Delayed post-ischaemic administration of xenon reduces brain damage in a rat model of global ischaemia.

Objective: Xenon and nitrous oxide have been shown to be neuroprotective in vivo and in vitro, but mainly in models of focal cerebral ischaemia. This study aimed to investigate whether the two gases are able to attenuate cerebral injury after global cerebral ischaemia.

Methods: Adult male Wistar rats underwent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion and were ventilated for 1 hour with 21% O₂/78% N₂.

Deeply infiltrating rectal endometriosis with lymph node involvement.

Background: Sigmoidorectal endometriosis accounts for 70% of the cases of intestinal endometriosis. Symptoms are non-specific, frequently resembling adenocarcinomas.

Case: A 45-year-old woman complaining of recurrent rectal bleeding underwent colonoscopy in which a rectal polypoid mass was found.

Unusual findings in inguinal hernia surgery: report of 6 rare cases.

Background And Aim: To present our experience with unexpected findings during hernia surgery, either unusual hernial contents or pathologic entities, like neoplastic masses, masquerading as a hernia.

Patients And Methods: We studied retrospectively 856 patients with inguinal hernia who were admitted to our surgical department over a 9-year period. In addition, our study included patients complaining of inguinal protrusion, even without a definitive diagnosis of inguinal hernia upon admission.

Effect of early propranolol administration on portal hypertensive gastropathy in cirrhotic rats.

Aim: To investigate any protective effect of early propranolol administration in the development of portal hypertensive gastropathy in cirrhotic rats.

Methods: For the development of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertensive gastropathy, 60 rats underwent ligation of the left adrenal vein and complete devascularization of the left renal vein, followed by phenobarbital and carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) administration. After two weeks of CCl(4) administration, the rats were randomly separated into two groups.

Ectopic parathyroid adenoma located inside the hypoglossal nerve.

Background: Intraneural parathyroid adenomas are extremely rare, with only 9 cases of intravagal adenomas reported. We report the first case of an ectopic parathyroid adenoma located within the hypoglossal nerve.

Methods And Results: A 62-year-old woman presented with a palpable nodule in the right submandibular area, reduced bone mass, and elevated calcium and parathormone levels.

Acute afferent loop syndrome: a true emergency. A case report.

Afferent loop syndrome is a relatively rare complication after subtotal gastrectomy. We present a late onset of afferent loop obstruction, in a patient who underwent Billroth II gastrectomy with Roux-Y reconstruction for a gastric ulcer 27 years ago. A 60-year-old male was admitted to the hospital with an 8-hour history of acute epigastric pain, associated with vomiting, fever and signs of sepsis.

A rare case of malignant triton tumor with pluridirectional differentiation.

An enlarging soft tissue mass was resected from the leg of a young man with neurofibromatosis type 1. Rhabdomyosarcomatous elements admixed with islands of osteoid and chondroid matrix was seen on microscopy. Based on immunohistochemistry, a malignant triton tumor, an uncommon subtype of peripheral nerve sheath tumor with rhabdomyosarcomatous elements, was diagnosed.

Effect of early bosentan administration on the development of esophageal varices in cirrhotic rats: experimental study in Wistar rats.

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of chronic bosentan administration on the development of esophageal varices in carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis in rats.

Methods: For the development of liver cirrhosis and esophageal varices, 60 rats underwent ligation of the left adrenal vein, followed by phenobarbital and carbon tetrachloride administration. Two weeks after the beginning of carbon tetrachloride administration, rats were separated into two groups.

Primary Ewing sarcoma of the stomach--a newly described entity.

The Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) includes classic Ewing sarcoma of the bone, extraosseous or soft tissue Ewing sarcoma, Askin tumors of the chest wall, and peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the bone and soft tissues. They share a common neural histogenesis, tumor genetics and biology. The genetic hallmark of the ESFT is the presence of t(11;22)(q24;q12), which creates the EWS/FLI1 fusion gene and results in the expression of a chimeric protein.

Retroperitoneal, mediastinal, and subcutaneous emphysema, complicating colonoscopy and rectal polypectomy.

Complications of flexible endoscopy-though still rare-are increasing in frequency lately as more invasive procedures are routinely performed. Perforation, hemorrhage, coagulation disorders, thrombophlebitis, and splenic rupture have all been reported to complicate colonoscopy and colorectal polypectomies. In this paper, we report on a case of retroperitoneal, mediastinal, and neck surgical emphysema, complicating colonoscopy and rectal polypectomy, presented initially as a change in the voice and facial swelling.

Pelvic malakoplakia simulating recurrence of rectal adenocarcinoma: report of a case.

Malakoplakia represents a chronic inflammatory disease associated with a broad spectrum of bacterial infections. On histopathology, Michaelis-Gutmann bodies are considered as pathognomonic histopathological findings. Rarity of the disease and wide variety of clinical presentation makes its diagnosis very challenging.

Epidermoid splenic cyst presented as huge splenic abscess: a case report.

Epidermoid splenic cysts are very rare. Symptoms emerge because of enlargement, infection, haemorrhage or rupture. Although splenectomy is indicated for large cysts, minimally invasive and preservation procedures, such as partial splenectomy or total cystectomy with splenorrhaphy, have been increasingly used during the last decade.

Gangrenous cystitis.

Gangrenous cystitis is an extremely rare condition. During the last 70 years, only 30 cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of gangrenous cystitis in a 70-year-old woman presented with symptoms of acute abdomen.

Anterior thoracic wall traumatic lymphocele: a case report.

Traumatic lymphoceles are usually the result of surgical injuries or blunt trauma. Although usually described in the pelvis after radical pelvic node dissection or kidney transplantation, traumatic lymphoceles are rare. Diagnosis is based on CT scan and confirmed by fine needle aspiration with biochemical analysis.

The effect of capecitabine on the healing of colonic anastomoses in rats.

Purpose: Capecitabine is a fluoropyrimidine carbamate with antineoplasmatic activity, recommended for the treatment of colorectal cancer. This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of the perioperative administration of capecitabine on the healing process of colonic anastomosis.

Methods: Sixty Wistar rats were used, which were randomized in 2 groups of 30 each.

Efficacy and safety of ultrasonically activated shears in thyroid surgery.

Background: The purpose of this prospective study is to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasonically activated shears (UAS) in hemostasis as well as its safety in regard to complications in thyroid surgery.

Methods: Three hundred patients who had undergone surgery on the thyroid gland were divided into 2 groups of 150 patients each. Hemostasis as well as division of blood vessels and thyroid tissue were performed with the use of UAS in the first group and by conventional ligations in the second group.

False aneurysm of the proper palmar digital artery--report of a case.

A case of false aneurysm of the radial proper palmar digital artery located in the tip of the right index finger is presented. The aneurysm was the result of blunt trauma and the diagnosis was made by contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography. The patient was treated by ligation and resection of the aneurysm.

Intraperitoneal ePTFE mesh repair of parastomal hernias.

Parastomal hernia represents a common complication of colostomy formation. Surgical techniques such as facial repair and stoma relocation have almost been abandoned because of high recurrence rates. Extraperitoneal prosthetic mesh repair had better results but was accompanied by high rates of mesh contamination.

Interdigital pilonidal sinus in a hairdresser.

Pilonidal sinus of the interdigital web space of the hand is a rare occupational disease which occurs in hairdressers and professionals working with animals. This paper reports such a sinus in the hand of a male hairdresser and reviews the treatment of this condition.

Mixed exocrine-endocrine tumor of the pancreas.

Context: Neoplasms of the pancreas usually show ductal, acinar or endocrine differentiation. Tumors with mixed exocrine and endocrine components are unusual. We herein describe a case of a mixed ductal-endocrine tumor.

Limy bile syndrome: review of seven cases.

Background: Milk of calcium bile or limy bile is a rare disorder in which the gall bladder is filled with a thick, paste-like, radiopaque material.

Methods: Seven patients with limy bile syndrome were treated in our department from 1980 to 2003. There were five women and two men, and their age ranged from 30 to 64 years.

Carcinoid of the ampulla of Vater--report of two cases.

Carcinoid of the ampulla of Vater is extremely rare, accounting for less than 0.3% of all gastro-intestinal carcinoids. To our knowledge, only 80 cases of ampullary carcinoid have been reported in the literature to date.

A phase II study of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX): a new first-line option in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: Capecitabine and oxaliplatin are both effective and well-tolerated monotherapies for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Oxaliplatin has also been shown to be very effective when combined with 5-FU/LV in the first-line setting.

Aim Of The Study: Assess the efficacy and safety of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) in patients with previously untreated advanced CRC.

Somatostatin-producing pancreatic endocrine carcinoma presented as relapsing cholangitis -- a case report.

Somatostatin-producing endocrine tumors are rare neoplasms usually arising in the pancreas and duodenum and they account for less than 1% of all gastrointestinal endocrine tumors. Besides somatostatinoma syndrome, which is characterized by diabetes mellitus, steatorrhea and cholelithiasis, patients with somatostatin-producing endocrine tumors commonly complain of nonspecific symptoms such as vague abdominal pain, weight loss or changes in bowel habits. Tumor behavior cannot be predicted by histological features alone, and malignancy is determined by the presence of metastases.