BACKGROUND: Mesh plug tension-free hernioplasty is commonly used for inguinal hernia. In the operation, different mesh materials can be selected, among which the modified Kugel mesh is extensively applied. OBJECTIVE: To observe the biocompatibility of modified Kugel mesh in mesh plug tension-free hernioplasty for inguinal hernia. METHODS: Total y 79 cases of inguinal hernia were treated by mesh plug tension-free hernioplasty. The patients were randomly divided into observation group repaired with Bard mesh (modified Kuge) (n=38) and control group repaired with Prolene mesh (n=41). After 12-month fol ow-up, levels of interleukin 6, C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor α were detected and compared before and after treatment;adverse events, including wound infection or infection caused by the mesh in the two groups were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Levels of interleukin 6, C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor α in the two groups were significantly decreased after treatment than before treatment (P < 0.05). No wound infection or infection caused by the mesh appeared in both two groups. Although scrotum effusion occurred in two cases of each group, their outcomes al improved significantly after active puncture and suction treatment without other serious problems. No recurrence was found during the 12-month fol ow-up. These results show that the modified Kugel mesh has good biocompatibility in mesh plug tension-free hernioplasty for inguinal hernia.

Objective: To investigate the characters of body composition of gastric cancer patients.Methods: Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA)in 50 gastric cancer patients and 31 healthy subjects,and nutritional state was evaluated by mini nutritional assessment(MNA).Results: Compared with control group,male gastric cancer patients showed a reduction in lean body mass and fat mass(15 658?6 481)g vs(19 527?6 150)g,t=2.079,P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ligation level of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) on postoperative defecation function in patients with rectal cancer.

METHODSA total of 128 rectal cancer patients who were planned to undergo low anterior resection in the First Hospital of Zibo City between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013 were prospectively enrolled and randomly divided into IMA high ligation group(63 cases, cutting distance of 1.0 to 1.5 cm to the root of IMA) and low ligation group(65 cases, cutting distance of 0.5 to 1.0 cm to the root of left colic artery originated from IMA). The efficacy, especially the defecation function, was observed and compared 3 months and 1 year after surgery between the two groups.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found in the number of harvested lymph nodes between two groups[8(1-30) vs. 7(2-28), P=0.125], but high ligation group had greater number of metastatic lymph nodes[1(0-9) vs. 0(0-8), P=0.041]. Frequency of defecation in high ligation group was significantly higher than that in low ligation group during postoperative 3-month follow-up[5(2-10)/d vs. 3(1-8)/d, P=0.035], whereas other indexes of defecation function were not significantly different(all P>0.05). The proportion of patients needing laxatives in high ligation group was higher than that in low ligation group during postoperative 1-year follow-up [11.3%(6/53) vs. 1.7%(1/58), P=0.038], whereas other indexes of defecation function were not significantly different as well (all P>0.05). Three cases and 2 cases showed recurrence in high ligation group and low ligation group respectively during postoperative 1-year follow-up without significant difference(P=0.623).

CONCLUSIONLow ligation of IMA in low anterior resection for rectal cancer is beneficial to the protection against defecation function.