: Long-term consequences of anastomotic leak after restorative proctectomy for rectal cancer, in terms of bowel function and quality of life, have been poorly delineated. : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of anastomotic leak, when intestinal continuity can still be maintained, on bowel function and ...

Liver support systems aim to provide temporary support of liver function while maintaining extra-hepatic function in patients with liver failure. Important advances have been achieved in the design of artificial and bio-artificial devices, but the current systems are far from meeting the ideal. Artificial devices provide detoxification through different dialysis ...

: Ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract is a novel surgical technique in the treatment of transsphincteric fistula-in-ano that has been shown to be successful in the short term. Median follow-up in current literature ranges from 5 to 9 months. However, the long-term success rate is unknown. : This study describes ...

: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with obesity, but it may also be present in lean individuals. We evaluated the characteristics of NAFLD patients, focusing on those with normal body mass index (BMI). : One hundred and sixty-two of 185 consecutive NAFLD patients were included. Demographic, clinical, somatometric, ...

: The purpose of this article was to discuss common issues associated with large databases and present possible solutions to improve the quality and usefulness of large database research. : The volume of electronic healthcare-related data is growing exponentially. Some of these data are being stored in registries and administrative ...

: Lynch syndrome contributes to 5% of all colorectal cancers. Patients seen in most surgical clinics have limited or no family histories documented and are rarely assessed for hereditary syndromes. In 2007 a clinic-based hereditary colorectal cancer registry was established to screen for Lynch syndrome and facilitate genetic counseling/testing. : ...

Besides the well-characterized effects of brain insulin and leptin in regulating food intake, insulin and leptin signaling to the central nervous system modulates a variety of metabolic processes, such as glucose and lipid homeostasis, as well as energy expenditure. This review summarizes the current literature on the contribution of central ...

: A number of small prospective studies with conflicting results have evaluated the effect of sugar-free chewing gum on postoperative GI recovery in patients initially maintained nil per os after major colorectal surgery. : We sought to evaluate the effect of sugared chewing gum in combination with early enteral feeding ...

: The impact of previous abdominal surgeries on the need for conversion to open surgery and on short-term outcomes during/after laparoscopic colectomy was retrospectively investigated. : This retrospective cohort study was conducted from December 1996 through December 2009. : This study was conducted at Osaka Medical College Hospital. : A ...

: Technical feasibility of perineal antropyloric valve transposition to reconstruct a severely damaged incontinent anal sphincter or to replace an excised anorectal sphincter has been reported previously. : This study aimed to document the follow-up results of patients who underwent successful perineal antropyloric valve transposition for end-stage fecal incontinence. : ...

The transversus abdominis plane block has been used as a component of postoperative analgesia after hysterectomy and open abdominal surgery. This block involves the injection of anesthetic between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles. We demonstrate an improved method by the use of laparoscopic guidance for transversus abdominis plane ...

: Rectourethral fistulas are uncommon. Retrospective studies and case reports have highlighted various approaches for surgical repair. Because clinical presentations and technical expertise vary widely, no single procedure has been universally adopted. : We sought to qualitatively analyze studies describing surgical techniques and outcomes in adult acquired rectourethral fistulas to ...

: Fecal incontinence is a common debilitating condition. : The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of sacral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as an alternative treatment modality for fecal incontinence. : All consecutive patients who presented with fecal incontinence to the senior author's clinic were prospectively recruited ...

: Adenomatous polyps greater than 1 cm are defined as advanced adenomas. Inaccurate size estimation can lead to inappropriate surveillance recommendations of colorectal adenomas. : The aim of this study was to determine the impact of endoscopic polyp mis-sizing on colorectal cancer surveillance recommendations. : This is a prospective study. ...

: The purpose of the study was to measure knowledge and attitudes of nursing about pain management in patients before education, immediately after, and 6 months later. The end-point measure was Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems quarterly scores and percentile rank. : This longitudinal, quasi-experimental, quantitative study ...

: There is controversy concerning whether or not to perform mucosectomy after IPAA in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. Although more frequent adenoma formation at the anastomotic site in patients without a mucosectomy is documented, the interpretation of the theoretical reflections and empirical findings are ambiguous. : The aim of ...

All organisms must adapt to changing nutrient availability, with nutrient surplus promoting glucose metabolism and nutrient deficit promoting alternative fuels (in mammals, mainly free fatty acids). A major function of glucose-sensing neurons in the hypothalamus is to regulate blood glucose. When these neurons sense glucose levels are too low, they ...

: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery, a minimally invasive procedure for treatment of early-stage rectal cancer, carcinoid tumors, and adenomas, is shown to be a safe procedure with very low perioperative morbidity. : We aimed to compare the outcomes of transanal endoscopic microsurgery at a large volume tertiary care center with the ...

: Fecal incontinence is a distressing condition that is difficult to treat. Injection of bulking agents has been used to treat passive fecal incontinence. However, no long-term results are available. : The aim of this study was to assess the long-term clinical effectiveness of intra-anal injection of collagen for passive ...

: The role of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) has evolved significantly over time and will continue to do so. Future students, faculty, and practicing CNSs should be aware of their roots, current status, and what the future may entail. : An accurate understanding and reflection of the past, present, ...

: Since its inception in 2009, transanal minimally invasive surgery has been used increasingly in the United States and internationally as an alternative to local excision and transanal endoscopic microsurgery for local excision of neoplasms in the distal and mid rectum. Despite its increasing acceptance, the clinical benefits of transanal ...

: Length of stay following elective colorectal surgery is being reported as a quality measure in surgical outcome registries, such as the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Regional referral centers with large geographic catchment areas attract patients from significant distances. : The aim of this study was to examine the ...

: There are no reports available on the long-term outcome of patients with the "liver first" approach. : The aim of this study was to present the long-term results of the "liver first" approach in our center. : This study is a retrospective analysis. : This study was conducted at ...

: The objective of the study was to describe and compare cost estimates for a pilot study of the Daily Enhancement of Meaningful Activity intervention for persons with mild cognitive impairment-caregiver dyads. : The increasing complexity of the healthcare system and rising healthcare costs have forced nurse scientists to find ...

: To underscore the utility of DNA fingerprinting for clarifying disparate results from endoscopic pathologic specimens. : Occasionally, serially obtained gastrointestinal biopsies may yield inconsistent results. These discrepancies pose a dilemma for gastroenterologists and their patients, especially when malignancy is a consideration. : Patients referred to our tertiary care center ...

BACKGROUND:: Sexual dysfunction is a problem for some patients with cardiovascular disease. This study was the final phase of the Cardiac Health and Assessment of Relationship Management and Sexuality (CHARMS) study of sexual function, assessment, and counseling for people with coronary heart disease in Ireland. OBJECTIVES:: The aim of this ...

: Epstein-Barr virus infection is associated with inflammatory bowel disease, but its role as a pathogenetic or exacerbating factor remains unclear. : The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between Epstein-Barr virus infection and inflammatory bowel disease, particularly in regard to exacerbation of disease activity. : This ...

This study evaluated whether coronary artery calcium scores (CACS) and the degree of stenosis that were measured with computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) predicted post-operative cardiovascular events in patients who were undergoing intermediate-risk noncardiac surgery. Cardiovascular complications are important causes of mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing major noncardiac surgeries. ...

Cardiac troponin (cTn) is a biomarker of myocardial damage. New generations of high-sensitivity assays find circulating cTn in virtually all subjects. Multiple studies in various populations and patient groups have found higher levels of cTn to be predictive of future heart failure. The author proposes that initial myocardial damage from ...

This study sought to identify risk factors for the occurrence of all-cause hospital admissions among older persons after heart failure diagnosis, and to determine whether geriatric conditions would emerge as independent risk factors for admission when evaluated in the context of other relevant clinical data. Efforts to reduce costs in ...

The purpose of this study was to understand the possible risk of discontinuation in the context of clinical care. Rivaroxaban is noninferior to warfarin for preventing stroke in atrial fibrillation patients. Concerns exist regarding possible increased risk of stroke and non-central nervous system (CNS) thromboembolic events early after discontinuation of ...

This study sought to determine the usefulness of plasma growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) for risk stratification in patients undergoing cardiac surgery in comparison with the additive European System of Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP), and high-sensitive troponin T (hsTNT). GDF-15 is emerging as a ...

Many animal experiments have shown that anesthetics can have a neurotoxic effect on immature brains because they induce apoptosis and influence neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. In animal experiments this has substantial implications for the neurocognitive functions of animals in later life. Whether these results of animal experiments can be transferred to ...

Severe cases of tuberculosis can cause vital functional disturbances depending on the stage of the disease and the organ manifestation. There is a particularly high mortality rate in intensive care patients with tuberculosis. Extrapulmonary organ manifestations of this disease in particular can be associated with misdiagnosis and fatal outcome. In ...

The routine administration of supplemental oxygen to women undergoing elective caesarean section under regional anesthesia in order to optimize oxygen supply to the fetus is common anesthetic practice in many German hospitals. However, this practice has been controversially discussed in the non-German literature for many years. This review presents and ...

BACKGROUND: In rare cases, hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction can be associated with an extraordinarily active non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and subsequent liver cirrhosis. CASE REPORT: The two young adult patients described in this report presented with NASH together with advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis 5 and 19 years, respectively after resection of a craniopharyngeoma. ...

BACKGROUND: Patients with depression are treated for a relatively long period as inpatients in Germany. A new treatment model with symptom-orientated release management, post-hospitalization treatment and standardized referral to outpatient therapists could be suitable to specifically shorten the hospital stay of patients who have already profited sufficiently from treatment. MATERIALS ...

A 44-year-old woman presented in March 2010 for surveillance esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). In October 2004, rectal cancer had been diagnosed and treated by resection of the rectum with adjuvant chemotherapy. A diagnosis of hereditary nonpolyposis colon carcinoma (HNPCC) was established on the basis of the Amsterdam II criteria. Due to a lack ...

A follow-up study has been carried out to assess the association between MTHFR polymorphisms (SNPs) and overall survival (OS) of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Data on 411 CRC patients after surgery were tested for the MTHFR 677C > T and 1298A > C polymorphisms. For MTHFR C677T, patients with CT genotype (HR = 1.17; 95 % CI ...

Bourassa et al. (Reports, 6 July 2012, p. 78) have suggested that deep convection associated with the Asian monsoon played a critical role in transporting sulfur dioxide associated with the Nabro volcanic eruption (13 June 2011) from the upper troposphere (9 to 14 kilometers) into the lower stratosphere. An analysis ...

BACKGROUND: Prior research about symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) after shoulder arthroplasty has not determined whether procedure type (hemiarthroplasty, total shoulder arthroplasty, or reverse shoulder arthroplasty) or surgical indication (traumatic or elective) represent risk factors for VTE after shoulder replacement. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We therefore asked whether the risk of symptomatic VTE events ...

By using novel triblock copolymer templates, thermally-stable ordered mesoporous SnO(2) thin films are synthesized through a solvent evaporation method. Owing to the high thermal stability of the triblock copolymer, the mesoporous structure is retained even after calcination at 600 °C. After the crystallization, the mesopore walls consist of small crystallite ...

The genus Meira currently contains three recently described species of mite-associated basidiomycete yeasts from Israel and Japan and is placed in the Exobasidiomycetes (Ustilaginomycotina) Incertae sedis. A previously undescribed species of Meira was isolated from the phylloplane of a magnolia leaf in Louisiana, USA. Herein, we describe Meira miltonrushii sp. ...

PURPOSE: A novel indicator called health-adjusted leave days (HALDs) is proposed. It integrates the opposite level of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with the sick leave days (LDs) before return-to-work (RTW) to better measure the impact of injuries on occupational health. METHODS: A total of 1,167 limb injuries were consecutively ...

Background: Lecitin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency comprises a group of rare disorders related to HDL metabolism. These disorders are characterized by ophthalmologic, hematologic, and renal findings. Case diagnosis/treatment: A 15-year-old female who presented with nephrotic syndrome and hypertension was diagnosed with LCAT deficiency by renal biopsy and LCAT enzyme activity. ...

OBJECTIVES: Changes in health behavior among women with breast cancer with respect to food intake, exercise and smoking habits are considered. We aimed to analyze (1) significant modifications of these behaviors about a year after breast cancer surgery and (2) the impact of social, medical and behavioral patient characteristics on ...

Bimanual coordination is essential for everyday activities. It is thought that different degrees of demands may affect learning of new bimanual patterns. One demand is at the level of performance and involves breaking the tendency to produce mirror-symmetric movements. A second is at a perceptual level and involves controlling each ...

Basal-like invasive breast cancer is an important clinical group because of its association with a triple-negative phenotype defined by the lack of expression of estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor receptors 2, relative lack of therapeutic options and poor prognosis. However, depending on the method used to define these ...

Discharged obelin, a complex of coelenteramide and polypeptide, is a fluorescent protein produced from the photoprotein obelin, which is responsible for bioluminescence of the marine hydroid Obelia longissima. Discharged obelin is stable and nontoxic and its spectra are variable, and this is why it can be used as a fluorescent ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Research indicates that those who are worried about their health are more likely to change their in-appropriate behavioural-related risk factors. A national survey was undertaken to determine adults who correctly perceive and actually undertake in-appropriate behavioural-related risk factors (smoking, physical activity, alcohol intake, fruit and vegetable consumption, weight ...