E-cigarette use is associated with other tobacco use among US adolescents.

Objectives: To examine whether tobacco initiation via e-cigarettes increases the likelihood of subsequent tobacco use among a large representative sample of US adolescents.

Methods: This study is a retrospective longitudinal analysis from a representative sample of US middle and high school students (n = 39,718) who completed the 2014 and 2015 National Youth Tobacco Survey. The adjusted odds ratios of lifetime and current use of tobacco use were estimated by logistic regression analysis while controlling for important socio-ecological factors associated with tobacco use.

E-cigarette marketing exposure and combustible tobacco use among adolescents in the United States.

E-cigarette advertising has been shown to be associated with use of e-cigarettes, but its association with tobacco use has not been studied. Therefore, we examined the association between e-cigarettes advertisement and tobacco use. Data from nationally representative 22,007 middle and high school students (grades 6-12) were used to conduct the analysis.

Advantages of Robotic Right Colectomy With Intracorporeal Anastomosis.

Through retrospective review of consecutive charts, we compare the short-term and long-term clinical outcomes after robotic-assisted right colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis (RIA) (n=89) and laparoscopic right colectomy with extracorporeal anastomosis (LEA) (n=135). Cohorts were similar in demographic characteristics, comorbidities, pathology, and perioperative outcomes (conversion, days to flatus and bowel movement, and length of hospitalization). The RIA cohort experienced statistically significant: less blood loss, shorter incision lengths, and longer specimen lengths than the LEA cohort.

A Vertically Placed Clip for Weight Loss: a 39-Month Pilot Study.

Background: Morbid obesity remains one of society's significant medical dilemmas. It is rapidly worsening and expected to affect 35% of the US population by the year 2020. Common current bariatric procedures exist and include, but not limited to, the adjustable gastric band, gastric bypass, and the sleeve gastrectomy.

Synergistic Effects of Combined Cell Therapy for Chronic Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Both bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and c-kit(+) cardiac stem cells (CSCs) improve left ventricular remodeling in porcine models and clinical trials. Using xenogeneic (human) cells in immunosuppressed animals with acute ischemic heart disease, we previously showed that these 2 cell types act synergistically.

Objectives: To more accurately model clinical applications for heart failure, this study tested whether the combination of autologous MSCs and CSCs produce greater improvement in cardiac performance than MSCs alone in a nonimmunosuppressed porcine model of chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Robotic right colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis: experience with 52 consecutive cases.

Background: In laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (LRC), extracorporeal or intracorporeal (ICA) anastomosis can be performed. Several authors have suggested advantages to ICA. This study reports our transition to and our experience with robotic right colectomy (RRC) with ICA.

Does transendocardial injection of mesenchymal stem cells improve myocardial function locally or globally?: An analysis from the Percutaneous Stem Cell Injection Delivery Effects on Neomyogenesis (POSEIDON) randomized trial.

Rationale: Transendocardial stem cell injection (TESI) with mesenchymal stem cells improves remodeling in chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy, but the effect of the injection site remains unknown.

Objective: To address whether TESI exerts its effects at the site of injection only or also in remote areas, we hypothesized that segmental myocardial scar and segmental ejection fraction improve to a greater extent in injected than in noninjected segments.

Methods And Results: Biplane ventriculographic and endocardial tracings were recorded.

Self-expanding metallic stents for palliation and as a bridge to minimally invasive surgery in colorectal obstruction.

Background And Objectives: Acute colorectal obstruction is a potentially life-threatening emergency that requires immediate surgical treatment. Emergency procedures had an associated mortality rate of 10% to 30%. This encouraged development of other options, most notably self-expanding metallic stents.

Closure versus non-closure of hernia defect during laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with mesh.

Purpose: Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with mesh versus laparoscopic ventral hernia defect closure with mesh reinforcement. The primary end-point was recurrence.

Methods: Retrospective review of patients who underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repair for small- and medium-sized hernias between July 2000 and September 2011.

Laparoscopic versus robotic right colectomy: a single surgeon's experience.

There is increased interest in robotic techniques for colon resection, but the role of robotics in colorectal surgery has not yet been defined. The purpose of this study was to compare our recent experience with robotic right colectomy to that with laparoscopic right colectomy. From November 2008 to June 2011, a total of 47 consecutive patients underwent elective, right colectomy: 25 laparoscopic right colectomies (LRC) and 22 robotic right colectomies (RRC).

Failed restrictive surgery: is sleeve gastrectomy a good revisional procedure?

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of converting failed restrictive procedures such as laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), non-adjustable gastric banding (NAGB), and vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). A prospective database was maintained of 32 patients who failed restrictive procedures. Twenty-six patients failed LAGB, three patients failed NAGB, one of which was performed open, and three patients failed VBG.

Two-stage minimally invasive surgical management of colonic gallstone ileus.

Colonic gallstone ileus is an unusual cause of colonic obstruction. Management of these patients is not standardized and can be challenging. As these patients are often ill and frail at presentation, surgical management needs to be individualized to decrease morbidity and mortality.