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.

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).

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.

Improving comprehension of informed consent.

Objective: To explore the way the doctor-patient communication process may be improved by adopting the patients' conversational style in the development of written materials for surgical patients.

Methods: Written information prepared by doctors, specialists in abdominal surgery, was tested for comprehension on patients undergoing cholecystectomy, using the standard Cloze test procedure. At the same time, the patients were asked to describe in their own words all they knew about their illness and the treatment.

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.

Postoperative infections in colorectal cancer patients.

Background/aims: Colorectal surgery is associated with some of the highest rates of infective complications, and especially surgical site infections. It has recently been reported that postoperative infection in colorectal cancer surgery increases the risk of recurrence. The aim of this study was to analyze factors associated with the occurrence of postoperative infections in patients with colorectal cancer.

Minimal number of lymph nodes that need to be examined for adequate staging of colorectal cancer--factors influencing lymph node harvest.

Background/aims: Accurate assessment of lymphatic node status is an essential component in staging of colorectal cancer and determining the need for adjuvant treatment. The risk of understaging nodal status decreases by increasing the number of examined lymph nodes. Several recommendations have been published for the minimum number of lymphatic nodes that need to be harvested for accurate nodal staging with minimal chance of error, ranging from 6 to 17 lymph nodes.

Nature of Doppler perfusion index changes in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases.

Objective: Occult hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer result in an increase of the ratio of arterial hepatic blood flow to total hepatic blood flow, described as the Doppler perfusion index. Whether this alteration is due to an increase in arterial blood flow or a decrease in portal venous inflow has not yet been unequivocally determined. The purpose of this study was to analyze changes in hepatic perfusion in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer by standardization of hemodynamic parameters to body surface area.