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The article discusses surgical techniques for repairing rectal prolapse, specifically focusing on robotic mesh rectopexy using the Geneva technique. The text explains that there are various approaches to rectal prolapse repair, ranging from perineal approaches to transabdominal approaches. The article highlights the diversity of methods for transabdominal rectopexy and the lack of strong evidence to compare these techniques. It also mentions that minimally invasive rectopexy using robotics may improve patient outcomes compared to laparoscopy. The article provides a step-by-step description of the robotic mesh rectopexy procedure, including patient positioning, port insertion, laparoscopic exploration, docking of the surgical robot, dissection, mesh preparation and stitching, and peritoneum closure. The authors of the article are listed, and a conflict of interest statement is included. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the potential impact of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), commonly known as e-cigarettes, on the postoperative course in colorectal surgery. While traditional tobacco smoking has been shown to increase the incidence of surgical site infection and anastomotic leak, the effects of ENDS have not yet been explored. Some scientific societies urge caution and consider ENDS to be similar to traditional tobacco smoking, while others view them as a safe alternative. However, the article notes that there is a lack of literature on the impact of ENDS in colorectal surgery, despite their increasing use. The authors call for further studies to evaluate the effect of ENDS on surgical site infection and anastomotic leak in colorectal surgery. [Extracted from the article]

Aim: Caecal diverticulitis (CD) is an uncommon condition which can be misdiagnosed as acute appendicitis due to similar clinical presentations. Further, its management varies among medical centres. The aim of this study was to review cases of patients with CD, to identify the factors differentiating CD from acute appendicitis and to provide a summary of existing diagnostic methods and therapeutic alternatives regarding its management. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines and the AMSTAR2 checklist. We searched MEDLINE and Embase from inception until 1 October 2018 for original publications reporting cases of CD. Results: Out of the 560 identified studies, 146 publications (988 patients) were included in the qualitative synthesis. Most frequent symptoms of CD were right iliac fossa pain (93.2%), nausea and/or vomiting (35.4%) and fever (26.9%). A total of 443 patients (44.8%) underwent radiological imaging, which reported CD in 225 patients (22.8%). For the other patients, the diagnosis was obtained by surgical exploration (73.9%). Among patients diagnosed with CD by imaging, 67 (29.8%) underwent surgery and 158 (70.2%) were treated conservatively. Among patients who underwent surgical exploration, treatment consisted most frequently of right hemi‐colectomy (33%), appendectomy (18.8%) and diverticulectomy with appendectomy (16.3%). Conclusion: CD can be misdiagnosed as acute appendicitis, therefore resulting in unnecessary surgical exploration. The review of the literature starting from 1930 highlights the critical role of medical imaging in supporting the clinician to diagnose this condition and administer adequate treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moreover, patients who undergo robotic right hemicolectomy (robRHC) have better peri- and postoperative outcomes, as well as quicker recovery when compared to lapRHC [[7], [9]]. However, intracorporeal anastomosis (ICA) and off-midline specimen extraction were shown to, respectively, improve postoperative recovery [[4]] and decrease the incidence of subsequent incisional hernia [[5]]. Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (lapRHC) with extra-corporeal anastomosis, and sometimes extra-corporeal vessel division, remains the standard of care for minimally invasive right hemicolectomy [[1], [3]]. [Extracted from the article]

Extracellular vesicles are membrane fragments that can be produced by all cell types. Interactions between extracellular vesicles and various liver cells constitute an emerging field in hepatology and recent evidences have established a role for extracellular vesicles in various liver diseases and physiological processes. Extracellular vesicles originating from liver cells are implicated in intercellular communication and fluctuations of specific circulating extracellular vesicles could constitute new diagnostic tools. In contrast, extracellular vesicles derived from progenitor cells interact with hepatocytes or non‐parenchymal cells, thereby protecting the liver from various injuries and promoting liver regeneration. Our review focuses on recent developments investigating the role of various types of extracellular vesicles in acute and chronic liver diseases as well as their potential use as biomarkers and therapeutic tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonatal and juvenile porcine islet cell clusters (ICC) present an unlimited source for islet xenotransplantation to treat type 1 diabetes patients. We isolated ICC from pancreata of 14 days old juvenile piglets and characterized their maturation by immunofluorescence and insulin secretion assays. Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells derived from exocrine tissue of same pancreata (pMSC) were characterized for their differentiation potential and ability to sustain ICC insulin secretion in vitro and in vivo. Isolation of ICC resulted in 142 ± 50 × 103 IEQ per pancreas. Immunofluorescence staining revealed increasing presence of insulin‐positive beta cells between day 9 and 21 in culture and insulin content per 500IEC of ICC increased progressively over time from 1178.4 ± 450 µg/L to 4479.7 ± 1954.2 µg/L from day 7 to 14, P <.001. Highest glucose‐induced insulin secretion by ICC was obtained at day 7 of culture and reached a fold increase of 2.9 ± 0.4 compared to basal. Expansion of adherent cells from the pig exocrine tissue resulted in a homogenous CD90+, CD34−, and CD45− fibroblast‐like cell population and differentiation into adipocytes and chondrocytes demonstrated their multipotency. Insulin release from ICC was increased in the presence of pMSC and dependent on cell‐cell contact (glucose‐induced fold increase: ICC alone: 1.6 ± 0.2; ICC + pMSC + contact: 3.2 ± 0.5, P =.0057; ICC + pMSC no‐contact: 1.9 ± 0.3; theophylline stimulation: alone: 5.4 ± 0.7; pMSC + contact: 8.4 ± 0.9, P =.013; pMSC no‐contact: 5.2 ± 0.7). After transplantation of encapsulated ICC using Ca2+‐alginate (alg) microcapsules into streptozotocin‐induced diabetic and immunocompetent mice, transient normalization of glycemia was obtained up to day 7 post‐transplant, whereas ICC co‐encapsulated with pMSC did not improve glycemia and showed increased pericapsular fibrosis. We conclude that pMSC derived from juvenile porcine exocrine pancreas improves insulin secretion of ICC by direct cell‐cell contact. For transplantation purposes, the use of pMSC to support beta‐cell function will depend on the development of new anti‐fibrotic polymers and/or on genetically modified pigs with lower immunogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]