Psychosocial factors associated with the adherence to a colorectal cancer screening program.

Background: Although colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and a major cause of cancer related mortality, very little is known about why screening adherence rates are low. First-degree relatives of CRC patients are the largest group of individuals at increased risk of CRC. Psychosocial factors related to CRC screening adherence were examined in a sample of siblings of individuals diagnosed with CRC.

[Clivus metastasis from hepatocarcinoma associated with transarterial hepatic chemoembolization].

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer in the world, and its incidence has increasing in the latest years. Recent advances in both, diagnosis and treatment, have improved the prognosis. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a therapeutic option, valid for patients who are not candidates for curative treatments, which has demonstrate to improve survival.

Fibre and colorectal cancer: a controversial question.

Since the 1970s it has been postulated that dietary fibre is a protective factor against colorectal cancer. Several epidemiological studies have been performed following different designs (correlation studies, case-control, cohort) and overall they have supported the hypothesis of a benefit of dietary fibre. However, a few intervention trials have not demonstrated the preventive role of dietary fibre on the occurrence of adenomatous colorectal polyps.

Founder mutation in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) in the Balearic Islands.

The incidence of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is approximately 7.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. APC gene mutations have been found in 60-70% of all FAP families, codons 1309 (20%) and 1061 (8%) being known hot-spots.

Oxidative stress in mothers who have conceived fetus with neural tube defects: the role of aminothiols and selenium.

Background & Aims: Methionine metabolic impairment and selenium deficit have been associated to neural tube defects. The relationship between thiol metabolism and selenium is not well known. We assessed the status of aminothiols and selenium, as well as thiolic status and the amino acids involved in arginine synthesis in the case of selenium depletion and repletion, studying their relationship to neural tube defects.

Folate status and a new repletion cut-off value in a group of healthy Majorcan women.

Background And Aims: Folate status is complex, complicated to assess and we lack consensus for laboratory determination. Total plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is a sensitive marker of folate status. The aim of this study was choosing a plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) measurement method and folate repletion level; assess the mutation C677T frequency for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in healthy Majorcan women.

Persimmon bezoars: a successful combined therapy.

Background: Persimmon phytobezoar, although an infrequent entity, is not rare in some countries. Because of their particular features, management of diospyrobezoars is difficult. A number of surgical, endoscopic, and pharmacologic treatments have been proposed with variable success.