Diltiazem Increases the Liver Regeneration in Rats by Inhibiting TGF-β1

Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF- β1) is the most important inhibitory cytokine during the hepatic regeneration process. Diltiazem is a Ltype calcium channel blocker that has inhibitory effect on TGF- β1. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of diltiazem on hepatic regeneration. Sixty female Wistar Albino rats were used. Three groups were created; the control, low dose diltiazem and high dose diltiazem groups, each consisting of 20 rats. After partial liver resection (70% hepatectomy), saline was introduced to control group, 5 mg/kg diltiazem was introduced to low dose group and 15 mg/kg diltiazem to high dose group intraperitoneally. Ten rats in each group were sacrificed on the first postoperative day and the remaining rats on the fifth day. Liver weight, mitotic rate and the Ki-67 ratio were measured for determining hepatic regeneration. Liver regeneration rate on the fifth postoperative day was significantly higher both in the low dose and high dose diltiazem groups than the control group (Low diltiazem vs control: P<0.001; High diltiazem vs control: P<0.001). No significant difference was found between the groups regarding the number of mitoses on the first and fifth days following partial hepatectomy (P>0.05). The Ki-67 ratio on the first postoperative day was significantly higher both in the low dose and high dose diltiazem groups than the control group (Low diltiazem vs control: P<0.001; High diltiazem vs control: P<0.001). Diltiazem increases liver regeneration by inhibiting TGF-β1

Solitary Plasmacytoma of the Cecum and the Ascending Colon: Surgical Resection as a Treatment Modality

Colonic solitary plasmacytoma is a rare disease, with few reports occurring in the literature. Solitary plasmacytoma is defined as a plasma cell tumour with no evidence of bone marrow infiltration. Plasmacytoma can present as a solitary tumour in bone or in other parts of the body. The gastrointestinal tract is rarely the site of the disease. We report on the case of a 51-year-old man presenting with a colonic symptomatic mass with unclear biopsy results. A resected specimen showed a solitary plasmacytoma. Surgical resection was an adequate treatment modality in this case. Endoscopic resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are also preferred treatments in selected gastrointestinal plasmacytoma cases

Increased collagen maturity with sildenafil citrate: experimental high risk colonic anastomosis model.

Inadequate healing and high anastomosis leak rates at rectal anastomosis may be due to lack of supportive serosal layer and technical difficulty of low anterior resections. Positive effects of sildenafil on wound healing were observed. The aim of this study was to simulate rectal anastomosis as a technical insufficient anastomosis and investigate the effects of sildenafil on anastomosis healing

Effect of nebivolol on liver regeneration in an experimental 70% partial hepatectomy model

Background: Factors affecting liver regeneration are still relevant. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of nebivolol treatment on liver regeneration in rats in which 70% partial hepatectomy was performed. Methods: Three groups were created: the control group, the low dose group, and the high dose group, with 20 rats in each group and 70% hepatectomy was performed in all rats. Immediately after partial liver resection, 2 mL physiological saline solution was administered to the control group via oral gavage, 0.5 mg/kg nebivolol was administered via oral gavage to the low dose group and 2 mg/kg nebivolol was administered via oral gavage to the high dose group. On the 1st and 5th days after liver resection, 10 subjects were sacrificed from each group, and liver weights and the mitotic count and Ki-67 were measured. Results: Regenerating liver weight on the 1st and 5th days after partial hepatectomy was statistically different in the low dose and high dose nebivolol groups compared to the control group. Mitotic count on the 1st day after partial hepatectomy was significantly higher in the low dose and high dose nebivolol groups than the control group. There was no statistically significant difference detected between the three groups for the 5th day. On the 1st day, Ki-67 rates were significantly higher in both groups given nebivolol than the control group. However, 5th day results were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Nebivolol increases regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats

Repair of an extensive iatrogenic tracheal rupture with a pleural patch and a vascular graft

Here we describe a 48-year-old woman who suffered a 7-cm rupture in the lower trachea after intubation with a double-lumen tube. We repaired the rupture with a new technique using a pleural patch reinforced by a ringed vascular graft. This technique appears to be appropriate for use in patients who have large tracheal ruptures to avoid tracheal stenosis

Surgical Outcomes of Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasm of the Pancreas: A Single Institution's Experience of 16 Cases

Conclusion: SPT is a rare pancreatic neoplasm with a low malignant potential, and is common in young women. If SPT is diagnosed before surgery, complete surgical resection, generally enucleation is the most effective therapy for SPT

The analysis of clinico-pathologic characteristics in patients who underwent surgery due to stricturing and non-perineal fistulizing forms of Crohn's disease: A retrospective cohort study

Conclusion: No specific clinical feature was found to differentiate patients with the stricturing form of Crohn's disease from the fistulizing form. However, histopathological analysis of the resected specimens revealed significant differences in some parameters between the two disease forms. (C) 2015 Surgical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

A Retrospective Analysis of Factors Affecting Early Stoma Complications

Despite advances in surgical techniques and products for stoma care, stoma-related complications are still common. A retrospective analysis was performed of the medical records of 462 consecutive patients (295 [63.9%] female, 167 [36.1 %] male, mean age 55.5 +/- 15.1 years, mean body mass index [BMI] 25.1 +/- 5.2) who had undergone stoma creation at the Gastroenterological Surgery Clinic of Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Teaching and Research Hospital between January 2008 and December 2012 to examine the incidence of early (ie, within 30 days after surgery) stoma complications and identify potential risk factors. Variables abstracted included gender, age, and BMI; existence of malignant disease; comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, chronic respiratory disease); use of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy; permanent or temporary stoma; type of stoma (loop/end stoma); stoma localization; and the use of preoperative marking of the stoma site. Data were entered and analyzed using statistical software. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to describe and analyze all variables, and logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent risk factors for stoma complications. Ostomy-related complications developed in 131 patients (28.4%) Of these, superficial mucocutaneous separation was the most frequent complication (90 patients, 19.5%), followed by stoma retraction (15 patients, 3.2%). In univariate analysis, malignant disease (P = .025), creation of a colostomy (P = .002), and left lower quadrant stoma location (P <. 001) were all significant indicators of stoma complication. Only stoma location was an independent risk factor for the development of a stoma complication (P = .044). The rate of stoma complications was not significantly different between patients who underwent nonemergent surgery (30% in patients preoperatively sited versus 28.4% not sited) and patients who underwent emergency surgery (27.1%). Early stoma complication rates were higher in patients with malignant diseases and with colostomies. The site of the stoma is an independent risk factor for the development of stoma complication. Preoperative marking for stoma creation should be considered to reduce the risk of stoma-related complications. Prospective, randomized controlled studies are needed to enhance understanding of the more prevalent risk factors

A Novel Screening Biomarker in Gastric Cancer: Serum Dickkopf-1

Background/Aims: Despite all the knowledge about gastric cancer, there is no prognostic biomarker which could be useful for early detection. Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1), a secreted protein, is known as a negative regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway DKK-1 is reported to be over expressed in many malignant tissues. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the normal level of serum DKK-1 (sDKK-1) levels in healthy Turkish peoples and to investigate the clinical utility of sDKK-1 levels for gastric cancer screening. Methodology: Serum DKK-1 levels were measured in 69 healthy controls and in 60 gastric adenocarcinoma patients with ELISA and sDKK-1 levels were compared with clinicopathological features and outcomes in gastric cancer patients. Results: Serum concentrations of DKK-1 in gastric adeno cancer patients were significantly higher than control patients (p<0.001). The optimal cut-off for sDKK-1 levels order to discriminate control group from gastric cancer patients was 25U/mL with sensitivity equal to 100% and specificity equal to 100%. Conclusions: Serum DKK-1 levels may be a potentially useful novel serologic marker for gastric cancers