Spotlight on the Linx™ Reflux Management System for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease: evidence and research.

BACKGROUND: The initial approach to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) management typically involves lifestyle modification and medical therapy utilizing acid reducing agents such as histamine blockers and proton pump inhibitors. In severe cases refractory to such treatments, surgical therapy may be indicated. The gold standard for surgical treatment of GERD is the laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. In recent years, a new technique known as magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) has been developed using the Linx™ Reflux Management System. This is an implantable ring of magnetic beads that is placed around the esophagus at the gastroesophageal junction to restore lower esophageal integrity. The aim of this review is to discuss the current literature regarding indications, surgical technique, efficacy, and complications of MSA using the Linx device. METHODS: A standardized literature search was performed yielding 367 abstracts. After elimination due to duplicates between databases and irrelevance, 96 articles remained. The information found to be significant and non-redundant was included in this review. CONCLUSION: After several years of clinical application, the Linx device has been shown to not only be effective for the management of GERD but also be as effective as fundoplication. With respect to safety, the most common complication of MSA is dysphagia. This often resolved without intervention, but esophageal dilation or device explanation are occasionally necessary. Not fully appreciated in earlier reviews, erosion of the device into the esophagus appears to be the most significant complication of the device after extended follow-up. While very rare, the potentially severe consequences of this phenomenon suggest that the device should be used with some restraint and that patients should be made aware of this potential morbidity. Fortunately, in the few cases of device erosion described in the literature reviewed, the Linx device was easily and safely removed.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast, 20 years of experience in a single center with review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is a rare type of breast cancer, which presents inconsistencies in the optimal management strategy. METHODS: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data, spanning the last 20 years, was performed using the cancer registry database at our institution. RESULTS: Six patients were diagnosed with ACC of the breast, out of 5,813 total patients diagnosed with breast cancer (0.1%). Our identified patients had a median age of 66, all with the early stage cancer (Stage I/II). The average size of the breast lesion was 1.62 cm, and nodal status was negative for all cases. All patients had resection as primary therapy (partial or total mastectomy), with one patient also undergoing external beam radiation and tamoxifen hormonal therapy. Median follow-up was 85 months, with all patients being disease-free at last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: ACC of the breast has an indolent course, despite triple negative status. Our study suggests that radiation may not be warranted and confirms the rarity of axillary node metastases, indicating that sentinel node excision may also not be necessary. Ultimately, the hope is that our findings along with the reviewed literature will aid in determining the most appropriate options for management of ACC of the breast.

Full and Partial Thickness Burns from Spontaneous Combustion of E-Cigarette Lithium-Ion Batteries with Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has increased worldwide. Most electronic nicotine delivery systems use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which are relatively safe, but in rare cases these batteries can spontaneously combust, leading to serious full and partial thickness burn injuries. Explosions from lithium-ion batteries can cause a flash fire and accelerant-related burn injuries. CASE REPORT: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 3 patients with lithium-ion battery burns seen at our Level I community-based trauma center. Clinical presentation, management, and outcome are presented. All 3 patients sustained burn injuries (total body surface area range 5-13%) from the spontaneous combustion of lithium-ion batteries used for e-cigarettes. All patients were treated with debridement and local wound care. All fully recovered without sequelae. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Emergency physicians can expect to treat burn cases due to spontaneous lithium-ion battery combustion as e-cigarette use continues to increase. The cases presented here are intended to bring attention to lithium-ion battery-related burns, prepare physicians for the clinical presentation of this burn mechanism, and facilitate patient education to minimize burn risk.

Delayed Stroke following Blunt Neck Trauma: A Case Illustration with Recommendations for Diagnosis and Treatment.

Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) to the carotid artery is a relatively rare injury that is difficult to identify even with imaging. Any symptoms or neurological deficits following blunt neck injury mandate evaluation and consideration of BCVI. In an effort to highlight this issue, we report the case of a 31-year-old male patient who presented with left-sided weakness consistent with transient ischemic attack (TIA) and concussion. The patient's symptoms occurred within 24 hours of a blunt neck injury sustained by a knee strike during a basketball game. An initial computerized tomography (CT) scan of the brain was normal; a CT angiogram (CTA) of the neck and carotids did not reveal obstruction, dissection, stenosis, or abnormalities of the carotid or vertebral vessels and the patient was subsequently discharged. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain obtained four days after the initial injury demonstrated an acute infarct in the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. Thus, despite initial negative imaging, neurological deficits must be aggressively pursued in order to prevent stroke in BCVI cases.

Operative Treatments for Reflux After Bariatric Surgery: Current and Emerging Management Options.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disorder that has a well-established connection with obesity. To ameliorate the morbidity associated with obesity, bariatric procedures have become an established pathway to accomplish sustained weight loss. In some procedures, such as with the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, weight loss is also accompanied by the resolution of GERD symptoms. However, other popular bariatric surgeries, such as the sleeve gastrectomy, have a controversial impact on their effect on reflux. Consequently, increased attention has been given to the development of strategies for the management of de novo or recurrent reflux after bariatric surgery. This article aims to discuss medical and surgical strategies for reflux after bariatric surgery, and their outcomes.

Intrathyroidal Clear Cell Tumor of Parathyroid Origin with Review of Literature.

Water-clear cell adenoma (WCCA) of the parathyroid gland is an exceedingly rare neoplasm. To date, 17 cases have been reported in the literature, with only one of them being intrathyroidal. Here we report a case of a 34-year-old woman who presented for evaluation of a goiter and was found to have a thyroid nodule and abnormal thyroid function tests (TFT). Fine needle aspiration biopsy of the nodule revealed thyroid follicular cells without atypia and subsequent Afirma® Gene Expression Classifier (GEC) testing results were suspicious for malignancy. As a result, the patient underwent a right thyroid lobectomy and isthmusectomy. Histological sections revealed an intrathyroidal nodule consistent with a clear cell neoplasm of parathyroid origin. The histologic appearance together with the immune profile was diagnostic of WCCA, with diffuse positivity for GATA3, focal weak positivity for parathyroid hormone, and negativity for PAX8, thyroglobulin, TTF1, synaptophysin, chromogranin, and S100p. Our study focuses on the clinical presentation, current management strategies, and review of the available literature surrounding this rare diagnosis. The ultimate goal is to help endocrinologists and surgeons establish a foundational treatment plan for intrathyroidal clear cell tumor cases.

Adult Embryonal Sarcoma of the Liver: Management of a Massive Liver Tumor.

Undifferentiated embryonal sarcomas of the liver are extremely rare cases in adults. We report the case of a 30-year-old male who presented with early satiety and abdominal pain due to a massive tumor originating from the left liver and occupying the entire epigastrium. The patient underwent bland embolization in an attempt to decrease the size of the tumor. He then underwent a formal left hepatectomy with resection of liver segments 2, 3, and 4. Extrahepatic inflow control of the portal vein and hepatic artery was performed prior to parenchymal transection. No Pringle maneuver was required. Pathology analysis showed a 45 cm tumor consistent with an undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma and negative microscopic margins. The epidemiology, treatment, and prognosis of this unusual cancer presentation are reviewed.

Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy with D2 Lymphadenectomy and Side-to-Side Stapled Esophagojejunostomy.

INTRODUCTION: An optimal method has yet to be established for laparoscopic total gastrectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis. METHODS: We aim to describe a simple technique for intracorporeal anastomoses. Technique of laparoscopic total gastrectomy with side-to-side stapled intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy anastomosis and Roux-en-Y jejunojejunostomy is performed on patients with gastric malignancy in an academic community tertiary care center. RESULTS: The anastomotic technique of laparoscopic total gastrectomy with side-to-side stapled esophagojejunostomy is described. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and side-to-side esophagojejunostomy is safe to perform and has the advantage of a wide lumen with low chance for stricture. A laparoscopic total gastrectomy with stapled side-to-side esophagojejunostomy is feasible and safe in advanced gastric cancer.

Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy: A New Era of Surgical Resection.

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus continues to increase in incidence and has become a significant health problem in Western countries. While mortality rates are slowly improving from this disease, multimodality treatment, including esophagectomy, has remained critical for optimal outcomes. Esophagectomy has been described as an operation with significant morbidity and mortality, but over the last decade, increased utilization of minimally invasive esophagectomy in an effort to reduce the high rates of morbidity and lengthy hospital stays associated with open esophagectomy has been adopted at many medical centers. We review esophageal cancer treatment modalities, considerations in the current context of neoadjuvant therapy, and increased adoption of minimally invasive approaches.

Effects of cyclic lipodepsipeptide structural modulation on stability, antibacterial activity, and human cell toxicity.

Bacterial infections are becoming increasingly difficult to treat due to the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, identifying novel antibacterial targets and new antibacterial agents capable of treating infections by drug-resistant bacteria is of vital importance. The structurally simple yet potent fusaricidin or LI-F class of natural products represents a particularly attractive source of candidates for the development of new antibacterial agents. We synthesized 18 fusaricidin/LI-F analogues and investigated the effects of structure modification on their conformation, serum stability, antibacterial activity, and toxicity toward human cells. Our findings show that substitution of an ester bond in depsipeptides with an amide bond may afford equally potent analogues with improved stability and greatly decreased cytotoxicity. The lower overall hydrophobicity/amphiphilicity of amide analogues in comparison with their parent depsipeptides, as indicated by HPLC retention times, may explain the dissociation of antibacterial activity and human cell cytotoxicity. These results indicate that amide analogues may have significant advantages over fusaricidin/LI-F natural products and their depsipeptide analogues as lead structures for the development of new antibacterial agents.