Laparoscopic versus open colonic resection for complicated diverticular disease in the emergency setting: a safe choice? A retrospective comparative cohort study

Background

We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare the outcomes of laparoscopic colon resection (LCR) with open colon resection (OCR) for complicated diverticular disease (CDD) during emergent hospital admission.

Methods

Charts from all patients undergoing colon resection for CDD during emergent hospital admission at a single academic institution were reviewed. The primary outcomes were overall 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Results

From 2000 to 2010, 125 cases were retrieved (49 LCR and 86 OCR). Conversion rate was 5.1%. Overall morbidity significantly decreased with laparoscopic surgery compared with OCR. No mortality occurred with LCR. Prolonged ileus was less frequent (12.8% vs 32.6%; P = .02), time to oral intake shorter (3 vs 6 days; P < .01), and LOS shorter (5 vs 8 days; P = .05) for LCR.

Conclusions

In our series, in the patients selected, LCR for CDD during emergent hospital admission appears to be a safe procedure associated with decreased morbidity, time to oral intake, and LOS compared with OCR.     

Effect of Er:YAG and Nd:YAG lasers on the mineral content of root canal dentin

Lasers in Medical Science - The aim of this study was to assess the effect of two different laser systems on the mineral content of root canal dentin. Thirty-six single canal-extracted mandibular...     

Diagnosis of prolactinoma in two male‐to‐female transsexual subjects following high‐dose cross‐sex hormone therapy

Male‐to‐female transsexual persons use oestrogens + antiandrogens to adapt their physical bodies to the female sex. Doses are usually somewhat higher than those used by hypogonadal women receiving oestrogen replacement. Particularly in cases of self‐adminstration of cross‐sex hormones, doses may be very high. Oestrogens are powerful stimulators of synthesis and release of prolactin and serum prolactin levels are usually somewhat increased following oestrogen treatment. Prolactinomas have been reported in male‐to‐female transsexual persons, both after use of high and conventional doses of oestrogens but remain rare events. We report two new cases of prolactinomas in male‐to‐female transsexual persons, one in a 41‐year‐old subject who had used nonsupervised high‐dose oestrogen treatment since the age of 23 years and another one in a 42 year old who had initiated oestrogen treatment at the age of 17 years. Their serum prolactin levels were strongly increased, and the diagnosis of a pituitary tumour was confirmed by imaging techniques. Both cases responded well to treatment with cabergoline treatment whereupon serum prolactin normalised. Our two cases are added to the three cases of prolactinomas in the literature in persons who had used supraphysiological doses of oestrogens.     

Carnosine and vitamin E – a promising pair in the combat against testicular oxidative stress in aged rats

Oxidative stress is considered to play a key role in ageing. Carnosine alone or together with vitamin E may prove to be helpful in dealing with problems of ageing through its antioxidant activity. Testis, by producing steroids and possessing a poor antioxidant system may become a strong target for the chronic oxidative stress generated during ageing. Therefore we investigated the in vivo effect of carnosine alone or together with vitamin E on testicular oxidative stress in aged rats. In this study, young (5 months) and aged (22 months) Wistar rats were used. Carnosine (250 mg kg^?1; i.p.; 5 days per week) and vitamin E (200 mg kg^?1; i.m.; twice per week) were given to aged rats for 2 months. Increased testicular lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity in aged rats were declined to the levels of young ones by both treatments. Decreased glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase activities returned to the level of young's only by carnosine plus vitamin E treatment. Histopathological evaluation described by Johnsen's score, also showed significant improvement with preserved spermatogenesis. Carnosine plus vitamin E treatment appears to stage a powerful performance by attenuating testicular oxidative stress and sparing the antioxidant system.