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Roland Seiler, George N Thalmann, Pascal ZehnderDepartment of Urology, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandAbstract: Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) in patients with bladder cancer varies widely in extent, technique employed, and pathological workup of specimens. The present paper provides an overview of the existing evidence regarding the effectiveness of PLND and elucidates the interactions between patient, surgeon, pathologist, and treating institution as well as their cumulative impact on the final postoperative lymph node (LN) staging. Bladder cancer patients undergoing radical cystectomy with extended PLND appear to have better oncologic outcomes compared to patients undergoing radical cystectomy and limited PLND. Attempts have been made to define and assess the quality of PLND according to the number of lymph nodes identified. However, lymph node counts depend on multiple factors such as patient characteristics, surgical template, pathological workup, and institutional policies; hence, meticulous PLND within a defined and uniformly applied extended template appears to be a better assurance of quality than absolute lymph node counts. Nevertheless, the prognosis of the patients can be partially predicted with findings from the histopathological evaluation of the PLND specimen, such as the number of positive lymph nodes, extracapsular extension, and size of the largest LN metastases. Therefore, particular prognostic parameters should be addressed within the pathological report to guide the urologist in terms of patient counseling.Keywords: bladder cancer, outcome, pathological workup, postoperative staging

This article discusses a clinical feasibility study conducted to establish a customized panel of biomarkers for inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in pediatric cardiac surgery. The study focused on analyzing the Cold-inducible RNA binding Protein (CIRBP) as well as other established markers for inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The study found that while there was a trend of increased CIRBP concentrations after surgery, it did not reach significance. However, other proinflammatory cytokines and biomarkers for endothelial dysfunction showed significant increases after surgery. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the potential of CIRBP as a biomarker for inflammation in pediatric patients. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the long-term results of the Ross procedure in children and young adults, specifically focusing on the dimensions of the pulmonary autograft and their impact on autograft function. The study utilized MRI data to model the relationship between autograft dimensions and potential reinterventions, as well as to provide a prediction model for autograft dimensions after the Ross procedure. The findings indicate that the age at which the procedure is performed and the time elapsed since the procedure are predictive of increased z-scores in specific aortic dimensions, but not affecting the aortic valve dimension. Additionally, individuals with higher z-scores in certain dimensions face a higher likelihood of needing autograft reintervention and may experience more severe autograft regurgitation. The study emphasizes the importance of model-based estimates in guiding long-term MRI surveillance after the Ross procedure for personalized healthcare interventions. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the importance of early detection of acute kidney injury (AKI) after congenital heart surgery. AKI is a common complication of this type of surgery and can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. The study analyzed urine samples from patients undergoing cardiac surgery to identify new diagnostic markers for AKI. The researchers identified several promising biomarkers, including Kallikrein-1 (KLK-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase-like N (PTPRN). These findings suggest that using these biomarkers may improve the diagnostic accuracy and allow for early detection of patients at risk for AKI. Further research is needed to confirm these results. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the journal Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeon, explores the potential impact of inflammatory mediators on macrophage activation in a cell model using serum samples from children with congenital heart defects who underwent open-heart surgery with the use of a heart-lung machine (HLM). The study found that postoperative samples led to the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway and increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines, while preoperative samples did not. Treatment with a specific STAT3 inhibitor reduced the expression of one cytokine, IL-1b, but unexpectedly increased the expression of another, TNF-a. The authors suggest that further research should focus on modulating the JAK-STAT3 signaling pathway to reduce inflammation caused by HLM use. [Extracted from the article]

In 2011, a spectacular find was made in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt – a well-known archaeological site, where pharaohs were buried during the New Kingdom (ca. 1500–1100 BCE). A team from the University of Basel's Kings' Valley Project discovered a tomb (KV64) containing two mummies that were buried in different time episodes (unidentified elite burial, 18th dynasty, and Nehemesbastet, 22nd dynasty). Anthropological investigations of the mummies were performed using portable X-ray and photographic documentation. The first burial was an adult individual with bilateral pathological changes at the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), most likely of inflammatory origin, possibly psoriatic arthritis. Investigations of the second burial revealed an intact body of a younger female individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forests on Mount Etna turned exceptionally green in the lead-up to the volcano's November 2002 eruption. The subtle increase in vegetation density was recorded by infrared satellites during the [...]