Role of ablation therapy in conjunction with surgical resection for neuroendocrine tumors involving the liver.

Background: Resection of hepatic metastasis from neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) improves quality of life and prolongs 5-year survival. Ablation can be utilized with surgery to achieve complete resection. Although several studies report long-term outcomes for patients undergoing ablation, none have explored perioperative effects of ablation in patients with metastatic NETs.

Post-operative morbidity after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and resection for gallbladder cancer: A national surgical quality improvement program analysis.

Background: Gallbladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has improved overall survival by enabling R0 resection. Currently, there is no consensus of guidelines for neoadjuvant therapy in gallbladder cancer.

Radiation therapy prior to a pancreaticoduodenectomy for adenocarcinoma is associated with longer operative times and higher blood loss.

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is currently the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. In patients with "borderline resectable" disease, current National Comprehensive Cancer Center guidelines recommend the use of neoadjuvant chemoradiation prior to a pancreaticoduodenectomy. Although neoadjuvant radiotherapy may improve negative margin resection rate, it is theorized that its administration increases operative times and complexity.

An inguinal hernia 'hard to stomach'.

Inguinal hernias containing the stomach are extremely rare, and have never been described in females. We are reporting the case of a 79 year old female who presented in septic shock with a left inguinal hernia containing the stomach, resulting in gastric perforation and loss of abdominal domain. She underwent emergency exploratory laparotomy with manual reduction of the hernia, wedge resection of the perforated gastric segment, abdominal washout, and closure of the abdominal fascia using biological mesh.

Gallbladder cancer: Historical treatment and new management options.

Gallbladder cancer is a rare, aggressive malignancy that has a poor overall prognosis. Effective treatment consists of early detection and surgical treatment. With the wide spread treatment of gallbladder disease with minimally invasive techniques, the rate of incidental gallbladder cancer has seen an equitable rise along with stage migration towards earlier disease.

Simultaneous Robot Assisted Colon and Liver Resection for Metastatic Colon Cancer.

Introduction: Simultaneous robot assisted colon and liver resections are being performed more frequently at present due to the expanded adoption of the robotic platform for surgical management of metastatic colon cancer. However, this approach has not been studied in detail with only case series available in the literature. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the current body of evidence on the feasibility of performing simultaneous robotic colon and liver resections.

Clinicopathologic Features and Outcome of Adenocarcinoma of the Anal Canal: A Population-Based Study.

Background: Anal canal adenocarcinoma (AA) is an uncommon tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. We seek to provide a detailed description of the incidence, demographics, and outcome of this rare tumor in the United States.

Methods: The data on anal canal adenocarcinoma from SEER Program, between 1973-2015, were extracted.

Double-barreled Wet Colostomy Versus Separate Urinary and Fecal Diversion in Patients Undergoing Total Pelvic Exenteration: A Cohort Meta-analysis.

Background: The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine whether double-barreled wet colostomy (DBWC) provides similar urinary tract infection rates as separate urinary and fecal diversion (SUFD) in patients undergoing pelvic exenteration.

Methods: The MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases were systematically searched by two independent researchers. The primary endpoint was the urinary tract infection rate.

Passive drainage to gravity and closed-suction drainage following pancreatoduodenectomy lead to similar grade B and C postoperative pancreatic fistula rates. A meta-analysis.

Introduction: There is no level 1a evidence regarding the impact of passive drainage to gravity (PDG) and closed-suction drainage (CSD) following pancreatoduodenectomy on clinical outcomes. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the impact of PDG versus CSD on surgical outcomes following pancreaticoduodenectomy in high risk patients who would benefit from pancreatic drainage.

Methods: The Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched.

LGR4 Is a Direct Target of MicroRNA-34a and Modulates the Proliferation and Migration of Retinal Pigment Epithelial ARPE-19 Cells.

The pathology of proliferative vitreoretinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy is linked to proliferation, migration, and adhesion of the retinal pigment epithelium. MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a) expression modulates changes in proliferation and migration of retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE-19. In this study, we determined that miR-34a interacts with LGR4, identified by bioinformatics using TargetScan Human 5.

MicroRNA-206: Effective Inhibition of Gastric Cancer Progression through the c-Met Pathway.

MicroRNAs are endogenous short chain nucleotide RNAs that regulate gene function by direct binding of target mRNAs. In this study, we investigated the effects of microRNA-206 (miR-206) on the development of gastric cancer. miR-206 was first confirmed to be downregulated in gastric cancer specimens.

Targeted deletion of the murine Lgr4 gene decreases lens epithelial cell resistance to oxidative stress and induces age-related cataract formation.

Oxidative stress contributes to the formation of cataracts. The leucine rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4, also known as GPR48), is important in many developmental processes. Since deletion of Lgr4 has previously been shown to lead to cataract formation in mice, we sought to determine the specific role that Lgr4 plays in the formation of cataracts.

Inhibitory effect of microRNA-34a on retinal pigment epithelial cell proliferation and migration.

Purpose: Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells play important roles in ophthalmologic diseases such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy, AMD, and diabetic retinopathy. MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a) has been reported to be important in the regulation of cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and apoptosis. In this study, we explored the effects of miR-34a on RPE cells.

MicroRNA-124a is epigenetically regulated and acts as a tumor suppressor by controlling multiple targets in uveal melanoma.

Purpose: MicroRNA-124a (miR-124a), an abundant microRNA in the central neuron system, has been linked to tumor progression. Here, we investigated the role of miR-124a in uveal melanoma development.

Methods: Expression of miR-124a in uveal melanoma cells was examined using real time RT-PCR.

Role of microRNA-182 in posterior uveal melanoma: regulation of tumor development through MITF, BCL2 and cyclin D2.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small non-coding RNAs that play central roles in diverse pathological processes. In this study, we investigated the effect of microRNA-182 (miR-182) on the development of posterior uveal melanomas. Initially, we demonstrated that miR-182 expression was dependent on p53 induction in uveal melanoma cells.

Jejunal diverticular disease complicated by enteroliths: Report of two different presentations.

Jejunal diverticula are quite rare. Furthermore, small bowel diverticular disease resulting in enteroliths can lead to complications necessitating surgical intervention. In this manuscript, we report two presentations of jejunal diverticulum with complications from enteroliths followed by a review of the literature.

Hepatic artery chemoembolization for the treatment of liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumors: a long-term follow-up in 123 patients.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the gastrointestinal tract have a propensity for hepatic metastases. Surgical resection for hepatic metastases remains the gold standard for long-term survival, but many patients present with multifocal tumors, precluding surgery with increasing use of chemoembolization. However, there are few studies examining long-term survival factors.

Epigenetics, microRNAs, and carcinogenesis: functional role of microRNA-137 in uveal melanoma.

Purpose: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can contribute to tumorigenesis by acting as either oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. The authors' previous studies on miR-34a showed that miRNA can influence the growth of uveal melanoma cells. In this study, they investigated the role of miR-137 in the pathogenesis of uveal melanoma.

MicroRNA-34a inhibits uveal melanoma cell proliferation and migration through downregulation of c-Met.

Purpose: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenously expressed, noncoding, small RNAs that inhibit protein translation through binding to target mRNAs. Recent studies have demonstrated that miRNAs can regulate tumor cell proliferation and migration. MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a), a potential key effector of the p53 tumor-suppressor gene, was studied as a potential tumor suppressor in uveal melanoma.

Postoperative hypoxemia from clinically suspected pulmonary embolism complicated by patent foramen ovale.

Postoperative hypoxemia can be a challenging diagnostic and management dilemma for the clinician. We present here a case of postoperative hypoxemia following laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery secondary to presumed pulmonary embolism complicated with a patent foramen ovale. The diagnostic pitfalls associated with a negative spiral computed tomography scan and the impact of coexisting medical conditions aggravating the pulmonary dysfunction are reviewed.