Inflammation and cancer: tumor initiation, progression and metastasis, and Chinese botanical medicines.

Both historically and contemporarily, cancer is seen as an inflammatory process. Evidence has emerged in the last two decades that at the molecular level most chronic diseases, including cancer, are caused by a dysregulated inflammatory response. The identification of transcription factors such as nuclear factor-kappa B and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and their gene products such as tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1, interleukin-6, chemokines, cyclooxygenase-2, and vascular endothelial growth factor, adhesion molecules and others has provided the molecular basis for the role of inflammation in cancer.

Echo color Doppler imaging of carotid vessels in hemodialysis patients: evidence of high levels of atherosclerotic lesions.

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease, and the incidence of atherosclerosis-related complications is significantly higher in dialysis patients than in nonuremic controls. This study aimed at evaluating atherosclerotic involvement of carotid vessels in hemodialysis patients and in a group of subjects with a similar cardiovascular risk factor pattern using echo color Doppler ultrasonography. Carotid lesions have been evaluated, taking into account plaque characters (surface, echogenicity), the most severe luminal narrowing, and the number of vessels involved.

[Behaviour of blood digoxin, determined by the radioimmunity method, in patients with renal failure (author's transl)].

The authors used radioimmunity to study blood digoxin behaviour in patients with normal renal function and with variable BUN. The computerized and mathematically considered data showed that digitalic intoxication occurs with higher digoxin blood levels in patients with renal failure than in normal renal function cases. In the first case, moreover, it occurs sooner than in the second one, and the total digoxin dose is smaller than in normal patients.

Arteriography of the coeliac axis and superior mesenteric artery in five cases of haemochromatosis with particular regard to the pancreatic circulation.

Arteriography of the coeliac axis and superior mesenteric artery in five patients with haemochromatosis revealed a constant deficit of pancreatic vascularization as shown by reduced visualization of the arterial circle. These consistent results appear to be significant. There was no correlation between the existence and severity of diabetes mellitus and the pancreatic vascular involvement.