30-Day Morbidity and Mortality of Bariatric Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Multinational Cohort Study of 7704 Patients from 42 Countries.

Background: There are data on the safety of cancer surgery and the efficacy of preventive strategies on the prevention of postoperative symptomatic COVID-19 in these patients. But there is little such data for any elective surgery. The main objectives of this study were to examine the safety of bariatric surgery (BS) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to determine the efficacy of perioperative COVID-19 protective strategies on postoperative symptomatic COVID-19 rates.

Stimulation of the four isoforms of receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB4, but not ErbB1, confers cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors (ErbB1-ErbB4) promote cardiac development and growth, although the specific EGF ligands and receptor isoforms involved in growth/repair versus pathology remain undefined. We challenged ventricular cardiomyocytes with EGF-like ligands and observed that selective activation of ErbB4 (the receptor for neuregulin 1 [NRG1]), but not ErbB1 (the receptor for EGF, EGFR), stimulated hypertrophy. This lack of direct ErbB1-mediated hypertrophy occurred despite robust activation of extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK) and protein kinase B.

Factors influencing cancer genetic somatic mutation test ordering by cancer physician.

Background: Clinical whole exome sequencing was introduced in an Australian centre in 2017, as an alternative to Sanger sequencing. We aimed to identify predictors of cancer physicians' somatic mutation test ordering behaviour.

Methods: A validated instrument assessed somatic mutation test ordering, genomic confidence, perceived utility of tumour molecular profiling, and percent of patients eligible for targeted therapy.

Totally Laparoscopic Transgastric Resection of a Gastric Submucosal Fibrolipoma and Concomitant Sleeve Gastrectomy in a Morbidly Obese Patient.

Introduction: To evaluate feasibility and safety of a totally laparoscopic transgastric resection with concomitant sleeve gastrectomy in a morbidly obese presenting with benign lesion located along the lesser gastric curvature.

Materials And Methods: We report the case of a morbidly obese patient with an incidental submucosal lesion of the lesser curvature radiologically consistent with fibrolipoma at preoperative work-up. Benign nature of the mass was then confirmed EUS-biopsy.

Enhanced Recovery after Bariatric Surgery: 202 Consecutive Patients in an Italian Bariatric Center.

Background: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways have been shown to improve postoperative outcomes. However, its application in bariatric surgery is still limited. The aim of the study was to define the safety of ERAS in bariatric patients with regard to postoperative complications, length of hospital stay (LOS), and readmission rates within 30 days from surgery.

Genome-wide association study in Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is considered to have an immune-mediated basis, but the genetic contribution to GBS is unclear. We conducted a GWAS involving 215 GBS patients and 1,105 healthy controls. No significant associations of individual SNPs or imputed HLA types were observed.

Crim1 is required for maintenance of the ocular lens epithelium.

The development and growth of the vertebrate ocular lens is dependent on the regulated proliferation of an anterior monolayer of epithelial cells, and their subsequent differentiation into elongate fiber cells. The growth factor rich ocular media that bathes the lens mediates these cellular processes, and their respective intracellular signaling pathways are in turn regulated to ensure that the proper lens architecture is maintained. Recent studies have proposed that Cysteine Rich Motor Neuron 1 (Crim1), a transmembrane protein involved in organogenesis of many tissues, might influence cell adhesion, polarity and proliferation in the lens by regulating integrin-signaling.

Transcriptome analysis of ankylosing spondylitis patients before and after TNF-α inhibitor therapy reveals the pathways affected.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors are highly effective in suppressing inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, and operate by suppression of TFN-α and downstream immunological pathways. To determine the mechanisms of action of TNF-α inhibitors in AS patients, we used transcriptomic and bioinformatic approaches on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from AS patients pre and post treatment. We found 656 differentially expressed genes, including the genome-wide significant AS-associated genes, IL6R, NOTCH1, IL10, CXCR2 and TNFRSF1A.

Epigenetic and gene expression analysis of ankylosing spondylitis-associated loci implicate immune cells and the gut in the disease pathogenesis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common immune-mediated arthropathy primarily affecting the spine and pelvis. Most AS patients have subclinical intestinal inflammation, suggesting the gut microbiome and the immune response play a role in pathogenesis. Susceptibility to AS is primarily genetic, and at least 114 susceptibility variants have been identified to date.

CRIM1 is necessary for coronary vascular endothelial cell development and homeostasis.

Endothelial cells form a critical component of the coronary vasculature, yet the factors regulating their development remain poorly defined. Here we reveal a novel role for the transmembrane protein CRIM1 in mediating cardiac endothelial cell development. In the absence of Crim1 in vivo, the coronary vasculature is malformed, the number of endothelial cells reduced, and the canonical BMP pathway dysregulated.

Does a more extensive mucosal excision prevent haemorrhoidal recurrence after stapled haemorrhoidopexy? Long-term outcome of a randomized controlled trial.

Aim: The study aimed in a multicentric randomized controlled trial to define the role of a more extensive mucosal resection on recurrence of mucosal prolapse in patients with Stage III haemorrhoids undergoing stapled haemorrhoidopexy.

Method: In all, 135 patients were randomized to treatment with a PPH-01/03 (Ethicon EndoSurgery) or an EEA (Covidien) stapler. They were reviewed after a minimum follow-up of 4 years to determine the rate of recurrent mucosal prolapse and general condition (wellness evaluation score).

Crim1-, a regulator of developmental organogenesis.

The regulation of growth factor localization, availability and activity is critical during embryogenesis to ensure appropriate organogenesis. This process is regulated through the coordinated expression of growth factors and their cognate receptors, as well as via proteins that can bind, sequester or localize growth factors to distinct locations. One such protein is the transmembrane protein Crim1.

Flavonoids mixture (diosmin, troxerutin, hesperidin) in the treatment of acute hemorrhoidal disease: a prospective, randomized, triple-blind, controlled trial.

Background: The role of a mixture of phlebotonics in the treatment of acute hemorrhoid crisis is investigated to test their efficacy.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-four consecutive patients with an acute hemorrhoidal crisis recruited in five colorectal units entered the study. Sixty-six of them were randomized to receive a mixture of diosmin, troxerutin and hesperidin (group A), and 68 a placebo (group B).

Prospective multicenter observational trial on the safety and efficacy of LEVORAG® Emulgel in the treatment of acute and chronic anal fissure.

Background: Anal fissure (AF) is a common cause of anal pain with a tendency not to heal spontaneously because of ischemia of the anoderm caused by sphincter spasm. Lateral internal sphincterotomy, while very effective, can cause fecal incontinence and chemical sphincterotomy by application of cream may have discouraging side effects and/or low efficacy. The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a new medical treatment based on Emulgel cream, with emollient, soothing and protective agents, on AF healing.

Control of post-hemorrhoidectomy symptoms and wound healing by Triclosan: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Aim: Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy (MM) is still the most common treatment for grades III and IV hemorrhoids despite prolonged post-operative anal pain and wound healing. This multicenter, double blind, randomized, controlled trial was designed to assess the safety and the efficacy of anal wound cleansing with Triclosan (Proctocid®) in the control of symptoms and healing time after MM.

Methods: A total of 113 patients with grades III and IV hemorrhoids, undergoing open hemorroidectomy by diathermy or Ligasure vessel sealing device, were randomly assigned to Triclosan or sodium hypochlorite solution.

Distinct sites of renal fibrosis in Crim1 mutant mice arise from multiple cellular origins.

Crim1 is a transmembrane protein that regulates the bioavailability of growth factors such as VEGFA. Crim1(KST264)(/)(KST264) hypomorphic mice develop renal disease characterized by glomerular cysts and loss of endothelial integrity, progressing to peritubular and pericystic fibrosis. Peritubular capillary endothelial cells display morphological changes as well as detachment from the basement membrane.

Production of a mouse line with a conditional Crim1 mutant allele.

Crim1 is a developmentally expressed, transmembrane protein essential for normal embryonic development. We generated mice engineered to contain a Crim1 conditional null allele by flanking exons three and four of Crim1 with unidirectional LoxP sites. After crossing Crim1+/FLOX mice with a CMV-Cre line, a Crim1+/Δflox colony was established after germline transmission of the deleted allele.

Crim1 has an essential role in glycogen trophoblast cell and sinusoidal-trophoblast giant cell development in the placenta.

Normal placental development and function is essential for fetal growth of eutherian mammals. Mutational studies have shown that numerous growth factors are required for placental development and differentiation of placental lineages. Here, using a gene-trap mutant mouse line, Crim1(KST264), we show that Crim1 is essential for murine placental development.