Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 correlate with histological grade in breast cancer patients.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes involved in the process of tumor invasion and metastasis that are found throughout tissues and also in the plasma. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the evaluation of plasma concentrations of MMPs 2, 3 and 9 may have clinical significance in breast cancer. Therefore, sera obtained from 80 patients with breast neoplasia (50 carcinomas and 30 fibroadenomas) were collected before and 96 h after surgery and the concentrations of MMPs 2, 3 and 9 were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

[Comparison of plasma matrix metalloproteases 2, 3, 9 in breast carcinomas and fibroadenomas].

Tumor cell infiltration causes the remodelling of peritumoral tissues, determined by an increased lytic activity of extracellular matrix exerted by the neoplastic invasive phenotype. Among the principal lytic enzymes produced by tumor cells and mainly involved in invasion process there are the matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). The Authors compared the plasmatic values of MMPs 2, 3, 9 from patients with breast carcinomas and fibroadenomas in order to evaluate whether there was a significant difference between the two groups of patients.

[Thyreopathy associated with vagus schwannoma].

We report the case of a young woman who underwent total thyroidectomy for a suspect nodular thyreopathy and occasionally happened to be affected simultaneously by vagus nerve schwannoma. Symptomatology is discussed and we propose a review of the literature about this non frequent pathology and discuss the latest diagnostic procedures and surgical indications and treatment.

[Double ileo-ileal and ileo-cecocolic intussusception due to submucous lipoma: case report].

Intestinal intussusception is a rare pathology in adults and counts for approximately 5-16% of all invaginations, according to literature. We report the case of a 54 years-old male affected by a double ileo-ileal and ileocecocolic invagination secondary to a submucosal intestinal lipoma. Because of a bowel obstruction symptomathology, the diagnosis was based on abdomen X-rays, abdominal ultrasound and multislice CT scan that showed a probable pre-operative diagnosis of intestinal intussusception.

[Modern orientation in parotid surgery].

The choice of the surgical approach is very relevant in parotid surgery because of the extreme anatomic variability of the parotideal district and the functional importance of the branches of facial nerve. The aim of this paper is to prove how an accurate knowledge of the anatomy and a careful execution of surgery permit radicality in case of tumors and respect of nerves and other structures of the region. We studied anatomy of the different intra- and periparotideal structures to compare two different approaches in parotidectomy, proving how the orthograde technique is safer and more effective in preventing hyatrogenous nerve injuries and other major complications.