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Advancements in genetic sequencing techniques along with the identification of specific mutations and structural changes in multiple cancer genes, make it possible to identify circulating tumor cells and cell free nucleic acids as blood‐based biomarkers, serving as a liquid biopsy (LB) with great utility for the diagnosis, treatment and follow‐up of patients with neoplasms. This systematic review focuses on the clinical utility of LB in patients with breast cancer (BC). Articles published between 1990 and 2021 were included. Databases searched: Trip Database, WoS, EMBASE, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Clinical Keys. Variables studied: Publication year, country, number of cases, primary study design, LB detection methods, genes found, overall survival, disease‐free survival, stage, response to treatment, clinical utility, BC molecular type, systemic treatment and methodological quality of primary studies. Of 2619 articles, 74 were retained representing 12 658 patients, mainly cohort studies (66.2%), the majority were from China (15%) and Japan (12.2%). All primary studies described clinical stage and type of systemic treatment used. Most used biomarker detection method: DNA (52.7%) and type of analysis: quantification of total cfDNA (35.1%). PIK3CA mutation was most frequent (62.9%). Evidence suggests clinically useful applications of BC. Though heterogeneous, publications suggest that LB will constitute part of the standard diagnostic‐therapeutic process of BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abdominal actinomycosis (AA) is a rare infection. The aim of this study was to summarize the evidence available on AA. Methods: A systematic review was conducted. Data sources included Trip Database, BIREME, SciELO, Cochrane Library, WoS, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, IBECS and LILACS. Eligibility criteria included: studies related to surgically treated AA, in adult population, without language and sex restriction, published between 1966 and 2019. The following variables were analysed: publication year, age, sex, geographical origin, location of lesions, clinical manifestations, risk factors, species isolated and treatments used. Results: A total of 1505 studies were initially identified. After scrutinizing titles and abstracts, and checking duplications, 221 articles including 406 subjects with AA were included. All were case reports or series. Mean age of subjects was 49.2 years and 56.2% were female. The highest proportion of articles was published between 2015 and 2019 (18.7%). Publications were predominantly from the USA (12.2%). Structures usually involved were abdominal wall, colon and appendix. The most common presentation was abdominal mass (39.2%). In 42.1% of patients, an associated factor was found, highlighting intrauterine devices (14.3%). The microbiology studies highlighted Actinomyces israelli. Morbidity, recurrence and verified mortality were 18.2%, 1.0% and 2.2%, respectively. Penicillin was the most used antibiotic. Conclusion: Evidence about AA is scarce and dispersed within a reduced range of articles and cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most frequent primary tumour of the liver. Although often associated with chronic liver disease, it can also occur in non‐cirrhotic livers. The aim of this study was to describe post‐operative morbidity (POM), and survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in non‐cirrhotic liver treated surgically, and to identify variables associated with prognosis. Methods: Case series of patients who underwent surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma in non‐cirrhotic liver at Clínica RedSalud Mayor de Temuco, Chile (2001–2017), were studied. The minimum follow‐up time considered was 12 months. Principal outcomes were development of POM and survival. Other variables of interest were age, sex, tumour diameter, surgical time, hospital stay, follow‐up time, need for surgical re‐intervention, mortality, vascular and lymph node invasion and staging. Descriptive and analytic statistics were calculated. Results: A total of 32 patients were studied. They were characterized by a mean age of 67.3 ± 7.2 years, 62.5% of whom were men. Averages of tumour diameter, surgical time and hospitalization were 12.0 ± 2.6 cm, 114.4 ± 32.3 min and 7.2 ± 2.9 days, respectively. POM was 31.3%. There was no mortality and there were no re‐interventions. The overall actuarial survival at 1, 2 and 3 years was 96.8%, 73.4% and 17.3%, respectively. Lower survival was verified in patients with vascular invasion, lymph node infiltration and stages III and IVa. Conclusion: Despite the tumour diameter and extent of the resections, POM in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in non‐cirrhotic liver is moderate. However, its prognosis is poor. Vascular invasion, lymph node invasion and advances stages were associated with worse survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease (SPD) is a chronic and uncommon entity. Extensive, complex and recurrent SPD is less frequent, and diverse treatment alternatives have been described. One of these is excision, followed by reconstruction with the rhomboid flap, as described by Dufourmentel. The aim of the present study was to report the results of a series of patients with extensive, complex or recurrent SPD operated on using Dufourmentel’s technique, in terms of postoperative morbidity (POM) and recurrence. Patients and Methods: The present study was a case series of patients with extensive, complex or recurrent SPD, operated on at the Clínica Mayor and Regional Hospital in Temuco, Chile, between 2000 and 2015, using excision, followed by a reconstruction with the Dufourmentel’s rhomboid flap. The outcome variable was POM measured at 30 days’ postoperatively using the Clavien–Dindo classification. Other variables of interest were surgical time, hospital stay, mortality and recurrence. The minimum follow‐up time was 18 months. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: Ninety‐five patients with extensive, complex or recurrent SPD were operated on in the study period. The median age was 21 years, and 56.8 per cent were female. The median surgical time was 60 min (45–90 min). POM was 13.7 per cent, seroma was 5.3 per cent, wound infection was 2.1 per cent and partial surgical wound dehiscence was 6.3 per cent. Mortality of the series was nil. Median hospital stay, follow up and recurrence were 4 days (3–5), 48 months (18–90 months) and 3.2 per cent, respectively. Conclusion: Dufourmentel’s technique applied to patients with extensive, complex or recurrent SPD was associated with adequate postoperative evolution in terms of POM and recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Hydatidosis is an endemic zoonosis that is prevalent in South America, specifically in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. Liver hydatidosis (LH) is associated with morbidity and mortality due to evolutionary complications, as well as the risk of complications related to surgical procedures. The surgical treatment of LH can be divided into four phases: isolation of the surgical area, evacuation of the cyst, treatment of the complications of the cyst and treatment of the residual cavity. LH surgical procedures can be classified as conservative and radical. The aim of the present study was to present a general, evidence-based overview of some surgical aspects of interest in the treatment of LH. Patients and Methods An overview was conducted. Articles published between 1990 and 2015 and related to results of surgery in patients with LH were evaluated. PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO and Trip Database were reviewed, and the results of surgery in LH patients were evaluated. Results A total of 301 articles were retrieved, 46 of which met the selection criteria (3 systematic reviews, 2 controlled trials, 5 cohorts studies, 12 observational studies and 24 case series). The studies had a level of evidence of 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a and 4 of prognostic and therapy scenarios. Conclusions The articles found were few and heterogeneous, making meaningful conclusions difficult. Studies with better levels of evidence, methodological quality and population size are needed to make conclusions and recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]