SRC and TKS5 mediated podosome formation in fibroblasts promotes extracellular matrix invasion and pulmonary fibrosis.

The activation and accumulation of lung fibroblasts resulting in aberrant deposition of extracellular matrix components, is a pathogenic hallmark of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, a lethal and incurable disease. In this report, increased expression of TKS5, a scaffold protein essential for the formation of podosomes, was detected in the lung tissue of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis patients and bleomycin-treated mice. Τhe profibrotic milieu is found to induce TKS5 expression and the formation of prominent podosome rosettes in lung fibroblasts, that are retained ex vivo, culminating in increased extracellular matrix invasion.

Antiproliferative and cytotoxic action of N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin in lung cancer cells.

Purpose: Lung cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related cases and cancer-associated deaths. Tumor cells frequently acquire chemoresistance and, due to that, new therapies are always needed in the fight against cancer. Pharmaceutical plants continue to offer novel compounds as anticancer therapies.

N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in breast cancer cells.

Purpose: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy among women. Breast cancer cells may develop resistance to current chemotherapy, thus new chemotherapeutic agents are urgently needed.

Methods: A major number of drugs with anticancer activity have been isolated from plants.

In Surgical Colon Cancer Patients Extended-Duration Thromboprophylaxis (30 days) with the Highest Dose of Tinzaparin (4,500 IU s.c./q.d.) Normalizes the Postoperative VEGF Levels.

In colon cancer (CC) patients preoperative (pre-op) levels of VEGF-A (VEGF) is a strong predictor for disease recurrence. Elevated postoperative (post-op) VEGF levels could have undesirable effects by enhancing tumor growth and metastasis formation. It has been suggested that thromboprophylaxis with a Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) in surgical cancer patients, further to thromboembolic protection, may exert some anti-neoplastic properties, as well.

Life-threatening hemorrhage from abdominal aorta following a percutaneous renal biopsy.

We report on a case of life-threatening abdominal aorta hemorrhage following percutaneous renal biopsy. A 42-year-old woman with chronic kidney disease stage 2 and microscopic hematuria underwent a percutaneous renal biopsy to evaluate renal insufficiency. One hour following the biopsy procedure, she complained of an abdominal pain and developed signs ofoligemic shock.

Long myotomy with antireflux repair for esophageal spastic disorders.

This report presents the long-term subjective and objective results of esophageal myotomy and fundoplication by thoracotomy in the treatment of esophageal spastic disorders. From 1977 to 1995, a total of 16 patients with esophageal spastic disorders were referred to our unit and underwent a myotomy with an added partial (n = 12) or total (n = 4) fundoplication. The median follow-up was 6 years.

Long-term effects of myotomy and partial fundoplication for esophageal achalasia.

Controversy persists in the surgical approach to treat esophageal achalasia. This investigation reports the long-term effects of esophageal myotomy and partial fundoplication in treating this disorder. From 1984 to 1998, 32 patients with achalasia underwent myotomy and partial fundoplication (Belsey Mark IV) using a left thoracotomy.

Manometric study in Kearns-Sayre syndrome.

Although swallowing difficulties have been described in patients with Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS), the spectrum of manometric characteristics of dysphagia is not yet well known. Moreover, it is conceivable that a combination of various degrees of swallowing difficulties with different patterns in manometric studies exist, each playing a major role in the prognosis, natural history, and quality of life of KSS patients. An 18-year-old girl diagnosed at the age of 5 years with KSS (muscle biopsy) was admitted to our department with an upper respiratory tract infection and dysphagia.

Submucosa of canine small intestine as an alternative medium-diameter autogenous arterial graft.

Background: Small intestinal canine submucosa has been used in previous studies as a large diameter arterial graft and has shown acceptable patency rates. The aim of our experimental study was to assess its effectiveness when it is used as an autogenous medium-sized diameter arterial graft (5-7 mm).

Methods: Fifteen mongrel dogs were included and underwent laparotomy under general anaesthesia.

Results of the Collis-Nissen gastroplasty in patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Background: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is an advanced stage of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Medical treatment and standard antireflux operations show a high failure rate. An elongated gastroplasty, wrapped by a total fundoplication should provide a tension-free repair with adequate protection against reflux.

Protection of the gastroduodenal mucosa from the effects of diclofenac sodium: role of highly selective vagotomy and misoprostol.

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of highly selective vagotomy (HSV) or misoprostol, a prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) analog, for protecting the gastroduodenal mucosa (GDM) from the effects of diclofenac sodium (DS). Fifty mongrel dogs were randomly allocated to five groups. HSV alone was performed in group I dogs (controls) to standardize the operation.

Traumatic cholecystectomy.

Avulsion of the gallbladder from its liver bed with detachment from both cystic duct and artery is an exceedingly rare consequence of blunt abdominal injury. A case is reported in which early recognition by diagnostic peritoneal lavage led to successful treatment.