Cecum cancer underlying appendicular abscess. Case report and review of literature

Peri-appendicular abscess is usually due to primary appendicitis or it may be caused by various pathological conditions: inflammatory, infective, neoplastic, immunological, ischemic, occlusive (table 1). We present a case of right iliac fossa abscess, initially diagnosed as a complication of acute appendicitis that, at surgical exploration, was proven to be produced by a cecal tumour causing appendicitis for an obstructive mechanism

Laparoscopic Nissen-Rossetti fundoplication with routine use of intraoperative endoscopy and manometry: technical aspects of a standardized technique

BACKGROUND: Several different ways of fashioning a total fundoplication lead to different outcomes. This article addresses the technical details of the antireflux technique we adopted without modifications for all patients with GERD beginning in 1972. In particular it aims to discuss the relation between the mechanism of function of the wrap and the physiology of the esophagus. METHODS: The study population consisted of 380 patients affected by GERD with a 1-year minimum of follow-up who underwent laparoscopic Nissen-Rossetti fundoplication by a single surgeon. RESULTS: No conversion to open surgery and no mortality occurred. Major complications occurred in 4 patients (1.1%). Follow-up (median 83 months; range: 1-13 years) was achieved in 96% of the patients. Ninety-two percent of the patients were satisfied with the results of the procedure and would undergo the same operation again. Postoperative dysphagia occurred in 3.5% of the patients, and recurrent heartburn was observed in 3.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic Nissen-Rossetti fundoplication with the routine use of intraoperative manometry and endoscopy achieved good outcomes and long-term patient satisfaction with few complications and side-effects. Appropriate preoperative investigation and a correct surgical technique are important in securing these result

Castanea sativa Mill. Bark Extract Protects U-373 MG Cells and Rat Brain Slices Against Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury

Ischemic brain injury is one of the most important causes of death worldwide. The use of one-drug-multi-target agents based on natural compounds is a promising therapeutic option for cerebral ischemia due to their pleiotropic properties. This study assessed the neuroprotective properties of Castanea sativa Mill. bark extract (ENC) in human astrocytoma U-373 MG cells subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion and rat cortical slices subjected to ischemia-like conditions or treated with glutamate or hydrogen peroxide. Neuroprotective effects were determined by assessing cells or slices viability (MTT assay), ROS formation (DCFH-DA assay), apoptosis (sub G0/G1 peak), nuclear fragmentation and chromatin condensation (DAPI staining) as well as changes in lysosomes and mitochondria morphology (Acridine Orange and Rhodamine123 staining, respectively). ENC treatment before injury on U-373 MG cells (5-50 µg/ml) and cortical slices (50-100 µg/ml) provided neuroprotection, while lower or higher concentrations (100 µg/ml U-373 MG cells, 200 µg/ml brain slices) were ineffective.. ENC addition during reperfusion or after the injury was not found to be effective. The results suggest that ENC might hold potential as preventive neuroprotective agent, and indicate the importance of further studies exploring its mechanism of action. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc