Relapses of traumatic peroneal tendons subluxation already treated surgically: a new surgical approach.

Aim To illustrate the surgical treatment of relapses of traumatic peroneal tendons subluxation. Methods We came across a young woman, who sustained a sprain in her dominant ankle after a trauma; we noticed subluxation of the peroneal tendons during eversion and extension of the foot. She referred to a previous accident some years before with peroneal tendon subluxation treated by superior peroneal retinaculum (SPR) sutures with a synthetic braided absorbable material.

Impaired diastolic function in naïve untreated human immunodeficiency virus infected patients.

Aim: To evaluate cardiac function and structure in untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients without clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease.

Methods: Fifty-three naïve untreated HIV-infected patients and 56 healthy control subjects underwent clinical assessment, electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography, including tissue doppler imaging. Moreover, a set of laboratory parameters was obtained from all subjects, including HIV-RNA plasma levels, CD4 cell counts and tumor necrosis factor-α levels.

Human immunodeficiency virus per se exerts atherogenic effects.

Objective: Premature atherosclerosis in HIV-infected patients has been attributed to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the associated metabolic complications. Whether HIV per se plays a role is an unresolved issue. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether HIV per se exerts atherogenic effects.

Overexpression of both CXC chemokine receptor 4 and vascular endothelial growth factor proteins predicts early distant relapse in stage II-III colorectal cancer patients.

Purpose: CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are implicated in the metastatic process of malignant tumors. However, no data are currently available on the biological relationship between these molecules in colorectal cancer. We studied whether CXCR4 and VEGF expression could predict relapse and evaluated in vitro the contribution of CXCR4 in promoting clonogenic growth, VEGF secretion, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression of colorectal cancer cells.

Soluble interleukin-2 receptor in stage I-III melanoma.

The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) serum levels in stage I-III melanoma patients. The levels of sIL-2R were determined using an enzyme immunometric test kit in 329 patients affected by malignant melanoma (MM) from 1995 to 2004. Correlations between sIL-2R values, baseline patients and tumour features were studied by contingency tables and the chi-square test.

Prognostic value of serum VEGF in melanoma patients: a pilot study.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in angiogenesis. We investigated the association of VEGF serum levels (pre-treatment and follow-up) with outcome in patients with melanoma.

Patients And Methods: Serum levels of VEGF in melanoma patients at diagnosis and during follow-up were analysed with enzyme-linked immunoassays.