Silastic ring vertical gastric bypass: cohort study with 83% rate of 5-year follow-up.

Background: Silastic ring vertical gastric bypass (SRVGB) with jejunal interposition is our standard operation for morbidly obese patients. We present the results of 5 years of follow-up in a cohort of patients who underwent SRVGB in 2001.

Methods: The records of all 160 consecutive patients who underwent SRVGB from January to December 2001 were reviewed.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophil infiltration intensity as consequence of Entamoeba histolytica density in amebic colitis.

Background: It has been suggested that the damage observed in invasive amebiasis is related to interactions between polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites. We analyzed the relation between infiltrating inflammatory cell populations and E. histolytica density in intestinal amebic lesions.

Circulating levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and soluble markers of vascular endothelial cell activation in growth hormone-deficient adolescents.

Background/aims: Significant endothelial dysfunction as determined by lower flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery was recently reported by us in growth hormone-deficient (GHD) adolescents. The circulating concentrations of markers of vascular endothelial cell and platelet activation and their relationship to inflammatory markers have not been previously evaluated in this group of patients.

Objective: To assess the relationship between circulating levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and soluble markers of vascular endothelial cell activation in GHD adolescents.

[Correlation between the molar potency of atracurium and its onset time and speed of action].

Objective: To study the correlation between the subparalyzing dose of atracurium and its onset time and speed of action.

Material And Methods: Six groups of patients received 0.36, 0.

Clinical experience of transoral suturing for an endoluminal vertical gastroplasty: 1-year follow-up in 64 patients.

Background: Bariatric surgery for severe obesity has demonstrated significant health benefits, but it is not without complications. Transoral approaches to weight loss offer a minimally invasive option.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of a transoral suturing procedure for weight loss.

Use of a protein-based tissue adhesive as an aid for the surgical reconstruction of advanced and recurrent skin cancer tumors to the head and neck region: a technical report.

Background: Patients with advanced skin cancer present a unique challenge to neurosurgeons. Treatment involves aggressive surgical intervention and lengthy reconstructive procedures with considerable morbidity to obtain adequate and safe oncological margins. We reviewed our experience with BioGlue Surgical Adhesive, a protein-based adhesive, as an adjunct in free tissue transfer procedures to prevent CSF leakage and seroma formation.

Acute synovitis, fever and rash possibly caused by metallic debris from a loosened knee prosthesis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

A 39-year-old woman with long-standing seropositive rheumatoid arthritis who had a total replacement of her left knee with a modular prosthesis in 1994 presented with fever, pruritic rash, and acute synovitis of that joint following local trauma. Synovial fluid showed a charcoal-like color, and contained abundant phagocytes laden with metal particles. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have undergone total joint replacement, metal particle reactions and possible hyper-sensitivity should be added to the list of potential causes of superimposed acute synovitis and systemic manifestations.

Self-expandable metal stents to treat gastric leaks.

Objectives: Anastomotic leak is a major complication after gastric bypass (GBP) surgery, and it usually necessitates reoperation and is associated with long-term recovery and death. We present our experience with the use of self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) to treat this complication.

Methods: Seventeen patients (14 males and 3 females, mean body mass index of 43.

Growth hormone deficiency, low levels of adiponectin, and unfavorable plasma lipid and lipoproteins.

Objective: To examine the impact of adolescent growth hormone deficiency (GHD) on circulating adiponectin levels and the relation between adiponectin, fasting insulin, plasma lipid, and lipoprotein levels.

Study Design: Twelve children with GHD on GH treatment with a chronological age (CA) of 14.4 +/- 2.

Coronary artery calcification, serum lipids, lipoproteins, and peripheral inflammatory markers in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes.

Objective: To determine whether coronary artery calcification (CAC), elevated fasting lipids, and lipoproteins and peripheral inflammatory markers are present in insulin-dependent diabetic adolescents and young adults several years after diagnosis.

Study Design: Hispanic insulin-dependent diabetics (n = 32) diagnosed a mean of 7.8 +/- 4.

[Interaction between mivacurium and succinylcholine from a different point of view].

Objectives: Succinylcholine (SCH) may first be used and continue with mivacurium (MIV). MIV has been suggested as a pretreatment. Conflicting results arises from studies on SCH-MIV interaction.

Relationship between different fasting-based insulin sensitivity indices in obese children and adolescents.

Objectives: To evaluate insulin sensitivity from data obtained from baseline values and from an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in normal and obese children and adolescents.

Study Design: We recruited 89 children 4-10 years old and 82 adolescents 11-18 years old divided into moderately obese (Mod OB), severely obese (Severe OB), and non-obese (Non-OB) controls. We evaluated the relationship between four simple measures of insulin sensitivity: homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), fasting glucose to insulin ratio (FGIR), and fasting insulin resistance index (FIRI), with an insulin sensitivity measure derived from the standard 2-hour OGTT, the composite whole body insulin sensitivity index (ISI Comp).

Metabolic abnormalities in growth hormone deficiency.

Growth hormone has been implicated in the regulation of cardiovascular function and growth hormone deficiency (GHD) has been postulated to be one of the main factors responsible for the increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease in both young and older patients with childhood- and adulthood-onset GHD. Growth hormone also influences bone turnover and mineral deposition. Subjects with growth hormone deficiency have been shown to have an increased cardiovascular risk as manifested by elevated fasting and postprandial lipids and by increased body fat.

True thymic hyperplasia associated with a unilocular thymic cyst: an unusual combination not previously reported.

A mediastinal tumor mass in a 53-year-old woman with the sole complaint of persistent cough was studied and found to be a true thymic hyperplasia associated with a unilocular thymic cyst, felt to be of the congenital type. The bilobed thymus obtained was macroscopically and microscopically normal except for the size (12 x 12 x 3.5 cm) and weight (97 g).

Silastic ring vertical gastric bypass: evolution of an open surgical technique, and review of 1,588 cases.

Background: Silastic ring vertical gastric bypass (SRVGBP) has evolved from a stapled (SSRVGBP) to a transected (TSRVGBP), and finally to a transected pouch with jejunal interposition (TSRVGBP with J-I). The creation of the gastroenterostomy evolved from a hand-sewn to a stapled and finally to a combined stapled and hand-sewn anastomosis. The circumference of the ring was increased from 5.

Endothelial function, carotid artery intima-media thickness, epicardial adipose tissue, and left ventricular mass and function in growth hormone-deficient adolescents: apparent effects of growth hormone treatment on these parameters.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether GH-deficient (GHD) adolescents have abnormalities of cardiac and vascular function detectable during the teenage years.

Design/methods: Ten GHD children on GH treatment with a chronological age (CA) of 14.6 +/- 1.

Long-term outcome of growth hormone therapy in children and adolescents.

Growth hormone (GH) has been available for more than 4 decades for the treatment of GH deficiency. Initially, GH was extracted from the pituitary glands of human cadavers, but its use was discontinued following the transmission of the Creutzfeldt-Jakob virus. After the development of recombinant GH (somatropin) in 1985, an 'unlimited' commercial source of GH has been available, allowing for the treatment of a large number of short GH-deficient and -sufficient children.

Peripheral inflammatory and fibrinolytic markers in adolescents with growth hormone deficiency: relation to postprandial dyslipidemia.

Objective: To determine whether peripheral inflammatory and fibrinolytic markers are elevated in growth hormone-deficient (GHD) adolescents and associated with increased postprandial lipoproteins.

Study Design: Fifteen GHD children on GH treatment with a chronologic age of 12.7 +/- 2.

Decreased final height of children with growth deceleration secondary to poor weight gain during late childhood.

Eighteen healthy, short children with normal growth during most of their childhood were evaluated after a sustained fall in weight and reduced linear growth. Growth was followed after nutritional counseling until final height. This report demonstrates the need for an appropriate-for-age weight gain in growing children as a relatively minor but prolonged caloric restriction, leading to a sustained fall in weight centiles, will affect growth velocities long term and may lead to reduced final heights.

Accelerated versus slowly progressive forms of puberty in girls with precocious and early puberty. Gonadotropin suppressive effect and final height obtained with two different analogs.

Objectives: To distinguish which children with precocious puberty (PP) and early puberty (EP) should be treated and which followed without therapy. To determine the effect of GnRH analog treatment on the final height of treated patients and compare the effect of two different analogs on gonadotropin suppression and final height.

Study Design: Sixteen females with PP or EP with a mean chronological age (CA) of 8.

Priming rapacuronium: a comparison with rocuronium and mivacurium.

The aim of this study is to present the pharmacodynamics of the priming principle using rapacuronium and a comparison with rocuronium and mivacurium. After induction, 120 patients were randomly allocated to six similar groups. Groups 1 and 2 received rapacuronium 1000 micrograms.

Reduced serum glycodelin and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 in women with polycystic ovary syndrome during first trimester of pregnancy.

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with an increased rate of early pregnancy loss (EPL). Hyperinsulinemia is an independent risk factor for EPL and has been found to decrease levels of glycodelin and IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), two major endometrial proteins. We hypothesized that serum glycodelin IGFBP-1 concentrations would be reduced in women with PCOS during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Cardiovascular risk of young growth-hormone-deficient adolescents. Differences in growth-hormone-treated and untreated patients.

Objective: To determine whether postprandial lipids, coagulation factors and homocysteine levels are abnormal in young growth hormone (GH)-deficient (GHD) adolescents.

Methods: Fifteen GHD adolescents on GH replacement were studied. Ten untreated GHD adolescents and 15 healthy subjects served as controls.

The effect of short- and long-term growth hormone treatment on bone mineral density and bone metabolism of prepubertal children with idiopathic short stature: a 3-year study.

Objective: We recently reported that children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) have decreased lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) that increases after 1 year of GH therapy. The aim of this study was to confirm these short-term results and to evaluate the effect of long-term GH therapy on the BMD of children with ISS.

Patients And Design: We treated a group of 16 short, slow-growing but otherwise healthy non-GH-deficient prepubertal children (8 girls and 8 boys) with a chronological age of 9.