Prognostic Implications of Expression Profiling for Gemcitabine-Related Genes (hENT1, dCK, RRM1, RRM2) in Patients With Resectable Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relevance of expression profiling of 4 genes involved in the action of gemcitabine among patients with pancreatic ductal-cell adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods: A group of 100 patients who underwent pancreatic resections for PDAC and received adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine between 2007 and 2010 was identified. Expression of mRNAs for human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1), ribonucleotide reductase subunits (RRM1, RRM2), and deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, normalized to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and dichotomized into groups of low and moderate/high expression levels grouped by tertiles.

Targeted therapy for gastric cancer--current status.

In patients with metastatic gastric cancer, median overall survival remains under 1 year and standard chemotherapy regimens are not able to substantially improve the prognosis of the patients. Amplification and over-expression of HER2 is reported in approximately 20% of gastric tumours, challenging the use of targeted therapies. There are several targeted therapies in different stages of clinical development with trastuzumab being the first overcoming the regulatory hurdle and getting European Medicines Agency approval.

[The history of treatment of groin hernia].

Hernia (Greek kele/hernios--bud or offshoot) was present in the human history from its very beginning. The role of surgery was restricted to the treatment of huge umbilical and groin hernias and life-threatening incarcerated hernias. The treatment of groin hernia can be divided into five eras.

[Treatment of the inguinal haernias with the use of synthetic mesh with prolen hernia system (PHS) and Robbins-Rutkow methods--review of outcomes].

Object Of Research: Evaluation of methods and outcomes of inguinal region haernias' treatment with the use of synthetic implants.

Material: An analysis of 867 patients operated with the use of synthetic implants between 1999 and 2005 has been made (PHS, Robbins-Rutkow). The group consisted of 695 men, and 172 women and the average age was 44.

[Appendix incarcerated in femoral hernia--case report].

We describe a rare case of incercerated femoral hernia containing appendix. Femoral hernias are quite rare comparing to inguinal hernias, and might be more difficult to doagnose. During diagnosis and differentiation of femoral hernia possible cimplications such as incarceration of urinary bladder or intestin must be considered.