Robot-assisted gastrectomy for cancer.

Background: Laparoscopic gastrectomy for cancer is commonly considered a challenging procedure. The technical drawbacks of laparoscopy have been addressed by robotic technology, which can facilitate demanding reconstructions and fine dissection. These features confer potential advantages in the execution of lymphadenectomy.

[Robot-assisted gastrectomy for cancer. German version].

Background: Laparoscopic gastrectomy for cancer is commonly considered a challenging procedure. The technical drawbacks of laparoscopy have been addressed by robotic technology, which can facilitate demanding reconstructions and fine dissection. These features confer potential advantages in the execution of lymphadenectomy.

Intervention trial with calcium montmorillonite clay in a south Texas population exposed to aflatoxin.

South Texas currently has the highest incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States, a disease that disproportionately affects Latino populations in the region. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent liver carcinogen that has been shown to be present in a variety of foods in the United States, including corn and corn products. Importantly, it is a dietary risk factor contributing to a higher incidence of HCC in populations frequently consuming AFB1-contaminated diets.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator programming and electrical storm: Results of the OBSERVational registry On long-term outcome of ICD patients (OBSERVO-ICD).

Background: Electrical storm (ES) is defined as 3 or more episodes of ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular tachycardia (VT) within 24 hours and is associated with increased cardiac and all-cause mortality.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test whether aggressive implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) programming can be associated with ES.

Methods: The OBSERVational registry On long-term outcome of ICD patients (OBSERVO-ICD) is a multicenter, retrospective registry enrolling all consecutive patients undergoing ICD implantation from 2010 to 2012 in 5 Italian high-volume arrhythmia centers.

[Development and Validation of the National Functionality Table for Chronic Diseases].

Introduction: Systematic evaluation and registration of adults functionality with chronic diseases is relevant, because it allows: 'flattening' health, social and employment policies, according to the person's functionality with chronic diseases, providing health and social professionals with a data collection, which complements disease records, and finally, measuring functionality gains. The objective of the study was to develop a National Functionality Table for active age adults with chronic disease, according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health of the World Health Organization.

Material And Methods: Quantitative and qualitative methods were used; literature review (17 articles), focal group (nine experts), Delphi panel (16 experts) and exploratory study (309 persons with chronic diseases).

The value of early and comprehensive diagnoses in a human fetus with hydrocephalus and progressive obliteration of the aqueduct of Sylvius: Case Report.

Background: Mutant rodent models have highlighted the importance of the ventricular ependymal cells and the subcommissural organ (a brain gland secreting glycoproteins into the cerebrospinal fluid) in the development of fetal onset hydrocephalus. Evidence indicates that communicating and non-communicating hydrocephalus can be two sequential phases of a single pathological phenomenon triggered by ependymal disruption and/or abnormal function of the subcommissural organ. We have hypothesized that a similar phenomenon may occur in human cases with fetal onset hydrocephalus.

Periodontal Effects of a Transposed Versus a Conventional Flap in Mandibular Third Molar Extractions.

The aim of this study was to compare a transposed with a repositioned flap by assessing the periodontal effects on the second molar and primary healing after extraction of partially impacted lower third molars. A total of 24 patients requiring partially impacted mandibular wisdom tooth removal were enrolled in the study. The test group (n = 12) underwent a transposed flap procedure, whereas the control group (n = 12) underwent a repositioned flap procedure.

A New Electrocardiographic Marker of Sudden Death in Brugada Syndrome: The S-Wave in Lead I.

Background: Risk stratification in asymptomatic patients remains by far the most important yet unresolved clinical problem in the Brugada syndrome (BrS).

Objectives: This study sought to analyze the usefulness of electrocardiographic parameters as markers of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in BrS.

Methods: This study analyzed data from 347 consecutive patients (78.

Time-to-administration in postoperative chemotherapy for colorectal cancer: does minimally-invasive surgery help?

The optimal delay in the start of chemotherapy following rectal cancer surgery has not yet been identified. However, postponed adjuvant therapy has been proven to be connected with a significant survival detriment. We aimed to investigate whether the time to initiation of adjuvant treatment can be influenced by the application of minimally invasive surgery rather than traditional open surgery.

Health service utilisation for anogenital warts in Ontario, Canada prior to the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine programme introduction: a retrospective longitudinal population-based study.

Objective: Trends in occurrence of anogenital warts (AGWs) can provide early evidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme impact on preventing HPV infection and HPV-induced lesions. The objective of this study was to provide a baseline of AGW epidemiology in Ontario prior to the introduction of the publicly-funded school-based HPV vaccination programme in September 2007.

Setting And Participants: As a retrospective longitudinal population-based study, we used health administrative data as a proxy to estimate incident AGWs and total health service utilisation (HSU) for AGWs for all Ontario residents 15 years and older with valid health cards between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2007.

Preventive strategies in oral health for special needs patients.

As regards to the most common oral disease in pediatric patients, intellectual disability is not a risk factor for caries disease itself, but it rather reduces the individual capability to self-care and therefore to his own oral care. Children suffering of systemic pathologies and/or with different stages of disability are to be considered at high risk for dental caries development. According to recent guidelines for oral health prevention in childhood, individual additional strategies for a preventive care should be applied for these patients.

Effect of fixed-rate vs. rate-RESPONSIve pacing on exercise capacity in patients with permanent, refractory atrial fibrillation and left ventricular dysfunction treated with atrioventricular junction aBLation and bivEntricular pacing (RESPONSIBLE): a prospective, multicentre, randomized, single-blind study.

Aims: Atrioventricular junction (AVJ) ablation followed by biventricular pacing is an established strategy for improving symptoms and morbidity in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation (AF), reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and uncontrolled ventricular rate. There is no clear evidence that such patients benefit from rate-responsive (RR) pacing.

Methods And Results: This prospective, randomized, single-blind, multicentre study was designed as an intra-patient comparison and enrolled 60 patients (age 69.

Speckle-tracking global longitudinal strain as an early predictor of cardiotoxicity in breast carcinoma.

Purpose: Recent development in anticancer therapies for breast carcinoma allowed an improvement in patients' survival, notwithstanding a parallel increase of cardiovascular morbidity. Cardiotoxicity of anticancer therapies represents a relevant problem due to its insidious onset and potentially irreversible cardiac damage. The aim of the present study was to test whether 2D speckle tracking analysis can help in predicting overt systolic dysfunction.

Biocompatible multilayer capsules engineered with a graphene oxide derivative: synthesis, characterization and cellular uptake.

Graphene-based capsules have strong potential for a number of applications, including drug/gene delivery, tissue engineering, sensors, catalysis and reactors. The ability to integrate graphene into carrier systems with three-dimensional (3D) geometry may open new perspectives both for fundamental tests of graphene mechanics and for novel (bio)technological applications. However, the assembly of 3D complexes from graphene or its derivatives is challenging because of its poor stability under biological conditions.

Community-based automated external defibrillator only resuscitation for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

Background: Speed is the cornerstone of rescue for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. As a consequence, community participation programs have been initiated to decrease response times. Even in the very best of these programs, however, short-term survival rates hover around 10% and long-term survival rates are half that.

Effect of platform switching on crestal bone levels around implants in the posterior mandible: 3 years results from a multicentre randomized clinical trial.

Objective: Evaluation of differences in the clinical performance and crestal bone levels between implants restored with single crowns with platform-matched or platform-switched abutments after 3 years.

Material And Methods: The study enrolled adult patients missing two or more adjacent teeth in the posterior mandible with natural teeth mesial to the implant site. Randomization followed open-flap implant insertion and the corresponding matching or switching healing abutments placed at surgery.

Evidence of suppression of onchocerciasis transmission in the Venezuelan Amazonian focus.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) has set goals for onchocerciasis elimination in Latin America by 2015. Most of the six previously endemic countries are attaining this goal by implementing twice a year (and in some foci, quarterly) mass ivermectin (Mectizan®) distribution. Elimination of transmission has been verified in Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico.

Initial Experience With Robotic Pancreatic Surgery: Technical Feasibility and Oncological Implications.

Robotic surgery has been introduced in the field of minimally invasive surgery to improve the handling of high-demanding procedures with encouraging results. We aimed to evaluate the clinical safety and the oncological adequacy of robot-assisted pancreatic surgery by analyzing a consecutive series in terms of surgical and oncological outcomes. A total of 53 consecutive cases including 36 pancreatoduodenectomies (PD) and 14 distal pancreatectomies (DP) were evaluated.

Does robotics improve minimally invasive rectal surgery? Functional and oncological implications.

Objective: Robot-assisted surgery has been reported to be a safe and effective alternative to conventional laparoscopy for the treatment of rectal cancer in a minimally invasive manner. Nevertheless, substantial data concerning functional outcomes and long-term oncological adequacy is still lacking. We aimed to assess the current role of robotics in rectal surgery focusing on patients' functional and oncological outcomes.