Immediate Effect of Simulated High Heels on Pelvic and Spinal Posture in Healthy Young Subjects: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Investigations regarding the role of high-heeled shoes in the alteration of the spinopelvic profile attempted to identify a correlation with pain in the lower back. Conclusions from these studies, however, are controversial. In authors knowledge no studies were carried out to investigate the effect of heels on male population, which has been overlooked due to gender-related customs.

Endoscopy management of sleeve gastrectomy stenosis: what we learned from 202 consecutive patients.

Background: Gastric sleeve stenosis (GSS) is described in 1%-4% of patients.

Objective: To evaluate the role of endoscopy in the management of stenosis after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy using a standardized approach according to the characteristic of stenosis.

Setting: Retrospective, observational, single-center study on patients referred from several bariatric surgery departments to an endoscopic referral center.

The use of Permacol® biological mesh for complex abdominal wall repair.

Background: Complex abdominal wall repair (CAWR) remains challenging, especially in contaminated fields where the use of a synthetic mesh is associated with prohibitively complication rates. Consequently, biological mesh has been proposed as an alternative. The aim of our study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of using Permacol® in patients who had CAWR.

Correction to: Weight Regain After Gastric Plication: Reoperative Sleeve Gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass?-Analysis of 116 Consecutive Cases.

In the original article the name of author Luigi Prisco was incorrect. It is correct here.

Weight Regain After Gastric Plication: Reoperative Sleeve Gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass?-Analysis of 116 Consecutive Cases.

Purpose: In France, laparoscopic gastric plication (GP) has rarely been utilized as a weight loss procedure. Although relatively safe and efficient, its long-term results are still controversial. The goal of this study is to assess the indications and outcomes of revisional surgery post-GP.

Roux-en-Y Gastro-jejunostomy for Complex Leak After the "Nissen" Variant of Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Background: Recently, improvised variants of sleeve gastrectomy SG were reported as alternative bariatric options in patients suffering from both morbid obesity and GERD, including mainly additional anterior or posterior fundoplication over a partially sleeved stomach.

Methods: We present the case of a 29-year-old male patient with a body mass index (BMI) of 46.2 kg/m2 underwent laparoscopic SG with concomitant posterior fundoplication: Nissen-SG (N-SG).

König's Syndrome After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Candy Cane Twist.

Background: A König's syndrome is referred to abdominal pain in relation to meals with constipation alternated with diarrhea, meteorism, and abdominal distension. A postoperative long-term complication after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass could be the appearance of chronic abdominal pain associated with vomiting, dysphagia, and nausea.

Case Report: A 43-year-old female patient was submitted for a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 36 kg/m (weight 100 kg, height 168 cm).

Liquid crystal beyond displays: feature introduction.

The editors introduce the feature issue on liquid crystal beyond displays.

Correction to: Massive Gastrointestinal Bleeding Due to Splenic Artery Erosion by a PigTail Drain in a Post Sleeve Gastrectomy Leak: a Case Report.

The name of author Frédérick Moryoussef was incorrect in the original article - it is correct here.

Macrovascular venous invasion of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: impact on surgical outcomes and survival.

Background: This study evaluates the impact of macrovascular venous invasion (MVI) on surgical and survival outcomes of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNETs).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data of 125 patients operated for PNETs. Operative, pathological,and survival outcomes were compared between PNETs with and without MVI.

Retrospective Comparison of Single-Port Sleeve Gastrectomy Versus Three-Port Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: a Propensity Score Adjustment Analysis.

Purpose: Evaluate the efficacy of single-port sleeve gastrectomy (SPSG) and then compare it to a less-invasive sleeve approach (three-port) (3PSG) according to a propensity score (PS) matching analysis.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed all patients who underwent SG through a three-port or a single-port laparoscopic approach.

Results: After 2 years, the follow-up was completed in 84% patients treated with 3PSG and 95% patients of the SPSG group.

Safety and immune response to a challenge dose of hepatitis B vaccine in healthy children primed 10years earlier with hexavalent vaccines in a 3, 5, 11-month schedule: An open-label, controlled, multicentre trial in Italy.

Background And Aims: The strategy of vaccinating infants to prevent hepatitis B virus infection in adolescence or adulthood requires durable immunity. This study investigated responses to a challenge dose of monovalent hepatitis B vaccine in children primed with three doses of either Hexavac® or Infanrix hexa® 10years earlier during infancy.

Methods: This open-label, controlled, multicentre study conducted in Italy, enrolled 751 healthy pre-adolescents (aged 11-13years) who were given either Hexavac (n=409) or Infanrix hexa (n=342) at 3, 5 and 11months of life.

Laparoscopic management of foramen of Winslow incarcerated hernia.

Foramen of Winslow hernia (FWH) is a rare and often overlooked diagnosis with a high mortality rate. Widespread availability of cross-sectional imaging allows early diagnosis and prompt management. In this setting, before ischemia occurs, explorative laparoscopy would be the most suitable approach.

Esophagogastric junction morphology assessment by high resolution manometry in obese patients candidate to bariatric surgery.

Introduction: Obesity is a strong independent risk factor of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and hiatal hernia development. Pure restrictive bariatric surgery should not be indicated in case of hiatal hernia and GERD. However it is unclear what is the real incidence of disruption of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) in patients candidate to bariatric surgery.

The impact of age and oral calcium and vitamin D supplements on postoperative hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy. A prospective study.

Background: Hypocalcemia caused by transient or definitive hypoparathyroidism is the most frequent complication after total thyroidectomy (TT). We aimed to compare the impact of age and the clinical usefulness of oral calcium and vitamin D supplements on postoperative hypocalcemia after TT, and to determine which risk factors are important for hypocalcemia incidence.

Methods: Two hundred consecutive patients treated by TT were included prospectively in the present study.

Long term quality of life after laparoscopic antireflux surgery for the elderly.

Background: Studies have previously shown laparoscopic antireflux surgery is a safe and effective treatment for GERD even in elderly patients. The aim of the current study was to evaluate patients receiving laparoscopic antireflux surgery before and after 65 years of age and to assess their surgical outcomes and improvements in long term quality of life.

Methods: Patients were given a standardized symptoms questionnaire and the Short-Form 36 Health Survey for quality-of-life evaluation before and after laparoscopic total fundoplication.

Sleeve gastrectomy and development of "de novo" gastroesophageal reflux.

Background: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is currently gaining popularity due to an excellent efficacy combined to minimal anatomic changes. However, some concerns have been raised on increased risk of postoperative gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to gastric fundus removal, section of the sling muscular fibers of gastroesophageal junction, reduced antral pump function, and gastric volume. We undertook the current study to evaluate by means of high-resolution impedance manometry (HRiM) and combined 24-h pH and multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII-pH) the impact of SG on esophageal physiology.

[First report of Echinococcus vogeli in a paca in Misiones province, Argentina].

We report the first finding of Echinococcus vogeli in a paca, Cuniculus paca, in the tropical forest of Misiones, in the north of Argentina. The presence of the bush dog, Speothos venaticus, E. vogelís only natural definitive host, was also reported.

D-shape asymmetric and symmetric excision with primary closure in the treatment of sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease.

Background: Off-midline closure after excision and primary closure in the treatment of sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease has been suggested to improve surgical outcomes and reduce median recurrence rate. The aim of this study was to investigate several features known to be related to recurrence, allowing adequate comparison of recurrence between D-shaped asymmetric and symmetric excision in the treatment of sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease.

Methods: An analysis of a prospectively maintained database of 569 surgical excisions performed for sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease between 1988 and 2007 was performed.

Endothelium/nitric oxide mechanism mediates vasorelaxation and counteracts vasoconstriction induced by low concentration of flavanols.

Purpose: At relatively low concentrations, flavanols induce inconsistent effects on isolated arterial tone, sometimes explained as being due to a structure-activity relationship. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of two flavanols at different doses on arterial functional state.

Methods: The effects of two catechins, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and (-)-epicatechin (EP), on rat-isolated aorta tone were investigated on resting tension and on precontracted preparations, both in the presence and in the absence of endothelium.

Observation of tunable optical filtering in photosensitive composite structures containing liquid crystals.

We report on the investigation and characterization of an optically tunable filtering effect, observed in a waveguide grating made of alternated strips of photocurable polymer and a mixture of azo-dye-doped liquid crystal. The grating is sandwiched between two borosilicate glasses, one of which includes an ion-exchanged channel waveguide, which confines the optical signal to be filtered. Exposure to a low power visible light beam modifies the azo-dye molecular configuration, thus allowing the filtered wavelength to be tuned over a 6.

Impact of total fundoplication on esophageal transit: analysis by combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and manometry.

Background: Laparoscopic total fundoplication is considered the most effective surgical option for gastroesophageal reflux (GER) disease. Some authors assume that total fundoplication may expose the patient to delayed transit of the swallowed bolus and increased risk of dysphagia, particularly when peristaltic dysfunction is present. We undertook this study to evaluate by means of combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and esophageal manometry (MII-EM) the impact of fundoplication on esophageal physiology.

Widely tunable electro-optic distributed Bragg reflector in liquid crystal waveguide.

We propose and numerically investigate a versatile and easy-to-realize configuration for a guided-wave voltage-tunable distributed feedback grating based on reorientation in nematic liquid crystal and coplanar comb electrodes. The device has a wide tuning range exceeding 100 nm and covers C and L bands for wavelength division multiplexing.