The Impact of Tumour Distance From the Anal Verge on Clinical Management and Outcomes in Patients Having a Curative Resection for Rectal Cancer.

Aim: The clinico-oncological significance of the distance of rectal cancer from the anal verge is unclear and not well reported. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of the rectal cancer distance from the anal verge on clinical management and long-term outcomes after curative resection in a specialised colorectal cancer unit.

Methods: Prospectively collected data on patients who underwent primary rectal cancer treatment at our unit between January 2005 and December 2010 were analysed.

Outcome of gastro-oesophageal reflux-related respiratory manifestations after laparoscopic fundoplication.

Aims: Patients with refractory respiratory symptoms related to gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) such as asthma and cough are being referred for laparoscopic fundoplication (LFP), as recommended by the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). However there are limited data regarding symptomatic response to fundoplication in this group of patients.

Method: A 7 year retrospective review was performed to study the efficacy of LFP in the treatment of patients with respiratory manifestations of GORD.

Low molecular weight heat shock protein HSP27 is a prognostic indicator in rectal cancer but not colon cancer.

Objective: There are currently no biomarkers in routine clinical use for determining prognosis in rectal cancer. In a preliminary proteomic study, variation in the levels of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) in colorectal cancer samples was observed. The expression of HSP27 in a cohort of 404 patients with colorectal cancer with a predominantly poor prognosis was characterised and an investigation was undertaken of whether the differences were related to clinical outcome.

Smad4 loss is associated with fewer S100A8-positive monocytes in colorectal tumors and attenuated response to S100A8 in colorectal and pancreatic cancer cells.

S100A8 and its dimerization partner S100A9 are emerging as important chemokines in cancer. We previously reported that Smad4-negative pancreatic tumors contain fewer stromal S100A8-positive monocytes than their Smad4-positive counterparts. Here, we studied S100A8/A9-expressing cells in colorectal tumors relating their presence to clinicopathological parameters and Smad4 status.

The acquisition and outcome of ICU-acquired Clostridium difficile infection in a single centre in the UK.

Background: The clinical course and outcome of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting have been reported in a small number of studies in the US and Canada. However, no such study has been reported in the UK. Therefore, we aimed to study the acquisition rate and outcome of ICU-acquired CDIs in our unit.

Diagnostic laparoscopy and management of the impalpable testis--a review of 10 years' practice at a non-paediatric specialist centre.

Background: Laparoscopy is used for the diagnosis and treatment of impalpable testes. We reviewed practice and outcomes in our unit over the last 10 years.

Methods: Retrospective case-note review of patients undergoing laparoscopy with or without orchidopexy for impalpable testes.