Quality of life after open versus laparoscopic preperitoneal mesh repair for unilateral inguinal hernias.

Background: Both the open transinguinal preperitoneal repair (TIPP) and the laparoscopic total extraperitoneal mesh repair (TEP) show excellent outcomes. Direct comparative data between these 2 preperitoneal techniques is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess postoperative outcomes and quality of life (QoL) for these open and laparoscopic preperitoneal repair techniques.

Comparison of methods to estimate the affected body surface area and the dosage of topical treatments in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis: the advantage of a picture-based tool.

Background: The accurate determination of the dosage of topical treatments is important given its repercussions on patient adherence and therapeutic efficacy. Up till now, the fingertip unit calculated by the rule of hands is considered the gold standard, although its use is associated with several drawbacks.

Objective: To compare different methods to estimate the affected body surface area (BSA) and dosage of topical treatments in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis and investigate its reliability, user-friendliness and timing.

Depletion of Kupffer cells modulates ethanol-induced hepatocyte DNA synthesis in C57Bl/6 mice.

Kupffer cells (KCs) are important in hepatic homeostasis and responses to xenobiotics. KCs are activated on interaction with endotoxin, releasing cytokines, and reactive oxygen species normally associated with increased gene expression, cellular growth, or hepatic injury. Ethanol-induced endotoxemia is one means of KC activation.

Genetic factors underlying the risk of bortezomib induced peripheral neuropathy in multiple myeloma patients.

Bortezomib induced peripheral neuropathy is a dose-limiting side effect and a major concern in the treatment of multiple myeloma. To identify genetic risk factors associated with the development of this side effect in bortezomib treated multiple myeloma patients, a pharmacogenetic association study was performed using a discovery set (IFM 2005-01; n = 238) and a validation set (HOVON65/GMMG-HD4 and a Czech dataset; n = 231). After multiplicity correction, none of the 2,149 single nucleotide polymorphisms tested revealed any significant association with bortezomib induced peripheral neuropathy.