In summary, we have provided evidence that a methionine-deficient diet modulates the growth of gastric tumor cells and in vitro deficiency of methionine increased apoptosis and decreased cellular adhesion and migration associated to epigenetic change of E-cadherin gene, in vivo and in vitro.

THD is effective in controlling acute haemorrhoidal bleeding with a low incidence of postoperative complications.

The present manuscript describes a simultaneous combination of two surgical techniques to treat rectal prolapse and faecal incontinence. To date, there are no published data on a similar approach. The paper underlies the importance of treating faecal incontinence when performing surgery for rectal prolapse.

Active drains, which work by negative pressure, are commonly used to drain closed airtight wounds. Higher negative pressure is used in vacuum-assisted wound closure dressings. Gastrointestinal leaks may be difficult to treat by surgical approach because of their association with high morbidity and mortality. Recently, endoscopic approaches have been applied with several degrees of success. Most recently, endoluminal vacuum-assisted wound closure (EVAC) has been employed with high success rates in decreasing both morbidity and mortality. In the present paper, the authors describe the successful use of Endo-SPONGE (B. Braun Medical B.V.) EVAC system therapy to drain an open rectal wound, following a perforation occurred during stapled hemorrhoidectomy.

Objective: Primary Malignant Melanoma (PMM) arising from the digestive, respiratory or genitourinary tract is extremely rare. Rectal PMM accounts for less than 1% of all melanomas; it is often advanced at initial presentation with a poor prognosis with a 5-year survival below 20%. Treatment of this particular disease is still debated with weak evidence that aggressive surgery may lead to a better outcome. The objective of the present paper is to descibe a case of PMM and review the published literature on the treatment of such extremely rare condition. Methods: A 78 years old man presenting mild anal bleeding underwent a colonoscopy which showed a centimetric mass in the posterior wall of the rectum, less than 1 cm above the pectinea line. Biopsy revealed amelanotic malignant melanoma infiltrating the submucosa. Preoperative assessment revealed no distant metastases and no nodal involvement. Abdominoperineal resection (APR) with total mesorectal excision and iliac nodes sampling was performed. Results: the patient is alive and disease-free after 48 months from diagnosis. According to a literature review, APR with or without intra abdominal pelvic lymph node dissection represents a more radical approach in patients seeking curative options. However, some series suggest that wide local excision (WLE) may have similar survival outcomes but seems to be burdened with a higher rate of local recurrences. Conclusions: Our experience confirms that treatment recommendations are not standardized and tend to be individualized. An aggressive surgical approach may be justified in patient with a long life expectancy accepting a demolitive surgery and a definitive colonostomy.

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In this article, Figure 1b contained an error in the plot relative to DMSO treatment at 1 hr. The plot image of DMSO was mistakenly the same plot image relative to GSI treatment at 1 hr, but the gating numbers were correct. The corrected Figure 1b, showing the correct DMSO plot image, is now provided. The authors regret this error, which however, does not alter the conclusions of the study.