Achalasia: Diagnosis and Management.

Achalasia is an incurable condition of the esophagus involving the inflammation and degeneration of inhibitory neurons of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) resulting in failure of the LES to relax. Typical symptoms of achalasia are dysphagia, retrosternal chest pain, regurgitation, and weight loss. Three studies are typically required for the diagnosis of achalasia: barium swallow, high-resolution esophageal manometry, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

The effect of per-oral endoscopic myotomy by achalasia subtype as measured by impedance planimetry.

Background: Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder with three subtypes based on manometry that can treated with per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). With the advent of impedance planimetry (EndoFLIP®), we hypothesized the three achalasia subtypes would have different pre-POEM EndoFLIP® diameter and distensibility index (DI) measurements but would be similar after POEM.

Methods: A single-institution, retrospective review of consecutive POEM cases by a single surgeon-endoscopist team from 04/07/2017 to 08/28/2023.

Incidental finding of circumaortic left renal vein aneurysm on imaging.

Vascular anomalies of renal veins are rare. They will usually be found incidentally but can present with significant complications. A 59-year-old man had an asymptomatic left renal hilar abnormality found on routine surveillance imaging.

A Novel Approach to Ileal Pouch Prolapse Repair Using Fibrin Sealant.

The ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is a commonly accepted neorectum after total proctocolectomy for familial adenomatous polyposis and ulcerative colitis. Generally, patients have decent bowel control, but ileal pouches are not without complications. One relatively uncommon complication is ileal pouch prolapse.

Magnetic NGF-releasing PLLA/iron oxide nanoparticles direct extending neurites and preferentially guide neurites along aligned electrospun microfibers.

Nerve growth factor releasing composite nanoparticles (NGF-cNPs) were developed to direct the extension of neurite outgrowth from dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles were incorporated into poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) nanoparticles in order to position the NGF-cNPs in a culture dish. Neurites growing from DRG extended toward the NGF released from the NGF-cNPs.

Using temperature-sensitive smart polymers to regulate DNA-mediated nanoassembly and encoded nanocarrier drug release.

In this paper we describe the use of a temperature-responsive polymer to regulate DNA interactions in both a DNA-mediated assembly system and a DNA-encoded drug delivery system. A thermoresponsive pNIPAAm-co-pAAm polymer, with a transition temperature (TC) of 51 °C, was synthesized with thiol modification and grafted onto gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) also containing single-stranded oligonucleotides (ssDNA). The thermoresponsive behavior of the polymer regulated the accessibility of the sequence-specific hybridization between complementary DNA-functionalized Au NPs.