IntroductionThe relationship between a perioperative change in sarcopenic status and clinical outcome of liver transplantation (LT) is unknown. We investigated whether post-LT sarcopenia and changes in sarcopenic status were associated with the survival of patients.MethodThis retrospective study was based on a cohort of 145 patients from a single transplant center who during a mean of 1 year after LT underwent computed tomography imaging evaluation. The cross-sectional area of the psoas muscle of LT patients was compared with that of age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to determine whether post-LT sarcopenia and changes in sarcopenic status affect post-LT survival.ResultsThe mean age at LT of the 116 male and 29 female patients was 50.2 ± 7.9 years; the mean follow-up duration was 51.6 ± 32.9 months. All pre-LT patients with sarcopenia still had sarcopenia 1 year after LT; 14 (15%) patients had newly developed sarcopenia. The mean survival duration was 91.8 ± 4.2 months for non-sarcopenic patients and 80.0 ± 5.2 months for sarcopenic patients (log-rank test, p = 0.069). In subgroup analysis, newly developed sarcopenia was an independent negative predictor for post-LT survival (hazard ratio: 10.53, 95% confidence interval: 1.37–80.93, p = 0.024).ConclusionSarcopenia in LT recipients did not improve in any of the previously sarcopenic patients and newly developed within 1 year in others. Newly developed sarcopenia was associated with increased mortality. Newly developed sarcopenia can be used to stratify patients with regard to the risk of post-LT mortality.

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Background The aim of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of robotic single-site (RSS-H) and laparoendoscopic single-site total hysterectomy (LESS-H) and to evaluate the feasibility of RSS-H in patients with benign gynecologic disease.MethodsThe RSS-H was performed using the da Vinci single-site surgical platform, and the LESS-H using a single multi-channel port system at the umbilicus. Among 467 consecutive patients who had undergone total hysterectomy for benign gynecologic disease, surgical outcomes were compared between RSS-H group (n = 25) and LESS-H group (n = 442) after propensity score matching. ResultsAll operations were completed robotically and laparoscopically without conversion to laparotomy, respectively. The RSS-H group had longer operating times and less operative bleeding compared to the LESS-H group. While the LESS-H showed 1.4 % of major complication rate, the RSS-H had no perioperative complication. Even after propensity score matching, the RSS-H still showed longer operating times (170.9 vs 94.1 min, p < 0.0001) and less operative bleeding (median estimated blood loss, 20 vs 50 ml, p = 0.009; mean hemoglobin drop, 1.6 vs 2.0 g/dl, p = 0.038) than the LESS-H. ConclusionsThe RSS-H could be a feasible and safe procedure in appropriately selected patients with benign gynecologic disease, and further experience and technical refinements will continue to improve operative results. Prospective randomized trials will permit the evaluation of the potential benefits of the RSS surgery as a minimally invasive surgical approach.

Neonatal intracranial regions showed different elasticity, which could be accessed by strain elastography. These normal findings should prompt future studies investigating the use of ultrasound elastography in the neonatal brain.

We measured serum concentrations of trace elements and evaluated their clinical significance in relation to treatment outcomes of critically ill patients. A total of 167 participants (105 men and 62 women; average age, 61.4 years; age range, 18-90 years) were enrolled. Arterial blood concentrations of the trace elements zinc, copper, selenium, and manganese were measured every 14 days. At the time of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, serum concentrations of zinc, selenium, copper, and manganese were lower than the normal values in 75.1, 1.8, 37.8, and 2.1% of patients, respectively. Serum trace element concentrations measured on day 14 of ICU stay were higher than those measured at the time of ICU admission for zinc (53.3 → 80.7 μg/L) and copper (87.1 → 102.3 μg/L). Increased serum zinc and copper concentrations during ICU care were associated with a significantly lower mortality compared to decreased concentrations of zinc (15.6 vs. 83.3%, p = 0.003) and copper (5.6 vs. 50.0%, p = 0.013). At the time of ICU admission, low serum levels of zinc and copper were observed. Patients with increased serum concentrations of zinc and copper had significantly lower mortality.