Investigating Non-Pharmacological Stress Reduction Interventions in Pediatric Patients Confirmed with Salivary Cortisol Levels: A Systematic Review.

For many children, hospitalization can lead to a state of increased anxiety. Being away from home, the invasive procedures undertaken, and the uncertainty of the outcome cause an uncomfortable situation in anticipation of real or imagined hazards. This systematic review aims to assess current evidence on the types of non-pharmacological interventions used and their impact on children's anxiety or distress levels when they visit the hospital for planned or unplanned admissions.

Measuring Children's Stress via Saliva in Surgical and Endoscopic Procedures and Its Measurement Intention in the Community: Reality-Future Prospects.

(1) Background: Children who undergo surgical or endoscopic procedures display high levels of stress, and various means are applied to reduce their anxiety. Salivary cortisol (S Cortisol) and salivary alpha-amylase (SAA) are often used as a valid biomarker of stress. The primary purpose of the study was the investigation of stress levels through S Cortisol and S amylase after intervention in surgical or endoscopic procedures (gastroscopy-colonoscopy).

Precision Surgery of Colorectal Liver Metastases in the Current Era: A Systematic Review.

Liver resection for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is widely considered the treatment with the highest curative potential. However, not all patients derive the same oncological benefit, underlining the need for better patient stratification and treatment allocation. In this context, we performed a systematic review of the literature to determine the role of RAS status in selecting the optimal surgical strategy.

Surgery of Simple and Complex Anal Fistulae in Adults: A Review of the Literature for Optimal Surgical Outcomes.

Anal fistulas are common anorectal conditions, and surgery is the primary treatment option. In the last 20 years of literature, there exist a large number of surgical procedures, especially for the treatment of complex anal fistulas, as they present more recurrences and continence problems than simple anal fistulas. To date, there are no guidelines for choosing the best technique.

The Protective Effect of Bariatric Surgery on the Development of Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Obesity is a known risk factor for developing colorectal cancer (CRC) and is associated with the formation of precancerous colonic adenomas. Bariatric surgery (BRS) is considered to reduce the cancer risk in morbidly obese patients. However, the currently available literature yields contradicting results regarding the impact of bariatric surgery on the incidence of CRC.

The effect of hepatocyte growth factor on intestinal adaption in an experimental model of short bowel syndrome.

Purpose: Nowadays, the standard therapy for patients with short bowel syndrome is parenteral nutrition (PN). Various growth factors have been tested to achieve weaning from prolonged PN administration. We evaluated the effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on structural intestinal adaptation and cell proliferation in a rat model of SBS.

Perineal sepsis and successful surgical treatment in supralevator and ischiorectal fossa abscess: a case report.

A male 61-year-old patient presented to the emergency department with fever, leukocytosis and perineal pain. Macroscopic examination of anogluteal region demonstrated a bulky inflamed mass in the left ischiorectal fossa with a skin defect draining large amounts of pus. The suprapubic area was observed to be erythematous, with local tenderness and a palpable inflammatory mass under the skin.

Immunomodulation Through Beta-D-glucan in Chemically-induced Necrotizing Pancreatitis.

Background: Although the ability of β-D-glucan and monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) to modulate immune responses has been studied in human primary cells, their effect on sterile inflammation models such as necrotizing pancreatitis has never been investigated.

Materials And Methods: 85 male New Zealand rabbits were assigned into following groups: A: control, B: pretreatment with β-D-glucan 3 d before pancreatitis, C: pretreatment with MPLA 3 d before pancreatitis, D: pretreatment with β-D-glucan and laminarin 3 d before pancreatitis, E: treatment with β-D-glucan 1 d after pancreatitis, and F: MPLA 1 d after pancreatitis. Pancreatitis was induced by sodium taurocholate injection into the pancreatic duct and parenchyma.

The impact of preoperative sarcopenia on postoperative complications following esophagectomy for esophageal neoplasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Esophageal cancer is characterized by profound changes in body composition due to dysphagia and generalized cachexia. Sarcopenia or muscle wasting is a component of cachexia associated with poor postoperative performance status. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) calculated by computed tomography scans at the level of the third lumbar vertebra is an easily quantifiable and reproducible measure of sarcopenia.

Pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytomas are rare tumors originating in the adrenal medulla. They may be sporadic or in the context of a hereditary syndrome. A considerable number of pheochromocytomas carry germline or somatic gene mutations, which are inherited in the autosomal dominant way.

Visceral white adipose tissue and serum proteomic alternations in metabolically healthy obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Metabolically healthy obesity is characterized as a comorbidity-free obesity status, however the exact pathogenetic mechanisms implicated in its transition to unhealthy obesity have not yet been unveiled. Our aim was to investigate the effect of metabolic health on the proteomic profile both in serum and visceral fat of morbidly obese subjects. 28 patients undergoing bariatric surgery were prospectively enrolled.

A short review of primary aldosteronism in a question and answer fashion.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to present up to date information concerning the diagnosis and treatment of primary aldosteronism (PA). PA is the most common cause of endocrine hypertension. It has been reported up to 24% of selective referred hypertensive patients.

A step by step approach in differential diagnosing of adrenal incidentaloma (epinephroma), (with comments on the new Clinical Practice Guidelines of the European Society of Endocrinology).

Objectives: To present a step by step approach for the diagnosis of adrenal incidentaloma (AI).

Method: An extensive review of the literature was conducted, searching the Pub-Med and Google Scholar using the Mesh terms; Adrenal; Incidentaloma; Adrenal tumours; Radiology; Diagnosis. We also did a cross-referencing search of the literature.

Non-Complicated Acute Appendicitis in Adults Treated Successfully by Conservative Treatment without Recurrences.

Unlabelled: Backround: Surgical treatment of appendicitis remains the standard treatment, but many cases respond conservatively. Our purpose was the clarification of the clinical, laboratory and imaging characteristics of uncomplicated cases undergoing successful conservative treatment without recurrence. 105 adult patients (66 female, 39 male) with non-complicated acute appendicitis.

Idiopathic Double Perforation of the Gastrointestinal Tract.

A 73-year old woman was operated on with diffuse peritonitis and multiple abscesses throughout the mesentery which were drained. After the operation the patient could not recover. After an indicative computerized tomography the patient was re-explored.

Adrenal incidentaloma or epinephroma and review of the literature. Differential diagnosis of adrenal incidentaloma.

Objective: A thorough review of the literature concerning Adrenal Incidentalomas (AI) was conducted.

Results: We started with the definition and the history of the term Adrenal Incidentaloma. We introduce a new term, the term Epinephroma.

Gallbaldder perforation causing a subcutaneous abscess.

Introduction: This is a report of a rare case of an old woman with a large round mass in the right hypochondrium that was proven to be an abscess.

Presentation Of Case: A 82-year old woman with a firm round mass in the right hypochondrium was admitted for evaluation. The abdominal CT showed an abscess produced by a gallbladder perforation, and a gallstone impacted at the Hartmann's pouch.

Surgical treatment of perianal abscess and fistula-in-ano in childhood, with emphasis in children older than 2 years.

Background: Anal sepsis in children ranges from perianal abscess to fistula-in-ano. It is mostly observed in boys younger than 2 years. Most are treated conservatively.

Localized peripancreatic plasma cell Castleman disease.

Castleman disease (CD) is a rare, benign, and usually systemic lymphoproliferative disorder. Unicentric Castleman disease of the pancreas is extremely rare, with only less than 10 cases described in the literature. We describe a case of an isolated peripancreatic localization of a plasma cell-type Castleman disease, its clinical presentation, the diagnostic evaluation, and the cure of disease by surgical excision.

Parathormone and 1,25(OH)2D3 but not 25(OH)D3 serum levels, in an inverse correlation, reveal an association with advanced stages of colorectal cancer.

Experimental, epidemiologic, and clinical trial data indicate the antineoplastic effects of calcium and vitamin D in large-bowel neoplasia. The aim of this study was to determine serum levels of vitamin D metabolites and parathormone (PTH) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and to extract conclusions comparing their different levels in serum with healthy individuals. Group 1 (cancer patients) was consisted of 140 patients with CRC with clinical stages Duke's A: 12, B: 52, C: 62, and D: 14.

Serum and tissue selenium levels in gastric cancer patients and correlation with CEA.

Background: An inverse relationship between selenium (Se) intake and cancer mortality is evident in humans.

Materials And Methods: In eighty patients who had been operated on for primary gastric cancer, serum Se and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were measured preoperatively using a fluorometric and immunoradiometric assay (IRMA), respectively.

Results: The serum Se levels were 43+/-6.

Iliopsoas abscesses: diagnostic, aetiologic and therapeutic approach in five patients with a literature review.

Objective: Iliopsoas abscess is a relatively rare disease. Many cases present atypical clinical characteristics. Iliopsoas abscess can be primary or secondary to gastrointestinal and genitourinary infections and in developed countries most of these abscesses are of non-tuberculous aetiology.