The present data demonstrate a high expression of D2R in NETs; this finding is of clinical relevance in view of the potential role of dopaminergic drugs in inhibiting secretion and/or cell proliferation in NETs.

Object The authors report on a series of 145 consecutive patients with different types of spine lesions surgically treated via an anterior approach (AA) at the thoracic and lumbar levels during the past 10 years. Indications, techniques, and surgical results are described. Methods This series included 92 patients with fractures, 30 with neoplasms, 13 with thoracic disc hernias, and 10 with spinal infections. Based on the lesion to be addressed, the AA was used for lesion excision, corpectomy, vertebral body reconstruction with cages, realignment, and/or plating or screwing. The approach was extracavitary in 55 patients and intracavitary in 90. In 126 patients (86.8%), neural decompression and spine stabilization were achieved via a stand-alone AA (SA-AA), whereas 19 patients (13.1%) were treated using a 2-stage anteroposterior approach. This circumferential approach was reserved for select cases of severe traumatic dislocation, particular types of tumors, or specific anatomical locations. The authors developed a simple neuronavigation-based method of identifying the severely injured patients who were eligible for the SA-AA by evaluating the angle of lateral dislocation. Results There were no deaths and no instances of major surgery-related morbidity. Minor morbidity was almost always transitory and was reported in 13 patients (8.9%). Neurological improvement was reported in 20% of injured patients with a preoperative incomplete lesion. Postoperatively, all patients were able to stand or at least sit without load pain. During the follow-up (mean ± standard deviation 3.8 ± 2.4 years), there were no cases of failure, fracture, dislocation, or bending of the anterior instrumentation, and the rate of pseudarthrosis was 0%. Conclusion The anterior route provides direct access to most spine diseases and allows optimal neural decompression and the possibility of adequate realignment and strong reconstruction/fixation. Stability of the vertebral column is achieved, resolution of clinical pain is rapid and almost complete, and the rate of surgical complications is very low. The authors assert that the SA-AA offers so many advantages and has such good results that the 2-stage anteroposterior approach can be reserved for a minority of select cases and that the time for using the posterior approach alone is over.

Background: Despite bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) with valves is a minimally invasive treatment for emphysema, it can associate with some complications. We aimed at evaluating the rate and type of complications related to valve treatment and their impact on clinical outcomes. Methods: It is a retrospective multicenter study including all consecutive patients with severe heterogeneous emphysema undergoing BLVR with endobronchial valve treatment and developed any complications related to this procedure. The type of complication, the time of onset, the treatment required and the outcome were evaluated. Response to treatment was assessed according to the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) as follows: an improvement of ≥15% in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1); of −8% in residual volume (RV); of ≥26 m in 6-minnute walking distance (6MWD); and of ≥4 points on the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Target lobe volume reduction (TLVR) ≥350 mL was considered significant. Results: One hundred and seven out of 423 (25.3%) treated patients had complications related to valve treatment including pneumothorax (17.3%); pneumonia (1.7%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation (0.9%), respiratory failure (1.4%), valve migration (2.1%), and hemoptysis (1.9%). In all cases complications resolved with appropriate treatment including removal of valves in 21/107 cases (19.6%). Patients with TLVR ≥350 mL (n=64) vs. those <350 mL (n=43) had a statistically significant higher improvement in FEV 1 (19.0%±3.9% vs. 3.0%±0.9%; P=0.0003); in RV (−10.0%±4.8% vs. −4.0%±2.9%; P=0.002); in 6MWD (33.0±19.0 vs. 12.0±6.3 metres; P=0.001); and in SGRQ (−15.0±2.9 vs. −8.0±3.5 points; P=0.01). Only patients with TLVR ≥350 mL met or exceeded the MCID cutoff criteria for FEV 1 (19.0%±3.9%), RV (−10.0%±4.8%), 6MWT (33.0±19.0 metres), and SGQR (−15.0±2.9 points). Five patients (1.2%) died during follow-up for causes not related to valves treatment neither to any of the complications described.

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