Nutritional Status Prior to Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery

Background

Two main causes for nutrient deficiencies following bariatric surgery (BS) are pre-operative deficiencies and favoring foods with high-energy density and poor micronutrient content. The aims of this study were to evaluate nutritional status and gender differences and the prevalence of nutritional deficiencies among candidates for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) surgery.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis of pre-surgery data collected as part of a randomized clinical trial on 100 morbidly obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) admitted to LSG surgery at Assuta Medical Center between February 2014 and January 2015. Anthropometrics, food intake, and fasting blood tests were evaluated during the baseline visit.

Results

One-hundred patients completed the pre-operative measurements (60 % female) with a mean age of 41.9?±?9.8 years and a mean BMI of 42.3?±?4.7 kg/m². Pre-operatively, deficiencies for iron, ferritin, folic acid, vitamin B1, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and hemoglobin were 6, 1, 1, 6, 0, 22, and 6 %, respectively. Pre-surgery, mean energy, protein, fat, and carbohydrate intake were 2710.7?±?1275.7 kcal/day, 114.2?±?48.5, 110.6?±?54.5, and 321.6?±?176.1 gr/day, respectively. The intakes for iron, calcium, folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B1 were below the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) recommendations for 46, 48, 58, 14, and 34 % of the study population, respectively.

Conclusion

We found a low prevalence of nutritional deficiencies pre-operatively except for vitamin D. Most micronutrient intake did not reach the DRI recommendations, despite high-caloric and macronutrient intake indicating a poor dietary quality.

     

Morphology assessment and fluorescence in situ hybridization of the same spermatozoon using a computerized cell-scanning system

BACKGROUND: Poor sperm morphology is statistically associated with an increase in the incidence of chromosome abnormalities. Our aim was to examine the possible correlation between chromosomal aberrations and sperm morphology in the same cell. METHODS: 12349 spermatozoa from 7 teratozoospermic and one globozoospermic patients, and from 3 fertile donors were analyzed using a system which scans for cell morphology and chromosomal ploidy in the same cell using digital technology. RESULTS: Chromosomal aberrations were detected in 5.3% of teratozoospermic cases and in 6.7% in the globozoospermic patient compared with 1.6% in donors (P < 0.0001). Chromosomal aberrations were more common in abnormally formed sperm compared with normal spermatozoa: 4.5% vs 1.3% in the teratozoospermic group and 2.0% vs 0.3% in the control group (NS), especially frequent among sperm with two heads or two tails (52.1-77.2%) or extreme head deformations (10.6-11.1%) irrespective of grouping, and in mild amorphous heads in the globozoospermic patients (20.2%). The frequency of chromosomal aberrations in morphologically normal sperm was comparable whether derived from teratozoospermic or normospermic patients. CONCLUSIONS: The computerized cell-scanning system demonstrated the relationship between chromosomal aberrations and sperm morphology in the same spermatozoon. The incidence of chromosomal aberrations was positively linked to abnormal sperm morphology, the more severe the abnormality, the higher the incidence of aneuploidy.     

Low Incidence of Postoperative Leaks When Using Small-Diameter Calibrated Bougies During Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a well-established bariatric procedure. A staple line leak is a recognized complication of LSG. Bougie size has been suggested to impact leak rates. In this study, we evaluate the impact of using 32–34F bougie sizes with LSG on early postoperative outcomes including staple line leaks within our practice.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort analysis of a prospectively maintained database of all LSG procedures performed between January 2012 and December 2018 at a single medical center. Data collected and analyzed included bougie size, postoperative leak rate, need for re-operation, 12-month excess weight loss, and 30-day morbidity and mortality.

Results

During the study period, 3153 patients underwent LSG, of whom 1977 (62.7%) were female. Mean age and body mass index (BMI) were 42.9 ± 12.2 years (range 15–76 years) and 42.4 ± 5.2 kg/m² (range 27–73), respectively. No intraoperative complications or mortality occurred. There was one case of perioperative mortality due to bleeding (0.03%). Early postoperative adverse events occurred in 131 patients (4.1%): 17 leaks (0.5%), 75 bleeds (2.4%), and 39 (1.2%) other.

Conclusion

The use of smaller-sized (32–34F) bougies had no impact on staple line leaks in the hands of experienced bariatric surgeons at a high-volume center.

     

Accuracy and Reliability of Working Length Determination by Gold Reciproc Motor in Reciprocating Movement

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy and reliability of the apex locator function of the Gold Reciproc Motor (VDW GmbH, Munich, Germany) during reciprocating movement.

Methods

Forty extracted incisors with mature apices were included in the study. The canal length was determined by introducing #10 file into the canal until it emerged at the apical foramen. The incisal edge of each tooth was adjusted to obtain 18 mm standard length and to produce a flat reference point. The teeth were embedded in Plexiglas tubes filled with alginate and measured by Root ZX (J. Morita Corp, Tokyo, Japan) and Bingo 1020 (Forum Engineering Technologies, Rishon Lezion, Israel) apex locators. The root canals were instrumented in a reciprocating mode using an R25 Reciproc file in the Gold Reciproc Motor until the green LEDs and orange LED were reached. According to the manufacturer, these LEDs represent the zone between the apical constriction and the apical foramen.

Results

No statistically significant differences were found between the length measurements of the 2 electronic apex locators and the third green LED, which is suggested by the manufacturers as the recommended working length.

Conclusions

With the limitation of this ex vivo study, the Gold Reciproc Motor's integrated electronic apex locator was found to be as reliable and accurate as the Root ZX and Bingo 1020 apex locators in terms of length control during root canal preparation in the reciprocation mode.     

Ketosteroid isomerase provides further support for the idea that enzymes work by electrostatic preorganization

One of the best systems for exploring the origin of enzyme catalysis has been the reaction of ketosteroid isomerase (KSI). Studies of the binding of phenolates to KSI have been taken as proof that the electrostatic preorganization effect only makes a minor contribution to the binding of the real, multiring, transition state (TS). However, our simulation study has determined that the difference between the phenolates and the TS arises from the fact that the nonpolar state of the phenolate can rotate freely relative to the oxyanion hole and thus loses the preorganization contribution. A recent study explored the reactivity of both small and multiring systems and concluded that their similar reactivity contradicts our preorganization idea. Herein, we establish that the available experiments in fact provide what is perhaps the best proof and clarification of the preorganization idea and its crucial role in enzyme catalysis. First, we analyze the binding energy and the pK_a of equilenin and identify direct experimental evidence for our prediction about the differential electrostatic stabilization of the large TS and the small phenolates. Subsequently, we show that the similar reactivity of the small and large systems is also due to an electrostatic preorganization effect but that this effect only appears in the intermediate state because the TS is not free to rotate. This establishes the electrostatic origin of enzyme catalysis. We also clarify the crucial importance of having a well-defined physical concept when examining catalytic effects and the need for quantitative tools for analyzing such effects.     

Fertility before and after surgery for primary ovarian pregnancy

Primary ovarian pregnancy usually occurs in parous fertile women. It is an accidental event probably related to the presence of the IUD affecting implantation rather than an indicator of altered fertility. Reproductive performance postoperatively remains unmodified.     

Flexible menotropins initiation after long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog

The results of both groups, the one with hMG postponement and the one without, were similar in respect to the amount of hMG needed, number of oocytes retrieved, quality of embryos, pregnancy, and abortion rates. The flexible hMG commencement lowers the cancellation rate to a minimum.