Changes in human fecal microbiota due to chemotherapy analyzed by TaqMan-PCR, 454 sequencing and PCR-DGGE fingerprinting.

Background: We investigated whether chemotherapy with the presence or absence of antibiotics against different kinds of cancer changed the gastrointestinal microbiota.

Methodology/principal Findings: Feces of 17 ambulant patients receiving chemotherapy with or without concomitant antibiotics were analyzed before and after the chemotherapy cycle at four time points in comparison to 17 gender-, age- and lifestyle-matched healthy controls. We targeted 16S rRNA genes of all bacteria, Bacteroides, bifidobacteria, Clostridium cluster IV and XIVa as well as C.

Spontaneous changes in tumour cell dissemination to bone marrow in colorectal cancer.

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the incidence of disseminated tumour cells (DTCs) in bone marrow (BM) preoperatively and during follow up and to correlate these with established risk factors in patients with colorectal cancer.

Method: We prospectively studied BM in 57 patients using the anti-cytokeratin antibody A45-B/B3.

Results: The overall detection rate of DTCs was 23% with a similar detection rate through all stages of the disease.

Effects of estradiol on circulating P-selectin.

The membrane protein P-selectin tethers leukocytes to endothelial cells (EC) and on activated platelets, and may play a role in atherosclerosis. Lower plasma levels of a soluble (c) P-selectin have recently been observed in premenopausal women compared to those in men. Given the antiatherogenic-cardioprotective effect of 17 beta-estradiol (E2), we hypothesized that E2 may down-regulate the expression of P-selectin and subsequently decrease cP-selectin levels.

Effects of desmopressin on circulating P-selectin.

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) and P-selectin share an identical intracellular storage compartment and transport to the cell surface. We induced degranulation of the Weibel-Palade bodies and measured circulating (c)P-selectin in plasma to test whether soluble P-selectin is present in the Weibel-Palade bodies, or if P-selectin bound to the cell membrane of endothelial cells (EC) is rapidly proteolytically cleaved in vivo. A dose of 0.