The British journal of surgery
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Total mesorectal excision (TME) remains commonplace for T1-2 rectal cancer owing to fear of undertreating a small proportion of patients with node-positive disease. Molecular stratification may predict cancer progression. It could be used to select patients for organ-preserving surgery if specific biomarkers were validated. ⋯ This methylation biomarker panel provides a step towards accurate discrimination of indolent and aggressive rectal cancer subtypes. This could offer an improvement over the current standard of care, whereby fit patients are offered radical surgery.
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Although sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is an established treatment for faecal incontinence, stimulation parameters have been derived empirically and only one frequency (14 Hz) is employed clinically. The aim of this study was to test a range of stimulation frequencies to establish an optimal frequency of SNM for maximum augmentation of anal canal cortical evoked potentials (EPs) in an animal model. ⋯ The effect of SNM in this animal model is governed principally by frequency, with an optimum of 2 Hz. If animal data can be translated to humans, optimization of SNM frequency may offer a clinically relevant improvement in the efficacy of SNM. Surgical relevance Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) for faecal incontinence currently employs stimulation parameters that have been derived empirically and may not be optimal. This study used an animal model of SNM and focused on its acute effect on anal canal cortical evoked potentials (EPs). It was found that SNM potentiated EPs, with a clear optimum at a frequency of 2 Hz. If this finding is applicable to the mechanism of action of human SNM, this suggests that there may be a clinically relevant improvement by reducing stimulus frequency from its typical value of 14 Hz to 2 Hz.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Patient-reported genitourinary dysfunction after laparoscopic and open rectal cancer surgery in a randomized trial (COLOR II).
This article reports on patient-reported sexual dysfunction and micturition symptoms following a randomized trial of laparoscopic and open surgery for rectal cancer. ⋯ NCT00297791 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
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The accepted management of lithium-associated hyperparathyroidism (LiHPT) is open four-gland parathyroid exploration (OPTX). This approach has recently been the subject of controversy. A recent study has shown very high long-term recurrence rates after OPTX, whereas some have promoted unilateral focused parathyroidectomy as appropriate management. The aim was to evaluate long-term outcomes after surgery for LiHPT and to assess the accuracy of preoperative imaging. ⋯ Surgery provided a safe and effective management option for patients with LiHPT in this series, with a long-term cure rate of well over 80 per cent.