Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), commonly known as primary liver cancer, is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, primarily attributed to changing lifestyles and dietary habits. HCC arises from liver cirrhosis, hepatic fibrosis, or hepatitis B virus infection, and is caused by disruptions in protein and lipid metabolism. These metabolic alterations, recognized as a hallmark of cancer, are pivotal in the progression of chronic liver disease to HCC. Due to its asymptomatic nature in early stages, HCC is often diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment options are limited. Despite being a potentially curative option, liver transplantation remains hindered by high costs and donor scarcity, further compounded by suboptimal long-term success rates. This review examines the critical metabolites that play a part in developing HCC, focusing on their roles as possible biomarkers for disease progression and therapeutic targets. Additionally, the influence of the gut microbiome on HCC development is discussed, highlighting its interplay with metabolic pathways. Understanding the roles of metabolites and the gut microbiome in HCC progression underscores the importance of their potential use in early detection and the development of targeted therapies, offering new avenues for improving patient outcomes.

p style=text-align: justify;strongOBJECTIVES:/strong To assess effects of type 3 thyroplasty on outcomes of voice quality in puberphonia.METHODS:br /Design:/strong Prospective cohortbr /strongSetting:/strong Tertiary Referral Hospitalbr /strongParticipants:/strong Six patients with puberphonia who failed voice therapy, aged 16-25 years, who consulted at the ENT Outpatient department between September 2010 and September 2012, underwent type 3 thyroplasty.Pre-operative and 6-month post-operative voice analysis by voice recordings, Voice Handicap Index (VHI), GRBAS score and real time acoustic analysis (perturbation) using Dr Speech software (University version 4.0, Voice Tech Corporation, USA [Tiger Electronics] with habitual fundamental frequency (FO), jitter % and shimmer % as parameters were performed.Results: Mean pre-operative VHI and GRBAS scores were 53 and 75.67, respectively, whereas post-operative scores were 29 and 25.00, respectively. (P-value for VHI was 0.004 and that of GRBAS was 0.00). On acoustic analysis, mean pre-operative habitual fundamental frequency (FO), jitter % and shimmer % was 245.82 Hz, 0.21 and 2.34, respectively, whereas post-operative mean was 140.78 Hz (P=0.00), 0.19 (P=0.04) and 1.52 (P=0.00), respectively.Conclusion: The mainstay of treatment of puberphonia is voice therapy. Thyroplasty provides a suitable management option in those cases who fail to respond by voice therapy./p
Human ; Male ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Laryngoplasty ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Voice Quality ; treatment

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentation and course of seven ectopic thyroid patients.

METHODS:
Design: Retrospective Chart Review
Setting: Tertiary Government Teaching Hospital
Patient: Seven patients

RESULTS: Five patients were female and two were male (ratio of 5:2). Three belonged to the 20 to 30 year-old age group, whereas two were below 10 years of age. All seven were biochemically hypothyroid and ectopic thyroid was found to be the only functioning thyroid tissue. Three patients were managed medically with levothyroxine, while ectopic thyroid was excised in four. Ectopic thyroid tissue was autotransplanted in two cases following excision.

CONCLUSION: The ages of presentation in the present series correspond with the increased physiological demand of thyroid hormone. Thyroid substitution therapy is a must in the presence of clinical and/or biochemical hypothyroidism. Surgical excision should be avoided as far as possible especially if the ectopic tissue is the only functioning thyroid in the body. Surgery is required in selected cases presenting with obstructive symptoms or hemorrhage which are unresponsive to substitution therapy. Auto transplantation of the ectopic thyroid may not provide significant benefit to the patient and more research is warranted in this aspect.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Thyroid Gland ; Lingual Thyroid ; General Surgery

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma in the parapharyngeal space and discuss its management.

METHODS:
Design: Case Report
Setting: Tertiary Government Teaching Hospital
Patient: One

RESULTS: A 40-year-old male patient with dysphagia for three months and a left-sided mucosa-covered oropharyngeal mass was found to have a prestyloid parapharyngeal lesion on CT scans. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) revealed a pleomorphic adenoma. With a past history of parapharyngeal pleomorphic adenoma excised transorally three years before, the present mass was excised by mandibular swing approach. Post-operative recovery was uneventful but the final histopathological report was carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma.

CONCLUSION: Malignant transformation should be suspected in recurrent salivary tumors in the parapharyngeal space. Provided there was truly no pre-existing malignant focus in the originally-excised tumor, and that early recurrence was not due to inadequate initial excision, this patient had a rare condition where the same tumor underwent malignant transformation within three years only. To the best of our knowledge, such an early transformation to malignancy of a minor salivary gland tumor of the parapharyngeal space has not been reported in the English literature.

Human ; Male ; Carcinoma ; Adenoma

OBJECTIVE/strong: To present a rare case of maxillary swelling; its investigation and management.br /br /strongMETHODS/strong:br /strongDesign/strong: Case Report br /strongSetting/strong: Tertiary Government Teaching Hospital br /strongPatient/strong: One br /br /strongRESULTS/strong: A 45-year-old female presented with a right maxillary swelling of six months duration. Radiological investigation revealed a radiolucent lesion arising from the inferior aspect of the right maxilla with no areas of calcification. Incisional biopsy report was consistent with giant cell tumor. The mass was excised via a Weber Ferguson incision under general anesthesia.CONCLUSION/strong: Though rare, giant cell tumor should be considered as one of the differential diagnosis in cases of maxillary swelling. Adequate surgical excision with long-term follow-up should be the treatment of choice for managing a giant cell lesion of the maxilla./p
Human ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Giant Cell Tumors-diagnosis ; neoplasms ; Maxilla ; Therapies, Investigational ; Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed