Adjuvant Autologous Melanoma Vaccine for Macroscopic Stage III Disease: Survival, Biomarkers, and Improved Response to CTLA-4 Blockade.

Background. There is not yet an agreed adjuvant treatment for melanoma patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer stages III B and C. We report administration of an autologous melanoma vaccine to prevent disease recurrence.

Short-term complications of intra-operative radiotherapy for early breast cancer.

Introduction: IORT is becoming an accepted radiotherapy technique for treatment of early breast cancer. Data regarding the early complications of breast IORT are lacking.

Objectives: Assess the nature and risk factors for early complications of breast conserving surgery (BCS) and intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with INTRABEAM®.

Laparoscopic versus open ventral hernia repair in obese patients: a long-term follow-up.

Background: Ventral hernia repair in obese patients has a high perioperative morbidity and recurrence. The laparoscopic approach may reduce those rates. This study compares those outcomes following laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) with the standard open approach (OVHR) in obese patients.

[Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) in early breast cancer].

Background: Breast-conservation therapy is widely accepted as an effective treatment option for patients with early stage carcinoma of the breast. The proportion of patients with recurrence after receiving partial breast irradiation is the same as that seen in patients treated with whole breast irradiation. Therefore, the necessity of whole breast irradiation has been questioned, and partial breast irradiation has emerged as a reasonable alternative.

Metachronous colon metastasis to the thyroid: a case report and literature review.

The thyroid gland is a known site for metastatic tumors from various primary sites. Thyroid metastases are not an exceptional finding at autopsy, and they are encountered in 2% to 9% of the patients with malignant neoplasm. The most frequent tumors to metastasize are breast, lung, melanoma, and kidney carcinomas.

Behavioral outcomes following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy performed after failed laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

A healthy diet and good eating behaviors are essential components of long-term success in weight maintenance after bariatric surgery. Although rates of revised bariatric surgery have increased, data on subsequent behavioral outcomes are sparse. The aim of our study was to investigate behavioral outcomes following revised laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (R-LSG) that was indicated for failed laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and compare with outcomes following primary laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (P-LSG).

Health behavior, food tolerance, and satisfaction after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Background: Success in maintaining weight loss after bariatric surgery requires the ability to implement long-term changes in eating habits and lifestyle. However, no data are available on patients' eating ability and behavioral aspects after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Methods: A total of 60 patients who had undergone laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy from 2007 to 2009 completed a questionnaire on habits, weight loss, health behaviors (e.

Autologous melanoma vaccine induces antitumor and self-reactive immune responses that affect patient survival and depend on MHC class II expression on vaccine cells.

Purpose: Autologous melanoma cells display a broad variety of tumor antigens and were used for treatment of American Joint Committee on Cancer stages III and IV melanoma as an adjuvant or active therapy. Survival data and immune response were evaluated in vaccinated patients.

Experimental Design: Forty-seven patients received 2,4-dinitrophenyl-conjugated autologous melanoma vaccine as an adjuvant (23 patients) or therapy (24 patients).

Bilirubin impairs intestinal regrowth following massive small bowel resection in a rat model.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of exogenous bilirubin on structural intestinal adaptation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis in a rat model of short bowel syndrome (SBS).

Materials And Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 experimental groups: Sham rats underwent bowel transection and reanastomosis, sham multiple doses of bilirubin (MDB) rats underwent bowel transection and were treated with bilirubin, SBS rats underwent a 75% small bowel resection, SBS-SDB (single dose bilirubin) rats underwent a bowel resection and were treated with a single dose of bilirubin, and SBS-MDB underwent a bowel resection and were treated with 3 doses of bilirubin. Bilirubin was administered intraperitoneally from the 7th day through the 14th day postoperatively.

Effect of elevated intra-abdominal pressure on portal vein and superior mesenteric artery blood flow in a rat.

Aim: Recent clinical experience suggests that minimal access portoenterostomy (the Kasai procedure) for biliary atresia leads to transplantation sooner, compared to the traditional open approach. It should be emphasized that elevated intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) may reduce hepatic and portal blood flow and thus may cause histologic liver damage. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of IAP on blood flow in the portal vein (PV), compared to the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), and on the systemic mean arterial blood pressure (MABP).

Effect of allopurinol on germ cell apoptosis following testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat.

Recent evidence suggests that apoptosis is involved in germ cell loss following testicular ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Allopurinol (Allo) is as a free radical scavenger which prevents tissue damage caused by reperfusion and oxygenation after ischemia; however, its effect on apoptosis in this type of injury has not been studied. To examine the effect of allopurinol on germ cell apoptosis following testicular IR in a rat.

Effect of 100% oxygen on E-selectin expression, recruitment of neutrophils and enterocyte apoptosis following intestinal ischemia-reperfusion in a rat.

Recent evidence suggests that neutrophil recruitment may initiate cell apoptosis in ischemic tissues. We have recently shown that enterocyte apoptosis is increased following intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of hyperoxia on E-selectin expression, neutrophil recruitment and enterocyte apoptosis following intestinal IR in a rat.

Oral insulin up-regulates Toll-like receptor 4 expression and enhances intestinal recovery following lipopolysaccharide-induced gut injury in a rat.

In the present study, we evaluated the protective effect of oral insulin (OI) on intestinal mucosa following lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal damage in a rat. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three experimental groups: Sham rats, LPS-rats that were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and LPS-INS rats that were treated with OI given in drinking water 72 h before and following injection of LPS. Intestinal structural changes, enterocyte proliferation, enterocyte apoptosis, and mucosal expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) were determined 24 h after the last LPS injection.

Effect of probiotics on intestinal regrowth and bacterial translocation after massive small bowel resection in a rat.

Background/purpose: Because of their ability to inhibit intestinal bacterial overgrowth, probiotics (PROs) have been advocated for the treatment of patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS). This study was conducted to determine the effect of PROs on bacterial translocation and intestinal regrowth after massive small bowel resection in a rat.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 experimental groups: sham rats underwent bowel transection and reanastomosis, SBS rats underwent 75% small bowel resection, and SBS-PRO rats underwent bowel resection and were treated with a PRO given in drinking water from day 4 through 14.

Oral glutamine prevents gut mucosal injury and improves mucosal recovery following lipopolysaccharide endotoxemia in a rat.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of oral glutamine in preventing mucosal damage caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxemia in a rat.

Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats, weighing 250 to 280 g, were divided into three experimental groups: CONTR rats (Group A), LPS rats (Group B) were treated with lipopolysaccharide given I.P.

Bombesin stimulates enterocyte turnover following massive small bowel resection in a rat.

Recent evidence suggests that bombesin (BBS) is involved in modulation of growth and differentiation of normal small intestine. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of BBS on enterocyte turnover after massive small bowel resection in a rat. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three experimental groups: Sham rats underwent bowel transection and re-anastomosis, short bowel syndrome (SBS) rats underwent a 75% small bowel resection, and SBS-BBS rats underwent bowel resection and were treated with BBS given subcutaneously at a dose of 20 mug/kg, once daily, from postoperative day 3 through 14.

Dietary glutamine supplementation prevents mucosal injury and modulates intestinal epithelial restitution following ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the preventive effect of a 2-day oral glutamine supplementation against intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in a rat. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four experimental groups: sham rats underwent laparotomy, sham-GLU rats underwent laparotomy and were treaded with enteral glutamine (GLU) given in drinking water (2%) 48 hr before and following operation, IR rats underwent occlusion of both the superior mesenteric artery and the portal vein for 30 min followed by 24 hr of reperfusion, and IR-GLU rats were treated with enteral glutamine 48 hr before and following IR. Intestinal mucosal damage (Park's injury score), mucosal structural changes, enterocyte proliferation, and enterocyte apoptosis were determined 24 hr following IR.

Effect of testicular ischemia-reperfusion on recruitment of neutrophils, E-selectin expression and germ cell apoptosis in the contralateral testis in a rat.

Recent evidence suggests that neutrophil recruitment may initiate germ cell apoptosis in the ischemic testis. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between germ cell apoptosis and neutrophil recruitment in the contralateral testis following testicular ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in a rat. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into two experimental groups: Group A: Sham operated animals; Group B: IR rats underwent 90 min of unilateral testicular ischemia following by 96 h of reperfusion.

The effect of leptin on intestinal recovery following ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat.

Recent evidence suggests that the adipose tissue derived cytokine leptin (LEP) is involved in the modulation of growth and differentiation of normal small intestine. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of leptin on enterocyte turnover and intestinal recovery after ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in a rat. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three experimental groups: (1) sham rats underwent laparotomy, (2) IR-rats underwent occlusion of both superior mesenteric artery and portal vein for 30 min followed by 24 h of reperfusion, and (3) IR-LEP rats underwent IR and were treated with leptin given subcutaneously at a dose of 50 microg/kg once a day for 48 h before and 24 h following IR.

Effect of dexamethasone on germ cell apoptosis in the contralateral testis after testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of dexamethasone on spermatogenesis and germ cell apoptosis in the ipsilateral and contralateral testis after testicular ischemia-reperfusion (IR) in rats.

Design: Laboratory study.

Setting: Medical research laboratory in a university setting.

Effect of leptin on intestinal re-growth following massive small bowel resection in rat.

Recent evidence suggests that the adipose tissue-derived cytokine leptin (LEP) is involved in modulation of growth and differentiation of normal small intestine. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of parenteral LEP on structural intestinal adaptation, cell proliferation and apoptosis in a rat model of short bowel syndrome (SBS). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three experimental groups: Sham rats underwent bowel transection and re-anastomosis, SBS-rats underwent a 75% small bowel resection, and SBS-LEP-rats underwent bowel resection and were treated with LEP given subcutaneously at a dose of 20 mug/kg, once daily, from day 3 through 14.

Effect of diclofenac on germ cell apoptosis following testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat.

Recent evidence suggests that enhanced cell apoptosis is responsible for germ cell loss following testicular ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac sodium (Voltaren) is a prostaglandin-synthesis inhibitor, which is widely used in many testicular disorders. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of diclofenac (DIC) on germ cell apoptosis in the ischemic and contralateral testes following testicular IR in a rat.

Advances in short bowel syndrome: an updated review.

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) continues to be an important clinical problem due to its high mortality and morbidity as well as its devastating socioeconomic effects. The past 3 years have witnessed many advances in the investigation of this condition, with the aim of elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of intestinal adaptation. Such information may provide opportunities to exploit various factors that act as growth agents for the remaining bowel mucosa and may suggest new therapeutic strategies to maintain gut integrity, eliminate dependence on total parenteral nutrition, and avoid the need for intestinal transplantation.