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Background and Objectives: Hepatic resection offers promising outcomes for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but can be constrained by factors like patient suitability. Continuous advancements in laparoscopic and robotic technologies have made minimally invasive hepatectomies (MIHs) a viable alternative to open hepatectomies with benefits in terms of recovery and complications. Materials and Methods: We completed a retrospective review on 138 HCC patients who underwent OH or MIH between 2010 and 2020 at the Hume-Lee Transplant Center. Univariate and multivariate analyses were completed on demographic, clinical, and tumor-specific data to assess the impact of these variables on overall and disease-free survival at 1, 3, and 5 years. Preoperative metrics like length of hospital stay (LOS) and operation duration were also evaluated. Results: Of the 109 OH and 29 MIH patients, MIH patients demonstrated shorter LOS and operative times. However, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were similar between groups, with no significant variations in 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates. Age > 60 years and a lack of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) were significant predictors of inferior OS and DFS in multivariate analyses. Conclusions: MIH is an efficient substitute for OH with comparable survival, even in older patients. The reduced LOS and operation time enhance its feasibility, and older patients previously denied for curative resection may qualify for MIH. Preoperative TACE also enhances survival outcomes, emphasizing its general role in managing resectable HCCs. Both robotic and laparoscopic hepatectomies offer acceptable short- and long-term clinical outcomes, highlighting MIH as the standard choice for HCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the recovery of patients in both groups having acute otitis externa induced by cotton buds/various objects. One group by old method and second group by unique method. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Pakistan Naval Ship Shifa Karachi, from Jan to Dec 2020. Methodology: Non-probability convenience sampling technique was applied. Out of 50 cases were selected for group 1 management. Fifty cases were selected for group 2 management. A chi-square test was applied to compare the recovery of two groups of patients on the 14th day and 42nd day of follow-up. p-value was kept 0.05 as significant. Results: A total of 100 cases were treated in 2 groups. The gender distribution of the study was 54 females and 46 males. The mean age of the study population was 33.09 ± 12.93 years. p-value was calculated on the 14th day and 42nd days. A 2x2 table of 14th follow up day showed recovery by both groups with a p-value of 0.041 which is <0.05. This showed that group 2 management was statistically better than group 1 management. Conclusion: The second group was managed with eardrops containing Betamethasone and Neomycin. This management protocol is unique and better than conventional management as done in the first group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the ideal case, a precise synthesis yields molecules with a constitutional as well as a conformational perfectness. Such a case of precision is demonstrated by the synthesis of semi-rigid amphiphilic polyphenylene dendrimers (PPDs). Polar sulfonate groups are precisely placed on their periphery in such a manner that patches of polar and non-polar regions are created. Key structural features are the semi-rigid framework and shape-persistent nature of PPDs since the limited flexibility introduces a nano-phase-separated amphiphilic rim of the dendrimer. This results in both attractive and repulsive interactions with a given solvent. Frustrated solvent structures then lead to a remarkable solubility in solvents of different polarity such as toluene, methanol, and water or their mixtures. Water solubility combined with defined surface structuring and variable hydrophobicity of PPDs that resemble the delicate surface textures of proteins are important prerequisites for their biological and medical applications based upon cellular internalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cp*TiCI[sub2](L) [L = C[sub3]H[sub3]N[sub2] (1), 3,5-Me[sub2]C[sub3]HN[sub2] (2) and 3,5-[supi]Pr[sub2]C[sub3]HN[sub2] (3)], and Cp*Ti(C[sub3]H[sub3]N[sub2])[sub3] (4) were prepared in moderate yields by treating Cp*TICI[sub3] with the pyrazoles in the presence of Et[sub3]N or with their corresponding lithium salts in Et[sub2]O. The structures of 1 and 2 determined by X-ray crystallography indicate that these complexes fold a distorted tetrahedral geometry around Ti, and the pyrazolato ligands coordinate to Ti with η[sup2]-N,N'-coordination mode. In contrast, one of the pyrazolato ligand in 4 coordinates to Ti with η[sup1]-N-bonding, whereas the other two ligands were bound to Ti with η[sup2]-N,N'-fashion. The Cp analogues, CpTiCI[sub2](L) [L = C[sub3]H[sub3]N[sub2] (5), 3,5-Me[sub2]C[sub3]HN[sub2] (6), 3,5[supi]Pr[sub2]C[sub3]HN[sub2] (7), and 3,5-Ph[sub2]C[sub3]HN[sub2] (8)], were also prepared by the reaction of CpTiCI[sub3] with the corresponding lithium saits in Et[sub2]O or n-hexane. The crystallographic analyses of 5 and 6 revealed that the pyrazolato ligands coordinate to Ti with η[sup2]-N,N'-coordination mode. These complexes (1-3, 5-8) exhibited moderate catalytic activities for ethylene polymedzation in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO), and the actMties were highly affected by the substituent on the pyrazolato ligand employed. Complex 1 exhibited the highest activity affording polymer with uniform molecular weight distribution, suggesting that the polymerization proceeded with uniform catalytically active species. An increase in the steric bulk in the pyrazolato ligand led to a slight decrease in the activity by the Cp* analogues, whereas the activity by the Cp analogues increased upon increasing the steric bulk in the pyrazolato ligand employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatic angiomyolipoma (HAML) is a rare, benign mesenchymal liver tumor encountered in Asia, primarily in females, and can be found within the right hepatic lobe, but also in other areas of the liver. Immunohistochemically, HAMLs are characteristically positive for human melanoma black-45 antigen (HMB-45) and can histochemically vary in the composition of angiomatous, lipomatous, and myomatous tissue, together with the presence of epithelioid cells. In this case report, we discuss a previously healthy patient presenting with bloating and previously documented concern of liver lesions, found to have HAML confirmed by surgical pathology. Surgery was decided, as HAMLs greater than 10 cm are at risk of rupture. This is one of the first documented cases of HAML resected through robot-assisted bisegmentectomy and cholecystectomy, and therefore, intraoperative images have been included to assist in the planning of future robotic cases.

A case of acute epiglottic abscess is reported in an adult female patient who presented with odynophagia and fever. Initial treatment with parenteral antibiotics was not much of a success until incision and drainage of abscess was carried out under general anaesthesia after securing airway with preliminary tracheostomy. Diagnostic difficulties due to different mode of presentation in adults are emphasized. The diagnostic workup and treatment options are discussed.