C936T polymorphism of the VEGF gene in relation to the risk and the clinical and biological characteristics of sporadic colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Background: One of the main glycoproteins responsible for angiogenesis is the vascular endothelial growth factor. It is believed that C936T polymorphism, located in the VEGF gene, is correlated with susceptibility towards development of sporadic colorectal adenocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to identify the frequencies of the genotypes of C936T polymorphism of the VEGF gene in patients with sporadic colorectal adenocarcinoma, in comparison with controls, and whether this correlates with the degree of tumor invasion, lymph node involvement and occurrence of metastases at the time of the diagnosis.

Autophagy is decreased in mesenteric fat tissue but not in intestinal mucosae of patients with Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic intestinal disease with a multifactorial etiology. Recently, a role for mesenteric fat has been proposed in CD pathophysiology, since fat hypertrophy is detected close to the affected intestinal area; however, there are few studies regarding autophagy and the hypertrophied mesenteric tissue in CD. To evaluate autophagy-related proteins in intestinal mucosae and mesenteric fat of patients with CD and controls, patients with ileocecal CD (CD Group) and with non-inflammatory disease (FC Group) selected for surgery were studied.

Differential expression of TLR2, TLR4 and JNK in mucosa of ileal pouches for ulcerative colitis. Is there a role for bacterial antigen pathway in asymptomatic patients?

Introduction: Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the preferred surgical procedure for patients with refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). However, pouchitis is the most common complication after IPAA in UC patients and only occurs after ileostomy closure. Therefore, it is important to get more information about the role of the ileal pouch microbiota and mucosa susceptibility to inflammation in UC patients.

Evaluation of lateral lymph node metastases in advanced distal rectal cancer.

Background/aims: The importance of lateral node dissection has not yet been fully investigated in advanced rectal cancer. To evaluate tumor cells in perirectal and lateral lymph nodes dissection from rectal adenocarcinomas considered free of disease by the hematoxylin-eosin test.

Methodology: Fifteen patients submitted to neoadjuvant therapy and surgery for rectal adenocarcinoma with lateral node dissection were studied, retrospectively.

Comparative study of eosinophil chemotaxis, adhesion, and degranulation in vitro in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Background: Eosinophils have been identified in tissues from patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) but whether they contribute to IBD pathogenesis is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the functional activity and morphological aspects of peripheral-blood eosinophils from IBD patients compared to those from healthy volunteers (HVs).

Methods: Eosinophils from HVs and CD and UC patients were purified using a Percoll gradient and then a immunomagnetic cell separator.

[Comparative study of the hyperbaric hyperoxygenation in ischemic colonic loops in rats].

Purpose: To analyze and to evaluate the effect of the hyperbaric hyperoxygenation in the mechanical resistance of ischemic colon of rats.

Methods: Eighty rats, distributed in four groups of 20 animals in each one, were used. In group 1 (G1), the control group, ischemia was not caused.