The CIAOW study (Complicated intra-abdominal infections worldwide observational study) is a multicenter observational study underwent in 68 medical institutions worldwide during a six-month study period (October 2012-March 2013). The study included patients older than 18 years undergoing surgery or interventional drainage to address complicated intra-abdominal infections (IAIs).1898 patients with a mean age of 51.6 years (range 18-99) were enrolled in the study. 777 patients (41%) were women and 1,121 (59%) were men. Among these patients, 1,645 (86.7%) were affected by community-acquired IAIs while the remaining 253 (13.3%) suffered from healthcare-associated infections. Intraperitoneal specimens were collected from 1,190 (62.7%) of the enrolled patients.827 patients (43.6%) were affected by generalized peritonitis while 1071 (56.4%) suffered from localized peritonitis or abscesses.The overall mortality rate was 10.5% (199/1898).According to stepwise multivariate analysis (PR = 0.005 and PE = 0.001), several criteria were found to be independent variables predictive of mortality, including patient age (OR = 1.1; 95%CI = 1.0-1.1; p < 0.0001), the presence of small bowel perforation (OR = 2.8; 95%CI = 1.5-5.3; p < 0.0001), a delayed initial intervention (a delay exceeding 24 hours) (OR = 1.8; 95%CI = 1.5-3.7; p < 0.0001), ICU admission (OR = 5.9; 95%CI = 3.6-9.5; p < 0.0001) and patient immunosuppression (OR = 3.8; 95%CI = 2.1-6.7; p < 0.0001).

The trans-anal pull-through procedure after TME, followed by DCA seems to be a safe and efficient sphincter-preserving procedure to treat patients with middle or low rectal cancer while avoiding a prophylactic, diverting stoma.

Despite advances in diagnosis, surgery, and antimicrobial therapy, mortality rates associated with complicated intra-abdominal infections remain exceedingly high. The World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) has designed the CIAOW study in order to describe the clinical, microbiological, and management-related profiles of both community- and healthcare-acquired complicated intra-abdominal infections in a worldwide context. The CIAOW study (Complicated Intra-Abdominal infection Observational Worldwide Study) is a multicenter observational study currently underway in 57 medical institutions worldwide. The study includes patients undergoing surgery or interventional drainage to address complicated intra-abdominal infections. This preliminary report includes all data from almost the first two months of the six-month study period. Patients who met inclusion criteria with either community-acquired or healthcare-associated complicated intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) were included in the study. 702 patients with a mean age of 49.2 years (range 18–98) were enrolled in the study. 272 patients (38.7%) were women and 430 (62.3%) were men. Among these patients, 615 (87.6%) were affected by community-acquired IAIs while the remaining 87 (12.4%) suffered from healthcare-associated infections. Generalized peritonitis was observed in 304 patients (43.3%), whereas localized peritonitis or abscesses was registered in 398 (57.7%) patients.The overall mortality rate was 10.1% (71/702). The final results of the CIAOW Study will be published following the conclusion of the study period in March 2013.

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMD) are a heterogeneous group of pathologies. We have identified a cohort of 14 French-Canadian patients from eight different families displaying a novel form of LGMD with an autosomal recessive inheritance. These patients share some features with previously described cases of 'quadriceps myopathy' that evolved into an LGMD. All demonstrate quadriceps femoris asymmetrical atrophy. Creatine kinase values were variable from normal to 6000 U/l. Clinical evaluations and MRI studies demonstrate a variable intrafamilial and interfamilial phenotype. Asymmetrical muscle involvement was clinically observed and confirmed by imaging. MRI studies suggest that the hamstrings and the adductor magnus are the first limb muscles to demonstrate fatty infiltration. Muscle pathology shows no sign of active inflammation but increased endomysial connective tissue associated with basal lamina duplication and collagen disorganization. A genome-wide scan using the two largest families uncovered linkage to marker D11S1360 on chromosome 11p12 [multipoint logarithm of the odds (LOD) score of 2.78]. Further genotyping for the eight families confirmed linkage to this new LGMD locus (multipoint LOD score of 4.56). Fine mapping subsequently defined a less than 3.3 cM candidate interval on 11p13-p12. Haplotype analysis of carrier chromosomes suggests that the most frequent mutation may account for up to 81.3% of French-Canadian mutations. In this study, we describe the chromosomal locus of a new form of recessive LGMD with prominent quadriceps femoris atrophy.