Dysregulation of beta-catenin expression correlates with tumor differentiation in pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma.

Background: beta-Catenin functions as an integral part of the E-cadherin/catenin adhesion complex to maintain epithelial cell integrity. beta-Catenin also functions as part of the Wnt signal transduction pathway to transmit growth-promoting signals to the nucleus via its interactions with Tcf/Lef transcription factors. Previous reports have demonstrated altered beta-catenin expression in numerous tumor types; however, reports regarding beta-catenin expression in pancreatic cancer have been conflicting.

Duodenal gangliocytic paraganglioma with lymph node metastasis: a case report and review of the literature.

A case of duodenal gangliocytic paraganglioma (DGP) in a 67-year-old woman is presented. The DGP arose in the second part of the duodenum. Although most of the reported cases of DGP are considered benign, in the present case, we found regional lymph nodes containing metastatic tumor.

SMAD7 is a prognostic marker in patients with colorectal cancer.

Chromosomal region 18q21 is frequently deleted in colorectal cancer (CRC) and is associated with poor prognosis. Potential tumor suppressor mechanisms altered by 18q21 deletion include mediation of TGFbeta signaling by SMADs. Following the definition of SMAD4 deletion as a negative predictive marker for chemotherapy benefit in patients with CRC, we aimed to evaluate the clinical relevance of the deletion of other SMAD genes clustered in this region: SMAD2 and SMAD7 in 264 CRC biopsies from a previous clinical study.

Costs of asthma in a cohort of Swiss adults: associations with exacerbation status and severity.

Objective: This article will address the effect of exacerbation status, disease severity (defined by medication required), and other variables on resource use and costs for asthma in Switzerland in 1996 to 1997.

Methods: A retrospective chart-based study was performed. A sample of 422 adults was analyzed.

DCR3 locus is a predictive marker for 5-fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer.

Adjuvant chemotherapy reduces the incidence of distant metastasis and increases survival of patients with colorectal cancer. However, predictive markers are needed to define subsets of patients with stage II and III disease that may benefit from adjuvant treatment. A secreted member of the TNF receptor superfamily, the decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), was reported to be amplified in colorectal cancer as a negative regulator of Fas-mediated apoptosis.

SMAD4 is a predictive marker for 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer.

The gene for the transducer of transforming growth factor-beta/bone morphogenetic protein signalling SMAD4, a potential suppressor of colorectal carcinogenesis, is located at the chromosomal region 18q21. In order to evaluate the clinical relevance of SMAD4 deletion, gene copy alterations were determined by copy dosage using real-time quantitative PCR in 202 colorectal tumour biopsies from a previous randomised study of adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with normal SMAD4 diploidy turned out to have a three-fold higher benefit of 5-fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy with a border line significance (overall survival: 3.

Restoration of E-cadherin/beta-catenin expression in pancreatic cancer cells inhibits growth by induction of apoptosis.

Background: beta-Catenin is a component of the E-cadherin/catenin adhesion complex that maintains epithelial cell integrity. We have previously observed decreased beta-catenin expression in both human pancreatic cancer cell lines and primary tumors. To determine the significance of this finding with respect to pancreatic carcinogenesis, this study evaluated the effects of restoring expression of beta-catenin with and without E-cadherin in pancreatic cancer cells.

Independent influences of central fat and skeletal muscle lipids on insulin sensitivity.

Objective: Insulin resistance is closely associated with two disparate aspects of lipid storage: the intracellular lipid content of skeletal muscle and the magnitude of central adipose beds. Our aim was to determine their relative contribution to impaired insulin action.

Research Methods And Procedures: Eighteen older (56 to 75 years of age) men were studied before elective knee surgery.

Response shift in the perception of health for utility evaluation. an explorative investigation.

We previously showed that patients with newly diagnosed colon cancer change the internal standards on which they base their quality of life estimation. In the present investigation, we explored whether this response shift similarly affects the perception of health for utility evaluation in cancer clinical trials. After radical resection of adenocarcinoma of the colon (pT1-4 pN>0 M0 and pT3-4 pN0 M0) and perioperative chemotherapy, patients were randomised to three treatment arms: observation only (A), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 450 mg/m(2) plus levamisol (B), or 5-FU 600 mg/m(2) (C).

Numerous colonic adenomas in an individual with Bloom's syndrome.

Bloom's syndrome (BS) is a rare recessive disorder caused by germline mutation of the BLM gene. Individuals with BS manifest growth retardation, immunodeficiency, and a predisposition to cancer. In this report, we describe an individual with BS and multiple colonic adenomas reminiscent of familial adenomatous polyposis coli (FAP).

A pilot study of preoperative chemoradiotherapy for resectable gastric cancer.

Background: The goals of this study were to assess the feasibility and toxicity of a regimen of preoperative chemoradiotherapy, surgery, and intraoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of patients with potentially resectable gastric cancer. A secondary objective was to assess pathologic response to chemoradiotherapy in the treated tumors.

Methods: Twenty-four patients were entered in the protocol.

Combined copy status of 18q21 genes in colorectal cancer shows frequent retention of SMAD7.

Deletions of chromosome band 18q21 appear with very high frequency in a variety of carcinomas, especially in colorectal cancer. Potent tumor suppressor genes located in this region encode transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) signal transducers SMAD2 and SMAD4, and inactivation of either one leads to impaired TGF-beta-mediated cell growth/apoptosis. Following the assignment of SMAD7 to 18q21, we first refined the SMAD7 gene position within this region by genetically mapping SMAD7 between SMAD2 and SMAD4.

Features of primary care associated with variations in process and outcome of care of people with diabetes.

Background: There is now clear evidence that tight control of blood glucose and blood pressure significantly lowers the risk of complications in both type I and type II diabetes. Although there is evidence that primary care can be as effective as secondary care in delivering care for people with diabetes, standards in primary care are variable. Previous studies have shown that practice, patient or organisational factors may influence the level of care of patients with diabetes.

Inequalities in provision of systematic care for patients with diabetes.

Background: GPs are now playing a greater role in the care of people with diabetes; however, the level of performance in primary care is variable. Practices with a recall system and diabetes mini-clinic have been shown to achieve better outcome of care of patients with diabetes. Systematic care also requires effective community-based diabetes services and access to primary care diabetes teams including dieticians, chiropodists, and optometrists and ophthalmologists.

Expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism correlate with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma expression in human skeletal muscle.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) activation in adipose tissue is known to regulate genes involved in adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. However, the role of PPAR-gamma in muscle remains unclear. To examine the potential regulation of genes by PPAR-gamma in human skeletal muscle, we used semiquantitative RT-PCR to determine the expression of PPAR-gamma, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), muscle carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (mCPT1), fatty acid-binding protein (FABP), carnitine acylcarnitine transferase (CACT), and glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) in freeze-dried muscle samples from 14 male subjects.

Pancreatic cancer: can we screen? How should we stage?

Pancreatic cancer remains a deadly disease, with few patients surviving 5 years following diagnosis. Surgical resection remains the only treatment associated with the potential for cure; however, most patients have locally advanced or metastatic disease at presentation and thus are not surgical candidates. Advances in imaging technologies, biochemistry, and molecular genetics have raised hopes of improving the outcome for patients with pancreatic cancer through earlier and more accurate diagnosis.

Long-chain acyl-CoA esters as indicators of lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity in rat and human muscle.

Long-chain acyl-CoAs (LCACoA) are an activated lipid species that are key metabolites in lipid metabolism; they also have a role in the regulation of other cellular processes. However, few studies have linked LCACoA content in rat and human muscle to changes in nutritional status and insulin action. Fasting rats for 18 h significantly elevated the three major LCACoA species in muscle (P < 0.

Surgical management of hereditary pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer continues to be a leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Seven genetic syndromes are now known to be associated with an increased incidence of pancreatic cancer. Other familial forms of pancreatic cancer exist although the genetic basis for this predisposition remains elusive.

Adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemoradiation for gastric and pancreatic cancer.

Both gastric and pancreatic cancer remain leading causes of cancer death in the United States and worldwide. While surgical resection continues to be required for long-term cure of both these neoplasms, 5-year survival rates remain poor following surgery alone. For both gastric and pancreatic cancers, studies examining patterns of recurrence following apparently curative resection repeatedly demonstrate high rates of locoregional relapse.

Response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy best predicts survival after curative resection of gastric cancer.

Objective: In Western populations, long-term survival rates after curative resection of gastric cancer remain extremely poor. The lack of effective adjuvant therapy has prompted the evaluation of neoadjuvant approaches. Since 1988, we have conducted three separate phase II trials using neoadjuvant chemotherapy to treat patients with potentially resectable gastric cancer.