Assessing the clinical utility of Wnt pathway markers in colorectal cancer.

Purpose: β-catenin and AXIN2 play an important role in the Wnt signaling pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate β-catenin and AXIN2 expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) and relate these findings with patients' clinicopathological features and prognosis.

Methods: 57 consecutive patients with surgically treated CRC were included in this study.

Epidemiological and clinicopathological characteristics of BRCA-positive and BRCA-negative breast cancer patients in Greece.

Purpose: BRCA mutation carriers can benefit from targeted clinical interventions. On the other hand, families with evident aggregation of breast cancer (BC) cases and a BRCA-negative genetic test can still be considered as of elevated risk, since the underlying genetic factor remains unidentified. In the present study, we compared clinical and demographic characteristics between BRCA1 mutation carriers (BRCA1mut) and non-carriers (non-BRCA1) in a Greek group of BC patients (n=321).

Effects of lazaroid U-74389G on intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury in porcine experimental model.

Background: The readmission of molecular oxygen into an ischemic tissue promotes the oxidation of resuscitated tissue with certain pathophysiologic mechanisms.

Materials And Methods: Twenty four pigs (male or female) were randomized in this study. The animals were allocated to four groups with an equal number (n = 6) in each group: (1) control group-ischemia for 30 min and reperfusion for 60 min.

Kallikrein-related peptidases in cancers of gastrointestinal tract: an inside view of their role and clinical significance.

Human tissue kallikrein (KLK1) and is related peptidases (KLK2-KLK15) are a family of 15 homologous serine proteases, participating in numerous processes of normal physiology. Considering the irreversible impact of proteases on substrates, the tissue-dependent regulation of KLKs activity becomes crucial for their beneficial role in normal homeostasis. Moreover, KLKs expression is strongly regulated at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level by steroid hormones and miRNAs, respectively.

The effect of U-74389G on pancreas ischemia-reperfusion injury in a swine model.

Background: Oxidative stress is a crucial factor in the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis and its systemic complications. Lazaroids are a novel class of antioxidants that potently protect pancreatic acinar cells against oxidant attack. The aim of our study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of 21-aminosteroid U-74389G in pancreatic injury after ischemia and reperfusion of the organ in a swine model.

Development of the Greek version of the University of Washington quality of life questionnaire for patients with head and neck cancer.

The University of Washington quality of life (UW-QOL) questionnaire, created in 1993 to evaluate health related quality of life, has been widely used in English-speaking populations and translated and validated in other languages. The aim of the present study was to carefully translate and psychometrically validate the UW-QOL questionnaire in Greek. The revised version of the questionnaire was obtained by forward and backward translation of the original English version, according to internationally accepted guidelines.

Estimation of maspin's subcellular localization in invasive ductal breast cancer via light microscopy and computerized image analysis: a comparative study.

Purpose: Contradictory results have been reported concerning the role of maspin and its cellular distribution in breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine the subcellular localization (nuclear-cytoplasmic) of maspin in breast cancer and to compare the evaluation of maspin immunostaining via light microscopy (LM) to the estimation via computerized image analysis (CIA) system. We also examined correlations between maspin expression and several clinicopathological parameters.

Fibrinolytic and coagulation pathways after laparoscopic and open surgery: a prospective randomized trial.

Background: Tissue injury poses increased risk for postoperative thromboembolic complications. Laparoscopic surgery, by causing limited tissue injury, is associated with lower risk for thromboembolism than is open surgery. We conducted a prospective randomized study in order to detect potentially existing differences in activation of coagulation and fibrinolytic pathways between open and laparoscopic surgery.

Adenocarcinoma of the third and fourth portion of the duodenum: a case report and review of the literature.

A 65-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue, and microcytic anemia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, until the second part of duodenum, was normal. Ultrasound and computed tomography demonstrated a solid mass in the distal duodenum.

The imprint of radiofrequency in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: This article reviews the current results of radiofrequency application in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with reference to the comparison between the different surgical modalities.

Method: An electronic search was performed for studies on the treatment of HCC.

Results: Thermoablation by means of radiofrequency (RFA), microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) and laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) provides tumor necrosis with a low complication rate.

Thyroid surgery: comparison between the electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing system, harmonic scalpel, and classic suture ligation.

Background: This study was conducted to compare the outcome of total thyroidectomy using the electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing system, the harmonic scalpel, and the classic suture ligation technique.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of prospectively collected data from 382 consecutive total thyroidectomies from September 2004 to August 2006. Patients were divided into 3 groups: group SL patients (n = 90) underwent total thyroidectomy with the classic suture ligation technique, group L (n = 148) with the electrothermal bipolar vessel sealer, and group U (n = 144) with the harmonic scalpel.

Alterations of hemostasis after laparoscopic and open surgery.

Background: After tissue injury caused by trauma or surgery, alterations of hemostasis are observed and there is a risk for postoperative thromboembolic complications. Laparoscopic surgery, by causing limited tissue injury, appears to be associated with a lower risk for thromboembolism than open surgery. We conducted a prospective randomized study in order to detect potentially existing differences in activation of coagulation and fibrinolytic pathways between open and laparoscopic surgery.

Management of early and late detected vascular complications following femoral arterial puncture for cardiac catheterization.

Introduction: latrogenic vascular trauma is more frequent today as a result of the increase in diagnostic and therapeutic femoral catheterizations. Management of related complications is elective or urgent and sometimes needs complex vascular reconstruction. The present study evaluated when and whether conservative, urgent surgical, or elective surgical treatment is appropriate.

Intracystic hemorrhage in a mediastinal cystic adenoma causing parathyrotoxic crisis.

Background: We report a case of intracystic hemorrhage in a mediastinal cystic parathyroid adenoma causing parathyrotoxic crisis.

Methods And Results: A 30-year-old man presented with a large neck mass, dyspnea, and abdominal pain. The patient's serum calcium and parathormone levels were elevated.

Capsule endoscopy retention as a helpful tool in the management of a young patient with suspected small-bowel disease.

Capsule endoscopy is an easy and painless procedure permitting visualization of the entire small-bowel during its normal peristalsis. However, important problems exist concerning capsule retention in patients at risk of small bowel obstruction. The present report describes a young patient who had recurrent episodes of overt gastrointestinal bleeding of obscure origin, 18 years after small bowel resection in infancy for ileal atresia.

Acute mechanical bowel obstruction: clinical presentation, etiology, management and outcome.

Aim: To identify and analyze the clinical presentation, management and outcome of patients with acute mechanical bowel obstruction along with the etiology of obstruction and the incidence and causes of bowel ischemia, necrosis, and perforation.

Methods: This is a prospective observational study of all adult patients admitted with acute mechanical bowel obstruction between 2001 and 2002.

Results: Of the 150 consecutive patients included in the study, 114 (76%) presented with small bowel and 36 (24%) with large bowel obstruction.

Refractory septic shock: efficacy and safety of very high doses of norepinephrine.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and effects of administration of very high doses of norepinephrine (> 4 microg kg(-1) min(-1)) in catecholamine-resistant septic shock. We reviewed the charts of all patients with nonresponding to commonly used norepinephrine doses (< or = 4 microg kg(-1) min(-1)) septic shock from January 1999 to December 2002 in our Surgical Intensive Care Unit. All patients were treated with high norepinephrine doses (> 4 microg kg(-1) min(-1)), after initial resuscitation, so as to achieve a mean arterial pressure higher than or equal to 65 mmHg.

Screening of patients after colectomy: virtual colonography.

Background: Virtual colonography is a powerful new method of imaging the entire colon and is useful to assess polyps and diagnose colon cancer. We evaluated virtual colonography in the postoperative screening of patients who had colon cancer.

Methods: Fifty-three patients were examined with virtual colonography 12 to 48 months postoperatively.

Contrast-enhanced spiral CT evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma.

The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness and validity of contrast enhanced-spiral computerized tomography in assessing blunt abdominal trauma. 257 patients were admitted in a general hospital over a period of five years and were examined with computed tomography. Two-dimension reconstruction and delayed imaging were used when appropriate.

Endoscopic ultrasonography in the preoperative staging of colorectal cancer.

Background/aims: Endoscopic ultrasonography presents a significant progress in imaging methods for the examination of the digestive system and is commonly used in cancer staging. The aim of this study was to quantify the potential of this modality for diagnosis and staging of colorectal cancer.

Methodology: Eighty patients with histologically proven colorectal cancer were included in this study.

Serum levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in colorectal cancer patients: correlations with clinicopathological features, patient survival and tumour surgery.

The serum concentrations of the cell adhesion molecules E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were investigated in 63 patients with colorectal cancer and in 51 controls by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Their relationship to clinicopathological variables and patient survival and changes in their levels after surgery were examined. Colorectal cancer patients showed significantly higher serum levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 compared with healthy controls.