Lipoprotein(a) mass: a massively misunderstood metric.

The importance of lipoprotein (a)-Lp(a)-as a cardiovascular (CV) risk marker has been underscored by recent findings that CV risk is directly related to baseline Lp(a) levels, even in well-treated patients. Although there is currently little that can be done pharmacologically to lower Lp(a) levels, knowledge of its serum concentration is important in overall risk assessment. This review focuses on 1 aspect of Lp(a) that is rarely discussed directly: how to express its levels in serum.

Validation of a lipoprotein(a) particle concentration assay by quantitative lipoprotein immunofixation electrophoresis.

Background: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle (P, or molar) concentration has been shown to be a more sensitive marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk than LDL cholesterol. Although elevated circulating lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] cholesterol and mass have been associated with CV risk, no practicable method exists to measure Lp(a)-P. We have developed a method of determining Lp(a)-P suitable for routine clinical use.

Colonic perforation by a transmural and transvalvular migrated retained sponge: multi-detector computed tomography findings.

Transmural migrated retained sponges usually impact at the level of the ileo-cecal valve leading to a small bowel obstruction. Once passed through the ileo-cecal valve, a retained sponge can be propelled forward by peristaltic activity and eliminated with feces. We report the case of a 52-year-old female with a past surgical history and recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and constipation.

Is the advanced age a contraindication to GERD laparoscopic surgery? Results of a long term follow-up.

Background: In this prospective non randomized observational cohort study we have evaluated the influence of age on outcome of laparoscopic total fundoplication for GERD.

Methods: Six hundred and twenty consecutive patients underwent total laparoscopic fundoplication for GERD. Five hundred and twenty-four patients were younger than 65 years (YG), and 96 patients were 65 years or older (EG).

[Video-laparoscopic cholecystectomy: first years of experience].

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is became the elective operation in the treatment of symptomatic lithiasis of gallbladder, and it represent the surgical choice in 96% of cases. The authors on the base of their first years experience analyzes the results of literature with particular reference to the complications, like lesion of principal biliary tract and of other organs or vessels, underlining how the right selection of patients can be reduce morbidity. In this direction the subdivision of contraindication, in relative and absolute, already described in literature, represent an obliged chose to respect the mini-invasive principle which laparoscopic technique mean.