Articles: surgery.
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Surgery is the recommended treatment for breast cancer, the most common cancer in women in Taiwan and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Although breast-conserving surgery (BCS) has good prognosis, in some cases, BCS may cause more significant deformities and interfere with the patient's psychosocial well-being. Oncoplastic breast surgery (OBS) is the treatment option in these cases. This study aimed to determine the outcomes of OBS and BCS regardless of clinical and patient-reported esthetic outcomes. ⋯ OBS seems to be a safe and feasible surgery in breast cancer patients because clinical outcomes are compatible with BCS. Moreover, the OBS group had better patient-reported outcomes in terms of satisfaction.
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Background. Identifying the causative pathogens of central nervous system infections (CNSIs) is crucial, but the low detection rate of traditional culture methods in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has made the pathogenic diagnosis of CNSIs a longstanding challenge. Patients with CNSIs after neurosurgery often overlap with inflammatory and bleeding. ⋯ The mNGS also detected bacterial spectrum and antimicrobial resistance genes. Conclusions. Metagenomics has the potential to assist in the diagnosis of patients with CNSIs who have a negative culture.
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With the advancement of endoscopic endonasal surgery in the treatment of anterior skull base (ASB) pathologies, extended, watertight reconstructions are needed to prevent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. This often involves the use of multilayers closure, with free fascia lata (FL) graft frequently used as an in- and/or outlay. However, positioning the FL properly can be challenging and time-consuming, particularly on wider defects. In this technical note, we present an easier and faster way to position FL using a silicone sheet. ⋯ The "Gift wrap" technique offers an alternative approach for positioning the FL, which is less time-consuming compared to the traditional technique. Moreover, it enables improved placement of the FL, enhancing its efficacy.