Background-Topical application of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) ointment heals chronic anal fissures, providing an alternative to the traditional first line treatment of surgical sphincterotomy. Aims-To determine the most eVective dose of topical GTN for treatment of chronic anal fissures and to assess long term results. Methods-Seventy consecutive patients with chronic anal fissure, were randomly allocated to eight weeks treatment with placebo, 0.2% GTN three times daily, or GTN starting at 0.2% with weekly 0.1% increments to a maximum of 0.6%, in a double blind study. Results-After eight weeks fissure had healed in 67% of patients treated with GTN compared with 32% with placebo (p=0.008). No significant diVerence was seen between the two active treatments. Headaches were reported by 72% of patients on GTN compared with 27% on placebo (p<0.001). Maximum anal sphincter pressure reduced significantly from baseline by GTN treatment (p=0.02), but not placebo (p=0.8). Mean pain scores were lower after treatment with GTN compared with placebo (NS). Of fissures healed with placebo 43% recurred, compared with 33% of those healed with 0.2% GTN and 25% healed with escalating dose GTN (p=0.7). Conclusions-GTN is a good first line treatment for two thirds of patients with anal fissure. An escalating dose of GTN does not result in earlier healing. Significant recurrence of symptomatic fissures and a high incidence of headaches are limitations of the treatment. (Gut 1999;44:727-730)

Metabolic and inflammatory responses and changes in fatigue were studied in groups of patients undergoing either laparoscopic (n = 14) or open (n = 10) elective cholecystectomy. The mean(s.e.m.) cortisol concentration was significantly (P < 0.001) increased from 342(80) and 424(91) nmol l-1 before operation to 895(46) and 966(53) nmol l-1 after surgery in patients undergoing laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy respectively. There was no difference in cortisol response between the groups. Glucose concentration was increased (P < 0.02) at the end of surgery from mean(s.e.m.) preoperative levels of 5.54(0.15) and 6.16(0.15) mmol l-1 to postoperative values of 7.46(0.29) and 8.46(0.86) mmol l-1 for the laparoscopic and open procedures respectively. The mean glucose concentration during the initial 12 h after surgery was significantly greater (P < 0.02) following open than laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The mean(s.e.m.) albumin concentration fell significantly (P < 0.01) during surgery by an equivalent extent from 38.9(0.77) and 38.5(1.10)g l-1 to 35.2(0.79) and 34.6(0.97) g l-1. The mean (95 per cent confidence interval) interleukin (IL)6 concentration peaked 4 h after surgery at 57.2 (44.6-73.4) pg ml-1 following laparoscopic and 99.3 (72.8-135.4) pg ml-1 after open cholecystectomy. Mean (95 per cent confidence interval) C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at 24 h were 17.0 (12.7-21.2) and 49.0 (25.3-93.6) mg l-1 and at 48 h 28.0 (21.4-35.4) and 70.0 (36.4-133.6) mg l-1 following laparoscopic and open operations. The differences in IL-6 and CRP level between the groups were significant (P < 0.01). Mean(s.e.m.) fatigue scores were significantly (P < 0.05) increased from preoperative values of 2.4(0.24) and 2.6(0.44) to 5.5(0.56) and 6.8(0.51) at 24 h after laparoscopic and open operations. At 48 h the mean(s.e.m.) fatigue score (5.6(0.57)) remained significantly (P < 0.05) raised only after open cholecystectomy. Hand grip strength was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced only after the open procedure, to a mean(s.e.m.) of 88(6) per cent of the preoperative value. These results demonstrate that aspects of the metabolic and acute-phase responses are attenuated following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, consistent with a reduction in tissue trauma.

Aim Previous studies have demonstrated that raised preoperative neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to assess whether preoperative NLR could predict patients at risk of recurrence of CRC.Method All consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection for CRC over a 2-year period at our institution were analysed. Demographic data including CRC recurrence were prospectively collected from our institutional cancer database. CRC recurrence was diagnosed on radiological and endoscopic histopathological data. Preoperative NLR was calculated on baseline blood results, with a value >5 being a poor prognostic factor. Parametric survival analysis was used to identify risk factors for CRC recurrence. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated for gender, CRC stage using Jass score, preoperative NLR and CRC site. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. (HR 8.69,, P < 0.0001) and NLR >5 (HR 1.81, 95% CI 1.07-3.07, P = 0.028) to be significant and independent risk factors predictive of recurrent CRC. ResultsConclusion These data suggest that preoperative NLR >5 is predictive of CRC recurrence.