INTRODUCTIONInternal herniation of a small bowel behind pelvic vessels is a rare complication seen after pelvic lymphadenectomy.PRESENTATION OF CASEA 56-year-old woman was operated due to a gynecological cancer. 4 years thereafter she presented with a 2 days history of abdominal pain and vomiting. Clinical and radiological findings indicated a small bowel obstruction. A loop of small bowel had herniated behind the left external iliac artery. Using laparoscopic technique the herniated bowel was reduced. Due to limited peritoneum around the area and skeletonized vessel, we decided not to do any repair of the hernia orifice. The postoperative recovery was uneventful, bowel activity returned to normal and she was discharged the next day.Follow-up was done at 1 month and the latest at 10 months. She didn’t experience pain or discomfort after the operation.DISCUSSIONDue to limited peritoneum around the skeletonized vessel, we decided to leave the hernia orifice unrepaired. We found it hazardous to do any direct suture of the orifice or use a free peritoneal graft to repair the defect as the fibrosis and inflammatory process might have compromised the artery or the vein. A longer follow-up of the patient is needed to clearly conclude if this simple procedure has been sufficient. We agreed that if the patient would experience any sign of recurrence and need another operation we would close the defect at that time.CONCLUSION4 years after pelvic lymphadenectomy a small bowel herniation behind an external iliac artery occurred. The patient was successfully treated with reduction of the small bowel using laparoscopic technique. A quick recovery with minimal discomfort and no sign of recurrence after 10 months made our approach an acceptable surgical option.

To prevent autoimmunity, thymocytes expressing self-reactive T cell receptors (TCRs) are negatively selected, however, divergence into tolerogenic, agonist selected lineages represent an alternative fate. As thymocyte development, selection, and lineage choices are dependent on spatial context and cell-to-cell interactions, we have performed Cellular Indexing of Transcriptomes and Epitopes by sequencing (CITE-seq) and spatial transcriptomics on paediatric human thymu​​s. Thymocytes expressing markers of strong TCR signalling diverged from the conventional developmental trajectory prior to CD4+ or CD8+ lineage commitment, while markers of different agonist selected T cell populations (CD8αα(I), CD8αα(II), T(agonist), Treg(diff), and Treg) exhibited variable timing of induction. Expression profiles of chemokines and co-stimulatory molecules, together with spatial localisation, supported that dendritic cells, B cells, and stromal cells contribute to agonist selection, with different subsets influencing thymocytes at specific developmental stages within distinct spatial niches. Understanding factors influencing agonist T cells is needed to benefit from their immunoregulatory effects in clinical use.

BackgroundWe hypothesized that a novel three-dimensional virtual semi-transparent annulus plane (3D VSAP) presented on a holographic screen can be used to visualize the prolapsing tissue in degenerative mitral valve disease and furthermore, provide us with geometrical data of the mitral valve apparatus. Phantom and patient studies were designed to demonstrate the feasibility of creating a semi-automatic, semi-transparent mitral annulus plane visualized on a holographic display.MethodsTen pipe cleaners mimicking the mitral annulus with different shapes and three types of annuloplasty rings served as phantoms. We obtained 3D transoesophageal examination of the phantoms in a special designed box filled with water. Recordings were converted to the holographic display and a 3D VSAP was created. The ratio of the major and minor axes as well as the non-planar angles were calculated and compared with direct measures of the phantoms. Forty patients with degenerative mitral valve disease were then analyzed with 3D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and a 3D VSAP was created on the holographic display. A total of 240 segments were analyzed by two independent observers, one echo expert (observer I), and the other novice with limited echo experience (observer II). The two observers created the 3D VSAP in each patient before suggesting the valve pathology.ResultsThe major/minor axes ratio and non-planar angles by 3D VSAP correlated with direct measurements by r = 0.65, p < 0.02 and r = 0.99, p < 0.0001, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the 3D VSAP method in patients was 81 and 97 %, respectively (observer I) and for observer II 77 and 96 %, respectively. The accuracy and precisions were 93.9 and 89.4 %, respectively (observer I), 92.3 and 85.1 % (observer II). Mitral valve analysis adding a 3D VSAP was feasible with high accuracy and precision, providing a quick and less subjective method for diagnosing mitral valve prolapse. This novel method may improve preoperative diagnostics and may relieve a better understanding of the pathophysiology of mitral valve disease. Thus, based on the specific findings in each patient, a tailored surgical repair can be planned and hopefully enhance long-term repair patency in the future.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography with multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) is used clinically to quantify the mitral annulus. MPR images are, however, presented on a two-dimensional screen, calling into question their accuracy. An alternative to MPR is an autostereoscopic holographic display that enables indepth visualization of 3D echocardiographic data without the need for special glasses. The aim of this study was to validate an autostereoscopic display using sonomicrometry as a gold standard. Methods:In 11 anesthetized open-chest pigs, sonomicrometric crystals were placed along the mitral annulus and near the left ventricular apex. High-fidelity catheters measured left atrial and ventricular pressures. Adjustments of pre-and afterload were done by constriction of the inferior vena cava and the ascending aorta, respectively. Three-dimensional epicardial echocardiography was obtained from an apical view and converted to the autostereoscopic display. A 3D virtual semitransparent annular surface (VSAS) was generated to measure commissure width (CW), septal-lateral length, area of the mitral annular surface, nonplanarity angle, and the annular height-to-commissure width ratio in mid-systole and late diastole.Results: Mitral annular measurements from the 3D VSAS derived from the 3D echocardiographic images and autostereoscopic display correlated well with sonomicrometry over a range of loading conditions: CW length (r = 0.98, P < .00001), septal-lateral length (r = 0.98, P < .00001), annular surface area (r = 0.93, P < .001), nonplanarity angle (r = 0.87, P < .001), and annular height-to-commissure width ratio (r = 0.85, P < .01). The 3D VSAS showed better agreement with the sonomicrometric measurements compared with MPR.Conclusions: Mitral annular measurements using 3D VSAS correlate well with sonomicrometry over a range of loading conditions and may represent a powerful tool for noninvasive quantification of mitral annular dynamics. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2019;32:303-16.)

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