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Background The impact of a patient’s gender on the development of anastomotic leak (AL) in rectal cancer patients following total mesorectal excision (TME) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between patients’ gender and the risk of AL. Methods All rectal cancer patients following TME with a primary anastomosis during the study period from 2010 to 2014 were examined. Comparisons of the post-operative AL incidence rate between male and female patients were performed. Results Of all patients examined (n = 956), 587 (61.4%) were males and 369 (38.6%) were females. Male patients were more likely to have a history of smoking and drinking alcohol, but less likely to have a history of abdominal surgery compared to female patients. A higher incidence rate of pre-operative bowel obstruction and larger tumor volume in male patients was observed in our study. Of all the patients, 81 (8.5%) developed post-operative AL. More male patients (n = 62, 10.6%) suffered from AL than females (n = 19, 5.1%) (P = 0.003). Multivariate logistic regression analyses confirmed the association between male gender and AL [odds ratio (OR): 2.41, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.37–4.23, P = 0.002]. Similar results were also obtained in patients who underwent laparoscopic TME (OR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.15–3.89, P = 0.016). Conclusions Male patents were found to have an increased risk for AL following TME with a primary anastomosis. A temporary protecting stoma may help to protect the anastomosis and lessen the risk for AL especially in male patients.

Background and Objective Increasing interest has developed in the therapeutic potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and IBD-induced cancer. However, whether MSCs have the ability to suppress or promote tumor development remains controversial. The stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1)/C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) axis is well known to play a critical role in the homing of MSCs. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of CXCR4-overexpressing MSCs on the tumorigenesis of IBD. Methods MSCs were transduced with lentiviral vector carrying either CXCR4 or green fluorescent protein (GFP). Chemotaxis and invasion assays were used to detect CXCR4 expression. A mouse model of colitis-associated tumorigenesis was established using azoxymethane and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The mice were divided into three groups and then injected with phosphate buffer saline (PBS), MSC-GFP or MSC-CXCR4. Results Compared with the mice injected with MSC-GFP, the mice injected with MSC-CXCR4 showed relieved weight loss, longer colons, lower tumor numbers and decreased tumor load; expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines decreased, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation level in colon tissue was down-regulated. Conclusion CXCR4-overexpressing MSCs exhibited effective anti-tumor function, which may be associated with enhanced homing to inflamed intestinal tissues.

Background Patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) are often reported to be at a high risk for incisional surgical site infection (SSI). The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with post-operative incisional SSI in CD patients after bowel resection. Method CD patients undergoing bowel resection between 2007 and 2015 were enrolled. Demographic and clinical features related to post-operative incisional SSI were analysed using both univariate and multivariate logistical analyses. Results Of all eligible patients (n = 159), 123 (77.4%) were male, with a mean age at surgery of 33.4 ± 11.8 years. A total of 35 (22.0%) CD patients developed post-operative incisional SSI. Post-operative incisional SSI was more likely to happen in patients who had penetrating type of disease (P = 0.018), underwent bowel resection for the indication of chronic fistula (P = 0.005) and had an intra-operative finding of fistula (P = 0.001). A greater proportion of patients with post-operative incisional SSI were found to have anemia (P = 0.019) but elevated levels of white blood cells (P = 0.027), neutrophils (P = 0.006) as well as an elevated percentage of neutrophils (P = 0.005). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that anemia (odds ratio [OR]: 3.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05–10.46, P = 0.041), an elevated percentage of neutrophils (OR: 2.85, 95% CI: 1.23–6.59, P = 0.014) and an intra-operative finding of fistula (OR: 3.76, 95% CI: 1.53–9.21, P = 0.004) were significantly associated with the risk for post-operative incisional SSI. Conclusions Anemia, elevated percentage of neutrophils and intra-operative finding of fistula are predictors for the development of post-operative incisional SSI in CD patients undergoing bowel resection. Favorable pre-operative nutrition status and low inflammatory status may lessen the incidence of post-operative incisional SSI.