Ex vivo experimental model: split lung block technique.

Since they were first established, ex vivo models of lung reconditioning have been evaluated extensively. When rejected donor lungs are used, the great variability among the cases can hinder the progress of such studies. In order to avoid this problem, we developed a technique that consists of separating the lung block into right and left blocks and subsequently reconnecting those two blocks.

[Intracranial hemorrhage as initial presentation of biliary atresia: two cases report].

Biliary atresia in infants occasionally presents as intracranial, nasal or gastrointestinal bleeding, instead of the classical triad of jaundice, acholia and choluria. We present two female infants aged four and two months, who were hospitalized with convulsive episode, cephalohematoma and drowsiness. Computed tomography findings were subdural hemorrhage in one patient and intraventricular and parenchymal bleeding in the other one.

Incidence and factors associated with synchronous ovarian and endometrial cancer: a population-based case-control study.

Objective: To estimate the incidence of synchronous endometrial cancer (EC) and ovarian cancer (OC) in the female population, among all women with EC, and in women under 50 years of age with EC, and to identify factors associated with synchronous EC/OC.

Methods: All cases of synchronous EC/OC and EC diagnosed in women residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota between 1/1/1945 and 12/31/2008 were identified. Incidence was estimated using the population denominator from decennial census data, corrected for hysterectomy prevalence.

Single-step versus two-step endo-ultrasonography-guided drainage of pancreatic pseudocyst.

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to compare the feasibility, technical success rate and complication between single-step endo-ultrasonography (EUS)-guided and two-step EUS-guided drainage technique for symptomatic pancreatic pseudocyst (PP).

Methods: Twenty-one PP patients with clear intra-cystic fluid that needed to be drained were divided into two groups, depending on the availability of the therapeutic echoendoscope at the time of the procedure: Group 1 (13 patients) underwent a single-step EUS-guided endoscopic drainage and Group 2 (8 patients) underwent a two-step EUS-guided drainage technique.

Results: In Group 1 immediate technical success was achieved in 92.

Histologic and functional evaluation of lungs reconditioned by ex vivo lung perfusion.

Background: Only about 15% of donor lungs are considered suitable for transplantation (LTx). Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has been developed as a method to reassess and repair damaged lungs. We report our experience with EVLP in non-acceptable donor lungs and evaluate its ability to recondition these lungs.

Guidewire biliary cannulation does not reduce post-ERCP pancreatitis compared with the contrast injection technique in low-risk and high-risk patients.

Background: Guidewire (GW) cannulation can reduce the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) by avoiding the opacification of the main pancreatic duct.

Objective: To compare the effects of conventional contrast ERCP and GW cannulation of the common bile duct on the rate of PEP in low- and high-risk patients.

Design: Prospective, comparative-intervention single-center study.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of women's perceptions of transvaginal surgery.

Background: Prior surveys evaluating women's perceptions of transvaginal surgery both support and refute the acceptability of transvaginal access. Most surveys employed mainly quantitative analysis, limiting the insight into the women's perspective. In this mixed-methods study, we include qualitative and quantitative methodology to assess women's perceptions of transvaginal procedures.

Reconditioning of the trabeculo-descemet's membrane with the 532-nm Nd : YAG (SLT) laser after deep sclerectomy.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of modified goniopuncture with the 532-nm Nd : YAG selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) laser on eyes after deep sclerectomy with collagen implant (DSCI). This was an interventional cased series. The effects of modified goniopuncture on eyes with insufficient IOP-lowering after DSCI were observed.

Puberty and pubertal growth dynamics in children with idiopathic short stature.

Objective: As the prognosis for final height is unfavorable for children with idiopathic short stature (ISS), we studied the pubertal growth dynamics in these children, which is a determinant factor in final height.

Subjects/methods: In a retrospective cohort study, we analyzed the pubertal period, age of puberty and peripubertal growth in 50 children with ISS.

Results: The onset of puberty occurred later.

The impact of surgical guidelines and periodic quality assessment on the staging of endometrial cancer.

Objective: To determine the impact of surgical guidelines and transparent periodic assessment of surgical quality on endometrial cancer (EC) staging by gynecologic oncologists in a single institution and to identify process-of-care, patient-specific, and disease-specific risk factors that influence surgical quality.

Methods: In January 2004, a prospective treatment algorithm was implemented for EC at our institution. The number of nodes harvested was a surrogate, and staging quality from 2004 to 2008 (quality assessment [QA] interval) was compared with the previous 5 years (pre-QA interval).

Precut sphincterotomy, repeated cannulation and post-ERCP pancreatitis in patients with bile duct stone disease.

Background: Repeated attempts at cannulating the papilla of Vater and "needle-knife" precut sphincterotomy are independent risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis. Whether precut alone or repeated attempts at cannulation is the culprit factor in the development of post-ERCP pancreatitis remains controversial.

Aim: To retrospectively assess the role of precutting and multiple cannulation in the occurrence of post-ERCP pancreatitis in a consecutive series of patients with bile stone disease.

Characteristics of eyes with secondary loss of visual acuity receiving variable dosing ranibizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: The aim of this work is to investigate the characteristics of eyes failing to maintain visual acuity (VA) receiving variable dosing ranibizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) after three initial loading doses.

Methods: A consecutive series of patients with nAMD, who, after three loading doses of intravitreal ranibizumab (0.5 mg each), were re-treated for fluid seen on optical coherence tomography.

Novel docetaxel-loaded nanoparticles based on poly(lactide-co-caprolactone) and poly(lactide-co-glycolide-co-caprolactone) for prostate cancer treatment: formulation, characterization, and cytotoxicity studies.

Docetaxel (Dtx) chemotherapy is the optional treatment in patients with hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer, and Dtx-loaded polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) have the potential to induce durable clinical responses. However, alternative formulations are needed to overcome the serious side effects, also due to the adjuvant used, and to improve the clinical efficacy of the drug.In the present study, two novel biodegradable block-copolymers, poly(lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLA-PCL) and poly(lactide-co-caprolactone-co-glycolide) (PLGA-PCL), were explored for the formulation of Dtx-loaded NPs and compared with PLA- and PLGA-NPs.

Risk factors for developing multiple malignancies in patients with endometrial cancer.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to investigate the clinical and pathologic characteristics of patients with endometrial cancer (EC) and associated breast, colorectal, or ovarian cancer, and to define the risk of developing an associated malignancy during follow-up after EC treatment.

Methods/materials: During a 13-year period, 1028 women had a hysterectomy for EC at our institution and available clinical information. An associated malignancy was defined as diagnosis of another malignant disease before or at the time of operation for EC or during follow-up.

Iatrogenic damage to the mandibular nerves as assessed by the masseter inhibitory reflex.

Iatrogenic injury of the inferior alveolar or lingual nerves frequently leads to legal actions for damage and compensation for personal suffering. The masseter inhibitory reflex (MIR) is the most used neurophysiological tool for the functional assessment of the trigeminal mandibular division. Aiming at measuring the MIR sensitivity and specificity, we recorded this reflex after mental and tongue stimulations in a controlled, blinded study in 160 consecutive patients with sensory disturbances following dental procedures.

Defective differentiation of regulatory FoxP3+ T cells by small-intestinal dendritic cells in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Objective: The gut environment modulates the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D), but how it affects autoimmunity toward pancreatic β-cells, a self-tissue located outside the intestine, is still unclear. In the small intestine, lamina propria dendritic cells (LPDCs) induce peripheral differentiation of FoxP3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells. We tested the hypothesis that the intestinal milieu impinges on human T1D by affecting differentiation of FoxP3(+) Treg cells.

Vaginal cuff closure after minimally invasive hysterectomy: our experience and systematic review of the literature.

Objective: To determine the incidence of vaginal cuff dehiscence after minimally invasive hysterectomy, we reported our series of total laparoscopic hysterectomies with transvaginal colporraphy.

Study Design: We then conducted a systematic search of PubMed to retrieve published series of laparoscopic and robotic hysterectomies, in which different techniques for vaginal cuff closure were used.

Results: In our study group, vaginal cuff dehiscence occurred in 2 of 665 (0.

Uterine carcinosarcoma.

Carcinosarcoma is a rare but highly aggressive uterine malignancy. Pathologically, carcinosarcoma is a biphasic neoplasm composed of a mixture of malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components. A comprehensive approach for management is recommended with complete surgical staging to assess tumor dissemination followed by multimodal therapy with combinations of external beam irradiation or vaginal brachytherapy and systematic chemotherapy in patients with both early and advanced stage disease.

Ex vivo lung evaluation and reconditioning.

Objective: Only about 15% of the potential candidates for lung donation are considered suitable for transplantation. A new method for ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has been developed and can be used for evaluation and reconditioning of "marginal" and unacceptable lungs. This is a report of functional evaluation experience with ex vivo perfusion of twelve donor lungs deemed unacceptable in São Paulo, Brazil.

Dietary and supplemental intake of one-carbon nutrients and the risk of type I and type II endometrial cancer: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Type I and II endometrial cancer are biologically and clinically distinct, with type II cancers having a high frequency of p53 mutations and an association with chromosomal instability. This raises the hypothesis that one-carbon nutrients (folate, methionine, and the enzymic cofactors vitamins B2, B6, and B12), which mediate chromosomal stability and DNA methylation, may be protective for type II but not type I endometrial cancer.

Methods: Using a prospective cohort of 23 356 postmenopausal women followed 20 years, we estimated the relative risks (RRs) of type I (N = 471) and II (N = 71) endometrial cancers according to intake of one-carbon nutrients, adjusting for confounders.

Incidence and timing of venous thromboembolism after surgery for gynecological cancer.

Objective: This study aims to determine the incidence, timing, and risk factors of clinical venous thromboembolism.

Methods: A cohort of patients who had major gynecologic cancer surgery between 1998 and 2008 was identified. Secondarily, a nested case-control design wherein patients who had clinical VTE within 90 days after surgery were considered cases.

A multi-dimensional questionnaire quantifying quality of life in elderly osteoporotic women: the Italian triple-Q osteoporosis study.

Background And Aims: In advanced age, the influence of vertebral fractures on quality of life extends well beyond the usual sequelae of osteoporosis. In order to intercept older subjects' distress associated with the clinical, functional, social and psychological consequences of the disease, we developed and validated a multidimensional instrument (the triple-Q questionnaire) tailored to older women with osteoporotic fractures. We also examined specific aspects of the questionnaire correlated with bone mineral density.