Targeting cancer stem cells and their niche: perspectives for future therapeutic targets and strategies.

A small subpopulation of cells within the bulk of tumors share features with somatic stem cells, in that, they are capable of self-renewal, they differentiate, and are highly resistant to conventional therapy. These cells have been referred to as cancer stem cells (CSCs). Recent reports support the central importance of a cancer stem cell-like niche that appears to help foster the generation and maintenance of CSCs.

miR-221 Mediates Chemoresistance of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma by Direct Targeting of DKK2 Expression.

Background: Chemoresistance is a main obstacle to effective esophageal cancer (EC) therapy. We hypothesize that altered expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in EC cancer progression and resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) based chemotherapeutic strategies.

Methods: Four pairs of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) cell lines and corresponding 5-FU resistant variants were established.

Targeted endothelial delivery of nanosized catalase immunoconjugates protects lung grafts donated after cardiac death.

Background: Donor organ shortage represents a major problem in lung transplantation. Donation after cardiac death could help to expand the pool of organs, but the additional period of warm ischemia after cardiac arrest aggravates primary graft dysfunction. The pulmonary endothelium of the graft constitutes an important source and target of reactive oxygen species generated during ischemia and reperfusion.

Anastomotic leakage after esophageal resection: new treatment options by endoluminal vacuum therapy.

Background: Anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy is an important determinant of early and late morbidity and mortality. Control of the septic focus is essential when treating patients with anastomotic leakages. Surgical and endoscopic treatment options are limited.

Liver resection for metastatic disease prolongs survival in renal cell carcinoma: 12-year results from a retrospective comparative analysis.

Unlabelled: The value of surgical resection of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) liver metastases still remains unclear.

Objective: Of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of liver resection by comparing patients who could have undergone metastasectomy due to limited disease, but refused surgery.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-eight patients were identified with liver metastases and indication of surgery between 1995 and 2006.

Complete remission achieved with angiogenic therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma including surgical intervention.

Background: Former systemic therapy for metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) based on immunomodulation could achieve complete remissions (CR) in only some patients. Angiogenic therapy with sunitinib, sorafenib, and temsirolimus changed the paradigm of treating mRCC based on a doubled progression-free survival (PFS) and 10% to 30% of patients achieving partial remission (PR). Unfortunately, CR is rarely seen.

Recipient treatment with L-arginine attenuates donor lung injury associated with hemorrhagic shock.

Background: Organ donors are frequently trauma victims, but the impact of donor hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HSR) on pulmonary graft function has not been assessed. L-arginine treatment during reperfusion increases the production of endothelial nitric oxide and thus ameliorates ischemia-reperfusion injury. Objective of the present porcine study was to investigate the effect of donor hemorrhage on pulmonary graft function and potential beneficial effects of L-arginine administration.

Leflunomide: a treatment option for ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus infection after renal transplantation.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after renal transplantation is a problem of increasing concern resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Widespread use of ganciclovir (GCV) and valganciclovir (VGCV) may cause an increase of CMV resistance to these first line drugs. Other treatment options are sparse and often complicated by adverse events, namely nephrotoxicity associated with foscarnet and cidofovir.

Functional cine MR imaging for the detection and mapping of intraabdominal adhesions: method and surgical correlation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence and localization of intraabdominal adhesions using functional cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to correlate the MR findings with intraoperative results. In a retrospective study, patients who had undergone previous abdominal surgery with suspected intraabdominal adhesions were examined. A true fast imaging with steady state precession sequence in transverse/sagittal orientation was used for a section-by-section dynamic depiction of visceral slide on a 1.

Immunoglobulin M-enriched human intravenous immunoglobulins reduce leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions and attenuate microvascular perfusion failure in normotensive endotoxemia.

Clinical studies indicate potential differences in the efficacy of immunoglobulin (Ig) preparations in patients with sepsis. A recent meta-analysis showed improved survival rates with IgM-enriched Igs. It was the objective of the present study to characterize microcirculatory actions of different clinically used Ig preparations in a rodent endotoxin model by intravital microscopy.

Strategies for prevention and operative treatment of aortic lesions related to spinal interventions.

Study Design: A retrospective analysis of a case series was performed.

Objective: To give recommendations for the prevention and operative treatment of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic lesions in association with spinal interventions.

Summary Of Background Data: Aortic lesions after spinal interventions for traumatic vertebral fractures, segmental spondylodiscitis, or vertebral metastasis are fortunately rare, but associated with a high perioperative mortality rate and absolute numbers are unknown.

Effect of graft steatosis on liver function and organ survival after liver transplantation.

Background: It was the aim to determine the effect of graft steatosis on intraoperative organ blood flow, postoperative liver function, and organ survival.

Methods: A total of 225 consecutive liver transplants were reviewed. Liver blood flow, hepatic function (AST, ALT, prothrombin time), and organ survival were determined.

Surgical and endovascular treatment of symptomatic aberrant right subclavian artery (arteria lusoria).

Right aberrant subclavian artery, also called arteria lusoria, is one of the most common intrathoracic arterial anomalies. Although mostly asymptomatic, the retroesophageal and retrotracheal course of the lusorian artery might result in unspecific thoracic pain, dysphagia, dyspnea, arterioesophageal or arteriotracheal fistulae with hematemesis or hemoptysis, and aneurysmal formation with relevant risk of rupture. The purpose was to present our experience with six patients with a symptomatic aberrant right subclavian artery, two patients with dysphagia or dyspnea caused by a nonaneurysmal lusorian artery, and four patients with arteria lusoria aneurysms.

5-Fluorouracil-related enhancement of adenoviral infection is Coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor independent and associated with morphological changes in lipid membranes.

Aim: To evaluate the mechanism underlying the effects of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) on adenoviral infection.

Methods: Low and high Coxsackievirus-Adenovirus Receptor (CAR) expressing human colon carcinoma cell lines were treated with 5-FU and two E1-deleted adenoviral constructs, one transferring GFP (Ad/CMV-GFP) the other bax (Ad/CEA-bax). The number of infected cells were monitored by GFP expression.

Adenoviral bcl-2 transfer improves survival and early graft function after ischemia and reperfusion in rat liver transplantation.

Background: Primary graft dysfunction due to ischemia and reperfusion injury represents a major problem in liver transplantation. The related cell stress may induce apoptosis, which can be suppressed by bcl-2. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of adenoviral bcl-2 gene transfer on early graft function and survival in rat liver transplantation.

Alpha-gluthathione S-transferase as an early marker of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury after liver resection.

Organ dysfunction following liver resection is one of the major postoperative complications of liver surgery. The Pringle maneuver is often applied during liver resection to minimize bleeding, which in turn complicates the postoperative course owing to liver ischemia and reperfusion. Routinely, hepatocellular damage is diagnosed by, for example, abnormal aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and the prothrombin time (PT).

Caspase 3 inhibition improves survival and reduces early graft injury after ischemia and reperfusion in rat liver transplantation.

Background: Apoptosis plays a crucial role after ischemia-reperfusion in organ transplantation. It is executed by caspases and influenced by the rheostat of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins of the bcl-2 family. This study investigated the effect of specific inhibition of caspases 3 and 7 on graft function, survival, and hepatic bcl-2 levels after liver transplantation.

Continuous infusion of nitroglycerin improves pulmonary graft function of non-heart-beating donor lungs.

Background: The warm ischemic period of lungs harvested from a non-heart-beating donor (NHBD) results in an increased ischemia-reperfusion injury after transplantation. The intravenous application of nitroglycerin (NTG), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, proved to be beneficial during reperfusion of lung grafts from heart-beating donors. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of nitroglycerin on ischemia-reperfusion injury after transplantation of long-term preserved NHBD-lungs.

Physiological levels of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone depress wound immune function and impair wound healing following trauma-hemorrhage.

Hypothesis: Studies indicate that a depressed wound immune function contributes to an increased rate of wound complications and impaired wound healing following trauma-hemorrhage (T-H). Androgen, ie, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, is responsible for producing the depressed systemic cell-mediated immune responses following T-H in males. The aim of the present study was to determine whether depletion of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone in males before T-H has any salutary effects on wound immune cell function and wound healing in male mice following T-H.

Synovial sarcoma--unusual presentation with cerebral hemorrhage.

Introduction: Soft-tissue sarcomas account for 1% of all malignancies in adults. Typical symptoms comprise a growing and painless mass. Occasionally, the diagnosis is facilitated by secondaries.

Tumor-specific transcription factor binding to an activator protein-2/Sp1 element of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor promoter in a first large series of resected gastrointestinal cancers.

Purpose: Evidence for transactivation of genes via specific promoter elements has been derived from studies on tumor cell lines but rarely on resected tumors. However, the proof of an in vivo relevance and the identification of patients with a potential tumor-specific gene expression is essential to transfer molecular-targeting strategies into clinical applications. This study gives the first clinical evidence that urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (u-PAR) gene expression is tumor-specifically regulated via an activator protein (AP)-2/Sp1 promoter element in a large patient subpopulation.

Sex-specific p38 MAP kinase activation following trauma-hemorrhage: involvement of testosterone and estradiol.

Although immune functions are markedly depressed in males and not in proestrous females following trauma-hemorrhage (T-H), the mechanisms responsible for the divergent responses remain unknown. Because sex steroids modulate the activation of p38, our aim was to determine whether differences in the activation of p38 by phosphorylation (p38-P) might contribute to the sex-dimorphic immune response following T-H. The effects of testosterone and estradiol on the activation of p38 were also examined.