Preclinical Safety Evaluation in Rats of a Polymeric Matrix Containing an siRNA Drug Used as a Local and Prolonged Delivery System for Pancreatic Cancer Therapy.

Conventional chemotherapy treatments for pancreatic cancer are mainly palliative. RNA interference (RNAi)-based drugs present the potential for a new targeted treatment. LOcal Drug EluteR (LODER(TM)) is a novel biodegradable polymeric matrix that shields drugs against enzymatic degradation and releases small interfering RNA (siRNA) against G12D-mutated KRAS (siG12D).

Assessment of splanchnic tissue oxygenation by gastric tonometry in patients undergoing laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy.

This experimental study compared the effects of laparoscopic (n = 31) and open (n = 32) cholecystectomy on gastric intramucosal pH (pHi). For this purpose, pHi was measured tonometrically before induction of anaesthesia, at 30-min intervals during surgery, and 1, 2 and 4 h after operation in otherwise healthy patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy. Additionally, perioperative arterial pH (pHa), arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2), intramucosal carbon dioxide tension, arterial bicarbonate concentration, end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (PECO2), levels of serum lactate, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), haematocrit and arterial blood pressure were recorded.

Preoperative staging of rectal cancer by endoluminal ultrasound vs. magnetic resonance imaging. Preliminary results of a prospective, comparative study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the value of endoluminal ultrasonography (ELUS) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for preoperative staging of rectal carcinoma.

Methods: Thirty-seven consecutive patients were examined by ELUS and MRI. Imaging results were compared with pathohistologic studies.

[Local excision of rectal tumors: Y. Mason's operation].

Twenty-nine patients with cancer of the low rectum were treated by local excision performed by a transsphincteric approach (Mason's operation). Patient's selection requires a careful digital examination, biopsy, CT or MR and intraluminal ultrasound. In our series an accurate and strictly selection provides low recurrence rates with no mortality and low postoperative complications.

[Portal circulation following the Warren operation--computerized tomography study of portal hemodynamics 5 to 11 years following distal splenorenal anastomosis].

18 patients underwent CT-investigation with bolus injection of contrast medium 5 to 11 years after splenorenal Warren shunt. According to this investigation all patients were found to have developed hepatofugal collaterals in consequence of distal splenorenal anastomotic suction. In most cases the portal liver perfusion was maintained.