The test was completed by 38 850 active smokers and 26 710 persons who reported having already quit smoking, resulting in 30 072 moderate and 10 740 high-risk users. CONCLUSIONS: This free application is an active communication tool for most smartphone owners. It helps those who might need further medical attention. The affected users can be easily connected and localized via the smartphone, which helps recruit individuals into screening programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Colon interposition is mainly used as a second line treatment, when the stomach has to be resected for oncological or technical reasons, or when the stomach is deliberately kept intact for benign and congenital diseases in patients with long-life expectancy. Colon provides extended conduit length, reliable blood supply and low incidence of reflux. However, the early and late postoperative ischemic complication rate is 5–15%. Methods Colon ischemia can frequently cause anastomosis complications, which can be safely treated with dilation or surgery. The most serious but rare complication is the acute conduit necrosis. More severe cases of necrosis require conduit take down with proximal esophageal diversion and placement of an enteral feeding tube. An uncommon complication is the colonic stricture due to chronic ischemia, which can be treated with conservative methods such as dilation and stenting. Surgery is indicated since the impaired deglutition can compromise the quality of life. Supercharged or free jejunal interposition is a suitable alternative conduit for esophageal replacement in patients with otherwise limited delayed reconstructive options. Good functional outcomes can be achieved despite the formidable technical challenges in this group of patients. Results In three such cases, we could successfully use a free jejunal flap for reconstruction; the replacement type was different, using substernal, presternal and sternotomy routes. The arterial blood supply was provided by the internal mammary artery. Saphenous graft was used to interconnect to external jugular or innominate vein to reestablish the venous drainage. All three patients survived without further complication. Conclusion Overall, it can be stated that free jejunal graft transplantation can be used to resolve complicated cases that cannot be reconstructed with any other methods and jejunum offers a good swallowing function and quality of life. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aims of this study were to evaluate whether HPV infection has a prognostic role in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent oncological treatment and also to correlate the heat shock proteins (Hsp) 90, 27 and 16.2 and growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRH-R) expression patterns of the pre-treatment tumor biopsies with the HPV status and with the oncological response. Methods Pre-treatment tumor biopsies of 74 patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were processed retrospectively. The presence of HPV was detected by chromogenic in situ hybridization. Hsp and GHRH-R expressions were determined using immunohistochemistry. Following neoadjuvant or definitive radiochemotherapy, the patients were restaged according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. The correlation between the HPV status, response and Hsp and GHRH-R expressions were evaluated. Results Fourteen (19%) patients were HPV-positive. HPV-positive patients were more likely to respond poorly to multimodal therapy (71.4% were non-responders vs. 28.6% responders) and had shorter overall survival compared to HPV-negative patients (median survival of 6 months vs. 7 months), although the difference was not significant (Log Rank P  = 0.898). A significantly higher number of HPV-positive patients expressed Hsp 90 and 16.2 at high levels (85.7% and 71.4%, respectively) than at low levels. Higher levels of Hsp expressions resulted in poorer response to therapy and worse overall survival. Conclusion We found that HPV infection resulted in poor response to therapy and decreased overall survival, and therefore proved to be a negative prognostic factor in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. There was a linear correlation between levels of Hsp 90 and 16.2 expression and HPV positivity. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]