Functional Magnetic Resonance in the Evaluation of Oesophageal Motility Disorders

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been recently proposed for the evaluation of the esophagus. Our aim is to assess the role of fMRI as a technique to assess morphological and functional parameters of the esophagus in patients with esophageal motor disorders and in healthy controls. Subsequently, we assessed the diagnostic efficiency of fMRI in comparison to videofluoroscopic and manometric findings in the investigation of patients with esophageal motor disorders. Considering that fMRI was shown to offer valuable information on bolus transit and on the caliber of the esophagus, variations of these two parameters in the different types of esophageal motor alterations have been assessed. fMRI, compared to manometry and videofluoroscopy, showed that a deranged or absent peristalsis is significantly associated with slower transit time and with increased esophageal diameter. Although further studies are needed, fMRI represents a promising noninvasive technique for the integrated functional and morphological evaluation of esophageal motility disorders

Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy: the SICE (Societ\ue0 Italiana di Chirurgia Endoscopica e Nuove Tecnologie) network prospective trial on 1225 cases comparing intra corporeal versus extra corporeal ileo-colic side-to-side anastomosis

Background: While laparoscopic approach for right hemicolectomy (LRH) is considered appropriate for the surgical treatment of both malignant and benign diseases of right colon, there is still debate about how to perform the ileo-colic anastomosis. The ColonDxItalianGroup (CoDIG) was designed as a cohort, observational, prospective, multi-center national study with the aims of evaluating the surgeons\u2019 attitude regarding the intracorporeal (ICA) or extra-corporeal (ECA) anastomotic technique and the related surgical outcomes. Methods: One hundred and twenty-five Surgical Units experienced in colorectal and advanced laparoscopic surgery were invited and 85 of them joined the study. Each center was asked not to change its surgical habits. Data about demographic characteristics, surgical technique and postoperative outcomes were collected through the official SICE website database. One thousand two hundred and twenty-five patients were enrolled between March 2018 and September 2018. Results: ICA was performed in 70.4% of cases, ECA in 29.6%. Isoperistaltic anastomosis was completed in 85.6%, stapled in 87.9%. Hand-sewn enterotomy closure was adopted in 86%. Postoperative complications were reported in 35.4% for ICA and 50.7% for ECA; no significant difference was found according to patients\u2019 characteristics and technologies used. Median hospital stay was significantly shorter for ICA (7.3 vs. 9 POD). Postoperative pain in patients not prescribed opioids was significantly lower in ICA group. Conclusions: In our survey, a side-to-side isoperistaltic stapled ICA with hand-sewn enterotomy closure is the most frequently adopted technique to perform ileo-colic anastomosis after any indications for elective LRH. According to literature, our study confirmed better short-term outcomes for ICA, with reduction of hospital stay and postoperative pain. Trial registration: Clinical trial (Identifier: NCT03934151)

[Large cystic polyps of the stomach].

The Authors report the case of a 83 year old woman with large cystic polyps of the stomach. Gastric cystic polyps are polypoid lesions which may develop following functional disorders such as increased mucosal stimulation by gastrin, or excessive retention of gastric secretions. The incidence of these polyps is variable, depending on their being underestimated since they are not always macroscopically visible. The case here reported is very interesting not only for the number of lesions (over 50), but also for their size (5-25 mm in diameter)

[Evaluation of the effect of H2-histamine antagonists in the natural history of stomach cancer].

On a study population of 131 patients the Authors evaluate possible differences related to the use of H2 blockers. Patients were divided in 2 groups: one (70 cases) studied before the introduction of H2 blockers and the other (61 cases) treated with H2 blockers. The influence of endoscopy for the early diagnosis of gastric cancer was also considered. The Authors conclude that H2 blockers do not have a negative influence from a surgical point of view, however the correct diagnosis may often be delayed and this is not acceptable for an era in which early diagnosis is feasible

Dalla biologia molecolare ai nuovi approcci terapeutici del cancro colorettale: ricerca di base, sperimentazione clinica ed implicazioni chirurgiche

Gli Autori analizzano, attraverso una ampia disamina della let - teratura, le moderne conoscenze circa la storia naturale del cancro colorettale nell’ottica biologico-molecolare e genetica. Vengono passati in rassegna la patogenesi delle cripte aberranti e delle poliposi familiari adenomatose e la oncogenesi dei cancri colo - rettali di tipo sporadico, anche sulla scorta di esperienze personali circa lo studio e l’applicazione clinica dei geni del sistema di ripara - zione del DNA. Pur se dal punto di vista chirurgico non si è ancora in grado di proporre significative variazioni alle tecniche di trattamento fin qui consolidate e coadiuvate, nelle forme più avanzate, da trattamenti radio e chemioterapici di tipo adiuvante o neoadiuvante che non hanno fin qui consentito significativi miglioramenti per ciò che attie - ne periodo libero da malattia e sopravvivenza, al momento non è ancora affidabile una terapia genica radicale che possa portare alla reintroduzione nelle cellule di un gene difettoso reso funzionale. Sono comunque allo studio farmaci apparentemente in grado di agire in maniera preventiva e sulla evoluzione dei cancri colorettali di tipo sporadico e sui precursor

Is it possible to consider Intranuclear DNA Imaging as a new parameter for colo-rectal cancer prognostic evaluation?

San Diego, C

Alterazione della espressione delle tubuline cellulari alfa e beta in pazienti affetti da cancro colorettale di tipo sporadico

Gli Autori indagano sul significato clinico-patologico della alte - razione delle tubuline alfa e beta, componenti dei microtubuli del citoscheletro delle cellule della mucosa colica, in 16 pazienti operati per cancro colo-rettale di tipo sporadico. Essi valutano l’alterazione dell’espressione proteica delle tubuline alfa e beta nelle cellule della mucosa tumorale colica, in tessuti aspor - tati chirurgicamente, mediante metodica immunoistochimica attra - verso l’impiego di anticorpi monoclonali specifici. La perdita di espressione delle tubuline alfa e beta è stata riscon - trata nel 56,2% dei soggetti esaminati, mentre l’alterazione isolata della tubulina alfa è stata riscontrata nell’81,2% dei pazienti. Tali dati sembrano concordare con quelli sperimentali di Porter, che ha recentemente ipotizzato che l’alterazione delle strutture micro - tubulari sarebbe da interpretare come espressione della risposta cellu - lare al danno del DNA e quindi alla degenerazione in senso neopla - stico di un compartimento cellulare

Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy: the SICE (Società Italiana di Chirurgia Endoscopica e Nuove Tecnologie) network prospective trial on 1225 cases comparing intra corporeal versus extra corporeal ileo-colic side-to-side anastomosis

Background: While laparoscopic approach for right hemicolectomy (LRH) is considered appropriate for the surgical treatment of both malignant and benign diseases of right colon, there is still debate about how to perform the ileo-colic anastomosis. The ColonDxItalianGroup (CoDIG) was designed as a cohort, observational, prospective, multi-center national study with the aims of evaluating the surgeons’ attitude regarding the intracorporeal (ICA) or extra-corporeal (ECA) anastomotic technique and the related surgical outcomes. Methods: One hundred and twenty-five Surgical Units experienced in colorectal and advanced laparoscopic surgery were invited and 85 of them joined the study. Each center was asked not to change its surgical habits. Data about demographic characteristics, surgical technique and postoperative outcomes were collected through the official SICE website database. One thousand two hundred and twenty-five patients were enrolled between March 2018 and September 2018. Results: ICA was performed in 70.4% of cases, ECA in 29.6%. Isoperistaltic anastomosis was completed in 85.6%, stapled in 87.9%. Hand-sewn enterotomy closure was adopted in 86%. Postoperative complications were reported in 35.4% for ICA and 50.7% for ECA; no significant difference was found according to patients’ characteristics and technologies used. Median hospital stay was significantly shorter for ICA (7.3 vs. 9 POD). Postoperative pain in patients not prescribed opioids was significantly lower in ICA group. Conclusions: In our survey, a side-to-side isoperistaltic stapled ICA with hand-sewn enterotomy closure is the most frequently adopted technique to perform ileo-colic anastomosis after any indications for elective LRH. According to literature, our study confirmed better short-term outcomes for ICA, with reduction of hospital stay and postoperative pain. Trial registration: Clinical trial (Identifier: NCT03934151)