Comparison of Ligasure Versus Conventional Surgery for Curative Gastric Cancer Resection: a Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The LigaSure vessel sealing system has been proposed to save operation time and reduce intraoperative blood loss for various surgeries. However, its usage for gastric cancer is still controversial. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to compare the effectiveness of LigaSure with conventional surgery in gastrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sources were retrieved from the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS and Google Scholar until February, 2015. All randomized controlled trials comparing LigaSure with conventional surgery in curative gastric cancer resection were selected. After data extraction, statistics were performed by Review Manager 5.1 software. RESULTS: Three eligible randomized controlled trials were evaluated, with a total of 335 patients. The quality of the included trials was good, yet some methodological and clinical heterogeneity existed. There were no significant differences between the LigaSure and conventional groups in operative time (weighted mean difference [WMD], -22.95 minutes; 95% confidence interval [CI], [-59.75, 13.85]; P = 0.22), blood loss (WMD, -45.8 ml; 95% CI, [-134.5, 42.90]; P = 0.31), nor the incidence of surgical complications (odds ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, [0.68, 2.05]; P = 0.54). But there was a longer duration of hospital stay in LigaSure group (WMD, 1.41 days; 95% CI, [0.14, 2.68]; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: All available randomized evidence has been summarized. LigaSure does not confer significant advantage over conventional surgery for curative gastric cancer resection. The usefulness of the device may be limited in gastrectomy. But, more trials are needed for further assessment of the LigaSure system for gastric cancer.

Goiter and hearing impairment: A case of a male patient with Pendred syndrome.

Pendred syndrome is a rare genetic disease that causes a disturbance in thyroid hormone synthesis, which results in thyroid dysfunction and the development of goiter and sensorineural deafness. The present report describes the case of a young euthyroid male, who developed a large goiter and hearing impairment, despite no family history of these conditions. A left lobectomy and a subtotal right lobectomy were performed, and the patient was administered permanent hormone replacement therapy with thyroxine. Patients with Pendred syndrome exhibit distinct clinical features and the mechanisms associated with the molecular genetics of this disease have been clarified. Thus, gene detection is considered to be a reliable diagnostic method. Certain patients require surgical intervention in order to relieve the symptoms. Misdiagnosis can be significantly reduced by increasing the understanding of Pendred syndrome.

Alicaforsen: An Emerging Therapeutic Agent for Ulcerative Colitis and Refractory Pouchitis.

Pouchitis is a relatively common complication that develops following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with complicated ulcerative colitis (UC). Both pouchitis and UC share similarities in their development, as well as in the mechanisms involving mediators of the inflammatory process. In the recent years, the discovery and investigation of biological therapies have led to advancement in the management of these disorders, and the continuation of research on this novel area holds strong implications for a future reduction in the use of invasive surgical procedures. Alicaforsen represents one of these emerging therapeutic agents, and has demonstrated promising results in both preclinical and clinical settings. This article reviews the therapeutic effects of alicaforsen for the management of UC and refractory pouchitis, with special emphasis on the mechanism of action of this therapeutic agent and the clinical studies asserting its effectiveness.

Two new lignan glycosides from the seeds of Cuscuta chinensis.

Two new lignan glycosides, 2'-hydroxyl asarinin 2'-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (cuscutoside C, 1) and 2'-hydroxyl asarinin 2'-O-ß-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 â†’ 2)-[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 â†’ 6)]-ß-D-glucopyranoside (cuscutoside D, 2), were isolated from the seeds of Cuscuta chinensis Lam., along with six known compounds, 2'-hydroxyl asarinin 2'-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 â†’ 6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (3), 2'-hydroxyl asarinin 2'-O-ß-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 â†’ 2)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (cuscutoside A, 4), kaempferol 3,7-di-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (5), 5-caffeoyl quinic acid (6), 4-caffeoyl quinic acid (7), and cinnamic acid (8). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses including HR-ESI-MS, ESI-MS/MS, (1)H and (13)C NMR, HSQC, HMBC, and TOCSY.

A new chiratane type triterpenoid from the rhizomes of Drynaria fortunei.

Chiratone (1), a rare new chiratane type triterpenoid, together with five known triterpenoids were isolated from the rhizomes of Drynaria fortunei (Kunze) J. Sm. The structure was characterized as 20ß-hydroxychiratan-22-one on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR, and MS spectroscopic analyses, and was further confirmed by X-ray crystal diffraction. Primary bioassays showed that compound 1 had significant cytotoxic activity against Hela, PC3 and HepG2 cells, with IC(50) of 2.92 µM, 1.08 µM and 2.45 µM, respectively.