Nowadays, lab-on-chip (LOC) devices are attracting more and more attention since they show vast prospects for various biomedical applications. Usually, an LOC is a small device that serves a single laboratory function. LOCs show massive potential for organ-on-chip (OOC) device manufacturing since they could allow for research on the avoidance of various diseases or the avoidance of drug testing on animals or humans. However, this technology is still under development. The dominant technique for the fabrication of such devices is molding, which is very attractive and efficient for mass production, but has many drawbacks for prototyping. This article suggests a femtosecond laser microprocessing technique for the prototyping of an OOC-type device—a liver-on-chip. We demonstrate the production of liver-on-chip devices out of glass by using femtosecond laser-based selective laser etching (SLE) and laser welding techniques. The fabricated device was tested with HepG2(GS) liver cancer cells. During the test, HepG2(GS) cells proliferated in the chip, thus showing the potential of the suggested technique for further OOC development.

Background: Closure of the appendix stump is critical to avoid serious postoperative complications. There are a number of options, but the best one has not been identified yet. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of appendiceal stump closure using self-locking polymeric clips and endoloops. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the prospectively maintained database of patients with acute appendicitis was performed. Patient demographic details and surgical characteristics, including the duration of hospital stay, postoperative complications, and also the cost of the appendix stump closure, were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups according to the appendix stump closure method: the clips group if it was closed with self-locking polymeric clips and the loops group if Vicryl or PDS loops were used. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson’s chi-squared test, Wilcoxon rank sum (Mann–Whitney U) test, and Fisher’s exact test in R statistical software package version 4.2.1. Results: 515 patients were included in the study from June 2016 to April 2021. There were no significant differences in terms of demographics (p-value in comparison of groups’ sex > 0.99, age p-value 0.16), postoperative complications (p-value > 0.99), histological findings (p-value 0.27), or length of hospital stays (p-value 0.18) between the two patient groups (clips group, N = 454 and loops group, N = 61). The price of operation while using different appendiceal stump closures is significantly different. In a laparoscopic appendectomy, one stump closure with self-locking clips costs 7.69 €, with Vicryl loops—91.35 €, with PDS loops—96.51 €, and with a stapler—514.50 €. Conclusions: Self-locking polymeric clips can be used for the safe and effective closure of an appendiceal stump. There were no significant differences in the postoperative time (30 days) or complication rates among patients in both (clips and loops) groups. Thus, this might be a technique to reduce expenses while maintaining good postoperative results after laparoscopic appendectomy.

Purpose: Since the literature currently provides controversial data on the postoperative outcomes following right and left hemicolectomies, we carried out this study to examine the short- and long-term treatment outcomes. Methods: This study included consecutive patients who underwent right or left-sided colonic resections from year 2014 to 2018 and then they were followed up. The short-term outcomes such as postoperative morbidity and mortality according to Clavien-Dindo score, duration of hospital stay, and 90-day readmission rate were evaluated as well as long-term outcomes of overall survival and disease-free survival. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed of overall and progression-free survival. Results: In total, 1107 patients with colon tumors were included in the study, 525 patients with right-sided tumors (RCC) and 582 cases with tumors in the left part of the colon (LCC). RCC group patients were older (P < 0.001), with a higher ASA score (P < 0.001), and with more cardiovascular comorbidities (P < 0.001). No differences were observed between groups in terms of postoperative outcomes such as morbidity and mortality, except 90-day readmission which was more frequent in the RCC group. Upon histopathological analysis, the RCC group’s patients had more removed lymph nodes (29 ± 14 vs 20 ± 11, P = 0.001) and more locally progressed (pT3-4) tumors (85.4% versus 73.4%, P = 0.001). Significantly greater 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival (P = 0.001) were observed for patients in the LCC group, according to univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis. Conclusions: Patients with right-sided colon cancer were older and had more advanced disease. Short-term surgical outcomes were similar, but patients in the LCC group resulted in better long-term outcomes.

Objectives—The objective was to compare the effectiveness of observation in standard-of-care computed tomography (CT) in adult patients with suspected acute appendicitis (AA). Methods—Patients with clinically suspected AA and inconclusive diagnosis after primary clinical examination, laboratory examination, and transabdominal ultrasound (TUS) were eligible for the study, and they were randomized (1:1) to parallel groups: observation-group patients were observed for 8–12 h and then, repeated clinical and laboratory examinations and TUS were performed; CT group (control group) patients underwent abdominopelvic CT scan. The study utilized Statistical Analysis System 9.2 for data analysis, including tests, logistic regression, ROC analysis, and significance evaluation. Patients were enrolled in the study at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos in Lithuania between December 2018 and June 2021. Results—A total of 160 patients (59 men, 101 women), with a mean age of 33.7 ± 14.71, were included, with 80 patients in each group. Observation resulted in a reduced likelihood of a CT scan compared with the CT group (36.3% vs. 100% p < 0.05). One diagnostic laparoscopy was performed in the observation group; there were no cases of negative appendectomy (NA) in the CT group. Both conditional CT and observation pathways resulted in high sensitivity and specificity (97.7% and 94.6% vs. 96.7% and 95.8%). Conclusions—Observation including the repeated evaluation of laboratory results and TUS significantly reduces the number of CT scans without increasing NA numbers or the number of complicated cases.

An adenoma is the most typical large bowel tumor found in 30% of all screening colonoscopies. However, it is often asymptomatic but sometimes might lead to abdominal pain or bleeding of the rectum. Critical electrolyte disbalance and acute kidney injury caused by secretory diarrhea is an untypical clinical manifestation of adenoma. It has rarely been reported in the literature and is defined as McKittrick–Wheelock syndrome. A 61-year-old patient was hospitalized for heavy dyselectrolytemia, diarrhea, acute kidney injury, sepsis, and fever. After the renal function was corrected and electrolyte imbalance persisted, visual instrumental diagnostics tests revealed a large tumor in the sigmoid colon. Subsequently, the patient underwent surgical resection, which exhibited evidence of tubulovillous adenoma on pathology. The atypical signs of McKittrick–Wheelock syndrome and comorbidities can make the diagnostics challenging. When severe hyponatremia and hypokalemia are followed by persistent mucous diarrhea, the clinicians should suspect MWS as a possible reason for it.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is an extremely rare mesenchymal neoplasm usually detected in the pleura, which generally follows a benign course. The localization inside lung parenchyma has more rarely been reported. We present a case of a 51-year-old male with a dry cough, dyspnea, chest pain, and increased perspiration. Radiological images revealed a giant circumscribed mass on the right side of the chest. A transbronchial cryobiopsy of the lung was performed and revealed an SFT. The right upper lobectomy through lateral thoracotomy was performed. The pathological examination confirmed an SFT with a central zone of necrosis that is a sign of malignancy. At a 2-year follow-up, the patient is free of symptoms and with no evidence of recurrence. Although the intrapulmonary localization of an SFT is a rare entity, we should be aware of it as a potential malignant pulmonary neoplasm.