Predictors of pathological complete response following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) is an established treatment option for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Patients achieving pathological complete response (pCR) following NACRT have better oncological outcomes and may be subjected to wait and watch policy as well. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of pCR in LARC following NACRT.

Fistulectomy and incontinence: do we really need to worry?

Background: Anal fistula is often considered to be a dilemma because of the need to maintain a fine balance between postoperative incontinence and recurrence. We tried to find whether apprehension of causing incontinence should stop us from performing fistulectomy. The aim of this study was to determine whether fistulectomy was associated with increased rate of fecal incontinence and recurrence, compared to other procedures used for the treatment of anal fistula.

Transanal minimal invasive surgery (TAMIS): safety and feasibility for the resection of benign and malignant lesions of the rectum.

Objectives: Radical surgery for rectal tumours has high morbidity. Local excision of such tumours can be achieved without compromising oncologic safety. However tumours that are not accessible to local excision can be approached using Transanal Minimal Invasive Surgery (TAMIS).

Relevance of vitamin D in COVID-19 infection.

SARS-CoV-2 virus, the main culprit for COVID-19 disaster, has triggered a gust of curiosity both in the mechanism of action of this infection as well as potential risk factors for disease generation and regimentation. The prime focus of the present review, which is basically a narrative one, is in utilizing the current concepts of vitamin D as an agent with myriad functions, one of them being immunocompetence and a promising weapon for both innate and adaptive immunity against COVID-19 infection. Some of the manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 virus such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) overlap with the pathophysiological effects that are overcome due to already established role of vitamin D e.