Bioinspired silk fibroin nano-delivery systems protect against 5-FU induced gastrointestinal mucositis in a mouse model and display antitumor effects on HT-29 colorectal cancer cells in vitro.

Colorectal cancer (CRC), is the second cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide is one of the most prevalent types of cancers. Conventional treatment continues to rely on surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, but for advanced cases, adjuvant chemotherapy remains the main approach for improving surgical outcomes and lower the disease recurrence probability. Chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity is the main dose-limiting factor for many chemotherapeutic regimens, including 5-FU, and one of the biggest oncological challenges. Up to 40% of the patients receiving 5-FU get mucositis, 10-15% of which develop severe symptoms. In this context, our study aimed to develop a bioinspired nanosized drug delivery system as a strategy to reduce 5-FU associated side effects, such as GI mucositis. To this end, SF-based nanoparticles were prepared and characterized in terms of size and morphology, as well as in terms of in vitro antitumoral activity on a biomimetic colorectal cancer model by investigation of apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, and release of reactive oxygen species. Additionally, the capacity of the SF-based nanocarriers to offer intestinal protection against 5-FU-induced GI mucositis was evaluated in vivo using a mouse model that mimics the chemotherapy-associated gut mucositis occurring in colorectal cancer. Our studies show that silk fibroin nanoparticles efficiently deliver 5-FU to tumor cells in vitro while protecting against drug-induced GI mucositis in a mouse model.

Spleen preservation in a caudal pancreatic serous cystadenoma - case report.

Cystic lesions of the pancreas are relatively rare entities but have been increasingly diagnosed in recent years due to advanced imaging techniques. This category encompasses pancreatic pseudocyst as well as a wide range of pancreatic tumors with benign behavior, borderline or primary malignant. Serous cystadenoma of the pancreas represents the most common benign pancreatic tumor, with a very low but well recognized malignant potential. The clinical presentation varies according to its size; small tumors may be asymptomatic and discovered incidentally, while large tumors are more likely symptomatic. We report the case of a female patient presenting with non-specific left abdominal pain, who was diagnosed through a CT scan with a caudal pancreatic tumor. The patient underwent spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy. The result of the histopathological examination revealed a serous cystadenoma.

Treatment of bilateral inguinal hernia -- minimally invasive versus open surgery procedure.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the treatment outcomes of the bilateral inguinal hernia repair in one stage using minimally invasive technique (totally extraperitoneal) and conventional surgery (Lichtenstein). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records from all hospitalized cases in our institution between 2006 and 2011 that underwent surgery having the diagnosis of bilateral inguinal hernia were analysed. RESULTS: The study consists of two groups selected by means of the used procedure: the study arm which is laparoscopic (234 cases) and the control arm that consists of Lichtenstein procedure (91 cases). One conversion was recorded due to difficult dissection (0.4% of cases). There were complications reported in 2.5% cases in the laparoscopic group and 27.4% complications noted in the conventional group (p less then 0.01). Reinterventions were logged in 1.7% cases in the laparoscopic group and 2.1% reinterventions in the open group (p less then 0.01). The postoperative hospital stay was 2.1 days in the laparoscopic group and 4.7 days for the open procedure. Mortality was not recorded. CONCLUSIONS: In our department the procedure of choice for bilateral inguinal repair is the laparoscopic approach (TEP) which has a 10 fold decrease in complications rate than Lichtenstein operation and also a shortening by half of the hospital stay. Hernia recurrence is the same for both procedures.

[Laparoscopic hysterectomy]. / Histerectomia laparoscopica.

Our paper presents the experience gained in nearly 12 years by the General Surgery Clinic of "Sfantul Ioan" Hospital, Bucharest in the field of laparoscopic hysterectomy. The period of time is quite long compared to the evolving of mini-invasive techniques and also unequal towards the experience of the surgeons who perform these procedure. The total number of hysterectomies was 1491 from which 251 by laparoscopic approach, the rest being made by the classic methods (most of them by laparotomy and some by vaginal approach). In the statistic we have included 15 myomectomies, 4 cases of radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy and 4 cases of complete hysterectomy after partial procedures made by laparotomy. The indications were represented mostly by uterine fibroma (82.07%), but also by uterine prolapse (13.14%), uterine bleeding, cervix severe dysplasia, uterine and cervix neoplasia (stage I) or associated to ovariectomy related to breast cancer. The paper analyses the results looking at the incidents and accidents (hemorrhagic, ureteral, urinary bladder or rectal lesions) and also postoperative complications (we had three reinterventions, two by laparoscopy and one by laparotomy). We also recorded one death not directly as a consequence of surgery, but as a diagnosis error. Regarding the surgical technique we initially chose the laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy. Afterwards by gaining experience we started treating the uterine pedicle and now we settled for the integral laparoscopic procedure. In our opinion laparoscopic hysterectomy represents all the advantages of mini-invasive approach. The technological development, but essentially the experience gained by surgeons are the key factors in accepting and promulgating the technique.

[Hynes-Andersen pyeloplasty by mini-laparoscopy transperitoneal approach]. / Pieloplastie Hynes-Andersen pe cale minilaparoscopica transperitoneala.

Laparoscopy had significantly gained in the field of urologic surgery, almost all the surgical procedures in the retroperitoneal space being made, from the simple ones (renal cystectomy, varicocelectomy) to the ones requiring higher expertise (nephrectomy, adrenalectomy) by retro-peritoneoscopy and also transperitoneal. At the Surgery Department of "Sf. Ioan" Hospital, Bucharest, we approached initially the retroperitoneal pathology by lomboscopy, but afterwards we choose the transperitoneal approach because of the generous workspace and the clearer anatomical landmarks, regardless of the procedures (renal cystectomy, varicocelectomy, adrenalectomy, nephrectomy, pyelo-lithotomy, ureterolithotomy). In association with the Urology Department of "Sf. Ioan" Hospital we practiced two Hynes Andersen pyeloplasty for pyelo-ureteral junction stenosis by transperitoneal approach, using mini-laparoscopy tools. In one of the cases we also perform a basinetal lithotomy.

Difficulties in the management of an acute pericarditis (hospitalized after 5 weeks of evolution).

Pericarditis is clinically heterogeneous, with acute, subacute or chronic manifestations, and within each subset, with variable intensity of symptoms, from asymptomatic to a highly symptomatic disease. The etiology is also heterogeneous, often without a suggestive symptomatology. Depending or not on the etiology, sometimes through immune mechanisms, there can be some important complications, like recurrent/chronic pericarditis, life threatening acute tamponade or disabling constrictive pericarditis. The prognosis is highly dependent on a correct and precocious diagnosis (etiology included) and therapy. When the initial response to therapy is inadequate, the management of chronic or recurrent pericarditis is very difficult and also very important, with failure often leading to pericardial constriction, a difficult to treat complication of pericarditis.

[Laparoscopic appendectomy--considerations in about 1000 cases]. / Apendicectomia laparoscopica--consideratii pe baza a 1000 de cazuri.

Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is a well spread method today, but not as largely accepted as cholecystectomy, the cure of gastro-esophageal reflux and some other procedures (relatively small in number) for which the laparoscopic approach is the golden standard. Otherwise it is improbable that LA will gain such a status, at least in the near future. On the other hand it is obvious that LA offers important advantages for some special situations: the right iliac area syndrome, obesity, professional sportsmen, abnormal localization of the appendix, as well for the cases when localized and especially diffuse peritonitis is associated. Our paper analyses the experience of General Surgery Department at the "St.John" Emergency Hospital Bucharest on laparoscopic appendectomy. The retrospective study includes 996 cases that were treated laparoscopic between 1996-2004. Of these 745 cases were catarrhal, 166 cases were phlegmonous and 76 gangrenous appendicitis. In 93 cases localized or diffuse peritonitis was associated. There were recorded also 3 cases of each of the following: chronic appendicitis, appendicular mass and mucocele. The number of conversions was 28 (2.81%). There were also 10 reinterventions (1.004%), 7 because of intraperitoneal abscess and we also recorded one death.