A Comprehensive Biological and Synthetic Perspective on 2-Deoxy-d-Glucose (2-DG), A Sweet Molecule with Therapeutic and Diagnostic Potentials.

Glucose, the primary substrate for ATP synthesis, is catabolized during glycolysis to generate ATP and precursors for the synthesis of other vital biomolecules. Opportunistic viruses and cancer cells often hijack this metabolic machinery to obtain energy and components needed for their replication and proliferation. One way to halt such energy-dependent processes is by interfering with the glycolytic pathway.

Rare case of peristomal pemphigus vulgaris in an operated case of carcinoma of the rectum.

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV), in association with malignancy of the rectum, is a very rare presentation. We present here a case of a 58-year-old woman presenting with atypical skin eruptions in the peristomal area, which gradually progressed to her entire body. These lesions were later diagnosed to be PV.

Colonic metastases 13 years after the primary ovarian cancer: a case study with a brief review of literature.

Metastatic ovarian malignancy is a known and dreaded complication of ovarian malignancy. Ovarian malignancies primarily disseminate through the peritoneal cavity and are only superficially invasive. They rarely metastasise through the haematogenous route, but that occurs in the presence of heavy peritoneal disease.

TM4SF3 and AR: A Nuclear Complex that Stabilizes Both Proteins.

Transmembrane 4 superfamily 3 (TM4SF3) was identified as a novel androgen-regulated gene in prostate cancer (PCa) cells. Our data demonstrate that TM4SF3 exhibits androgen-induced repression of the mRNA but up-regulation of the protein. The androgen positive effect on the TM4SF3 protein is of significant interest in view of the procancer functions of both androgens and tetraspanin proteins.

A peptide against soluble guanylyl cyclase α1: a new approach to treating prostate cancer.

Among the many identified androgen-regulated genes, sGCα1 (soluble guanylyl cyclase α1) appears to play a pivotal role in mediating the pro-cancer effects of androgens and androgen receptor. The classical role for sGCα1 is to heterodimerize with the sGCβ1 subunit, forming sGC, the enzyme that mediates nitric oxide signaling by catalyzing the synthesis of cyclic guanosine monophosphate. Our published data show that sGCα1 can drive prostate cancer cell proliferation independent of hormone and provide cancer cells a pro-survival function, via a novel mechanism for p53 inhibition, both of which are independent of sGCβ1, NO, and cGMP.

Soluble guanylyl cyclase α1 and p53 cytoplasmic sequestration and down-regulation in prostate cancer.

Our laboratory has previously identified soluble guanylyl cyclase α1 (sGCα1) as a novel androgen-regulated gene essential for prostate cancer cell proliferation. sGCα1 expression is highly elevated in prostate tumors, contrasting with the low expression of sGCβ1, with which sGCα1 dimerizes to mediate nitric oxide (NO) signaling. In studying its mechanism of action, we have discovered that sGCα1 can inhibit the transcriptional activity of p53 in prostate cancer cells independent of either classical mediators of NO signaling or the guanylyl cyclase activity of sGCα1.

Unusual presentation of an uncommon abdominal pathology.

Desmoid tumour is a non-encapsulated locally invasive tumour, originating from fibroblasts, which has ubiquitous distribution in the body. It has a high tendency for local recurrence, causing deformity in the adjacent organ and consequent organ dysfunction. A case of a 75-year-old man, presenting with high-grade fever, dull aching abdominal pain and weight loss, suspected to be due to malignancy, is reported.

Which is the best option to treat large (>1.5 cm) midureteric calculi?

Introduction: Before the 1980s, ureteric stones were managed by open ureterolithotomy. Since the introduction of shock-wave lithotripsy (SWL) and ureteroscopy, the use of an open surgical approach for the removal of ureteric stones has rapidly declined. Open surgery, which is currently being replicated by laparoscopic techniques, is generally indicated for failed endourologic procedures, particularly in centers that do not have flexible ureteroscopy or laser lithotripter, and in patients with larger stones.

Management of large (>60 g) prostate gland: PlasmaKinetic Superpulse (bipolar) versus conventional (monopolar) transurethral resection of the prostate.

Background And Purpose: Today, urologists around the world are encountering greater numbers of larger prostate glands, probably because of an initial trial of pharmacotherapy. The present study was performed to assess the safety and efficacy of bipolar transurethral resection of large prostate glands using the PlasmaKinetic (PK) Superpulse System.

Patients And Methods: This single-blind, randomized study included 70 patients with prostate gland >60 g seen on three-dimensional transrectal ultrasonography.

A prospective, randomized, controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of Ayurvedic formulation "varuna and banana stem" in the management of urinary stones.

Background: Medical management of urinary calculus disease is a challange for modern science. In the present trial Ayurvedic drug "Herbmed," which is made up of varuna (Crataeva nurvala) and banana stem (Musa paradisiaca) was assessed to see reduction and/or expulsion of urinary calculi and also to assess the role of these drugs to reduce pain during expulsion.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo control trial, total 77 patients with calculi more than 5 mm were included.

Case report: laparoscopic heminephrectomy in a horseshoe kidney using bipolar energy.

Aberrant vasculature, functional parenchyma in the isthmus, and abnormal location are all unique features of horseshoe kidney that present technical challenges to laparoscopic management of disease. A 52-year-old man presented with a large renal calculus in a poorly functioning left moiety of a horseshoe kidney and underwent laparoscopic heminephrectomy. The ismthus, which had 2.

Vesicovaginal fistula with secondary vaginal stones.

Purpose: We report a rare case of a vesicovaginal fistula associated with secondary vaginal stones that was managed totally endoscopically.

Materials And Methods: A 52-year-old woman presented with urinary incontinence and perineal pain. On subsequent evaluation, we found a vesicovaginal fistula associated with secondary vaginal stones caused by a retained gauze.

Laparoscopic management of a retained heavily encrusted ureteral stent.

The indwelling ureteral stent is a fundamental part of today's urologic practice. Since its introduction in 1978, many improvements have been made in stent design and composition to minimize patient discomfort. As a consequence, the patient can forget about the stent.

Epigastric heteropagus twins: 3 case reports with review of literature.

Conjoined twins are rare, heteropagus conjoined twins are rarer, and epigastric heteropagus conjoined twins are rarer still. It refers to unequal and asymmetrical twinning in which the dependant component (parasite) is smaller and attached to the epigastrium of the dominant component (autosite). We report 3 cases of epigastric heteropagus conjoined twinning.

Surgical bypass is still relevant in the palliation of malignant obstructive jaundice.

Malignant tumours of the biliopancreatic system causing obstructive jaundice are not curable in most of the patients, and palliation plays a very important therapeutic role. The role of surgery in palliation of malignant obstructive jaundice has been questioned in the light of availability of endoscopic techniques. In developing countries, however, exploratory laparotomy and palliative surgery (when possible) is the only option available as sophisticated instruments and the expertise to use them is limited to a very few centres.

Leucine amino peptidase a better indicator of carcinoma of liver, biliary tract and pancreas.

Serum levels of leucine amino peptidase (LAP) was studied along with bilirubin, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the ratio of AST/ALT and GGT/AST in 25 healthy subjects and 52 patients with hepatobiliary malignancies of which 12 were with hepatocellular carcinoma, 12 with liver metastasis, 6 with obstructive jaundice, 9 with carcinoma of gall bladder, 6 with carcinoma of pancreas and 7 with periampullary carcinoma. 24 Of the 52 patients studied had jaundice and 28 were without jaundice.LAP as compared to the other enzymes AST, ALT, GGT, ALP and AST/ALT ratio and GGT/AST ratio showed 100% elevation in obstructive jaundice, carcinoma of gall bladder and pancreas and periampullary carcinoma, 91.

The quality of swallowing for patients with operable esophageal carcinoma: a randomized trial comparing surgery with radiotherapy.

Background: Surgery is considered the standard treatment for operable esophageal carcinoma, although there is no compelling evidence that surgery can achieve better results than radiotherapy. There has previously been no direct randomized comparison of these two modalities with survival or disease specific outcome end points.

Methods: Ninety-nine patients with operable squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were randomly allocated to surgery or radiotherapy after stratification for tumor length (< or = or >5 cm).

Modified method for determination of serum beta-glucuronidase: A comparative study using P-nitrophenyl glucuronide and phenolphthalein glucuronide as substrate in gastrointestinal tract carcinomas.

Serum beta-glucuronidase activity was estimated by our modified method using two substrates phenolphthalein glucuronide and p-nitrophenyl glucoronide in 49 healthy subjects and 94 patients with gastrointestinal tract (GIT) carcinoma. The correlation coefficient using the two substrates was found to be r=0.8383.

Pattern of recurrence after extended radical esophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection for squamous cell carcinoma in the thoracic esophagus.

Factors responsible for recurrence of esophageal cancer were investigated in 90 patients who underwent extended radical esophagectomy with three-field dissection for a squamous cell carcinoma in the thoracic esophagus. The initial tumor recurrence was grouped as either locoregional (site of the primary tumor, anastomotic site, or lymph nodes) or as distant (distant organs, pleura, or peritoneum). Nineteen patients (21%) developed a locoregional recurrence, and 19 (21%) developed a distant recurrence.