Short-term laryngeal electromyography and histopathological findings after primary reconstruction of the inferior laryngeal nerve in rabbits: prospective study.

Introduction: The recurrent laryngeal nerve can be injured during surgery. This study investigated recurrent laryngeal nerve reinnervation.

Objective: To study the short-term effects of primary anastomosis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, by laryngeal electromyography and histopathological analysis, in a rabbit model.

Longitudinal surveillance of mid- and distal rectum cancer in a subset of patients with specific histology.

Objective: A prospective study in 82 consecutive patients with mid- and distal rectal adenocarcinomas having specific histology and tumor stage was conducted to asses impact of curative surgery.

Methods: Patients with moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (MDAC) with or without mucinous differentiation underwent curative resection. Forty patients were in Stage B1-B2 and 42 patients were in Stage C1-C2.

Treatment of first acute rejection episode: systematic review of level I evidence.

The primary objective of this review was to clarify the efficacy of commercially available and tested agents for the treatment of first acute rejection episode (ARE) and particularly a steroid-resistant rejection (SRR) seeking to provide generalizable level I evidence for clinical practice. The inclusion criteria were restricted to prospective randomized trials (PRT) that (1) reported outcomes of first, biopsy-proven ARE based on Banff 97 diagnostic criteria; (2) excluded borderline changes that were not considered to be acute rejection; (3) included protocol biopsies confirming reversal or recurrence of rejection; (4) utilized calcineurin inhibitor-based double or triple baseline immunosuppression prior to and after the reversal of ARE and possessed Jadad scores at least 3 upon final assessment by both reviewers. Two PRTs compared rabbit-anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) to low-dose corticosteroids or OKT3, following a first rejection episode in renal transplantation patients.

Human kidney histopathology in acute obstructive jaundice: a prospective study.

Introduction: Cholemia and bacterial translocation with portal endotoxemia are integral in the pathogenesis of obstructive jaundice (OJ). There is sufficient experimental data about hemodynamic and histopathological consequences of OJ. In contrast, pathological information of renal changes in patients with OJ is still lacking.

Protective effects of propofol on peritoneal adhesions in cecal ligation and puncture model.

Aim: We assumed that one of the most widely used anesthetic agents, propofol, which is the most widely used anesthetic for sedation, may reduce inflammatory processes and organ injury induced by cecal ligation and puncture.

Study Design: Bacterial peritonitis was induced in 18 rats by cecal ligation and puncture. The rats were randomly assigned to three groups.

A prudent algorithm for hyperlipoproteinemia in renal transplant recipients.

Background: Hyperlipidemia and particularly low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) have been proposed as independent risk factors predisposing to chronic allograft nephropathy.

Objective: The primary objective of this prospective randomized study was to evaluate the efficacy of the modified National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Step I Diet to prevent posttransplantation hyperlipidemia. The secondary objective was to assess the impact of fluvastatin on the lipid profile of patients unresponsive to dietary measures.

Total thyroidectomy for the treatment of recurrent graves' disease with ophthalmopathy.

Objective: To determine the outcome of recurrent Graves' disease with ophthalmopathy (GO) following bilateral total thyroidectomy (TT) in patients with no history of anti-inflammatory treatment with steroids or radioactive iodine treatment.

Methods: From May 2002 to August 2005, 35 patients (27 female, 8 male) with different stages of Graves' disease underwent TT. The degree of ophthalmopathy was assessed by the NOSPECS scoring system and thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) levels were measured for the detection of thyroidal and retro-orbital inflammatory activity before and after surgery.

Efficacy and safety of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium in de novo and maintenance renal transplant patients.

Enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (ECMPS) has been developed as an alternative agent to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), with the aim to provide reduction in gastrointestinal side effects. This open-label, single-arm, two-center prospective study sought to investigate the efficacy and safety of ECMPS used in combination with steroid and cyclosporine (CyA) in de novo and maintenance renal transplant patients with 12 months' follow-up. Twenty-one patients were recruited (mean age, 39 +/- 8 years) into the de novo group.

Sirolimus-based triple immunosupression with antithymocyte globulin induction in expanded criteria donor kidney transplantation.

Background: Target of rapamycin inhibitors have presented similar graft and patient outcomes with no evidence of drug-induced nephrotoxicity when compared with calcineurin inhibitors. The principal aim of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of sirolimus-based triple immunosuppression with antithymocyte globulin induction in expanded donor kidney transplantation.

Methods: Twenty-seven primary expanded criteria donor kidney transplant recipients were recruited.

Predictors of mortality and morbidity in acute obstructive jaundice: implication of preventive measures.

Background/aims: The afferent events in acute obstructive jaundice (AOJ) are characterized by endotoxemia-induced decrease in systemic vascular resistance and bile salt mediated natriuresis and diuresis leading to diminished effective plasma volume.

Methodology: A prospective protocol aimed at preventing those alterations was carried out in 104 consecutive patients with AOJ. The preoperative risk factors that predict postoperative mortality and morbidity were reevaluated and correctable factors were identified.

Non-visualization of the internal carotid artery with a normal ipsilateral common carotid artery Doppler waveform: a finding suggesting congenital absence of the ICA on colour Doppler ultrasound.

We report a case of congenital absence of the left internal carotid artery (ICA) that presented with left-sided facial numbness. On MRI of the brain, occlusion of the left cavernous ICA was suggested. On colour Doppler ultrasound (CDS), the left ICA was not visualized and the ipsilateral common carotid artery (CCA) showed normal flow in systole and diastole.

Evaluation of p53 nuclear accumulation in low- and high-grade (WHO/ISUP classification) transitional papillary carcinomas of the bladder for tumor recurrence and progression.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of p53 nuclear accumulation with recurrence and progression in transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder and to examine the distribution of p53 in low-grade and high-grade transitional cell carcinomas according to the World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology classification.

Patients And Methods: Nuclear accumulations of p53 were examined in a total of 99 patients with transitional cell carcinoma between May 1995 and October 1999. The mean age was 64 years.

The value of serum zinc, copper, ceruloplasmin levels in patients with gastrointestinal tract cancers.

Background/aims: Gastrointestinal cancers are frequent diseases of particular importance for surgeons with regard to their management and follow-up. Neoplastic diseases activate antioxidant defense systems. As a result, concentrations of redoxal enzymes and their co-factor elements appear to change.

Primary breast lymphoma cytologic diagnosis.

Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the breast is a rare pathology, and bilateral involvement is exceptional. We report a case of bilateral primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the breast in a 40-year-old woman. Predominantly atypical lymphocytes and rare plasma cells were found in the microscopic evaluation of the fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the right and left breasts.

Intussusception in adults: an unusual and challenging condition for surgeons.

Background And Aims: Intestinal intussusception in adults is a rare entity and there is an ongoing controversy regarding the optimal management of this problem. The purpose of this study was to determine the causes and management of intussusception in adults.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review of patients more than 18 years of age with a diagnosis of intestinal intussusception between January 1996 and December 2003 was conducted.

A case report of the unusual presence of hydatid disease in the pancreas and breast.

Context: Hydatid cyst disease can occur in all viscera and soft tissues although the liver and the lungs are the most commonly involved organs. Pancreatic and breast involvement with the disease are extremely rare and the presence of this disease in these organs without any other organ involvement has not been previously reported.

Case Report: We present herein a patient with isolated pancreatic cyst hydatid treated successfully with complete cyst excision.

Adjuvant chemotherapy in a unique population of patients with gastric cancer undergoing surgery.

Background/aims: Total gastrectomy with D2 dissection theoretically removes the gross primary tumor with its potential route of dissemination, that is locoregional lymph nodes. Complementary therapy for the control of systemic microscopic disease should be taken into consideration in patients whom surgery with curative intent was performed.

Methodology: Twenty-eight patients with moderately differentiated, locally advanced gastric carcinoma underwent total gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection.

Two-day induction with thymoglobulin in kidney transplantation: risks and benefits.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to develop an induction protocol to reduce allograft rejection with fewer posttransplant infections and malignancies.

Methods: In this prospective randomized study, a T- and B-cell depletion protocol, consisting of IV thymoglobulin (ATG 5 mg/kg/d) plus methylprednisolone (500 mg/d) plus azathiopurine (2 mg/kg/d), was on days 0 and 1 after renal transplantation. CyA was introduced at day 3.

Mirizzi's syndrome must be ruled out in the differential diagnosis of any patients with obstructive jaundice.

Background/aims: Mirizzi syndrome is a rare benign complication of long-standing cholelithiasis and neither diagnostic modality nor clinical feature has a 100% sensitivity and specificity. The objective of our study was to call attention to the importance of this rare syndrome with its miscellaneous treatments.

Methodology: Between January 1992 and June 1997, a total of 8 (4 females and 4 males) patients, who were operated and diagnosed as Mirizzi syndrome, were retrospectively evaluated.