Unveiling the Potential of Extracellular Vesicles as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Nanotools for Gastrointestinal Diseases.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), acting as inherent nanocarriers adept at transporting a range of different biological molecules such as proteins, lipids, and genetic material, exhibit diverse functions within the gastroenteric tract. In states of normal health, they participate in the upkeep of systemic and organ homeostasis. Conversely, in pathological conditions, they significantly contribute to the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases (GIDs). Isolating EVs from patients' biofluids facilitates the discovery of new biomarkers that have the potential to offer a rapid, cost-effective, and non-invasive method for diagnosing and prognosing specific GIDs. Furthermore, EVs demonstrate considerable therapeutic potential as naturally targeted physiological carriers for the intercellular delivery of therapeutic cargo molecules or as nanoscale tools engineered specifically to regulate physio-pathological conditions or disease progression. Their attributes including safety, high permeability, stability, biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and homing/tropism capabilities contribute to their promising clinical therapeutic applications. This review will delve into various examples of EVs serving as biomarkers or nanocarriers for therapeutic cargo in the context of GIDs, highlighting their clinical potential for both functional and structural gastrointestinal conditions. The versatile and advantageous properties of EVs position them as promising candidates for innovative therapeutic strategies in advancing personalized medicine approaches tailored to the gastroenteric tract, addressing both functional and structural GIDs.

Targeting the Gut: A Systematic Review of Specific Drug Nanocarriers.

The intestine is essential for the modulation of nutrient absorption and the removal of waste. Gut pathologies, such as cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and celiac disease, which extensively impact gut functions, are thus critical for human health. Targeted drug delivery is essential to tackle these diseases, improve therapy efficacy, and minimize side effects. Recent strategies have taken advantage of both active and passive nanocarriers, which are designed to protect the drug until it reaches the correct delivery site and to modulate drug release via the use of different physical-chemical strategies. In this systematic review, we present a literature overview of the different nanocarriers used for drug delivery in a set of chronic intestinal pathologies, highlighting the rationale behind the controlled release of intestinal therapies. The overall aim is to provide the reader with useful information on the current approaches for gut targeting in novel therapeutic strategies.

Prophylactic intra-abdominal drainage following colorectal anastomoses. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Clinically evident Anastomotic Leakage (AL) remains one of the most feared complications after colorectal resections with primary anastomosis. The primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine whether Prophylactic Drainage (PD) after colorectal anastomoses confers any advantage in the prevention and management of AL. METHODS: Systematic literature search was performed using MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EMBASE databases for randomized studies comparing clinical outcomes of patients with Drained (D) or Undrained (UD) colorectal anastomoses performed for any cause. RESULTS: Four randomized controlled trials comparing D and UD patients undergoing colorectal resections with primary anastomosis were included for quantitative synthesis. In total, 1120 patients were allocated to group D (n = 566) or group UD (n = 554). The clinical AL rate was 8.5% in the D group and 7.6% in the UD group, with no statistically significant difference (P = 0.57). Rates of radiological AL (D: 4.2% versus UD: 5.6%; P = 0.42), mortality (D: 3.6% versus UD: 4.4%; P = 0.63), overall morbidity (D: 16.6% versus UD: 18.6%, P = 0.38), wound infection (D: 5.4% versus UD: 5.3%, P = 0.95), pelvic sepsis (D: 9.7% versus UD: 10.5%, P = 0.75), postoperative bowel obstruction (D: 9.9% versus UD: 6.9%, P = 0.07), and reintervention for abdominal complication (D: 9.1% versus UD: 7.9%, P = 0.48) were equivalent between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials investigating the value of PD following colorectal anastomoses does not support the routine use of prophylactic drains.

Video-robotic aneurysmectomy for splenic artery aneurysm: case report and literature review.

We herein report the case of a symptomatic splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) diagnosed in a 65-year-old woman. Endoluminal exclusion was considered as first option, but the potential risk of postoperative splenic infarction, postsplenectomy thrombocytosis and immunodeficiency in an otherwise healthy patient raised the possibility to carry out a surgical procedure of vascular reconstruction using the robotic device Da Vinci® Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA). We performed the resection of the aneurysm and the continuity of the splenic artery was restored by end-to-end anastomosis.

Robotic-assisted approach to Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome with left gastric artery originating directly from the aorta. Report of a case and review of the current mini-invasive treatment modalities.

BACKGROUND: Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) is a rare clinical condition. METHODS: Through the analysis of a case report and a review of the international literature, we examined whether robotic and laparoscopic MAL release are safe and feasible. RESULTS: Of 354 and 19 patients who underwent laparoscopic MAL release (LMALr) and robotic-assisted MAL release (RMALr), respectively, conversion to open surgery occurred in 6.8% of cases following LMALr, whereas no case of conversion was reported following RMALr. Immediate symptomatic improvement was reported in 92.1% of cases following LMALr and in 84.2% of cases following RMALr. In the LMALr group 9% of patients presented with recurrence of symptoms, whereas the percentage in the RMALr group was 5.3%. LMALr was related to a higher overall complication rate when compared with RMALr (7.3% vs 5.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Both laparoscopic and robotic-assisted MAL lysis with celiac ganglionectomy can be safely performed with minimal patient morbidity.

Laparoscopic Transarterial Embolization of Type II Endoleak after Branched/Fenestrated Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Endovascular Repair.

Type II endoleak is the most frequent procedure-related complication during endovascular aneurysm exclusion. Actually, there is little controversy in the management of type I and III endoleak, while type II endoleak still generates conflicting reports about their timing and type of treatment. Currently, the intervention is needed only in case of sac enlargement but not in case of persistent endoleak alone. We report the case of a 77-year-old man treated with a custom-made branched/fenestrated endograft for a type III thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. A low-flow type II endoleak was detected at the end of the intervention, and a conservative approach was adopted. The sixth month follow-up computed tomography scan demonstrated a 6-mm aneurysm sac growth that required the type II endoleak management. The endoleak nidus, situated between the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and left renal artery stent graft, was embolized through the IMA punctured laparoscopically. IMA origin laparoscopic clipping completed the intervention. To our knowledge, this is a unique case in the literature. Type II endoleak management should be reserved to selected patients. The combination of different techniques may offer safe and feasible treatment options in complex aneurysms treated with advanced endovascular materials.