Regional Distribution of Nitric Oxide Synthase in Human Anorectal Tissue: A Pilot Study on the Potential Role for Nitric Oxide in Haemorrhoids.

Objective: To study the distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms and protein levels in human haemorrhoids and rectal tissue.

Methods: Protein expression of NOS1, NOS2 and NOS3 was compared between haemorrhoids (n=14) and normal rectal submucosa (n=6) using Western blot analysis. The localisation of all NOS isoforms to specific structures was determined by immunohistochemistry.

Endothelin-1 and its receptors on haemorrhoidal tissue: a potential site for therapeutic intervention.

Background And Purpose: Haemorrhoids is a common anorectal condition affecting millions worldwide. We have studied the effect of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and the role of endothelin ET and ET receptors in haemorrhoid tissue.

Experimental Approach: Protein expression of ET-1, ET and ET receptors were compared between haemorrhoids and normal rectal submucosa using Western blot analysis, with the localization of proteins determined by autoradiography and immunohistochemistry.

Quality of Life and Medico-Legal Implications Following Iatrogenic Bile Duct Injuries.

In this review we aimed to evaluate quality of life after bile duct injury and the consequent medico-legal implications. A comprehensive English language literature search was performed on MEDLINE, Embase, Science Citation Index and Google™ Scholar databases for articles published between January 2000 and April 2016. The last date of search was 11 April 2016.

Nuclear expression of phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase is associated with poor prognosis in human colorectal cancer.

Aim: To determine whether phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (P-FAK) has prognostic value in colorectal cancer (CRC) and to test whether it has any association with Tensin 4 (TNS4) expression.

Materials And Methods: P-FAK expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry in 462 CRC cases arrayed on a tissue microarray. P-FAK and TNS4 expression were assessed by immunohistochemistry in 40 cases of paired primary colorectal cancer and corresponding hepatic metastases.

Results of laparoscopic colorectal surgery from a national training center.

Background/purpose: Trials have shown laparoscopic colorectal surgery to be safe. We aim to analyze the long-term results from a single national training center for laparoscopic surgery, especially in patients with high predicted mortality scores as well as in octogenarians. We also aim to explore the trend in the length of the learning curve among consultants and colorectal trainees, and determine whether or not laparoscopic colorectal surgery is amenable to surgical training.

Pharmacological characteristics of endothelin receptors on sheep rectal blood vessels.

Haemorrhoids is associated with high blood flow of the anorectal region. The question of whether pharmacological manipulation of vascular supply can relieve the symptoms of haemorrhoids has been raised. In order to undertake this type of clinical investigation, it is first essential to gain a better understanding of the properties of vascular receptors that may regulate blood flow into anal cushions and haemorrhoids.

Intratumoral T cell infiltration, MHC class I and STAT1 as biomarkers of good prognosis in colorectal cancer.

Objective: To evaluate immunosurveillance/editing in colorectal cancer.

Design: Transformation stimulates the production of interferon gamma (IFNgamma) which signals via the IFNgamma receptor (IFNGR1) on tumours. This results in stimulation of nuclear STAT1 (nSTAT1), inhibition of tumour growth and upregulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) while promoting T cell extravasation.

Guidelines for colorectal cancer screening and surveillance in moderate and high risk groups (update from 2002).

The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and the Association of Coloproctology for Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) commissioned this update of the 2002 guidance. The aim, as before, is to provide guidance on the appropriateness, method and frequency of screening for people at moderate and high risk from colorectal cancer. This guidance provides some new recommendations for those with inflammatory bowel disease and for those at moderate risk resulting from a family history of colorectal cancer.

Overexpression of FLIPL is an independent marker of poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients.

Purpose: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers. The tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) pathway transmits apoptotic signals and anticancer agents that activate this system, which are in clinical development. We sought to determine the prognostic value of the clinically most relevant members of this pathway in colorectal cancer patients.

The role of MUC1 and MUC3 in the biology and prognosis of colorectal cancer.

Background: MUC1 and MUC3 are from a large family of glycoproteins with an aberrant expression profile in various malignancies. Much interest has been focused on the role of these proteins in the development and progression of colorectal cancer; however, no previous studies have included the highly confounding variable of vascular invasion in their survival analysis. Using high throughput tissue microarray technology we assessed the prognostic value of MUC1 and MUC3 expression in the largest cohort of colorectal cancer patients to date.

A neoadjuvant/adjuvant randomized trial of colorectal cancer patients vaccinated with an anti-idiotypic antibody, 105AD7, mimicking CD55.

Purpose: To assess the tolerability and effectiveness of 105AD7 vaccination in colorectal cancer patients. 105AD7 is a human anti-idiotypic antibody mimicking CD55, a glycoprotein, which is more than expressed on colorectal cancer cells and protects them from attack by complement.

Experimental Design: Colorectal cancer patients (n = 67) eligible for primary surgery were randomized to receive the anti-idiotypic antibody 105AD7+/-Bacillus Calmette-Guerin/alum or to no treatment (control group).

Cytoplasmic expression of p27(kip1) is associated with a favourable prognosis in colorectal cancer patients.

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic significance of p27(kip1) in colorectal cancer patients.

Methods: Cytoplasmic and nuclear p27(kip1) expression was evaluated in 418 colorectal cancers using tissue microarrays. Data were associated with known patient and tumor variables and long-term patient outcomes, providing further insight into the mechanisms by which p27(kip1) may influence tumor development.

Pharmacological advancements in the treatment of chronic anal fissure.

Chronic anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the anal canal that, if not treated appropriately at an early stage, causes considerable anal pain during defaecation. Surgery is no longer considered the first-line treatment of this common condition, as recent advancements in medical treatment has produced promising results in the healing of fissures, thus avoiding the unwanted complications that frequently occur following operative treatment. This review looks at those pharmacological agents used commonly in the treatment of chronic anal fissures and explores alternative therapies that may be of benefit in the future.

Expression of the stress-related MHC class I chain-related protein MICA is an indicator of good prognosis in colorectal cancer patients.

The realization of targeted cancer therapy has driven the need to improve selection of patients with colorectal cancer for adjuvant therapy, leading to a search for potential new prognostic markers. There is accumulating evidence that immunosurveillance acts as an extrinsic tumor suppressor. As genetic instability is an early event in colorectal cancer, this can lead to altered expression of molecules conferring resistance to immune attack.

Expression of the membrane complement regulatory protein CD59 (protectin) is associated with reduced survival in colorectal cancer patients.

It has been known for some time that the immune system can recognise growing tumours, and that tumours may respond by modulation of molecules, which make them resistant to further attack. Expression, over-expression, or loss of these molecules may function as markers of tumour progression and prognosis. Among such molecules are the membrane-bound complement regulatory proteins (mCRP), which protect cells from bystander attack by autologous complement.

Evidence that the p53 negative / Bcl-2 positive phenotype is an independent indicator of good prognosis in colorectal cancer: a tissue microarray study of 460 patients.

Background: Advances in our understanding of the molecular biology of colorectal cancer have fuelled the search for novel molecular prognostic markers to complement existing staging systems. Markers assessed in combination may perform better than those considered individually. Using high-throughput tissue microarray technology, we describe the prognostic value of combined p53 / Bcl-2 status in colorectal cancer.

Immunosurveillance is active in colorectal cancer as downregulation but not complete loss of MHC class I expression correlates with a poor prognosis.

Many colorectal tumors lose or downregulate cell surface expression of MHC class I molecules conferring resistance to T-cell-mediated attack. It has been suggested that this phenomenon is due to in vivo immune-tumor interactions. However, evidence of the impact of MHC class I loss on outcomes from colorectal cancer is scarce.

Stapled hemorrhoidopexy compared with conventional hemorrhoidectomy: systematic review of randomized, controlled trials.

Purpose: This study was designed to determine whether conventional hemorrhoidectomy or stapled hemorrhoidopexy is superior for the management of hemorrhoids.

Methods: A systematic review of all randomized trials comparing conventional hemorrhoidectomy with stapled hemorrhoidopexy was performed. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched using the terms "hemorrhoid*" or "haemorrhoid*" and "stapl*.

Smoking-related DNA adducts in anal epithelium.

Several studies have identified tobacco smoking as a risk factor for anal cancer in both women and men. Samples of anal epithelium from haemorrhoidectomy specimens from current smokers (n = 20) and age-matched life-long non-smokers (n = 16) were analysed for DNA adducts by the nuclease P(1) digestion enhancement procedure of 32P-postlabelling analysis. The study included 14 men and 22 women.