Role of serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) in predicting severity of acute appendicitis.

Objectives: One of the most prevalent abdominal crises is acute appendicitis (AA). Clinical diagnosis, even for skilled surgeons, is frequently challenging, as indicated by the high proportion of negative investigations. The purpose of this study was to see if serum TWEAK levels might be used to diagnose acute appendicitis. Material and Methods: Between June 2017 and May 2019, all patients who had surgery with the original diagnosis of AA were included in the study. TWEAK, WBC, CRP, and bilirubin levels were compared. Results: The levels of WBC, CRP, and bilirubin were compared to pathology. All three blood indicators increased significantly in AA patients. However, no statistically significant difference in the levels of all three blood indicators was seen between individuals with simple AA and those with severe AA. TWEAK plasma concentrations were considerably greater in patients with severe AA than in the healthy control and NAA groups. TWEAK levels were significantly greater in individuals with severe AA compared to patients with simple AA. Conclusion: Serum TWEAK levels that are elevated may be used to diagnose acute appendicitis as well as prognostic indicators for the severity of appendicitis.

D2 vs D2 Plus Para-aortic Lymph Node Dissection for Advanced Gastric Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Gastric cancer is a common malignancy worldwide. Effective treatment by interdisciplinary cooperation is important, and surgery still plays an important role. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a ten-year period, 355 patients were diagnosed to have gastric cancer. One hundred and sixty-two patients with a median (range) age of 58 (23-83) years were eligible for the study. There were 107 patients in D2 and 55 patients in D2 lymphadenectomy plus para-aortic lymph node (PALN) dissection group. The two groups were compared in terms of complications, morbidity, mortality and long-term survival. RESULTS: Length of stay was 12 (8-34) days for D2 and 14 (8-42) days for D2 plus PALND. Total number of operative mortality was 8/162 (5%), and it was not different between the groups. Twenty patients (18%) had complications in D2 group and 9 (17%) patients in D2 plus PALND group. Overall survival was also similar between the groups, but patients with T3-T4 tumors, patients with stage IIIA and IIIB disease had better survival with D2 plus PALN dissection. We found that the depth of invasion, PLN, ratio (PLN/TLN), stage and LND were all prognostic variables. CONCLUSION: This study showed that D2 plus PALN dissection for advanced gastric cancer can be performed as safely as a standard D2 dissection by experienced surgeons without increasing postoperative morbidity and mortality. D2 plus PALN dissection should be preferred in the advanced stage of the disease (IIIA-IIIB) as it increases the rate of survival.

Lymph Node Mapping in Gastric Cancer Surgery: Current Status and New Horizons.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the most important malignant diseases with significant geographical, ethnic, and socioeconomic differences in distribution. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping is an accepted way to assess lymphatic spread in several solid tumors; however, the complexity of gastric lymphatic drainage may discourage use of this procedure, and the estimated accuracy rate is, in general, reasonably good. This study aimed at reviewing the current status of SLN mapping and navigation surgery in GC. SLN mapping should be limited to tumors clinically T1 and less than 4 cm in diameter. Combination SLN mapping with radioactive colloid and blue dye is used as the standard. Despite its notable limitations, SLN mapping and SLN navigation surgery present a novelty individualizing the extent of lymphadenectomy.

Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) in predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis.

INTRODUCTION: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a severe disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The overall outcome has improved, but specific treatment(s) remains elusive. The challenge is the early identification and treatment of patients who will develop severe acute pancreatitis. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) in the initial phase of predicted severe acute pancreatitis. METHODS: Between June 2014 and January 2016, 64 patients with acute pancreatitis and 36 healthy individuals were included to study. Four blood samples, for serum TWEAK measurement, were taken from each individual in each group. The first measurement was taken from the admission blood sample. The subsequent three samples were taken at 12, 24, and 48 h after the hospital admission. RESULTS: Serum TWEAK levels were significantly higher in patients with acute pancreatitis when compared with healthy controls. TWEAK plasma concentrations in severe pancreatitis patients were significantly higher than in mild pancreatitis patients. CONCLUSION: Serum TWEAK levels increase progressively with the severity of acute pancreatitis and TWEAK might be a novel early marker of severity in acute pancreatitis.

Copeptin is a predictive biomarker of severity in acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis remains a common intraabdominal disease with a complex pathophysiology. The overall outcome has improved, but specific treatment remains elusive. The challenge is the early identification and treatment of patients who will develop severe acute pancreatitis. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate plasma levels of copeptin in the initial phase of predicted severe acute pancreatitis. METHODS: Between August 2008 and December 2011, 57 patients with acute pancreatitis and 30 healthy individuals were included in the study. Four blood samples, for serum copeptin measurement, were taken from each individual in each group. The first measurement was taken from the admission blood sample. The subsequent 3 samples were taken at 12, 24, and 48 hours after the onset of pain. RESULTS: Copeptin plasma concentrations were significantly higher in patients with acute pancreatitis when compared with healthy controls. Copeptin plasma concentrations in severe pancreatitis patients were significantly higher than in mild pancreatitis patients. CONCLUSIONS: Copeptin plasma concentrations were significantly higher in patients with acute pancreatitis when compared with healthy controls. Copeptin plasma concentrations in severe pancreatitis patients were significantly higher than in mild pancreatitis patients.

Abdominal and pelvic hydatid cyst obstructing the labor.

Hydatid cystic disease is a parasitic disease primarily infesting the sheep and cattle. It is a rare condition in pregnancy with an incidence of 1/20000 pregnancies. An eighteen-year-old primigravida was evaluated due to obstructed labor. Multiple abdominal and pelvic hydatid cysts were diagnosed by ultasonography and a healthy infant with birthweight of 3330 g was delivered by cesarean section. While the cysts situated on the posterior uterine wall, paraovarian region and omentum were removed totally, the hepatic cysts were only partially removed and then drained. The hydatid disease should be considered in differential diagnosis of adnexal masses obstructing the labor in pregnancy (Fig. 3, Ref. 9).

Femoral vessel blood flow dynamics following totally extraperitoneal vs Stoppa procedure in bilateral inguinal hernias.

BACKGROUND: Both totally extraperitoneal (TEP) and open preperitoneal (Stoppa) procedures involve the placement of prosthetic material preperitoneally. Because the prosthetic material overlies the femoral artery and vein, the aim of this study was to assess its effect on the velocities and diameters of the artery and vein using color Doppler ultrasonography in both approaches. METHODS: Sixty-four patients with bilateral groin hernias were prospectively randomized to undergo either TEP (n = 32) or Stoppa (n = 32) repair. All patients underwent color Doppler ultrasound 6 months after the procedures, and the median follow-up period was 18 months. RESULTS: Neither mean diameter nor mean flow velocity was changed by the insertion of the mesh preperitoneally. The only change was observed in peak systolic femoral arterial blood velocity, which was significantly decreased in the Stoppa group. Also, no patient in this study developed clinically significant deep venous thrombosis during 6 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The insertion of a prosthetic mesh during TEP and Stoppa procedures does not influence the mean peak flow velocities and cross-sectional areas of the vessels in the inguinal region and can be used safely for open and laparoscopic preperitoneal approaches.

Serum visfatin levels in acute appendicitis.

The clinical importance of the novel adipokine visfatin are still largely unknown. Our aim was to evaluate diagnostic accuracy of visfatin serum concentrations in Acute appendicitis(AA). Total of 34 patients with preoperative AA diagnosis (18 men and 16 women, mean age 28.8 +/- 10.9 years) were enrolled this study. The appendix specimens were classified as normal appendix (10 patients), acute appendicitis (24 patients). The serum levels of visfatin measured Diagnostic value of the preoperative serum visfatin levels as assessed through the corresponding ROC curve was well. (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.926, P < .001). In this small case series, visfatin level was found to be useful marker for diagnosis of AA.

A solid pseudopapillary tumour arising from mesocolon without ectopic pancreas.

A solid pseudopapillary tumour (SPT) is an uncommon pancreatic tumour. Very rarely it has also been described outside the pancreas, usually arising from heterotopic pancreatic tissue. In this paper, we described a case arising from the transverse mesocolon without heterotopic pancreatic tissue in an 18-year-old girl.

Risk factors for surgical site infection after gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy.

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a potentially morbid and costly complication of surgery. We conducted this study to establish the preoperative and operative factors predisposing to SSI after gastric resection and D2 lymphadenectomy. Data on all patients undergoing gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy within a 2-year period, at a tertiary reference hospital in Turkey, were collected retrospectively. The outcome of interest was a diagnosis of incisional SSI as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Multivariate analysis by stepwise logistic regression was then performed on those variables associated with incisional SSI. We identified 72 patients with SSI after gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy. The median age of the patients was 61 years (range 31-81 years) and 43 were men. Incisional SSI was diagnosed in 15 (20.8%) patients. Of all the preoperative and operative variables measured, an increased patient body mass index was an independent predictor of incisional SSI. An increased incidence of SSI was found in overweight patients, but these infections were transient and not life threatening.

Effect of increased abdominal pressure on cytokines (IL1 beta, IL6, TNFalpha), C-reactive protein (CRP), free radicals (NO, MDA), and histology.

BACKGROUND: It is generally accepted that proinflammatory mediators, including cytokines, are responsible for the metabolic changes associated with injury. Recent clinical and experimental studies have also shown that the laparoscopic procedures actually produce ischemia-reperfusion injury in the organs by oxygen-derived free radicals. This study aimed to assess the effect of different insufflation pressures and laparotomy on tissue response by comparing the proinflammatory cytokines, C-reactive protein, and serum and tissue levels of oxygen-derived free radicals. METHODS: Forty mature New Zealand white rabbits were assigned to 4 groups of 10 animals. In groups 1 to 3, CO2 pneumoperitoneum was created using an automatic insufflator to the designated pressure of 10, 15, and 20 mm Hg, respectively. The remaining 10 animals underwent laparotomy using 10 cm midline incision (group 4). Blood samples were collected before (0 min) and at the end of the procedure (60 min). After the collection of last blood samples, all animals were killed and samples from liver and gut were obtained for measurements of tissue malondialdehyde levels and histology. RESULTS: The proinflammatory cytokine levels were increased significantly in groups 1 to 3, but did not change in the laparotomy group. Serum C-reactive protein levels were elevated in all groups. The comparison of the results between the laparotomy and laparoscopy groups showed that serum interleukin 6 and nitric oxide levels were significantly elevated in relation the intra-abdominal pressure, and serum interleukin 6 and nitric oxide levels peaked in group 3. Tissue malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 than in groups 3 and 4. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our experiment suggest that the elevated intra-abdominal pressure is responsible for ischemia, free radical production, and proinflammatory cytokine response-mediated cell damage during laparoscopic surgery.

The correlation between reactive oxygen species and histopathology of the liver, gut, and kidneys in animals with elevated intra-abdominal pressure.

BACKGROUND: Clinical and experimental studies have shown that the laparoscopic procedure provides a typical model of ischemia-reperfusion injury in the organs by oxygen-derived free radicals. A pneumoperitoneum produces ischemia during insufflation and reperfusion during desufflation. The aim of this study was to assess the causative role of free radical-mediated reactions in tissue damage under different intra-abdominal insufflation pressures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty five mature New Zealand white rabbits were assigned to three groups of 10 animals. In groups 1, 2, and 3, the designated pressures of 10, 15, and 20 mm Hg, respectively. The remaining 5 animals underwent laparotomy, using a 10-cm midline incision taken as group 4 (control). Blood samples were collected before (0 minutes) and at the end of the procedure (60 minutes). After the collection of the last blood samples, all animals were sacrificed and the samples from the liver, kidney, and gut were obtained for histologic evaluation and also measurements of tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. RESULTS: The nitric oxide levels were not changed in groups 1 and 2, but increased significantly in group 3. Tissue MDA levels were significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 than groups 3 and 4. Histopathologic examination of the kidney revealed some findings of reversible hypoxic cell injury, including acute cellular swelling, vascular congestion, and some early findings of irreversible injury, such as lysis of the cytoplasmic membrane in all groups and focal parancymal bleeding area in only group 3 as a consequence of increased pressure. Liver histology revealed cellular swelling and karyorhexis in hepatocytes in group 1, whereas only congestion and sinusoidal dilatation was observed in groups 2 and 3. CONCLUSION: Our experimental study showed that abdominal insufflation causes ischemia and free radical production, which seems responsible for the cell damage that occured during laparoscopic surgery.

Is incidental Meckel's diverticulum resected safely?

AIM: Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is the most common congenital anomaly of the small intestine. The majority of MD cases are discovered incidentally. On the other hand, there is disagreement about the management of incidentally discovered asymptomatic MD. The aim of the study was to compare the clinicopathologic characteristics of incidentally found and symptomatic cases of MD, and to compare morbidity and mortality in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Records of patients whose MD was resected at our institution between 1989 and 2004 were reviewed and 76 patients were found. The patients were divided into two groups. The incidental group included patients in whom the MDs were found incidentally during the course of laparotomy performed for reasons not related to the diverticular complications. The symptomatic group included patients who presented with complications related to the MDs. We compared the clinicopathologic characteristics of the patients between the two groups RESULTS: The incidental group included 40 patients (34 males) and the symptomatic group included 36 patients (30 males). There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to age, gender, APACHE scores, postoperative complications, and hospital stay. There were two deaths in the symptomatic group. There was a significant correlation between operative mortality and APACHE II scores. CONCLUSIONS: Resection of incidentally found MD is not associated with increased operative morbidity or mortality.

Primary echinococcal cyst of the thyroid: report of a case.

A case of primary hydatid disease of the thyroid, a rare location, is presented. The patient was a 50-year-old woman who presented with a neck mass at the thyroid region, which was noticed 2 months before her presentation. Although the clinical impression was of a neoplastic lesion (adenoma or carcinoma), a hydatid cyst was considered intraoperatively and confirmed by a frozen section histology. It was completely removed. No other sites of hydatid disease were found and the patient remained well postoperatively. In patients with a solitary cyst in the thyroid, the possibility of hydatid disease, though rare, should be always kept in mind, because a needle aspiration biopsy is a potentially harmful procedure.

Lymph nodes in gastric cancer.

Surgery is the only curative therapy for gastric cancer and controversy still exist on the extend of surgery. As the lymphatic distribution of stomach is very complex, the determination of the actual lymph node involvement is important for making the decision in order to avoid complications. Sentinel node navigation surgery has recently been introduced in gastrointestinal tract cancer. Present article reviews the detection techniques of lymph nodes and significance of lymphadenectomies in gastric cancer.

Lymphoscintigraphy in detection of the regional lymph node involvement in gastric cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Involvement of regional lymph node is a critical sign in prognosis of gastric cancer. Radiological techniques are commonly used to evaluate the extension of gastric cancer. But their sensitivity and specificity are low especially in the early stage. Our aim was to assess the value of gastric lymphoscintigraphy in identifying regional lymph node involvement in patients with gastric cancer, as compared to the abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography and postoperative histopathological evaluation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 50 patients (12 females) with a median age of 61 years (range, 35-73 years) were included in the study. Pre-operative staging in all cases included upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy, followed by ultrasound, computed tomography and lymphoscintigraphy. 148 MBq Technetium-99m lymphoscint was injected around the tumour during endoscopy and immediately after injection, anterior, lateral and posterior images were taken in 5-min intervals using a gamma camera. Findings were compared to the findings of other tests. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of each test were calculated and compared. RESULTS: Histologically, 68% of cases (34/50) had metastasis in regional lymph nodes and all cases were accurately diagnosed by lymphoscintigraphy. Lymphoscintigraphy was significantly more sensitive for detecting lymph node involvement (P < 0.01). Both abdominal ultrasonography and CT had very low sensitivity in identifying lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphoscintigraphy is a promising test in the identification of regional lymph nodes pre-operatively in patients with gastric cancer. It might help the surgeon to plan the extent of dissection before surgery which may decrease postoperative complications related to unnecessary extensive lymph node dissection.

Intraoperative lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy using radioactive tracer in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer continues to be a significant health problem around the world. Surgical resection with a lymph node dissection remains the only potentially curative treatment with gastric cancer. Determination of the extent of lymph node dissection required on the basis of actual node involvement in patients with gastric cancer is important as less extensive dissection may reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality rates. The current study examines the feasibility and reliability of sentinel lymph node biopsy in gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 32 patients who underwent gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy were enrolled in this study. A total volume of 148 MBq (2 mL) technetium-99m-radiolabeled, filtered sulphur colloid solution was injected into the primary lesion under gastroscopy 2 hours before the operation. Lymph nodes were examined as soon as possible by a hand-held gamma probe during the operation, without significant manipulation of the stomach or greater omentum. A sentinel lymph node (SLN) was defined by a level of radioactivity 10 times higher than the background. RESULTS: Thirty-one of 32 patients had successful SLN biopsy, with a success rate of 97%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of SLN biopsy were 100%, 95%, 90%, and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SLN biopsy using gamma probe in gastric cancer is a feasible procedure with high sensitivity and accuracy. This technique may be of a great benefit to surgeons in planning the extend of lymph node dissection in gastric cancer.