Body image, cosmesis, quality of life, and functional outcome of hand-assisted laparoscopic versus open restorative proctocolectomy: long-term results of a randomized trial

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare quality of life (QOL), functional outcome, body image, and cosmesis after hand-assisted laparoscopic (LRP) versus open restorative proctocolectomy (ORP). The potential long-term advantages of LRP over ORP remain to be determined. The most likely advantage of LRP is the superior cosmetic result. It is, however, unclear whether the size and location of incisions affect body image and QOL. METHODS: In a previously conducted randomized trial comparing LRP with ORP, 60 patients were prospectively evaluated. The primary end points were body image and cosmesis. The secondary end points were morbidity, QOL, and functional outcome. A body image questionnaire was used to evaluate body image and cosmesis. The Short Form-36 Health Survey and the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Inventory were used to assess QOL. Body image and QOL also were assessed preoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients completed the QOL and functional outcome questionnaires. There were no differences in functional outcome, morbidity, or QOL between LRP and ORP. At a median of 2.7 years after surgery, 46 patients returned the questionnaires regarding body image, cosmesis, and morbidity. The body image and cosmesis scores of female patients were significantly higher in the LRP group than in the ORP group (body image, 17.4 vs 14.9; cosmesis, 19.1 vs 13.0, respectively). The female patients in the ORP group had significantly lower body image scores than the male patients (14.9 vs 18.3). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to show that ORP has a negative impact on body image and cosmesis as compared with LRP. Functional outcome, QOL, and morbidity are similar for the two approaches. The advantages of a long-lasting improved body image and cosmesis for this relatively young patient population may compensate for the longer operating times and higher costs, particularly for wome

Vocal fold medialization: which are the available fillers in France in 2010?

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Draft Nuclear Genome, Complete Chloroplast Genome, and Complete Mitochondrial Genome for the Biofuel/ Bioproduct Feedstock Species Scenedesmus obliquus Strain DOE0152z

The green alga Scenedesmus obliquus is an emerging platform species for the industrial production of biofuels. Here, we report the draft assembly and annotation for the nuclear, plastid, and mitochondrial genomes of S. obliquus strain DOE0152z

Molecular mechanism of protrusion formation during cell-to-cell spread of Listeria

The bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes spreads within human tissues using a motility process dependent on the host actin cytoskeleton. Cell-to-cell spread involves the ability of motile bacteria to remodel the host plasma membrane into protrusions, which are internalized by neighboring cells. Recent results indicate that formation of Listeria protrusions in polarized human cells involves bacterial antagonism of a host signaling pathway comprised of the scaffolding protein Tuba and its effectors N-WASP and Cdc42. These three human proteins form a complex that generates tension at apical cell junctions. Listeria relieves this tension and facilitates protrusion formation by secreting a protein called InlC. InlC interacts with a Src Homology 3 (SH3) domain in Tuba, thereby displacing N-WASP from this domain. Interaction of InlC with Tuba is needed for efficient Listeria spread in cultured human cells and infected animals. Recent structural data has elucidated the mechanistic details of InlC/Tuba interaction, revealing that InlC and N-WASP compete for partly overlapping binding surfaces in the Tuba SH3 domain. InlC binds this domain with higher affinity than N-WASP, explaining how InlC is able to disrupt Tuba/N-WASP complexes.Grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01AI085072) and the Marsden Fund of the Royal Society of New Zealand (UOO1003), Medical Research Council of South Africa, the National Research Foundation of South Africa and previously by the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.http://www.frontiersin.org/Cellular_and_Infection_Microbiologyhb201

Beech trees fuel soil animal food webs via root-derived nitrogen

© 2017 Gesellschaft für Ökologie Root-derived resources are receiving increased attention as basal resources for soil animal food webs. They predominantly function as carbon and energy resources for microbial metabolism in the rhizosphere, however, root-derived nitrogen may also be important. We explored both the role of root-derived carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) for the nutrition of soil animal species. Using 13 C and 15 N pulse labeling we followed in situ the flux of shoot-derived C and N into the soil animal food web of young beech (Fagus sylvatica) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) trees. For labeling with 13 C, trees were exposed to increased atmospheric concentrations of 13 CO 2 and for labeling with 15 N leaves were immersed in a solution of Ca 15 NO 3 . Twenty days after labeling root-derived N was detected in each of the studied soil animal species whereas incorporation of root-derived C was only detected in the ash rhizosphere. More root-derived N was incorporated into soil animals from the beech as compared to the ash rhizosphere, in spite of the higher 15 N signatures in fine roots of ash as compared to beech. The results suggest that soil animal food webs not only rely on root C but also on root N with the contribution of root N to soil animal nutrition varying with tree species. This novel pathway of plant N highlights the importance of root-derived resources for soil animal food webs