Associations Between Cholecalciferol Supplementation and Self-Reported Symptoms Among Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer and Vitamin D Deficiency: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: To assess the potential effect of cholecalciferol supplementation to reduce symptom burden for women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Sample & Setting: 11 clinically stable women with estrogen receptor-positive MBC were recruited from a single cancer center for this phase 1, nonrandomized study (NCT02186015).

Methods & Variables: Women with insufficient serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels qualified to receive high-dose repletion therapy.

microRNA-10 and -221 modulate differential expression of Hippo signaling pathway in human astroglial tumors.

Gliomas represent over 70% of all brain tumors, they are highly invasive and structurally vascular neoplasms. Despite the latest technological advance in neuro-surgery the survival of patients with high-grade glioma remains poor. The lack of robust treatment options has propelled the search for new markers that may able allow the identification of patients who can benefit from molecularly targeted therapies.

Voluminous paraumbilical hernia containing the pancreas - An unusual cause of acute pancreatitis: A case report.

Introduction: The paraumbilical hernia sac often contains the omentum, the small bowel, and less commonly the colon. The herniation of the pancreas through a paraumbilical hernia is extremely rare and has been reported only by two cases in the literature; moreover, acute pancreatitis secondary to this condition is a particularly unusual event.

Case Report: We present a very unusual case of a 67-year-old female patient with a voluminous paraumbilical hernia containing the pancreas, complicated by acute pancreatitis.

Body Composition, Serum Biomarkers of Inflammation and Quality of Life in Clinically Stable Women with Estrogen Receptor Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Limited data exist regarding body composition and associated patient-reported outcomes for women with metastatic BC. Demographic, clinical, blood, and questionnaire data were collected to quantify body composition and explore associations with symptoms, inflammation, and quality of life (QOL) in 41 women with ER + metastatic BC. Diagnostic/surveillance computed tomography (CT) images including the third lumbar region (L3) were obtained to evaluate skeletal muscle (SM) quantity and quality, and abdominal adipose tissue.

miRNA expression profiling regulates necroptotic cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive types of cancer and is among the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Although the dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) has often been reported in HCC, the precise molecular mechanisms by which miRNAs modulate the process of tumorigenesis and the behavior of cancer cells are not yet clearly understood. In this study, we identified a novel three‑miRNA signature, including miR‑371-5p, miR‑373 and miR‑543, that appears to orchestrate programmed cell necrosis in HCC by directly targeting the caspase‑8 gene (Casp‑8).

Supergiant fecaloma as manifestation of chronic constipation.

Fecaloma is common in patients with damage to the autonomic nervous system in the large bowel associated with Chagas disease (inflammatory and neoplastic) or Hirschprung's disease, in psychiatric patients and, more commonly, in elderly patients suffering with chronic constipation. Symptoms of fecaloma are usually nonspecific. Clinical examination can give the appearance of an abdominal tumor.

miRNA regulation of Sirtuin-1 expression in human astrocytoma.

Sirtuins are a family of 7 histone deacetylases largely involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, survival and death. The role of sirtuins in tumorigenesis and cancer progression has been previously studied in certain cancer types. Few studies have investigated sirtuin expression in gliomas, with controversial results.

Three-Dimensional Versus Two-Dimensional Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy.

Background And Aims: To address the issue whether three dimensional (3D) offers real operative time advantages to the surgical procedure (primary endpoint) and significant reduction of surgeon's physical strain (secondary endpoint), we have retrospectively analyzed two consecutive series of laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (LRH) performed by a single experienced laparoscopic colorectal surgeon with two different imaging systems (two dimensional [2D] and 3D).

Patients And Methods: Since January 2014, 25 consecutive patients with right colon cancer underwent 3D LRH and other 25 consecutive ones received a 2D LRH by a single experienced surgeon. After the insertion of the access ports, the surgical procedure has been divided in component tasks and the execution times were compared.

A case of Candida krusei peritonitis secondary to duodenal perforation due to Candida duodenitis.

A case of a 62-year-old man with Candida krusei peritonitis secondary to duodenal perforation due to Candida duodenitis that was successfully treated with a 14-day course of caspofungin is reported. The potential role of Candida infection in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcers and duodenal perforation is considered. If this role is confirmed, antifungal treatment should be included in the therapeutic armamentarium of peptic disease.

Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency-assisted segmental liver resection: a new technique.

Segmental hepatectomy is appealing for several reasons including preservation of liver parenchyma, reduction of intraoperative blood loss, and blood replacement by dividing tissues along the anatomic planes. A simple technique guided by intraoperative ultrasound is described here using radio-frequency energy to create coagulative desiccation of segmental or subsegmental arterial and portal vessels. Thirty patients underwent a segmental resection using this technique without mortality and with minor morbidity.

Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency-assisted segmental arterioportal vascular occlusion in laparoscopic segmental liver resection.

Background: Studies have shown laparoscopic liver resection to be feasible and safe. Segmental hepatectomy is appealing because it allows a reduction of intraoperative blood loss and blood replacement by dividing tissues along the anatomic planes. However, an effective technique that allows the closure of segmental vessels during systematic segmentectomies before resection still is lacking in laparoscopic surgery.

Retromuscular sutured incisional hernia repair: a randomized controlled trial to compare open and laparoscopic approach.

To compare the early and intermediate results of the open and laparoscopic tension-free repair of incisional hernia, 24 patients were randomized prospectively to undergo laparoscopic or open repair of incisional hernia with retromuscular placement of the prosthesis using transabdominal sutures for mesh fixation. All the procedures were completed as planned. The mean duration of surgery was not significantly different between the 2 groups (P=0.

Palliative antecolic isoperistaltic gastrojejunostomy: a randomized controlled trial comparing open and laparoscopic approaches.

Gastric outlet obstruction is a common, often preterminal, event for patients with inoperable neoplasms of the distal stomach, duodenum, and biliopancreatic area. It can be surgically managed by open or laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy. This study aimed to compare the results of open and laparoscopic palliative gastrojejunostomy for patients with gastric outlet obstruction resulting from inoperable neoplasms.

Simple versus double jejunal pouch for reconstruction after total gastrectomy.

Background: Even though many types of reconstruction after total gastrectomy have been proposed to reduce postgastrectomy syndromes, choosing a method that would further improve the quality of life and nutrition of the gastrectomized patient is controversial. Hunt-Lawrence single pouch reconstruction seems to obtain better results compared with the more common Roux-en-Y technique, but both of these reconstructive approaches are associated with some reduction in food intake and some problems in achievement of ideal body weight.

Methods: In this prospective, randomized trial, after total gastrectomy 18 patients had reconstruction according to the Hunt-Lawrence or single pouch technique (SP group), whereas for 23 patients, the technique was modified with construction of a second pouch in the distal portion of the jejunal loop (DP group).

[Vascular clamping in cirrhotic liver surgery].

Different vascular clamp methods in liver surgery have led to less complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results after hepatic resection involving different vascular clamping methods and liver function outcome. Our study examined 46 patients who underwent surgery for liver lesions, developed on cirrhotic and noncirrhotic livers, applying the technique of selective clamping and pedicular clamping.

[Solitary and multiple thyroid nodular pathology (results of 1,300 surgical interventions)].

To evaluate the results of single and multinodular thyropathies surgical treatment, 1.300 cases operated on from january 1974 to december 1987 were reviewed. 842 patients (64.

[Current facts on ulcer disease].

In the second half of this century, some important changes characterized the peptic ulcer history. The overall incidence of ulcer disease markedly decreased, with some differences in the various geographic areas and according to socioeconomic development of population. Peptic ulcer seems now more frequent in women and in the elderly patients, in comparison with the past.

[Surgery of peptic ulcer 10 years after the introduction of anti-H2 agents].

To evaluate the actual rate of both elective and emergency surgical operations for peptic ulcer, a questionnaire on the incidence of these operations was sent to 60 european departments of digestive surgery. 28 centers entered the trial, with the following results: 1,800 patients operated on; marked decrease of elective operations (100 percent of the centers); High decrease of emergency operations for hemorrhagic ulcer (80 percent of the centers). Decrease of emergency operations for perforation (50 percent of the centers).

[Treatment of acute cholecystitis, yesterday and today: the role of diagnostic research].

To evaluate the influence of both ultrasonography and cholescintiscan on the choice of the treatment and prognosis of acute cholecystitis, the authors reviewed their series of 187 patients observed between 1974 and 1985. On the basis of diagnostic investigations employed, two distinct periods are considered, 1974-79 and 1980-85. In the I period, the exact diagnosis of the disease was obtained in 31 patients (26.

[Development of suture materials: from the beginning to our day].

The history of suture materials from the beginnings to the II World War is reported. In this period, catgut and silk were the most employed sutures. The appearance and successive development of synthetic materials revolutionized the field of surgical sutures.

[Changes in the levels of reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) during and after surgery of the thyroid gland].

The thyroid activity of twenty euthyroid patients, with single or multiple "cold" nodules was investigated, with determination of seric T3, T4, reverse-T3 (rT3) and TSH. The blood-drags were performed respectively, during (with seric samples from the inferior thyroid vein ipsilateral to the affected lobe) and after (1, 3 and 7 days) surgery. The results of this study--and particularly the significative decrease of T3 and the rapid rT3 increase, either during or after operation - suggests a condition similar to the described "Low T3 syndrome", as expression of both the stress determined by surgery and the correlated thyroid metabolic "adaptation".

[Cytologic aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis and therapy of solitary cystic nodular thyropathies].

Between January and December 1983, 36 patients with single and benign cystic thyroid nodules underwent fine needle aspiration. They received, after fine needle aspiration, medical treatment (antiinflammatory drugs and L-T4). Clinical and ultrasonographic follow-up was performed either 6 and 18 months after FNA, to evaluate the lesion evolution.