Proteomic profiles of thyroid tumors by mass spectrometry-imaging on tissue microarrays.

The current study proposes the successful use of a mass spectrometry-imaging technology that explores the composition of biomolecules and their spatial distribution directly on-tissue to differentially classify benign and malignant cases, as well as different histotypes. To identify new specific markers, we investigated with this technology a wide histological Tissue Microarray (TMA)-based thyroid lesion series. Results showed specific protein signatures for malignant and benign specimens and allowed to build clusters comprising several proteins with discriminant capabilities. Among them, FINC, ACTB1, LMNA, HSP7C and KAD1 were identified by LC-ESI-MS/MS and found up-expressed in malignant lesions. These findings represent the opening of further investigations for their translation into clinical practice, e.g. for setting up new immunohistochemical stainings, and for a better understanding of thyroid lesions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: MALDI Imaging, edited by Dr. Corinna Henkel and Prof. Peter Hoffmann.

Post-prandial anorexigenic gut peptide, appetite and glucometabolic responses at different eating rates in obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Although different hypotheses have been proposed, the underlying mechanism(s) of the weight loss induced by laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is still unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether eating the same meal at different rates (fast vs. slow feeding) evokes different post-prandial anorexigenic gut peptide responses in ten obese patients undergoing LSG. Circulating levels of GLP-1, PYY, glucose, insulin and triglycerides were measured before and 3 months after LSG. Visual analogue scales were used to evaluate the subjective feelings of hunger and satiety. Irrespective of the operative state, either fast or slow feeding did not stimulate GLP-1 release (vs. 0 min); plasma levels of PYY were increased (vs. 0 min) by fast and slow feeding only after LSG. There were no differences in post-prandial levels of GLP-1 when comparing fast to slow feeding or pre-to-post-operative state. Plasma levels of PYY after fast or slow feeding were higher in post, rather than pre-operative state, with no differences when comparing PYY release after fast and slow feeding. Hunger and satiety were decreased and increased, respectively, (vs. 0 min) by food intake. Fast feeding evoked a higher satiety than slow feeding in both pre- and post-operative states, with no differences in hunger. In both pre- and post-operative states, there were similar responses for hunger and satiety after food intake. Finally, LSG improved insulin resistance after either fast or slow feeding. These (negative) findings would suggest a negligible contribution of the anorexigenic gut peptide responses in LSG-induced weight loss.

[Prospective study of laparoscopic treatment of incisional hernia by means of the use of composite mesh: indications, complications, mesh fixation materials and results]. / Studio prospettico sul trattamento laparoscopico del laparocele con mesh composita: indicazioni, complicanze, sistemi di fissaggio e risultati.

The aim of this study was to establish the indications, safety, efficacy, feasibility and reproducibility of laparoscopic techniques in the treatment of abdominal wall defects, even of the larger kind, in order to standardise procedures and confirm the performance of the composite mesh used (Parietex, Sofradim, Trevoux, France). From January 2001 to December 2004, 185 non-selected patients (109 females, 76 males), with a mean age of 56 years (range: 26-77) and a mean BMI of 30 (range: 26-40) were included in the study; 162 patients (87.5%) had incisional hernias and 23 patients (12.5%) primary wall defects. The size of the defects treated ranged from 4 cm to 26 cm (mean: 12.1 cm). All patients underwent laparoscopic repair and all meshes were placed intraperitoneally. Over a mean follow-up period of 29 months (range: 1-48), we observed 11 postoperative complications (6.7%): 7 seromas (4.3%) which were still present after 4 weeks, one of which turned septic after several attempts at percutaneous evacuation and in which the prosthesis had to be removed laparoscopically; 3 (1.8%) experienced persistent neuralgia which disappeared after 2 months' treatment with NSAIDs, and also one case of trocar-induced haematoma. We had 4 recurrences (2.4%), all within 1 to 3 months of surgery; 1 in the size group measuring less than 9 cm and 3 in the larger defect group. Adhesiolysis was performed in 98% of all incisional hernia cases and in 7 cases (4.3%) we had to repair iatrogenic lesions of the small bowel. In 4 patients (2.5%), because of thick adhesions (1 patient) or bowel loop fixation to the previous surgical scar (3 patients), we caused complete bowel perforation repaired by laparoscopic suture. Mean operative time was 65.6 minutes (range: 28-130) and the mean hospital stay was 2.1 days (range: 1-5). We had no conversions and no mortality. We also reviewed the main methods of mesh fixation and believe that the best system at the moment is the EndoAnchor (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, Ohio) device, although in future the best option is likely to be fixation with non-traumatic biological glue (Tissucol, Baxter, Maurepas), which we have already used in a series of 16 patients with optimal results and no recurrences. The results emerging from this clinical trial confirm the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic repair techniques, of this kind of mesh and of the anchoring devices used as well as the reproducibility of this technique for the intraperitoneal repair of primary and incisional abdominal wall defects, including even those of large size.