A pilot randomized controlled trial on the utility of gastric conditioning in the prevention of esophagogastric anastomotic leak after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. The APIL_2013 Trial.

Background: Anastomotic leakage (AL) after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Preoperative gastric conditioning (GC) improves blood perfusion of the gastroplasty, one of the most important factors for anastomotic viability. This pilot randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the feasibility of GC before oesophageal surgery in patients with oesophageal cancer or Siewert I-II esophagogastric junction cancer, who required an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.

Role of jejunoplasty in complex esophageal reconstruction.

Introduction: Esophageal reconstruction is a very complex surgical procedure, burdened by significant morbidity. Gastroplasty and coloplasty have classically been used. Free jejunal plasty has shown to be a very good option in the treatment of cervical esophagus pathology, but the role of supercharged jejunoplasty in thoracic esophagus reconstruction is still controversial.

Utility of Molecular Analysis of Peritoneal Fluid in Staging Laparoscopy of Advanced Esophagogastric Junction and Gastric Cancer Prior to Neoadjuvant Treatment.

Purpose: Molecular analysis of peritoneal fluid in staging laparoscopy of gastric cancer is performed to improve the detection of free intraperitoneal tumor cells. Nevertheless, its significance is controversial, especially in patients with negative cytology but positive molecular analysis. The aim of this study was to analyze the sensitivity of molecular analysis and its prognostic value.

Ischemic Conditioning in the Right Colon and Terminal Ileum: An Experimental Rat Model.

Introduction: Preoperative gastric ischemic conditioning (IC) improves the outcome of esophageal replacement gastroplasty and is associated with low morbidity. However, when the stomach cannot be used for esophageal replacement, a colonic replacement is required. The study aim was to assess the viability of right colon and terminal ileum IC in a rat model and the histological damage/recovery sequence and determine if neovascularization is a potential adaptive mechanism.

Gastric and Small Intestine Gist: Results of 156 Cases in 20 Years.

Purpose: Gastric and small intestine are the most common gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). There are few studies of patients who underwent surgical treatment with disparate findings. We aimed to evaluate the differences between groups and the risk factors for recurrence and mortality.

Cervical esophaguectomy plus tracheal resection and free jeyuno graft as treatment of esophageal granular cell tumor.

Granular cell tumor is a very rare entity (0.03%) with controversial management, due to its low incidence and its usually benign behavior (98%). Its location in the digestive tract is unusual (3-11%), being the esophagus the most frequently affected organ, with about 400 published cases.

Lymphography and embolization of the thoracic duct as a treatment for chylothorax after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Introduction: Chylothorax is a rare complication in esophagectomies that is associated with increased postoperative mortality. Several factors have been described that may favor its appearance. Its treatment is controversial, and lymphography with percutaneous embolization of the thoracic duct is used by several groups.

Temporal Coordination in Mother-Infant Vocal Interaction: A Cross-Cultural Comparison.

Temporal coordination of vocal exchanges between mothers and their infants emerges from a developmental process that relies on the ability of communication partners to co-coordinate and predict each other's turns. Consequently, the partners engage in communicative niche construction that forms a foundation for language in human infancy. While robust universals in vocal turn-taking have been found, differences in the timing of maternal and infant vocalizations have also been reported across cultures.

Does gastric conditioning decrease the incidence of cervical oesophagogastric anastomotic leakage?

Introduction: Oesophageal reconstruction by gastroplasty with cervical anastomosis has a higher incidence of dehiscence. The aim of the study is to analyse the incidence of anastomotic leakage in patients undergoing gastroplasty with cervical anastomosis following angiographic ischaemic conditioning of the gastric conduit.

Methods: Prospective analysis of patients who underwent gastric conditioning two weeks prior to oesophageal reconstruction, from January 2001 to January 2014.

Clinical relevance of histologic subtypes in locally advanced esophageal carcinoma treated with pre-operative chemoradiotherapy: Experience of a monographic oncologic centre.

Background: Locally advanced esophageal carcinoma (LAEC) represents less than 30% of all diagnosed esophageal carcinoma worldwide. The standard of care for resectable tumours consists of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery. Despite the curative intent, the prognosis is still poor mainly due to relapse.

Cross-Cultural Register Differences in Infant-Directed Speech: An Initial Study.

Infant-directed speech (IDS) provides an environment that appears to play a significant role in the origins of language in the human infant. Differences have been reported in the use of IDS across cultures, suggesting different styles of infant language-learning. Importantly, both cross-cultural and intra-cultural research suggest there may be a positive relationship between the use of IDS and rates of language development, underscoring the need to investigate cultural differences more deeply.

Multidisciplinary cancer care may impact on the postoperative mortality and survival of patients with oesophageal and oesophagogastric junction cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Modern management of Oesophageal and oesophagogastric junction (OGJ) cancers requires a multidisciplinary approach, which was implemented at our health centre in 2005. This study aimed to assess the impact of this change on clinical outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, covering all patients treated for oesophageal and OGJ cancer at the cancer centre established by the Bellvitge University Hospital and Catalonian Institute of Oncology, over two time periods, i.

[Nutritional support and risk factors of appearance of enterocutaneous fistulas].

Introduction: Among the different factors described, nutritional support has been associated to prevention and management of enterocutaneous fistulae (ECF).

Objectives: To assess the influence that the parameters related to nutritional, clinical status, and surgical variables have on the occurrence of ECF.

Methods: An observational case/control retrospective study was performed on patients admitted to the General and Digestive Surgery Department.

Preoperative gastric conditioning in cervical gastroplasty.

To determine if ischemic conditioning of the stomach improves the morbidity, mortality, and the anastomotic failure in gastroplasties with cervical anastomosis. Analysis of all patients with indication for cervical gastroplasty during the period of study. In all cases, ischemic conditioning was performed by selective embolization.

Tensile and shear properties of fingernails as a function of a changing humidity environment.

The mechanical properties of fingernails are important because of their impact in preventing damage and in maintaining their appearance. In particular, knowing the effect of local environmental conditions can tell us how they might best be protected. In order to better understand this, tensile tests were carried out to characterise the properties of fingernails at different relative humidities.

Maternal input and lexical development: the case of deaf pre-schoolers.

Background: Mothers facilitate their young hearing children's word learning by making reference explicit for novel words through physical designation (e.g., with deictic gestures) and by isolating words in simple syntactic frames.

The effect of humidity on the fracture properties of human fingernails.

Fingernails are a characteristic anatomical feature of primates and their function is dictated by the environment in which they are utilised. The present study examined the mechanical properties of human fingernails as a function of relative humidity (RH) and the subsequent moisture content of the nail material. Nail clippings were stored at a range of RH values and then weighed in order to determine their moisture content.

Time course of necrosis/apoptosis and neovascularization during experimental gastric conditioning.

Apoptosis, necrosis and neovascularization are three processes that occur during ischemic preconditioning in a range of organs. In the stomach, the effect of this preconditioning (the delay phenomenon) has helped to improve gastric vascularization prior to esophagogastric anastomosis after esophagectomy. Here we present a sequential study of the histological recovery of the gastric fundus and the phenomena of apoptosis, necrosis and neovascularization in an experimental model of partial gastric ischemia.