Despite advances in the treatment of cancers through surgical procedures and new pharmaceuticals, the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains challenging as reflected by low survival rates. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is an important signaling mechanism that regulates the cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, and metabolism. Importantly, deregulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway leading to activation is common in HCC and is hence the subject of intense investigation and the focus of current therapeutics. In this review article, we consider the role of this pathway in the pathogenesis of HCC, focusing on its downstream effectors such as glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB), forkhead box O protein (FOXO), murine double minute 2 (MDM2), p53, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and the cellular processes of lipogenesis and autophagy. In addition, we provide an update on the current ongoing clinical development of agents targeting this pathway for HCC treatments.
Introduction: Skin and soft tissue infections have the potential to affect every patient admitted to a surgical service. Changes to the microbiota colonizing wounds during natural disasters, such as the Townsville floods of 2019, could impact empiric antibiotic choice and need for return to theatre. Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study reviews culture data and demographics for patients undergoing surgical debridement of infected wounds over a six-month period starting in November 2018 to May 2019 at the Townsville Hospital. Results: Of the 408 patients requiring operative intervention, only 61 patients met the inclusion criteria. The groups were comparative in terms of age and gender, but a greater proportion of patients (40.5% versus 29.1%, P = 0.368) in the post-flood group were diabetic. Common skin commensals, such as Staphylococcus aureus, were the most common pathogen in both groups, however the post-flood group had a higher proportion of atypical organisms (14 versus 8 patients), and an increased need for repeated debridement for infection control (24 versus 14 patients). Conclusion: Wound swabs and tissue culture are imperative during surgical debridement and may guide the use of more broad-spectrum coverage following a significant flooding event.
Here we describe a case of heterotopic, supradiaphragmatic liver in a 65-year-old woman who was referred for investigation of a soft tissue gallbladder mass. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging revealed adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder and supradiaphragmatic accessory liver tissue. This is a remarkably rare normal variant.
Background
In April 2018, a dedicated hepatobiliary unit was established in a tertiary hospital in North Queensland. Changes included the employment of a hepatobiliary‐trained surgeon, centralized referrals, and formalized multidisciplinary team meetings. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of establishing a hepatobiliary unit on outcomes after liver resection, in a regional centre where such procedures were previously performed by non‐specialist general surgeons.
Methods
Adult patients who underwent elective liver resection in Townsville from 2013 to 2020 were included in the study. Outcomes after liver resection were collected across two study periods – before and after the hepatobiliary unit was established. The primary end points were a before and after comparison of the 90‐day morbidity and mortality and the R1 margin rates.
Results
Across the two study periods, 76 and 77 patients, respectively, underwent liver resection. Rates of R1 resection, 90‐day mortality and major complications were not significantly different between the two study periods. Primary tumours (14.5% before versus 50.6% after) and cirrhosis (1.3% before versus 14.3% after) were significantly higher in the latter period, as was the median length of stay (4 days before versus 6 days after). Annual surgical volume increased by 75% in the period after 2018 compared to the 5 years preceding it.
Conclusion
Establishing a centralized hepatobiliary unit in a tertiary regional centre resulted in increased surgical volume and case complexity, with no change in early outcomes after liver resection. Overall, this dedicated unit improved the accessibility of a subspecialty surgical service in regional Australia.
Purpose
To establish the incidence of pancreatic trauma in North Queensland to the region’s only tertiary paediatric referral centre, and to determine the patient’s outcomes based on their management.
Methods
A single centre, retrospective cohort study of patients < 18 years with pancreatic trauma from 2009 to 2020 was performed. There were no exclusion criteria.
Results
Between 2009 and 2020 there were 145 intra-abdominal trauma cases, 37% from motor vehicle accidents (MVA), 18.6% motorbike or quadbike, and 12.4% bicycle or scooter accidents. There were 19 cases of pancreatic trauma (13%), all from blunt trauma and with associated injuries. There were 5 AAST grade I, 3 grade II, 3 grade III, 3 grade IV injuries, and 4 with traumatic pancreatitis. Twelve patients were managed conservatively, 2 were managed operatively for another reason, and 5 were managed operatively for the pancreatic injury. Only 1 patient with a high grade AAST injury was successfully managed non-operatively. Complications included pancreatic pseudocyst (n = 4/19; 3 post-op), pancreatitis (n = 2/19; 1 post op), and post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) (n = 1/19).
Conclusion
Due to North Queensland’s geography, diagnosis and management of traumatic pancreatic injury is often delayed. Pancreatic injuries requiring surgery are at high risk for complications, prolonged length of stay, and further interventions.
A 50-year-old woman was investigated for epigastric pain. Imaging revealed a multilocular cyst with multiple thin septae within segment IV of the liver, measuring up to 140 mm in diameter. There was associated bile duct dilatation. Given the patient’s symptoms, the size of the cyst and malignant potential, a hemi-hepatectomy was performed. Histopathology demonstrated a cyst lined by columnar mucinous epithelium with underlying ovarian-type stroma. Therefore, the diagnosis was mucinous cystic neoplasm of the liver (MCN-L). MCN-L is a rare disease, and the presence of bile duct dilatation is an even rarer finding. This article presents a case report and review of literature of this entity.
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