To date, several cases of thrombosis have been confirmed to be related to Sars-CoV-2 infection. Multiple attempts detected the prolonged occurrence of Sars-CoV-2 viral RNA (long COVID) in whole blood suggesting that virus byproducts may remain within cells and tissues well over the disease has finished. Patients may develop severe thrombocytopenia, acute anemia of inflammation and, systemic thrombosis with the fatal course of disease, which is suggestive of further interferences of Sars-CoV-2 on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) within the differentiation process towards erythroid and megakaryocytic cells. Therefore, we speculated whether Sars-CoV-2 propagates in or compartmentalizes with hematopoietic progenitor, erythroid, and megakaryocytic cells as the main cause of thrombotic events in either COVID-19 patients or vaccinated individuals. Results: The Sars-CoV-2 RNA replication, protein translation and infectious particle formation as the spike proteins in hematopoietic cell lines take place via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) entry pathway within primary CD34⁺ HSCs inducing, ex vivo, the formation of defected erythroid and megakaryocytic cells that eventually become targets of humoral and adaptive immune cells. Conclusions: Viral particles from affected CD34⁺ HSCs or the cellular component of RBC units and eventually platelets, present the greatest risk for sever thrombosis-transmitted Sars-CoV-2 infections.

Background: A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)-induced pneumonia (COVID-19) emerged in December 2019 in China, spreading worldwide. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the immunological response and the clinical subset of peripheral lymphocyte subset alteration in COVID-19 infection. Methods: the study was conducted on four different clinical groups (n = 4; total n = 138). Each individual was assigned to different groups based on specific criteria evaluated at the admission such as fever, dyspnea, arterial blood gas analysis (ABG), oral-nasopharyngeal swab/RT-PCR, and thoracic CT-scan. Treatment was performed only after blood samples were collected from each patient (PP and PP) at day 1. The blood samples were analyzed and tested the same day (CBC and Flowcytometry). The positive–positive group (PP n = 45; F = 18/ M = 27; median age = 62.33), comprised individuals affected by COVID-19 who showed fever, dyspnea (ABG = pO2 < 60), confirmed positive by oral-nasopharyngeal swab/RT-PCR and with CT-scan showing ground-glass opacities. The negative–positive (NP; n = 37; F = 11/M = 26; median age = 75.94) or “COVID-like” group comprised individuals with fever and dyspnea (ABG = pO2 < 60), who tested negative to nasopharyngeal swab/RT-PCR, with CT-scans showing ground-glass opacities in the lungs. The negative–affected group (NA; n = 40; F = 14/M = 26; median age = 58.5) included individuals negative to COVID-19 (RT-PCR) but affected by different chronic respiratory diseases (the CT-scans didn’t show ground-glass opacities). Finally, the negative–negative group (NN; n = 16; F = 14/M = 2) included healthy patients (NN; n = 16; median age = 42.62). Data and findings were collected and compared. Results: Lymphocytes (%) cells showed a decline in COVID-19 patients. The subsets showed a significant association with the inflammatory status in COVID-19, especially with regard to increased neutrophils, T-killer, T-active, T-suppressor, and T-CD8+CD38+ in individuals belong to the either COVID-19 and Covid-like NP group. Conclusions: Peripheral lymphocyte subset alteration was associated with the clinical characteristics and progression of COVID-19. The level of sub-set cells T-lymphocytes (either high or low) and B-lymphocytes could be used as an independent predictor for COVID-19 severity and treatment efficacy.

Introduction: Peptic ulcer perforation (PPU) is a common surgical emergency and the mortality rate ranges 10% to 40%, especially in elderly patients. Laparoscopic repair achieved encouraging results. Materials and Methods: We enrolled patients performing surgical repair for PPU from January 2007 to December 2015 in our surgical unit. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to compare the results of PPU laparoscopic repair with open technique. The following characteristics of patients were evaluated: age, sex and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification. The site and the diameter of perforation were recorded: gastric, pyloric, duodenal, and the location on the anterior or posterior wall. Results: In total, 59 patients (39 males and 20 females) with a mean age of 58.85 years (±SD) were treated surgically. Laparoscopic repair was accomplished in 21 patients. The mean operative time for laparoscopic repair was 72 minutes (±SD), significantly shorter than open repair time (180 min ±SD). The results demonstrated that laparoscopic repair is associated with a shorter operative time, reduced postoperative pain (4.75 vs. 6.42) and analgesic requirements, a shorter hospital stay (7.5 vs. 13.1), and earlier return to normal daily activities. Discussion: Laparoscopic surgery minimizes postoperative wound pain and encourages early mobilization and return to normal daily activities. The benefit of early discharge and return to work may outweigh the consumable cost incurred in the execution of laparoscopic procedures. Conclusions: Complications in both procedures are similar but laparoscopic procedure shows economic advantages for reducing postoperative hospital stay, postoperative pain, and for a good integrity of abdominal wall.

Background: Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) affects 0.1-0.3% of the general population and represents the rarest malignant neoplasms among endocrinological diseases, comprising less than 1%. The best therapeutic treatment and management methods are still debated in the literature. The aim of this study is to evaluate the management and surgical treatment of parathyroid carcinoma after 6 years of enrolment with the Endocrine Surgery Unit of the University Hospital of Bari.Materials and methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out using a prospectively maintained database of patients affected by primary hyperparathyroidism between January 2017 and September 2022. Consecutive patients over 18 years old with a final histopathological finding of PC were included in the study. Patients with secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism, parathyroid hyperplasia, and parathyroid adenoma were excluded. All patients underwent follow-up every 6 months for the first 2 years, and annually thereafter.Results: In this study, 9 out of 40 patients affected by hyperparathyroidism were included; 6 (66.6%) were female and 3 (33.3%) were male patients, with a median age of 59 years (IQR 46-62). None had a family history of PC. No mortality was recorded while the incidence of recurrence was 22.2%, with a disease-free survival of 8 and 10 months. Parathyroidectomy was performed in five patients, while four patients underwent parathyroidectomy with concurrent thyroidectomy for thyroid goitre. No intraoperative complications were recorded. Open parathyroidectomy was performed with a mini-cervicotomy in seven patients, while two patients underwent robotic surgery. All patients were discharged on the second postoperative day.Conclusion: PC represents a great challenge in terms of preoperative diagnosis, management and treatment. A surgical approach represents the first best option for PC in referral endocrine surgery units. The early identification of risky patients should be the dominant goal to plan an appropriate therapy and to perform adequate en bloc surgery.

The aim of these evidence-based guidelines is to present a consensus position from members of the Italian Unitary Society of Colon-Proctology (SIUCP: Società Italiana Unitaria di Colonproctologia) on the diagnosis and management of obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS), with the purpose of guiding physicians in the selection of the most appropriate treatment option. A panel of experts was appointed by the Board of the SIUCP to develop key questions addressing the main topics related to the management of ODS and to perform an accurate literature search for each topic, in order to provide evidence-based answers and to summarize them in structured statements. All clinical questions were discussed by the expert panel over multiple rounds using the Delphi approach, and consensus among the experts was achieved for each statement. The questions were formulated according to PICO (patients, intervention, comparison, outcome) criteria, and the statements were developed using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) methodology. In patients with ODS refractory to first-line medical therapy, rehabilitation may be considered as a therapeutic option, particularly in cases of dyssynergic defecation, whereas a surgical approach may be indicated in patients with a high symptom score and an Oxford prolapse grade system score ≥3 on defecography (using magnetic resonance imaging or another modality). Surgical options include stapled transanal rectal resection and ventral mesh rectopexy, eventually combined, respectively, with pelvic organ prolapse suspension and sacrocolpopexy in the presence of multicompartment pelvic prolapse. A transverse perineal support procedure may be considered in the presence of excessive perineal descent. In patients with recurrent symptoms after surgery, transanal irrigation may represent a useful therapeutic option.

Introduction: Haemorrhoidal disease (HD) affects a considerable portion of the adult population. The aim of this study is to confirm the safety and efficacy of the treatments and to report the long-term outcomes of Sclerotherapy (ST) and Mucopexy and Haemorrhoidal Dearterialization (MHD) performed over the last 4 years in a single tertiary centre. The secondary outcome is to evaluate the usefulness of both techniques and to demonstrate how those can be associated as a bridge to surgery.Materials and methods: Patients affected by second–third-degree haemorrhoids and undergoing ST or non-Doppler guided MHD between 2018 and 2021 were enrolled. Safety and efficacy, recurrence rate, Haemorrhoid Severity Score (HSS) and pain resulting from both techniques were evaluated.Results: Out of 259 patients, 150 underwent ST. Further, 122 (81.3%) patients were male and 28 (18.7%) were female. The mean age was 50.8 (range 34–68) years. Most of the patients (103, 68.6%) were affected by second-degree HD, while 47 (31.4%) were affected by third-degree HD. The overall success rate was 83.3%. The median pre-operative HSS score was 3 (IQR 0–4, p = 0.04) and at 2 year the median HSS was 0 (IQR 0–1, p = 0.03). No intraoperative complications and no drug-related side effects occurred. The mean follow-up for ST was 2 years (range 1–4; SD ±0.88). MHD was performed on 109 patients. In detail, 80 patients (73.4%) were male while 29 patients (26.6%) were female. The mean age in this group was 51.3 (range 31–69). Further, 72 patients (66.1%) were affected by third-degree HD and 37 (33.9%) by second-degree HD. The median HSS score was 9 (IQR 8–10, p = 0.001) preoperatively two years after treatment was 0 (IQR 0–1, p = 0.004). Major complications occurred in three patients (2.75%). The overall success rate was 93.5% (second degree 89.2% vs. third degree 95.8%). The mean follow-up for MHD was 2 years (range 1–4; SD ±0.68).Conclusions: The results confirm the usefulness of those techniques, which can be considered safe and easily repeatable procedures, with a low recurrence rate after 2 years of median follow-up.