Simultaneous laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair and sleeve gastrectomy in the morbidly obese.

Background: Morbid obesity is associated with increased rates of hiatal and paraesophageal hernias. Although laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is gaining popularity as the procedure of choice for morbid obesity, there is little data regarding the management of paraesophageal hernias found intraoperatively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and benefits of a combined sleeve gastrectomy and paraesophageal hernia repair in morbidly obese patients.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection training with ex vivo human gastric remnants.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) offers en bloc resection of early cancer or precancerous lesions, potentially saving patients from major organ resection, such as gastrectomy, colectomy, and esophagectomy. Japan now leads the world in ESD due to its high rate of gastric cancer. Western countries, with their lower gastric cancer rates, do not get as much experience with the technique.

Gene microarray analysis of peripheral blood cells in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The importance of genetic predisposition, inflammation, and autoimmune mechanisms in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is becoming increasingly clear. We hypothesized that the analysis of gene expression profiles from peripheral blood mononuclear cells would distinguish patients with PAH from normal volunteers. We also hypothesized that a subset of genes would discriminate between patients with idiopathic PAH and pulmonary hypertension related to secondary causes.