Granulomatous mastitis: is it an autoimmune disease? Diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas.

Purpose: Granulomatous mastitis (GM) is a rare benign inflammatory breast disease. The clinical presentation of granulomatous mastitis usually mimics malignancy or infection. The aim of this study was to review the clinical and diagnostic features of GM and discuss the medical and surgical treatment of our series of eight GM patients.

Elective and emergency surgery in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Purpose: Aim of this study was to report our experience in elective and emergency surgery on chronic hemodialysis (CH) patients for end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Methods: All patients on CH for ESRD who underwent various surgical procedures in our unit within the past 9-year period (2001-2010) were included in this study. These patients were divided into two groups according to the type of surgery performed: elective or emergency.

Evaluation of intraoperative parathormone measurement for predicting successful surgery in patients undergoing subtotal/total parathyroidectomy due to secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Objectives/background: The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive value of intraoperative parathormone measurement addressing successful surgical resection in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Methods: The study included 42 consecutive patients operated on between May 2006 and July 2008. Patients were grouped according to successful surgery (Group 1, n = 36) and persistent postoperative hyperparathyroidism (Group 2, n = 6).

Evaluation of gadolinium pre-treatment with or without splenectomy in the setting of renal ischemia reperfusion injury in rats.

Introduction: This study aims to investigate gadolinium chloride (Gd) pre-treatment with/without splenectomy (Splx) in the setting of renal ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury in rats.

Materials And Methods: Under anesthesia, male Wistar albino rats with or without splenectomized (Splx) were right nephrectomized and subjected to 45 min of renal pedicle occlusion followed by 3 h of reperfusion. Gadolinium chloride (10 mg kg(-1)) or saline was administered 24 hours prior to ischemia via penile vein.

Use of smooth muscle plasty after intersphincteric rectal resection to replace a partially resected internal anal sphincter: long-term follow-up.

Purpose: Patients with very low rectal cancer were treated by intersphincteric rectal resection employing partial internal anal sphincter resection. They then underwent smooth muscle plasty to restore internal anal sphincter function. We assessed the functional and oncological outcomes.