Treatment of anal fistulas with Obsidian RFT: just another autologous compound platelet-rich fibrin foam?

Background: Sphincter-preserving techniques like autologous compound platelet-rich fibrin foam have gained popularity, offering potential for better functional outcomes in anal fistula treatment. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Obsidian RFT.

Methods: The study conducted a retrospective analysis from January 2018 to December 2022 on patients who received anal fistula closure with Obsidian RTF at the Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna.

Cost-effectiveness of teduglutide in adult patients with short bowel syndrome - a European socioeconomic perspective.

Background: Short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure (SBS-IF) is a rare but devastating medical condition. An absolute loss of bowel length forces the patients into parenteral support dependency and a variety of medical sequelae, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Interdisciplinary treatment may include therapy with the effective but expensive intestinotrophic peptide teduglutide.

The predictive value of comorbidities on postoperative complication rates and overall survival in left-sided oncological colorectal resections: a multicentre cohort study.

Introduction: Surgical- and nonsurgical complications significantly worsen postoperative outcomes, and identification of patients at risk is crucial to improve care. This study investigated whether comorbidities, graded by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), impact complication rates and impair long-term outcome in a cohort of left-sided colorectal resections.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing oncological left-sided colorectal resections due to colorectal cancer between 01/2015 and 12/2020 in two referral centers in Austria using electronic medical records and national statistical bureau survival data.

Teduglutide in amyloidosis-associated intestinal failure.

Amyloidosis is a heterogeneous disease characterized by tissue deposition of abnormally folded fibrillary proteins that can manifest itself by a wide variety of symptoms depending on the affected organs. GI involvement among amyloidosis patients is common. Its clinical manifestation often presents with nonspecific symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea, and malabsorption.

Meeting actual benchmarks for short- and long-term outcomes after cytoreductive surgery for peritoneal surface malignancy at a newly established academic treatment center.

Background: Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is a curative treatment for selected patients with peritoneal surface malignancy. Reaching actual outcomes benchmarks is challenging given the complex nature of peritoneal surface malignancy surgery. The aim of this study was to assess how the benchmarks for morbidity and oncologic outcome can be reached at a newly established program for cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Fistula-Associated Anal Adenocarcinoma: A 20-Year Single-Center Experience.

Background: Fistula-associated anal adenocarcinoma (FAAC) is a rare consequence in patients with long-standing perianal fistulas. A paucity of data are available for this patient collective, making clinical characterization and management of this disease difficult.

Objective: This study aimed to describe a single-center experience with FAAC patients, their clinical course, and histopathological and molecular pathological characterization.

Added value of quantitative, multiparametric 18F-FDG PET/MRI in the locoregional staging of rectal cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether multiparametric positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (mpPET/MRI) can improve locoregional staging of rectal cancer (RC) and to assess its prognostic value after resection.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 46 patients with primary RC, who underwent multiparametric 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/MRI, followed by surgical resection without chemoradiotherapy, were included. Two readers reviewed T- and N- stage, mesorectal involvement, sphincter infiltration, tumor length, and distance from anal verge.

Laparoscopic Sacral Mesh Fixation for Ventral Rectopexy: Clinical Implications From a Cadaver Study.

Background: Correct tack placement at the sacral promontory for mesh fixation in ventral mesh rectopexy is crucial to avoid bleeding, nerve dysfunction, and spondylodiscitis.

Objective: The present cadaver study was designed to assess the true location of tacks after mesh fixation during laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy in relation to vascular and nerve structures and bony landmarks.

Design: This was an interventional cadaver study.

Teduglutide in short bowel syndrome patients: A way back to normal life?

Background: The glucagon-like peptide 2 analogue teduglutide is an effective drug for the treatment of short bowel syndrome patients with intestinal failure (SBS-IF). This intestinotrophic peptide improves intestinal capacity for fluid and nutrient absorption through induction of mucosal growth and reduction of gastrointestinal motility. Clinical trials demonstrated the efficacy of teduglutide in reducing the need for parenteral support (PS).

Bridging intestinal failure with Teduglutide - A case report.

Introduction And Importance: Intestinal failure (IF) describes the state of a person's gastrointestinal absorption capabilities becoming unable to absorb fluids and nutrients needed to sustain normal physiology, leading to severe comorbidities and if left untreated, to death. IF is most commonly seen as a result of short bowel syndrome (SBS). Teduglutide is a glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) analogue used in the treatment of patients with SBS and intestinal failure (IF) as a way to reduce the need for parenteral support.

The effect of intraoperative goal-directed crystalloid versus colloid administration on perioperative inflammatory markers - a substudy of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Excessive perioperative fluid administration may result in iatrogenic endothelial dysfunction and tissue edema, transducing inflammatory markers into the bloodstream. Colloids remain longer in the circulation, requiring less volume to reach similar hemodynamic endpoints compared to crystalloids. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that a goal-directed colloid regimen attenuates the inflammatory response compared to a goal-directed crystalloid regime.

Allogeneic expanded adipose-derived stem cells in the treatment of rectovaginal fistulas in Crohn's disease.

Aim: Crohn's disease (CD)-related rectovaginal fistulas (RVFs) are rare, challenging to treat and associated with a high morbidity. Due to a significant lack of data, we aimed to analyse the safety and feasibility of allogeneic adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) in the treatment of CD-related RVF.

Method: Four consecutive patients with CD-related RVF underwent treatment with expanded allogeneic ASCs extracted from a healthy donor in a tertiary referral centre in 2019.

miR-181a Modulation of ERK-MAPK Signaling Sustains DC-SIGN Expression and Limits Activation of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells.

DC-SIGN monocyte-derived dendritic cells (mo-DCs) play important roles in bacterial infections and inflammatory diseases, but the factors regulating their differentiation and proinflammatory status remain poorly defined. Here, we identify a microRNA, miR-181a, and a molecular mechanism that simultaneously regulate the acquisition of DC-SIGN expression and the activation state of DC-SIGN mo-DCs. Specifically, we show that miR-181a promotes DC-SIGN expression during terminal mo-DC differentiation and limits its sensitivity and responsiveness to TLR triggering and CD40 ligation.

Short-term outcome after ventral hernia repair using self-gripping mesh in sublay technique - A retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: Hernia repair in sublay technique is widely accepted for ventral hernias, as it appears to be advantageous in terms of complication and recurrence rates. Self-gripping meshes are increasingly used for hernia repair with retromuscular mesh positioning. However, real-life data on the safe use in that specific indication are still lacking.

Impact of Fibroblast-Derived SPARC on Invasiveness of Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a matricellular protein modulating cell-matrix interactions and was found up-regulated in tumor stroma. To explore the effect of high stromal SPARC on colorectal cancer (CRC) cell behavior and clinical outcome, this study determined SPARC expression in patients suffering from stage II and III CRC using a publicly available mRNA data set and immunohistochemistry of tissue microarray sections. Moreover, in vitro co-culture models using CRC cell lines together with colon-associated fibroblasts were established to determine the effect of fibroblast-derived SPARC on cancer cells.

Plasma metabolites associated with colorectal cancer stage: Findings from an international consortium.

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death globally, with marked differences in prognosis by disease stage at diagnosis. We studied circulating metabolites in relation to disease stage to improve the understanding of metabolic pathways related to colorectal cancer progression. We investigated plasma concentrations of 130 metabolites among 744 Stages I-IV colorectal cancer patients from ongoing cohort studies.

Mesenteric granulomas independently predict long-term risk of surgical recurrence in Crohn's disease.

Aim: The risk factors that predict surgical recurrence in Crohn's disease (CD) remain controversial. Postoperative anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy might lower recurrence rates whilst the presence of mesenteric granulomas has been postulated to increase the risk. We hypothesized that mesenteric granulomas indicate disease severity and might predict the risk of surgical recurrence, irrespective of immunosuppressive therapy.

Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer after primary debulking surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) in patients with debulking surgery for primary advanced epithelial ovarian cancer and to identify potential risk factors for development of LARS.

Methods: We reviewed data on 552 consecutive patients with primary epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), who underwent upfront or interval cytoreductive surgery including low anterior resection at two different academic institutions (Kliniken-Essen-Mitte, Germany, and Medical University of Vienna, Austria). Intestinal dysfunction was assessed by the validated LARS-questionnaire via telephone call.