EBV-Driven Lymphoproliferative Disorders and Lymphomas of the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Spectrum of Entities with a Common Denominator (Part 3).

EBV is the first known oncogenic virus involved in the development of several tumors. The majority of the global population are infected with the virus early in life and the virus persists throughout life, in a latent stage, and usually within B lymphocytes. Despite the worldwide diffusion of EBV infection, EBV-associated diseases develop in only in a small subset of individuals often when conditions of immunosuppression disrupt the balance between the infection and host immune system.

An unusual cause of severe, persistent diarrhoea.

We present two cases of patients with severe persistent diarrhoea, in whom duodenal biopsies revealed villous atrophy that could be attributed to the use of olmesartan. The differential diagnosis of villous atrophy without serological markers of celiac disease should include drugs as possible cause, with olmesartan as a recently discovered culprit. Gastroenterologist should be aware of this entity.

Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer in Octogenarians.

Objective: To evaluate perioperative morbidity and mortality rate, a 3-year recurrence-free survival, and cancer-specific mortality rate in patients older than 80 years undergoing robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively collected data of 155 consecutive patients who received RARC for muscle-invasive or high-risk nonmuscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder between 2003 and 2014 at a high-volume robotic center. Diversion was performed intra- or extracorporeally according to the surgeon's preferences.

Severe isolated tricuspid insufficiency due to tricuspid papillary muscle rupture after a fall from a horse: treatment with port access minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

We report on the successful treatment of tricuspid valve insufficiency due to blunt chest injury using port-access minimally invasive cardiac surgery. The optimal surgical treatment of traumatic valvular insufficiency is discussed, including a brief review of the relevant literature.

Near-infrared fluorescence imaging: emerging applications in robotic upper urinary tract surgery.

Background: Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging is a technology with emerging applications in urologic surgery.

Objective: To describe surgical techniques and provide clinical outcomes for robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) with selective clamping and robotic upper urinary tract reconstruction featuring novel applications of NIRF imaging.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Data from 90 patients who underwent successful RPN with selective clamping or upper urinary tract reconstruction utilizing NIRF imaging between April 2011 and October 2012 were reviewed.

Surgical treatment of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: a timeless procedure?

Catheter-induced radiofrequency (RF) ablation has become the initial non-pharmacological treatment option for Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. In this report, we present the successful surgical treatment of WPW syndrome in two patients in whom percutaneous ablation of the accessory pathway was not successful.

What evidence do we have to replace in-hospital implantable cardioverter defibrillator follow-up?

Introduction: Due to the increasing number of patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), new options for ICD patient follow-up management are required.

Methods: Patients with ICD indication according to the guidelines received an ICD with Home Monitoring technology. The devices enabled the transmission of the relevant episode, therapy, and system integrity data.

Major intra-abdominal complications following extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) in a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

A retroperitoneal bleeding is an unusual complication of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), which can be treated in a conservative way most of the time. However, an intra-abdominal bleeding after ESWL is extremely rare, which can cause life-threatening situations and requires an immediate intervention. Probably, only patients with a certain tissue fragility or connective tissue disorder are at risk to develop such an intra-abdominal bleeding.

Laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Analysis of the first 237 cases.

This study was made to prospectively assess the results of our first 237 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic or laparoscopic-assisted colorectal procedures. Between May 1995 and July 1999, two hundred thirty seven laparoscopic (assisted) colorectal procedures were performed: 97 sigmoidectomies, 31 right hemicolectomies, 26 rectosigmoidectomies, 23 abdominoperineal rectum amputations and 60 other procedures. The following parameters were recorded and analysed: patients gender, age, diagnosis, procedure, conversion to open surgery, peroperative and postoperative complications, duration of procedure, mortality and length of hospitalization.

Initial clinical experience with a new small sized third-generation implantable cardioverter defibrillator: results of a multicenter study. European Ventak Mini Investigator Group.

This study reports the acute clinical experience with the new CPI VENTAK MINI: a small sized (68 cc), implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) with 33 J stored energy. Implantation of the device was attempted in 113 patients (90 men, mean age 57 +/- 16 years, 64 with coronary artery disease, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 41%) with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation (VF). All 113 patients (100%) were ultimately implanted, 12% of them for ICD replacement.

A prospective hemodynamic evaluation of patients with chronic atrial fibrillation undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation of the atrioventricular junction.

A prospective invasive hemodynamic evaluation in 11 unselected patients with medically refractory chronic atrial fibrillation undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation of the atrioventricular junction was performed. The resultant rate regulation and control caused a hemodynamic and symptomatic improvement despite persistent fibrillation at the atrial level.

Bilateral epiphysiodesis around the knee as treatment for excessive height in boys.

Between 1987 and 1993, six boys who had been predicted to grown to an excessive height were treated with bilateral Phemister epiphysiodesis around the knee. Median predicted adult height was 210.4c (range: 207.

Ventricular fibrillation and sudden death after radiofrequency catheter ablation of the atrioventricular junction.

Two hundred thirty-five patients underwent RF catheter ablation of AV conduction for symptomatic drug refractory AF (84%), atrial flutter (9%), and atrial tachycardia (7%). In the first 100 patients, postablation pacing was not prospectively set at any specific rate and was always < or = 70 beats/min. In the next 135 patients, postablation pacing was prospectively set at 90 beats/min for 1-3 months.

The value of DDD pacing in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Although the beneficial effects of DDD pacing are well known, currently available ICDs provide only fixed rate ventricular antibradycardia pacing. In a consecutive series of 139 patients with ICDs, we have analyzed the need for antibradycardia pacing and the indications for DDD pacing. We also report our initial experience with the Defender 9001 (ELA Medical, France) DDD-ICD.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of accessory pathways and modification of atrioventricular node in children and adolescents.

Catheter ablation of an accessory pathway and atrioventricular node modification using 550 kHz radiofrequency was attempted in 23 children and adolescents between five and 19 years of age (mean = 15.7 years). Fifteen children had accessory-pathway-mediated tachycardia and eight had atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia.

A prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator?

Antiarrhythmic drugs have systematically failed to improve--or have even worsened prognosis--when given prophylactically to "high-risk" patients without previous spontaneous sustained ventricular arrhythmias. In patients who have had > or = 1 episode(s) of near sudden cardiac death or sustained ventricular arrhythmias, randomized studies against placebo have been considered unethical. Therefore, no information exists on the value of treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs in the prevention of sudden death in these patients.

Herniation of the left atrial appendage due to partial congenital absence of the left pericardium.

Partial congenital absence of the left pericardium is a rare abnormality which may provoke serious complications. We report the case of a young adult, suffering from chest pain due to incarceration of atrial tissue. Based on this case report the clinical, pathophysiological and diagnostic features of this condition are described.

Rapid detection of rifampicin resistance in sputum and biopsy specimens from tuberculosis patients by PCR and line probe assay.

Setting: Multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains are threatening TB control in the world. Rapid diagnosis of resistance is essential for adequate treatment and optimal control of the disease.

Objective: Evaluation of a new technique (Line Probe Assay, LiPA) for easy and rapid detection of Rifampicin resistance (RMPR) of M.

At what time are implantable defibrillator shocks delivered? Evidence for individual circadian variance in sudden cardiac death.

Background: As in myocardial infarction and transient ischaemia, out-of-hospital sudden cardiac death has an increased morning incidence. However, sudden death occurring in hospital is evenly distributed over the 24 h period suggesting that there might be subgroups of patients with atypical circadian patterns of sudden death. Patients who received an implantable defibrillator constitute an ideal group for studies of circadian patterns of sudden death since this generation of devices are able to store the exact time when defibrillation occurred.

Relation between myocardial fractional flow reserve calculated from coronary pressure measurements and exercise-induced myocardial ischemia.

Background: Myocardial fractional flow reserve (FFRmyo) is a functional index of stenosis severity that can be derived from intracoronary pressure measurements performed during maximal vasodilatation. It is defined as the maximal myocardial perfusion during hyperemia in the presence of a stenosis in the epicardial artery expressed as a fraction of its normal maximal expected value. To determine threshold values of FFRmyo, of hyperemic translesional pressure gradient (delta P(max)), and of resting translesional pressure gradient (delta P(rest)) that are uniformly associated with exercise-induced ischemia, we studied the relation between these pressure-derived indexes and the results of exercise ECG.