Enteral Nutrition in Operated-On Gastric Cancer Patients: An Update.

It is well established that the preoperative nutritional status of gastric cancer (GC) patients significantly affects the prognosis of the operated patients, their overall survival, as well as the disease-specific survival. Existing data support that preoperative assessment of nutritional status and early correction of nutritional deficiencies exert a favorable effect on early postoperative outcomes. A variety of relevant indices are used to assess the nutritional status of GC patients who are candidates for surgery.

Combination treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: Present status and future perspectives.

The treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially those with severe or refractory disease, represents an important challenge for the clinical gastroenterologist. It seems to be no exaggeration to say that in these patients, not only the scientific background of the gastroenterologist is tested, but also the abundance of "gifts" that he should possess (insight, intuition, determination, ability to take initiative, ) for the successful outcome of the treatment. In daily clinical practice, depending on the severity of the attack, IBD is treated with one or a combination of two or more pharmaceutical agents.

Early-onset gastrointestinal cancer: An epidemiological reality with great significance and implications.

During the last few years, epidemiological data from many countries suggest that the incidence and prevalence of many cancers of the digestive system are shifting from the older to the younger ages, the so-called "early-onset cancer". This is particularly evident in colorectal cancer and secondarily in other malignant digestive neoplasms, mainly stomach and in a lesser degree pancreas, and biliary tract. It should be emphasized that data concerning digestive neoplasms, except for those referring to the colon and stomach, could be characterized as rather insufficient.

Immunotherapy of gastric cancer: Present status and future perspectives.

In this editorial, we comment on the article entitled "Advances and key focus areas in gastric cancer immunotherapy: A comprehensive scientometric and clinical trial review (1999-2023)," which was published in the recent issue of the . We focused on the results of the authors' bibliometric analysis concerning gastric cancer immunotherapy, which they analyzed in depth by compiling the relevant publications of the last 20 years. Before that, we briefly describe the most recent data concerning the epidemiological parameters of gastric cancer (GC) in different countries, attempting to give an interpretation based on the etiological factors involved in the etiopathogenesis of the neoplasm.

RANKL, OPG, TRAIL, KRas, and c-Fos expression in relation to central lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Purpose: RANKL, OPG and TRAIL have long been pursued in cancer. Mutated KRas proteins and c-Fos overexpression - well-recognized oncogenic events - have been conceived as coordinators of RANKL, OPG and TRAIL pathways. Considering the paucity in the relevant literature, the purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the expression of these molecules configures a distinct papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) subgroup with adverse clinicopathological characteristics.

Undifferentiated Adipose Tissue Stem Cell Transplantation Promotes Hepatic Regeneration, Ameliorates Histopathologic Damage of the Liver, and Upregulates the Expression of Liver Regeneration- and Liver-Specific Genes in a Rat Model of Partial Hepatectomy.

Objective: Adipose tissue stem cells (ADSCs) present a promising therapeutic method to alleviate liver failure (LF). The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of undifferentiated ADSC transplantation on liver regeneration and on the expression of liver regeneration- and liver-specific genes, following 60% partial hepatectomy (PHx).

Methods: Sixty female rats were subjected to PHx and were transplanted with 10 or 2 × 10 ADSCs, either into the portal vein (PV) or into the hepatic parenchyma.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation following Partial Hepatectomy: A New Concept to Promote Liver Regeneration-Systematic Review of the Literature Focused on Experimental Studies in Rodent Models.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an attractive source for regenerative medicine because they are easily accessible through minimally invasive methods and have the potential to enhance liver regeneration (LG) and improve liver function, following partial hepatectomy (PH) and acute or chronic liver injury. A systematic review of the literature was conducted for articles published up to September 1st, 2016, using the MEDLINE database. The keywords that were used in various combinations were as follows: "Mesenchymal stem cells", "transplantation", "stem cells", "adipose tissue derived stem cells", "bone marrow-derived stem cells", "partial hepatectomy", "acute liver failure", "chronic liver failure", "liver fibrosis", "liver cirrhosis", "rats", "mice", and "liver regeneration".

Visible to near-infrared refractive properties of freshly-excised human-liver tissues: marking hepatic malignancies.

The refractive index is an optical constant that plays a significant role in the description of light-matter interactions. When it comes to biological media, refraction is understudied despite recent advances in the field of bio-optics. In the present article, we report on the measurement of the refractive properties of freshly excised healthy and cancerous human liver samples, by use of a prism-coupling technique covering the visible and near-infrared spectral range.

High BAX/BCL2 mRNA ratio predicts favorable prognosis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, particularly in patients with negative lymph nodes at the time of diagnosis.

Objectives: Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), a common type of head and neck cancer, is associated with high rates of metastasis and recurrence. Therefore, accurate prognostic stratification of LSCC patients based on molecular prognostic tumor biomarkers would definitely lead to a better clinical management of this malignancy. The aim of this study was the investigation of the potential combinatorial prognostic value of BCL2 and BAX mRNA expression in LSCC.

Metzenbaum-assisted liver resection: a safe and effective liver resection technique.

Aim: We hereby present and evaluate a technique for hepatic parenchymal transection based on the application of Metzenbaum scissors and clips during liver ischemia.

Methods: Our technique was retrospectively evaluated in 32 noncirrhotic, noncholestatic patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and 32 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (23 of whom cirrhotic, 71.9%).

An in vitro model for investigating human autologous neuronal-astrocyte and immune cell interactions underlying neurodegenerative and immunosuppressive processes in neuropathy.

Primary mixed neuronal-astrocytic cultures were established from human brain tissues from elective surgical procedures and maintained in vitro for over 21 days. The majority of cells (a) expressed morphological and cytoskeletal markers of differentiated neurons (MAP2a&b; Tau) or astrocytes (GFAP) in anticipated proportion (1:2), and (b) regenerated synaptic connections and neural-astrocytic associations. Co-cultures with autologous blood leukocytes established that alterations in the viability (by Annexin V/PI) of brain and immune cells over 3 days were indicative of neurodegenerative or immunosuppressive processes.

Breast cancer nodal metastasis correlates with tumour and lymph node methylation profiles of Caveolin-1 and CXCR4.

DNA methylation is the best characterised epigenetic change so far. However, its role in breast cancer metastasis has not as yet been elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences between the methylation profiles characterising primary tumours and their corresponding positive or negative for metastasis lymph nodes (LN) and correlate these with tumour metastatic potential.

Phenotypic and functional alterations of primary human PBMCs induced by HCV non-enveloped capsid-like particles uptake.

Hepatitis C virus non-enveloped particles circulate in the serum of HCV-infected patients and are believed to be involved in viral persistence. It was previously demonstrated that recombinant HCVne particles can efficiently enter T cells. In this study we investigated the effect of this entry on the phenotype and function of PBMCs, focused on the CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells.

Co-culture of primary human tumor hepatocytes from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells: study of their in vitro immunological interactions.

Background: Many studies have suggested that the immune response may play a crucial role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, our aim was to establish a (i) functional culture of primary human tumor hepatocytes and non-tumor from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and (ii) a co-culture system of HCC and non-HCC hepatocytes with autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in order to study in vitro cell-to-cell interactions.

Methods: Tumor (HCC) and non-tumor (non-HCC) hepatocytes were isolated from the liver resection specimens of 11 patients operated for HCC, while PBMCs were retrieved immediately prior to surgery.

Review of the molecular profile and modern prognostic markers for gastric lymphoma: how do they affect clinical practice?

Primary gastric lymphoma is a rare cancer of the stomach with an indeterminate prognosis. Recently, a series of molecular prognostic markers has been introduced to better describe this clinical entity. This review describes the clinical importance of several oncogenes, apoptotic genes and chromosomal mutations in the initiation and progress of primary non-Hodgkin gastric lymphoma and their effect on patient survival.

Complications of percutaneous stereotactic vacuum assisted breast biopsy system utilizing radio frequency.

Objective: The Breast Lesion Excision System (BLES) is a novel, automatic breast biopsy device that utilizes radiofrequency to excise suspicious non-palpable mammographic lesions. The purpose of the present prospective study is to report and evaluate the complications of this new technique.

Materials And Methods: In a two year period, we used the BLES device in 132 consecutive patients (134 procedures) with non-palpable mammographic lesions.

Surgical resection for advanced gallbladder carcinoma. The Mount Sinai experience.

Background/aims: Advanced gallbladder cancer (GC) carries dismal prognosis, due to its extent at diagnosis and the low R0 resection performance rate.

Methodology: Thirty-two GC patients referred to our Department with an intention to treat between 1993 and 2005. All patients had advanced T stage (> or = T3).

Novel tumour-specific promoters for transcriptional targeting of hepatocellular carcinoma by herpes simplex virus vectors.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a cancer of poor prognosis, with limited success in patient treatment, which it makes an excellent target for gene therapy and viral oncolysis. Accordingly, herpes virus simplex type-1 (HSV-1) is one of the most promising viral platforms for transferring therapeutic genes and the development of oncolytic vectors that can target, multiply in, and eradicate hepatoma cells via their lytic cycle. Enhanced efficacy and specificity of HSV-1-based vectors towards HCC may be achieved by using HCC-specific gene promoters to drive selective viral gene expression and accomplish conditional replication and/or to control the expression of therapeutic genes.

Bax, cytochrome c, and caspase-8 staining in parotid cancer patients: markers of susceptibility in radiotherapy?

Objective: Negative bcl-2 and HLA-DR protein expression have been associated with responsiveness to adjuvant radiotherapy in surgically treated parotid cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of bax, cytochrome c, and caspase-8 protein expression in a group of surgically treated patients to determine whether they also suggest markers of responsiveness to adjuvant radiotherapy.

Study Design: Historical cohort study.

Prospective appraisal of a 2-day training course on laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: the ELTC experience.

Background: The increasing role of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in the treatment of morbid obesity dictates the need for greater acquaintance with this type of surgery. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of a 2-day LSG course and a 4-day laparoscopic bariatric mini-training program on the knowledge and training gained by participating surgeons.

Methods: A total of 73 trainees (31 residents and 42 surgeons) completed a question survey immediately after completion of the respective courses.

Multicentric evaluation of a clinical and prognostic scoring system predictive of survival after resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas.

Objective: To develop a clinical and prognostic scoring system predictive of survival after resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (ICC).

Patients: Two hundred and one consecutive ICC patients (83 from Essen, Germany, 54 from New York, USA and 64 from Chiba, Japan). The scoring systems were developed utilizing the data set from Essen University and then applied to the data sets from Mount Sinai Medical Center and Chiba University for validation.

Administration of human protein C improves survival in an experimental model of sepsis.

Objective: Study the effect of human protein C (PC) concentrate administration on organ damage and survival in septic rats.

Design: Animal study.

Setting: University laboratory.