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Background: Endoscopic techniques have become the first-line therapy in bariatric surgery-related complications such as leaks and fistulas. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of self-expandable stents, clipping, and tissue sealants in closing of post-bariatric surgery leak/fistula. Methods: A systematic literature search of the Medline/Scopus databases was performed to identify full-text articles published up to February 2019 on the use of self-expandable stents, clipping, or tissue sealants as primary endoscopic strategies used for leak/fistula closure. Meta-analysis of studies reporting stents was performed with the PRISMA guidelines. Results: Data concerning the efficacy of self-expanding stents in the treatment of leaks/fistulas after bariatric surgery were extracted from 40 studies (493 patients). The overall proportion of successful leak/fistula closure was 92% (95% CI, 90–95%). The overall proportion of stent migration was 23% (95% CI, 19–28%). Seventeen papers (98 patients) reported the use of clipping: the over-the-scope clips (OTSC) system was used in 85 patients with a successful closure rate of 67.1% and a few complications (migration, stenosis, tear). The successful fistula/leak closure using other than OTSC types was achieved in 69.2% of patients. In 10 case series (63 patients), fibrin glue alone was used with a 92.8–100% success rate of fistula closure that usually required repeated sessions at scheduled intervals. The complications of fibrin glue applications were reported in only one study and included pain and fever in 12.5% of patients. Conclusions: Endoscopic techniques are effective for management of post-bariatric leaks and fistulas in properly selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cigarette smoke (CS) exerts protective effect against ulcerative colitis. The mechanism of this phenomenon remains unknown. One of the possible explanation by which CS exerts its anti-inflammatory action is modulation of immune system. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of CS on the course of inflammation and subpopulations of lymphocytes in the blood and colon in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Methods: C57BL6/cmdb mice were exposed to CS for 4 weeks. Colitis was induced with 3.5% DSS given for 10 days. Severity of colitis was determined by disease activity index (DAI), body weight changes, and macro- and microscopic characteristics of inflammation. Peripheral subpopulations of lymphocytes were assessed by flow cytometry (blood) or immunohistochemistry (colonic tissue). Results: Mice treated with 3.5% DSS developed severe colitis with significantly decreased body weight, increased DAI, and macroscopic and histological features of colonic inflammation. These findings were diminished after concomitant exposure to CS. Mice exposed to DSS alone demonstrated significantly decreased percentage of total CD4 cells (73.1 vs. 52%, p = 0.0007), accompanied by increase of CD8 cells (18.4 vs. 39.5%, p = 0.0001). Concomitant CS exposure reversed inappropriate CD4/CD8 ratio both in the blood and colon and significantly increased B cell presence in the colon. Conclusions: Our study has demonstrated that CS exposure decreases severity of DSS-induced colitis. This phenomenon was accompanied by changes in CD4/CD8 ratio and B cell level in the peripheral blood and colon. These mechanisms may be responsible for protective effect of smoking in ulcerative colitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]