Gallbladder Cancer Risk and Indigenous South American Mapuche Ancestry: Instrumental Variable Analysis Using Ancestry-Informative Markers.

A strong association between the proportion of indigenous South American Mapuche ancestry and the risk of gallbladder cancer (GBC) has been reported in observational studies. Chileans show the highest incidence of GBC worldwide, and the Mapuche are the largest indigenous people in Chile. We set out to assess the confounding-free effect of the individual proportion of Mapuche ancestry on GBC risk and to investigate the mediating effects of gallstone disease and body mass index (BMI) on this association.

Development and internal validation of a multifactorial risk prediction model for gallbladder cancer in a high-incidence country.

Since 2006, Chile has been implementing a gallbladder cancer (GBC) prevention program based on prophylactic cholecystectomy for gallstone patients aged 35 to 49 years. The effectiveness of this prevention program has not yet been comprehensively evaluated. We conducted a retrospective study of 473 Chilean GBC patients and 2137 population-based controls to develop and internally validate three GBC risk prediction models.

Identification of Circulating lncRNAs Associated with Gallbladder Cancer Risk by Tissue-Based Preselection, Cis-eQTL Validation, and Analysis of Association with Genotype-Based Expression.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play key roles in cell processes and are good candidates for cancer risk prediction. Few studies have investigated the association between individual genotypes and lncRNA expression. Here we integrate three separate datasets with information on lncRNA expression only, both lncRNA expression and genotype, and genotype information only to identify circulating lncRNAs associated with the risk of gallbladder cancer () using robust linear and logistic regression techniques.

Epigenome-Wide Analysis of Methylation Changes in the Sequence of Gallstone Disease, Dysplasia, and Gallbladder Cancer.

Background And Aims: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a highly aggressive malignancy of the biliary tract. Most cases of GBC are diagnosed in low-income and middle-income countries, and research into this disease has long been limited. In this study we therefore investigate the epigenetic changes along the model of GBC carcinogenesis represented by the sequence gallstone disease → dysplasia → GBC in Chile, the country with the highest incidence of GBC worldwide.

Gallstones, Body Mass Index, C-Reactive Protein, and Gallbladder Cancer: Mendelian Randomization Analysis of Chilean and European Genotype Data.

Background And Aims: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a neglected disease with substantial geographical variability: Chile shows the highest incidence worldwide, while GBC is relatively rare in Europe. Here, we investigate the causal effects of risk factors considered in current GBC prevention programs as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) level as a marker of chronic inflammation.

Approach And Results: We applied two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) using publicly available data and our own data from a retrospective Chilean and a prospective European study.

ABCB1/4 gallbladder cancer risk variants identified in India also show strong effects in Chileans.

Background: The first large-scale genome-wide association study of gallbladder cancer (GBC) recently identified and validated three susceptibility variants in the ABCB1 and ABCB4 genes for individuals of Indian descent. We investigated whether these variants were also associated with GBC risk in Chileans, who show the highest incidence of GBC worldwide, and in Europeans with a low GBC incidence.

Methods: This population-based study analysed genotype data from retrospective Chilean case-control (255 cases, 2042 controls) and prospective European cohort (108 cases, 181 controls) samples consistently with the original publication.

Usefulness of an intra-gastric balloon before bariatric surgery.

Introduction: There are only few reports regarding the use of intragastric-balloons (IGB®) to achieve weight loss and subsequently decrease surgical complications. In this study, we try to assess whether presurgery weight loss using IGB decreases the postsurgical mortality after bariatric surgery.

Methods: This is a prospective case-control study.

A study of allelic diversity underlying flowering-time adaptation in maize landraces.

Landraces (traditional varieties) of domesticated species preserve useful genetic variation, yet they remain untapped due to the genetic linkage between the few useful alleles and hundreds of undesirable alleles. We integrated two approaches to characterize the diversity of 4,471 maize landraces. First, we mapped genomic regions controlling latitudinal and altitudinal adaptation and identified 1,498 genes.

Healthy Kids, Healthy Cuba: findings from a group model building process in the rural Southwest.

Background: Healthy Kids, Healthy Cuba (HKHCuba) is 1 of 49 community partnerships that participated in the national Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. One method of evaluation was to introduce systems thinking at the community level by identifying the essential parts of the HKHCuba system and how it influences policy and environmental changes to promote healthy eating and active living as well as to prevent childhood obesity in this unique, triethnic, rural community in New Mexico.

Methods: In this cross-sectional design, 12 HKHCuba partners participated in a group model building (GMB) session to develop behavior over time graphs and a causal loop diagram.

Is the use of prophylactic hemoclips in the endoscopic resection of large pedunculated polyps useful? A prospective and randomized study.

Background: The methods for preventing post-polypectomy bleeding (PPB) are not standardised and there are groups that use hemoclips for this purpose.

Objective: To study whether the use of hemoclips reduces PPB complications.

Materials And Methods: Prospective, randomised study of patients with pedunculated polyps larger than 10 mm.

Is the use of prophylactic hemoclips in the endoscopic resection of large pedunculated polyps useful? A prospective and randomized study.

Background: The methods for preventing post-polypectomy bleeding (PPB) are not standardised and there are groups that use hemoclips for this purpose.

Objective: To study whether the use of hemoclips reduces PPB complications.

Materials And Methods: Prospective, randomised study of patients with pedunculated polyps larger than 10 mm.

Intraoperative ERCP: What role does it have in the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy?

In the treatment of patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis (CBDS) detected during intraoperative cholangiography (IOC), or when the preoperative study of a patient at intermediate risk for CBDS cannot be completed due to the lack of imaging techniques required for confirmation, or if they are available and yield contradictory radiological and clinical results, patients can be treated using intraoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) during the laparoscopic treatment or postoperative ERCP if the IOC finds CBDS. The choice of treatment depends on the level of experience and availability of each option at each hospital. Intraoperative ERCP has the advantage of being a single-stage treatment and has a significant success rate, an easy learning curve, low morbidity involving a shorter hospital stay and lower costs than the two-stage treatments (postoperative and preoperative ERCP).

Prospective comparison of endoscopic ultrasonography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in the etiological diagnosis of "idiopathic" acute pancreatitis.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to compare endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in the etiological diagnosis of patients initially diagnosed with idiopathic acute pancreatitis and to determine the clinical and analytical factors related to the end result of these techniques.

Methods: Forty-nine patients, initially diagnosed with idiopathic acute pancreatitis, were evaluated prospectively with EUS and MRCP. Diagnoses were compared between the 2 procedures.

[Variation of intraabdominal pressure caused by abdominoplasty in healthy women].

Objective: To study pressure changes of the abdominal compartment during abdominoplasty in healthy women.

Patients And Methods: A prospective cohort of 14 women between 30 and 57 years old, who underwent abdominoplasty for aesthetic purposes wer included in this study. All patients were free of any associated medical disorder with a body mass index less than 30 kg/m2.

[Complications of the management of secondary peritonitis with contained-open abdomen. Comparison of the Bogota's bag vs polypropylene mesh].

Background: Surgery is the cornerstone regarding the treatment of secondary peritonitis, although the complications of the contained-open abdomen are common, and are usually severe.

Objectives: To identify the complications with the use of the "Bogotá's bag" compared with polypropylene mesh in contained-open abdomen. To identify other possible morbidity and mortality risk factors, independently of the mesh type usage.