Anatomical variations or anomalies of the pancreatic ducts are important in the planning and performance of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and surgical procedures of the pancreas. Normal pancreatic duct anatomy occurs in approximately 94.3% of cases, and multiple variations have been described for the remaining 5.7%. The purpose of this study was to review the literature on the pancreatic duct anatomy and to underline its importance in daily invasive endoscopic and surgical practice. Two main databases were searched for suitable articles published from 2000 to 2017, and results concerning more than 8,200 patients were included in the review. The most common anatomical variation was that of pancreas divisum, which appeared in approximately 4.5% of cases.

Redox status (RS) perturbations and inflammation are fundamental features of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that are substantially exacerbated in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This study aimed at investigating the efficacy of a 6-month intradialytic exercise training program on RS, inflammation and physical performance in patients with ESRD. Twenty hemodialysis (HD) patients (17 males, three females) were randomly assigned to either an intradialytic training (bedside cycling) group (TR; n = 10) or a control group (CON; n = 10) for 6 months. Anthropometrics [body mass and height, body mass index (BMI), body composition], physical performance (VO2peak), functional capacity [North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary (NSRI) walk test, sit-to-stand test (STS-60)], quality of life (short form-36 (SF-36) as well as RS [thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyls (PC), reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione, GSH/GSSG, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase activity (CAT)] and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were assessed at baseline and after the 6-month intervention. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) increased by 15% only in TR (p < 0.01). Performance in NSRI, STS-60 and SF-36 improved by 4–13% only in TR (p < 0.01). Exercise training reduced TBARS (by 28%), PC (by 31%) and hs-CRP (by 15%), and elevated GSH (by 52%), GSH/GSSG (by 51%), TAC (by 59%) and CAT (by 15%) (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that engagement in chronic intradialytic cardiovascular exercise alters RS, reduces inflammation and improves performance in patients with ESRD.

Introduction. Idiopathic sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis or abdominal cocoon syndrome (ACS) is a rare anatomical deformity characterized by the partial or complete encasement of the small intestine with fibrotic peritoneum. 193 cases have been described worldwide. The aim of this study is to present two cases of ACS successfully treated at the Surgical Clinic of the Agios Dimitrios General Hospital in Thessaloniki, Greece. Presentation of Cases. Two men (55 and 54 years old) presented to the emergency department complaining of abdominal pain, distension, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Neither of these patients had any previous operations. The computed tomography scan of the first patient showed considerable distension of the small bowel, suggestive of internal herniation. The second case showed distention of the jejunum with no obvious cause. Both patients underwent emergency surgery. Intraoperatively, it was found that a fibrous membrane had completely covered the small intestine of the first patient and the jejunum and part of the large intestine of the second patient. Adhesiolysis and partial excision of the membrane were performed in both cases. Discussion. ACS is a rare cause of small bowel obstruction. Although conservative management with immunosuppressants and steroids has been described, surgical treatment is the gold standard. Conclusion. Preoperative clinical suspicion of this disease can help determine the diagnosis and protect surgeons from intraoperative “surprises”.

Female sexual function could be considered as multifactorial. Specific physiological structures and hormonal fluctuations postpartum, along with the psychological adjustment of women, could result in altered sexual function. The primary aim of this review was to systematically appraise the existing data on the effect of mode of delivery on female sexual function. This review was designed based on the PRISMA statement guidelines. An extensive literature search was performed in the Pubmed, Scopus, and PsycInfo databases, using prespecified inclusion/exclusion criteria, between the 20 September and 10 October 2021. Studies’ quality assessment was conducted using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The initial search involved 1592 studies. The last step of the screening procedure yielded 16 studies, including 41,441 subjects with a mean age of 29.9 years. Studies included groups with spontaneous and assisted vaginal and C-section delivery modes. No statistically significant difference between groups was found. The type of delivery appears to be irrelevant regarding this relationship. Moderating factors seemed to indirectly influence this relationship. Health professionals should educate expectant mothers and be aware of the possibility that delivery method could affect sexual function.

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