High Expression of DARPP-32 in Colorectal Cancer Is Associated With Liver Metastases and Predicts Survival for Dukes A and B Patients: Results of a Pilot Study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate prognostic significance of Dopamine and cAMP-Regulated neuronal Phosphoprotein 32 (DARPP-32) expression in primary colorectal cancer. The study material consisted of clinical and histopathological data of 100 patients operated for colorectal cancer between 1994 and 1997. For immunohistochemical analysis, specific rabbit antibodies for DARPP-32 were used and the percentage of stained tumor cells was calculated under gross magnification (400 times) on a sample of 500 tumor cells.

The laparoscopic liver resections-an initial experience and the literature review.

The laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) represents a new pathway in hepatic surgery. Several studies have reported its application in both malignant and benign liver diseases. The most common liver resections performed laparoscopically are wedge, segmental resections and metastasectomy; although in large centers the laparoscopic right and left hepatectomies have begun to perform more frequently.

Emergency surgery for large bowel obstruction caused by cancer.

There are several options for surgical treatment of large bowel obstruction caused by cancer, depending on location of obstruction, intraoperative local findings (perforation, peritonitis, bowel dilatation proximal to obstruction) and patients' condition. Resection and anastomosis as one stage surgery would be prefered procedure. Anastomotic leakage, on the other hand, highly elevates risk of mortality and mobidity.

Surgical treatment of liver echinococcosis--open or laparoscopic surgery?

Human echinococcosis remains a significant medical issue in endemic areas. Hydatid cysts can rupture, which is the most severe complication of echinococcosis as it can cause anaphylactic reaction and seeding of secondary cysts. Traditionally, hydatid cysts were evacuated by open surgical procedure in order to remove the entire cyst or by unroofing method, with evacuation of the cyst content.

Immediate breast reconstruction in relation to women's age.

A modern approach to breast cancer treatment after mastectomy includes immediate breast reconstruction (performed simultaneously with the mastectomy). The understanding of factors that influence women's decisions and appreciation of their satisfaction is as important as the knowledge of medical efficiency of the selected treatment. The influence of women's age on opinion making for immediate breast reconstruction was researched in a monocentric prospective study (N = 102).

Pseudoaneurysm of the popliteal artery in a patient with multiple hereditary exostoses.

We present an interesting case of a 14-year-old girl with multiple hereditary exostoses. She presented with a few days history of a pulsative mass in the distal third of the right upper thigh. Leg radiography showed multiple exostoses of distal femur, proximal tibia, and fibula.

Isolated splenic metastasis from colon cancer--case report and literature review.

Solitary splenic metastases are very rare and sporadic. There are several explanations for this low incidence of splenic metastasis including anatomical, histological and immunological features of the spleen. In this paper we present a case of 70-year-old man with no history of previous diseases who was first operated under the diagnosis of acute abdomen revealing perforated colon tumor of splenic flexure with no metastases at that time.

Laparoscopic repair of perforated peptic duodenal ulcer.

Although prevalence of peptic ulcer is decreasing, the number of peptic ulcer perforations appears to be unchanged. This complication of peptic ulcer is traditionally surgically treated. In recent years, a number of papers have been published where the authors managed perforated duodenal peptic ulcer in selected patients using laparoscopic approach.

Comparison of P-POSSUM and Cr-POSSUM scores in patients undergoing colorectal cancer resection.

Objectives: To compare the Portsmouth (P) Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the Enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity (POSSUM) and specialized colorectal (Cr) POSSUM scoring systems in the prediction of mortality after resection of colorectal cancer.

Design: Retrospective study of patients after resection of colorectal cancer.

Setting: University hospital.

Anterior rectus sheath in inguinal hernia repair: preliminary study.

Inguinal hernia repair using the anterior rectus sheath flap represents a tension-free repair with potential advantages (no foreign material or tension on the suture line). The aim of this research was to evaluate the method of inguinal hernia repair using the anterior rectus sheath and to compare it with tension-free mesh repair (modified Lichtenstein repair). In total, 62 patients were evaluated.

Quality of life changes after inguinal hernia repair using anterior rectus sheath--a preliminary study.

Chronic pain is the most serious long-term complication after groin hernia repair. The aim of this preliminary research was to assess the quality of life before and after standard tension-free mesh repair and new method of tension-free inguinal hernia repair using anterior rectus sheath. Total of 62 patients were evaluated.

Analysis of scores in diagnosis of acute appendicitis in women.

Acute appendicitis is a common surgical condition that requires prompt diagnosis. Besides modern imaging techniques, scoring systems, based on clinical signs and symptoms and routine laboratory assessments, have been used as a diagnostic aid. However, differences in sensitivities and specificities were observed if the scores were applied to various populations and clinical settings.

Macrophages of human first trimester decidua express markers associated to alternative activation.

Problem: Depending on the type of their activation, macrophages may promote TH1- or TH2-type of immune responses. To date, not much is known about the activation phenotype of decidua macrophages, which - together with NK cells - constitute the majority of bone marrow derived cells at this location.

Method Of Study: The study was based on analysis of healthy first trimester decidua by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry.

IL-18 is present at the maternal-fetal interface and enhances cytotoxic activity of decidual lymphocytes.

Problem: Perforin expressing uterine natural killer (uNK) cells are under complex cytokine influence. The aim of the study was to investigate the presence and role of interleukin (IL)-18 on NK cytolytic potential at maternal-fetal (M-F) interface.

Method Of Study: Peripheral blood cells and decidual tissue were obtained from elective pregnancy termination of normal human 6-10-week-old pregnancies.