The growing, resilient, inclusive and sustainable (GRINS) project for the development of life cycle inventory databases of beef cattle raised in Italy: The statistical datasets and the environmental assessment.

Within the framework of the Growing, Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable (GRINS) project (Spoke 1, WP3, Next Generation EU program), this work aims to overcome the absence of Italian beef cattle Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets through a capillary analysis of several parameters. Specifically, the contribution to the environmental impact of livestock breeding of breed features (age, gender, weight, daily weight gain, breeding, feed intake and composition, milk and manure production), as well as stable management and crop cultivation was investigated. Statistical inventory datasets (84 in total) were developed for the predominant (<1 % population cut-off) beef cattle breeds in Italy.

Effect of artificial or autologous coverage of the pancreatic remnant or anastomosis on postoperative pancreatic fistulas after partial pancreatectomy: meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background: Postoperative pancreatic fistulas remain a driver of major complications after partial pancreatectomy. It is unclear whether coverage of the anastomosis or pancreatic remnant can reduce the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistulas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of autologous or artificial coverage of the pancreatic remnant or anastomosis on outcomes after partial pancreatectomy.

Glucocorticoids are differentially synthesized along the murine and human respiratory tree.

Background: Synthetic glucocorticoids (GC) are effective in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the lung. However, long-term use leads to severe side effects. Endogenous GC can be synthesized locally, either de novo from cholesterol in a 11β-hydroxylase (Cyp11b1)-dependent manner, or by reactivation from 11-dehydrocorticosterone/cortisone by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (Hsd11b1).

Minimally invasive versus open pancreatic surgery: meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background: Widespread implementation of the minimally invasive technique in pancreatic surgery has proven to be challenging. The aim of this study was to compare the perioperative outcomes of minimally invasive (laparoscopic and robotic) pancreatic surgery with open pancreatic surgery using data obtained from RCTs.

Methods: A literature search was done using Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, and Web of Science; all available RCTs comparing minimally invasive pancreatic surgery and open pancreatic surgery in adults requiring elective distal pancreatectomy or partial pancreatoduodenectomy were included.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 4: a new member of the MEN family.

Objective: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 4 (MEN4) is caused by a CDKN1B germline mutation first described in 2006. Its estimated prevalence is less than one per million. The aim of this study was to define the disease characteristics.

Life Cycle Assessment of UV-C based treatment systems for the removal of compounds of emerging concern from urban wastewater.

In the last decades particular attention is being paid to the efficient and effective removal of compounds of emerging concern (CECs) present in wastewater before their eventual reuse or disposal. Several technologies have been developed for the degradation of CECs in aqueous matrix, in this regard advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) represent a nascent technological solution developed on a laboratory scale with applications on a prototype scale. The experimental evidences have shown that AOPs processes can oxidize numerous organic compounds in a much faster and more efficient way than that of the most common disinfection processes.

Adrenal myelolipoma: Defining the role of surgery. A case report.

Introduction And Importance: Adrenal myelolipomas (AMLs) are rare, non-functional, benign tumours mostly diagnosed incidentally. They present as small and unilateral masses that are histologically composed of mature adipose tissue with admixed haemopoietic elements. In a small percentage of patients, pressure symptoms, retroperitoneal haemorrhage or tumour rupture may occur.

Colobronchial fistula: a rare cause of non-resolving pneumonia in Crohn's disease.

We discuss the case of a 44-year-old man with a refractory left lower lobe pneumonia progressing to a pulmonary abscess caused by a colobronchial fistula, a rare complication of underlying Crohn's disease. The patient presented with weight loss and signs of a pulmonary consolidation, which responded incompletely to the targeted antibiotic treatment. The causative colobronchial fistula was demonstrated by CT-guided puncture and retrograde injection of contrast medium.

Colon cancer cells produce immunoregulatory glucocorticoids.

Expression or release of immunosuppressive molecules may protect tumor cells from the recognition and destruction by the immune system. New findings indicate that colorectal tumors produce immunoregulatory glucocorticoids and thereby suppress immune cell activation. The nuclear receptor LRH-1 plays a critical role in the regulation of colorectal tumor proliferation and glucocorticoid synthesis.

Ulcerative colitis: correlation of the Rachmilewitz endoscopic activity index with fecal calprotectin, clinical activity, C-reactive protein, and blood leukocytes.

Background: The accuracy of noninvasive markers for the detection of endoscopically active ulcerative colitis (UC) according the Rachmilewitz Score is so far unknown. The aim was to evaluate the correlation between endoscopic disease activity and fecal calprotectin, Clinical Activity Index, C-reactive protein (CRP), and blood leukocytes.

Methods: UC patients undergoing colonoscopy were prospectively enrolled and scored independently according the endoscopic and clinical part of the Rachmilewitz Index.

Symptomatic retroperitoneal cyst: a diagnostic challenge.

Retroperitoneal cystic masses pose an important diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Simple drainage, internal or external, is usually not sufficient. We report a case of a large symptomatic retroperitoneal cyst and its management.

Atraumatic splenic rupture in amyloidosis.

Background: Splenic involvement in amyloidosis is rather frequent (5-10%). An atraumatic rupture of the affected spleen is however an extremely rare event. We report on a patient with undiagnosed amyloidosis who underwent emergency splenectomy for atraumatic splenic rupture.

Quantitative isolation of mouse and human intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes by elutriation centrifugation.

Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) are specialized subsets of T cells with distinct functional capacities. While some IEL subsets are circulating, others such as CD8alphaalpha TCRalphabeta IEL are believed to represent non-circulating resident T cell subsets [Sim, G.K.

Long-term follow up (37-69 years) of patients with bladder exstrophy treated with ureterosigmoidostomy: uro-nephrological outcome.

Objective: To describe the urological and nephrological long-term outcome of patients born with classical bladder exstrophy treated with bilateral ureterosigmoidostomies in early childhood.

Patients And Method: Out of 42 patients born with bladder exstrophy in Switzerland between 1937 and 1968, 25 participated in this study; seven had died, seven were lost to follow up and three refused consent. Assessment included chart review, clinical examination, and assessment of renal function and morphology.

Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus and intracardiac extension: radical resection may improve recurrence free survival.

Background: Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) represents 0.2% of all uterine malignancies. Based on the mitotic activity, a distinction is made between low and high-grade ESS.

The influence of the surgeon's and the hospital's caseload on survival and local recurrence after colorectal cancer surgery.

Background: Past studies have identified surgeon- and institution- related characteristics as prognostic factors in colorectal cancer surgery. The present work assesses the influence of the surgeon's and the hospital's caseload on long-term results of colorectal cancer surgery.

Methods: The data on 2706 patients from 2, randomized, colorectal cancer trials (Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research [SAKK] 40/81, SAKK 40/87) investigating adjuvant intraportal and systemic chemotherapy and 1 concurrent registration study (SAKK 40/88) were reviewed.

Learning curve: the surgeon as a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer surgery.

The individual surgeon is an independent prognostic factor for outcome in colorectal cancer surgery. The surgeon's learning curve is therefore directly related to the patient's outcome. The exact shape of the learning curve, however, is unknown.

Severe acute pancreatitis: case-oriented discussion of interdisciplinary management.

The clinical course of an episode of acute pancreatitis varies from a mild, transitory illness to a severe often necrotizing form with distant organ failure and a mortality rate of 20-40%. Patients with severe pancreatitis, representing about 15-20% of all patients with acute pancreatitis, need to be identified as early as possible after onset of symptoms allowing starting intensive care treatment early in the disease process. An episode of severe acute pancreatitis progresses in two phases.

Surgical management of large sessile villous and tubulovillous adenomas of the lower rectum.

Background: Large sessile adenomas of the rectum are premalignant lesions necessitating complete removal.

Methods: We reviewed the data on 20 consecutive patients with large (>or=2 cm) sessile villous and tubulovillous adenomas of the lower two thirds of the rectum ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Colon interposition for esophageal replacement: a single-center experience.

Background: Gastric tube interposition has become the method of choice for esophageal replacement after esophagectomy. Colon interposition, on the other hand, is widely considered to be a method of last resort, associated with high morbidity and mortality. The present study reviews our experience with colon interposition for esophageal replacement.

Subtotal colectomy with primary ileorectostomy is effective for unlocalized, diverticular hemorrhage.

Background: A large proportion of patients with acute colonic diverticular bleeding undergo emergency surgery without successful prior localization of the bleeding site. This study sought to determine the surgical techniques of choice for unlocalized, diverticular hemorrhage.

Methods: We reviewed the data on 42 consecutive patients (median age 76 years, range 44-91) with acute colonic diverticular bleeding operated on between November 1993 and December 2000.