Annals of surgery
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Assess the significance of enlarged lateral lymph nodes (LLN) for disease recurrence, metastasis, and organ preservation in patients with rectal cancer. ⋯ LLN involvement is not associated with disease recurrence or metastasis, but persistence of LLN≥4 mm after TNT is negatively associated with rectum preservation in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with TNT. Dissection of lateral nodes likely benefits few patients.
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We propose the first classification scheme for macroglossia in patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome (BWS), the BWS Index of macroGlossia (BIG). ⋯ In this large series of patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome, increased BIG score correlates with undergoing tongue reduction surgery and increased phenotypic severity. Adoption of the BIG scoring system may facilitate communication and risk stratification across institutions.
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To evaluate the accuracy of self-reported conflicts of interest (COIs) for articles published in prominent minimally invasive and general surgical journals. ⋯ Our study shows that inaccuracy of self-reported COIs in general surgery journals remains high at 31%. While our findings should encourage authors to overreport any possible COI, journals should consider verifying the authors' COI to facilitate more accurate reporting.
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The hepatic blood supply and its several homeostatic and pathologic processes has always been a matter of great interest. Many views commonly held today are derived from an earlier era, but major reorientations have occurred recently in almost all aspects of knowledge of the role and regulation of hepatic blood flow. ⋯ It is nonetheless important to concede that even though our knowledge on the practical modulation of hepatic hemodynamics has expanded enormously, there still remain the need to explore the depths of our remaining ignorance to further improve outcomes in LDLT. This review focuses on the current view, controversies and gaps in knowledge of the hepatic vascular bed, with an emphasis on the importance of portal hemodynamics in liver disease and its impact on liver regeneration and LT.
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We sought to comprehensively profile tissue and cyst fluid in patients with benign, precancerous, and cancerous conditions of the pancreas to characterize the intrinsic pancreatic microbiome. ⋯ Our analysis of the pancreatic microbiome demonstrated very low intrinsic biomass that is relatively conserved across diverse neoplastic conditions and thus unlikely to drive malignant transformation.