None of the cases recurred after surgical treatment. These

2 cases show the importance of not to misdiagnose lesions which clinically may appear to be benign.”
“Background: Understanding hospital costs and length of stay (LOS) can optimize the in-hospital management of acute stroke. We investigated cost and LOS in first-ever and recurrent stroke patients in Taiwan. Methods: Data were examined in patients at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital BTSA1 in vitro in Chiayi County of Taiwan from April 1, 2005, to March 31, 2007. Predictors of hospital cost and LOS in these patients were studied. Results: The study included 1021 patients with 1084 stroke episodes. Mean age was 68.1 +/- 10.8 years (range: 32-93). The average cost was NTD$45,709.30 +/- NTD$66,697.40 (US$1408.70 +/- US$2084.30; US$1 = NTD$32) and average LOS was 13.9 +/- 14.1 days (range: 1-129). After multivariate regression analysis, the significant predictive factors for cost were LOS, smoking, and medication for secondary prevention. The significant predictive factors

for LOS were diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, recurrence, and stroke subtype. Conclusions: Age 65 and over, atrial fibrillation, stroke treatment, and subtypes were the significant predictive factors affecting hospital costs and LOS. Compared to other countries, Taiwan spent the least while Canada had the highest expense. The United States had the shortest LOS (6 days) in contrast to Canada with the longest LOS (34-47 days). Regarding mean daily cost Sotrastaurin inhibitor of stroke, the United States had the LY2090314 cost highest

cost per day while China spent the least.”
“Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is one of the commonest bariatric procedures in the UK. This study reports our experience with this procedure over the last 10 years.

A prospectively maintained database of all the patients undergoing LAGB at our centre between March 2000 and August 2010 was analysed.

Five hundred seventy-five patients underwent LAGB at our centre. There was no mortality in this series. Early (30-day) morbidity rate was 2.2 %. Late complications (20 %) comprised: 78 repositioning of the inflation port in 65 patients, repositioning of band in 24 patients (4 %), removal of band in 20 patients (3.4 %), conversion to bypass in 41 patients (7 %), diagnostic laparoscopy in 1 patient and subtotal gastrectomy in 1 patient. Median follow-up was 29 months. The median of percentage of weight loss (%WL) and excess body weight loss (EBWL) was 18.3 and 40 %, respectively, at a parts per thousand yen5 years post-LAGB. Patients with body mass index (BMI) over 50 kg/m(2) were compared to those with BMI a parts per thousand currency sign50 kg/m(2). No significant difference was noted in the weight loss between both of these groups.