Assessment of apelin, apelin receptor, resistin, and adiponectin levels in the primary tumor and serum of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Disturbances in adipokine secretion are associated with the risk of cancer growth and progression.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the mRNA expression and protein levels of apelin, the apelin receptor, resistin, and adiponectin in the tumor tissues of surgically treated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients. Concentrations of serum adipokines were assessed in relation to ESCC progression.

Circulating Oxidized Low-Density Lipoproteins and Antibodies against Oxidized Low-Density Lipoproteins as Potential Biomarkers of Colorectal Cancer.

Introduction. The aim of the study was evaluation of the diagnostic utility of serum oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL), antibodies against oxLDLs (o-LAB), and CEA as risk markers of colorectal cancer (CRC). Material and Methods.

Increased level of serum prostaglandin-2 in early stage of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Introduction: Prostaglandin-2 (PGE-2), one of the products of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) induced catalysis, may play a critical role in the carcinogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We investigated the efficacy of using serum PGE-2 concentration as a biomarker for this cancer type.

Material And Methods: Prostaglandin-2 levels were analyzed in the serum of 65 ESCC patients and in 47 healthy individuals.

Serum levels of resistin, adiponectin, and apelin in gastroesophageal cancer patients.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was the investigation of relationship between cachexia syndrome and serum resistin, adiponectin, and apelin in patients with gastroesophageal cancer (GEC).

Material And Methods: Adipocytokines concentrations were measured in sera of 85 GEC patients and 60 healthy controls. They were also evaluated in tumor tissue and appropriate normal mucosa of 38 operated cancer patients.

Achalasia--balloon dilation or surgery?

Background: The optimal therapeutic schedule in patients with achalasia is still under discussion. The aim of this study was to review our institution's experience with myotomy and dilation in patients with achalasia.

Material And Methods: Clinical data were available for 59 patients who had ever had myotomy (n=38), dilation (n=21), or both procedures (n=8) between 2000 and 2007.

Concentration of serum interleukin-27 increase in patients with lymph node metastatic gastroesophageal cancer.

Background: Cytokines, one of the key mediators of immune response, play an important role in cancer development.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the interleukin-27 (IL-27) concentration in the serum of patients with gastroesophageal cancer (GEC) and in patients with non-cancerous benign diseases of the upper digestive tract (NCD). We investigated the relationship between the serum IL-27 level and clinicopathological factors, and also the diagnostic utility of IL-27 as a marker of GEC presence.

Partner relationships after mastectomy in women not offered breast reconstruction.

Background: The present study assessed the degree to which undergoing a mastectomy without reconstructive surgery negatively impacts the patient's psychological state. We focus on body image and self-esteem as well as the influence of mastectomy on patient sex lives and partnership relations.

Methods: The participants were 60 women, either married or in a relationship, who had had a mastectomy because of breast cancer and no subsequent reconstructive surgery.

Circulating leptin and inflammatory response in esophageal cancer, esophageal cancer-related cachexia-anorexia syndrome (CAS) and non-malignant CAS of the alimentary tract.

We investigated the association between esophageal cancer and cachexia-anorexia syndrome (CAS) of the alimentary tract and leptin, an adipocytokine crucial for body weight regulation, a modulator of inflammatory/immune response, implication of which in cancer and CAS development remains debatable. Circulating leptin was measured in 135 esophageal cancer patients (51 non-cachectic and 84 cachectic) and 83 controls (63 non-cachectic and 20 cachectic) and referred to cancer stage, CAS, and inflammatory and nutritional indices. Leptin was down-regulated in cancer patients and cachectic controls as compared to non-cachectic controls, with more pronounced hypoleptinemia in advanced cancers.

[Non-epithelial tumors of the large intestine].

Unlabelled: Colorectal cancer may arise from any kind of tissue constituting normal wall of the large intestine, however, in majority of cases, it is of epithelial origin. Endocrine, mesenchymal neoplasms and non-granulomatic lymphomas belong to rarely occurring cancers of the large intestine. Mesenchymal neoplasms may derive from muscles, nervous system, fibrous connective tissue, fat tissue and from blood and lymphatic vessels.

Serum interleukin-12 and interleukin-18 levels in patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) play an important role as immunomodulatory factors in cancer pathogenesis. THE AIM of the study was analyze changes of serum IL-12 and IL-18 concentrations in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients depending on the progression of cancer.

Materials And Methods: Blood samples were taken from 41 patients with oesophageal cancer: 5 women and 36 men, mean age 59+/-9 years.

Development of the descending colon during the human foetal period.

The growth, changes in shape, topography and relation to the peritoneum of the descending colon were assessed on the basis of material taken from 178 foetuses of both sexes, aged from 72 to 236 days of pregnancy. The statistical analysis method demonstrated that the descending colon growth process occurs about a month earlier in female foetuses as compared to male ones. From the statistical point of view, the longitudinal growth of the descending colon significantly slows down in the 7th and 8th months of pregnancy, while the width of this part of the large intestine increases sharply towards the end of the foetal development period.

[Ca 19-9 antigen in differentiation of pancreatic inflammatory and neoplastic tumors].

Difficulties in differentiation between inflammatory and neoplastic tumors of pancreas cause that the diagnostics based on image examinations requires the assessment of neoplastic markers. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the usefulness of Ca 19-9 in differentiation of inflammatory and neoplastic pancreatic tumors. Examinations were carried out on a group of healthy people (n = 32), patients with chronic pancreatitis (n = 32) and patients with carcinoma of exocrine part of pancreas (n = 32).

[Neuroendocrine pancreatic tumors].

Neuroendocrine tumors are an interesting group of neoplasmas of the digestive system. A possibility of appearance of syndromes connected with hormonal activity is their common feature. Some of them are not hormonally active and they do not manifest hormonal hyperactivity.

[Concentration of serum soluble forms of ICAM-1 (sVCAM-1) and VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) in patients with chronic pancreatitis and in patients with pancreatic carcinoma].

Unlabelled: Cellular adhesion plays a major role in many biological processes--in cells' growth, their differentiation, migration and apoptosis. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the expression of two selected adhesion molecules at the Ig superfamily in their soluble forms (sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1) in patients with chronic pancreatitis and in patients with pancreatic carcinoma in comparison with a group of healthy people. Examinations were carried out on healthy people (n = 32), patients with chronic pancreatitis (n = 32) and with pancreatic cancer (n = 32).

[Postop complication of pancreatic resection].

Early complications after partial pancreatic resections and benign pancreatic tumours were analysed. 276 patients with pancreatic tumours were treated in the years 1979-1997. In 77 cases radical operation was performed.

[Comparative evaluation of postoperative complication in the reconstructive surgery of the esophagus].

The paper presents 78 patients with stenosis of the middle thoracic segment of the esophagus. The substitute, being pedunculated intestinal graft, was brought to the neck through the retrosternal space. Early post-operative complications occurred in 8.

[Tumor in Vater's ampulla--local excision or Whipple's resection].

Results of the operative treatment of Vater's papilla carcinoma in fifteen cases were analysed. Eleven patients had pancreatoduodenectomy according to Whipple, four had only local excision of Vater's papilla along with the tumour. All four had early recurrence and were re-operated by Whipple method.

[Intraoperative portography in operations for resection of pancreas neoplasms].

Since 1993 during pancreatic resection routine intraoperative portography has been employed. Thus we are able to establish infiltration engaging portal vein and its branches. Facilitating decision making about resectability of the tumor.

[Treatment of hemorrhoids].

In the years 1980-89, 156 patients were treated in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, in whom the main disease were haemorrhoids. Surgical treatment was given to 101 patients (64.74%), and 55 patients were treated conservatively (35.