Increase in the Tight Junction (TJ) Protein Claudin-1 in Intestinal Inflammation
Lisa Poritz, Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA

Influence of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) on the Tumorigenicity of Colorectal Carcinoma
Yves Borbely, Inselspital Bern, Bern Switzerland

Plasma Levels of Placenta Growth Factor, a Proangiogenic VEGF Family Protein, Are Elevated in Colorectal Cancer Patients
C. Shantha Kumara H, Columbia University, New York, NY

Spatial Colonic Expression of Adiponectin in Normal, Inflamed and Hirschsprung's Disease Models in Mice
Kelly Miller, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

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Bile Acid Induced Activation of CDX2 Occurs via PKC Intracellular Signaling Pathways in Human Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Cells
Alexi Matousek, University of Rocehster, Medical Center, Rochester, NY

Survivin Gene Expression in Blood as a Prognostic Marker in the Surgical Therapy of Patients with Esophageal Cancer
Daniel Vallbohmer, University of Cologne, Cologne Germany

SPRR3, MELK, MAGE-4, and EGFR Gene Expressions in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Ulysses Ribeiro, University of São Paulo, 'Sao Paulo, SP', SP Brazil

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Mediators of Immune System and Their Possible Role in Pathogenesis of Chronic HBV & HCV Infections
Pradyumna Mishra, Bhopal Memorial Hospital & Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh India

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Role of Metastasis Suppressor Genes and Their Epigenetic Regulation by Promoter Methylation in Pancreatic Carcinoma
Wolf Mardin, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany, Münster Germany

Pancreatic Cancer Alters Cd4+ T Lymphocyte Function: A Piece of the Immunevasion Puzzle
Paola Fogar, IV Surgical Clinic, Padova Italy

Naturally Occurring K Vitamins Inhibit Pancreatic Cancer Cell Line Growth
Shayna Showalter, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA

Does Adiponectin Upregulation Attenuate the Severity of Acute Pancreatitis in Obesity?
Hayder Al-Azzawi, IU, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN

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Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Promotes Paracellular Junctional Protein Expression and Intestinal Epithelial Cell Barrier Function
Douglas Turner, Baltimore VAMC, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD

Duodenal-Jejunal Exclusion Increases Mid-Jejunal GIP Content in Wistar Rats
Tammy Kindel, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

Intestinal Preconditioning Causes Early Barrier Dysfunction Without Interfering with Ion Transport in Porcine Ileal Mucosa
Iris Sanchez-Egido, Hospital Clinico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid Spain

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EGF-Receptor Targeting in Combination with Chemotherapy: Not Effective in Experimental Gastric Cancer
Hubert Hotz, Charité School of Medicine, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin Germany

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Prognosis After Surgery of Cholangiocarcinoma: Peripheral Intra-Hepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Versus Peri-Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma
Andrea Ruzzenente, University of Verona Medical School, Verona Italy

Unilateral vs Bilateral Plastic Stenting for Malignant Hilar Stricture: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Risks
Srinivas Puli, University of Missouri - Columbia, Columbia, MO

Can Pre-Operative Clinical and Imaging Findings Predict the Laparoscopic or Open Approach for Cholecystectomy? A One-Year Study from a Community Based Teaching Hospital
Sumeet Virmani, Providence Hospital and Medical Center, Southfield, MI

Tissue Cytokines Reveal Gender Difference in Acute Cholecystitis
Lauren Buck, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX

Bile Duct Injuries Associated with Open and Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Orlando Torres, Federal University of Maranhao, São Luiz Brazil

Complete Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Through the Umbilicus
Kevin Reavis, University of California, Irvine, VA Healthcare System, Orange, CA

Mirizzi Syndrome Type IV: An Atypical Presentation That Is Difficult to Diagnose Preoperatively
Michael Vitale, General Hospital San Juan de Dios, Guatemala Guatemala

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Outcomes of Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis in Women Above 50 Years Old
Galal El-Gazzaz, Cleveland Clinic Ohio, Cleveland, OH

Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy for Rectal Cancer – Is Histopathological Response Dependent on Histological Subtype?
Jörn Gröne, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin Germany

Caspase-Cleaved Cytokeratin 18 Fragment (M30) and Circulating Cytokeratin 18 Fragment (M65) as Marker of Postoperative Residual Tumor Load in Colorectal Cancer Patients
Christoph Ausch, Donauspital SMZ Ost Vienna , Cluster for Translational Oncology; Ludwig Boltzmann Research Society, Vienna, Vienna Austria

Benefits of Laparoscopy: Does the Disease Condition That Indicated Colectomy Matter?
Luiz Lobato, Cleveland Clinic OH, Cleveland, OH

Predictive Factors for Conversion from Laparoscopic to Open Appendectomy in Acute Appendicitis: An Analysis of 748 Patients
Shirley Liu, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong China

Surgery for Fistula-in-Ano in a Specialist Colorectal Unit: A Critical Appraisal
Pierpaolo Sileri, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome Italy

Laparoscopic Total Proctocolectomy: An Incisionless Alternative to Open Surgery and a Safe Approach in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Jennifer Holder-Murray, Univ of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Laparoscopic Colectomy: Does the Location of the Specimen Extraction Site Matter?
Andre da Luz Moreira, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

Laproscopic Surgery Decreases Anastomotic Leak Rate in Sigmoid Colectomy for Diverticulitis
Melissa Levack, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Laparoscopic Colectomy for Crohn's Colitis: A Large Prospective Comparative Study
Konstantin Umanskiy, Univ of Chicago, Chicago, IL

The Stage of Recurrence Is a Major Arbiter of RO Resectability and Outcome in Patients with Recurrent Rectal Cancer
Harold Wanebo, Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, RI

Feasibility of a Colorectal Surgery Specific NSQIP
Yosef Nasseri, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA

Hybrid Laparoscopic-Open Resection for Rectal Carcinoma Is Oncologically Safe: A Long-Term Follow Up Study
Anjali Kumar, Columbia University, New York, NY

Population-Based Patient Characteristics as Predictors of Laparoscopic Versus Open Colorectal Surgery Vary Among Pathologies
Andrew Barleben, University of California, Irvine, Orange, CA

System Time and Patient Factors in Acute Appendicitis: A Five Year Analysis from a Rural, Teaching Hospital
Toms Augustin, Guthrie-Robert Packer hospital, Sayre, PA

Colonoscopic Splenic Injuries: Incidence and Management
Ashwin Kamath, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Utility of Pelvic CT with Rectal Contrast to Identify Pelvic Abscess and Anastomotic Leaks
Mariana Mendible, Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, PA

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The Number and Ratio of Metastatic Lymph Node, but Not Total Number of Resected Lymph Node, Predict Survival in Esophageal Cancer
Po Kuei Hsu, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei Taiwan

Does the Value of PET-CT Extend Beyond Pretreatment Staging? An Analysis of Survival in Patients with Esophageal Cancer
Boris Sepesi, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

Manometric Features of the Laparoscopic Hill Repair vs the Nissen Fundoplication for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Brian Louie, Swedish Medical Center and Cancer Institute, Seattle, WA

Outcomes Associated with Open and Minimally Invasive Approaches to Esophageal Cancer
Nilay Shah, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

A Comprehensive Review of Laparoscopic Re-Do Nissen Fundoplication
Darren van Beek, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL

Esophagectomy for Cancer in Octogenarians
Joerg Zehetner, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

The Clinical Significance of Elevated Esophageal Contraction Amplitudes: A High Resolution Manometric Study of “Nutcracker” Esophagus
Marek Polomsky, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Prognostic Influence of Lymph Node Ratio and Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation After Resection of Esophageal Cancer
Peter Baier, University of Freiburg, Freiburg Germany

Is Mesh Reinforcement Beneficial in Laparoscopic Repair of Small Paraesophageal Hernias?
Bhavin Shah, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

Transgastric NOTES: How Big Is Too Big for Specimen Retrieval?
Kari Thompson, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA

Should Laparoscopic Heller-Dor Be Performed Regardless of Age?
Christian Rizzetto, University of Padua, Padova Italy

Predictors for Anastomotic Leak Following Esophagectomy: Highlighting the Importance of the Learning Curve
Jonathan Spicer, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada

Reoperation for Failed Antireflux Surgery: May the Outcome Results Be Predicted on the Basis of Radiologic and Endoscopic Findings?
Renato Salvador, University of Padua, Padua Italy

Evaluation of 102 Redo Fundoplications: Effects of the Learning Curve
Lokesh Bathla, creighton university med ctr, Omaha, NE

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Ultrasonography and Intraoperative Assessments Are Better Predictors of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Patients Undergoing Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) Compared to Pre-Operative Laboratory Evaluations
Christopher Myers, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

Hepatic Neuroendocrine Metastases: Intraoperative Detection of the Occult Primary Tumor
Sanjay Munireddy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Efficacy of Hepatectomy and Tumor Thrombectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Tumor Thrombus Extending to the Main Portal Vein
Daisuke Ban, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo Japan

Volumetric and Functional Recovery of the Remnant Liver After Major Liver Resection and Prior Portal Vein Embolization
Jacomina van den Esschert, AMC, Amsterdam Netherlands

Perioperative Serum D-dimer Changes in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation of Liver Tumors: A Prospective Study
Eren Berber, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

Initial Experience with Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) Assisted Liver Resection
Daniel Jacoby, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA

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Intraoperative Blood Transfusion Is Associated with Worse Long-Term Survival in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer Undergoing Pancreaticoduodenectomy
Giavonni Lewis, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL

Should High Serum CA 19-9 Levels Preclude Surgery in Patients with Resectable Pancreatic Head Adenocarcinoma?
C. Max Schmidt, Indiana University School of Medicine, Richard L Roudebush VAMC, Indianapolis, IN

Review of Studies on Gastric Emptying Assessment After Pancreatoduodenectomy
Wietse Eshuis, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Netherlands

MRI Evaluation of Patients with Possible Adenocarcinoma of the Head of the Pancreas: Do We Still Need Laparoscopy?
Juan Sarmiento, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

Detection of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Expression by Immunohistochemistry in Pancreatic Juice
Akira Nakashima, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima Japan

Survival Impact of Malignant Pancreatic Neuroendocrine and Islet Cell Neoplasm Phenotypes
Roderich Schwarz, UTSW Medical Center, Dallas, TX

Pancreatic Cancer Biomarkers Discovery by SELDI-TOF-MS
Daniela Basso, Laboratory Medicine, Padova Italy

Pancreatic Head Resection with Segmental Duodenectomy in Patients with Carcinoma of the Papilla of Vater
Laureano Fernández-Cruz, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona Spain

Clostridium Difficile Infection in Necrotizing Pancreatitis: How Big Is the Problem?
Angela Bermes, IU, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN

Mesentericoportal Vein Resection Does Not Impair Overall Survival or Recurrence-Free Survival After Pancreatoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Guido Sclabas, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN

Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Pancreatic Cancer: From Nation-Wide Pancreatic Registry
Shinichi Egawa, Japan Pancreas Society, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai Japan

Pancreatic Quantitative Consistency
Yuichi Kitagawa, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu Japan

High-Volume Pancreatitis Surgeon Can Make a Difference Regarding Concepts of Management in Acute Pancreatitis
Tercio De Campos, Santa Casa School of Medical Sciences - Sao Paulo, Brazil, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo Brazil

Distal Pancreatectomy: Surgery with an Unjustified Reputation
Farshad Frozanpor, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska Institute, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm Sweden

Role of Pancreatic Frozen Section at Margin of Resection in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms
Kevin Shah, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH

Not Just for Trauma Patients: Damage Control Laparotomy in Pancreatic Surgery
Katherine Morgan, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

The Meaning of Measuring the Amylase Level of Acites in Pancreatic Fisturla
Takeshi Nishi, Shimane University Graduate School of Medicine, Izumoshi Japan

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CT Transition Zones: Relevance in Management of Small Bowel Obstruction
Modesto Colon, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY

Intestinal Surgery for Crohn's Disease: Predictors of Recovery, Complications and Health Related Quality of Life
Marco Scarpa, Veneto Oncological Institute (IOV-IRCCS), Padova Italy

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Permanent Gastric Electrical Stimulation Improves Symptoms of Post-Surgical Disordered Gastric Emptying
Robert Schmieg, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS

Preoperative Predictors of Significant Symptomatic Response After One Year of Gastric Electrical Stimulation for Gastroparesis
Sandeepa Musunuru, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI

EPIYA-C Motifs Are Main Determinants of Intestinal Metaplasia and Gastric Mucosa Atrophy
Carlo-Federico Zambon, University of Padova, University of Padova, Padova Italy

Does Insurance Status Affect Gastric Bypass Surgery Outcomes?
Gavitt Woodard, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA

Long Term Results of a Prospective Longitudinal Study Comparing Laparoscopic vs Open Gastrectomy for Advance Gastric Cancer
Giuseppe Sica, Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Rome Italy

Bariatric Surgery Improves Musculoskeletal Quality of Life Independent of Weight Loss and Procedure Type
Gavitt Woodard, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy with Duodeno-Jejunal Bypass: Early Clinical Experience with a New Procedure for Morbid Obesity
Paolo Gentileschi, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome Italy

Is There Any Role for Resection for Stage IV Gastric Cancers?
Stephanie Downing, Johns Hopkins University, Howard University Hospital, Baltimore, DC

Gastrointestinal Symptomatic Outcomes of Laparoscopic and Open Gastrectomy
Bilal Kharbutli, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI

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A UK Perspective on Litigation Following Groin Hernia Repair
Bilal Alkhaffaf, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester United Kingdom

The Impact of Laparoscopic Approach for Splenectomy on Surgical Risk Factors
Roger Lis, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA

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