Critical appraisal of 232 consecutive distal pancreatectomies with emphasis on risk factors, outcome, and management of the postoperative pancreatic fistula: a 21-year experience at a single institution.

Objective: To critically analyze a large single-institution experience with distal pancreatectomy (DP), with particular attention to the risk factors, outcome, and management of the postoperative pancreatic fistula (PF).

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Brivanib alaninate, a dual inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and fibroblast growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases, induces growth inhibition in mouse models of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common primary neoplasm; surgery is the only curative option but 5-year survival rates are only 25% to 50%. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) are known to be involved in growth and neovascularization of HCC. Therefore, agents that target these pathways may be effective in the treatment of HCC.

Eating behaviour, body image, and self-esteem of adolescent girls in Malaysia.

This cross-sectional study was undertaken with 489 secondary school girls, ages 15-17 years, to examine disordered eating behaviours of adolescent girls in Malaysia and to estimate associations with body weight, body-size discrepancy, and self-esteem. Dietary restraint, binge eating, body image, and self-esteem were assessed using the Restrained Eating scale of the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, the Binge Scale Questionnaire, the Contour Drawing Rating Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, respectively. Pearson correlations estimated associations between variables.

Role of comprehensive cancer centres during economic and disease transition: National Cancer Centre, Singapore--a case study.

In 1999, Singapore created a comprehensive cancer centre because of the rising occurrence of cancer in the country. Although Singapore is different from many developing countries because of its small geographical size and its well-endowed economy, it has issues that are common to any country or community wanting to start such centres. We present our experience of developing a comprehensive cancer centre.

Oxytocin stimulates glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells through the calcium-CaMKK-AMPK pathway.

Oxytocin is a mammalian hormone that is released mainly after distension of the uterine cervix. In this study, we report that oxytocin stimulates intracellular release of calcium, and also activates AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) in C2C12 myoblast cells in a time/dose-dependent manner. Oxytocin receptor mRNA was detected in C2C12 cells.

Immune response against angiosarcoma following lower fluence rate clinical photodynamic therapy.

Tumor response to photodynamic therapy (PDT) is dependent on treatment parameters used. In particular, the light fluence rate may be an important determinant of the treatment outcome. In this clinical case report, we describe the response of angiosarcoma to PDT carried out using different fluence rates and drug and light doses.

Molecular profiling of angiogenesis in hypericin mediated photodynamic therapy.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves the administration of a tumor-localizing photosensitizing drug, which is activated by light of specific wavelength in the presence of molecular oxygen thus generating reactive oxygen species that is toxic to the tumor cells. PDT selectively destroys photosensitized tissue leading to various cellular and molecular responses. The present study was designed to examine the angiogenic responses at short (0.

Bevacizumab and rapamycin induce growth suppression in mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a leading cause of global cancer mortality, with standard chemotherapy being minimally effective in prolonging survival. We investigated if combined targeting of vascular endothelial growth factor protein and expression might affect hepatocellular carcinoma growth and angiogenesis.

Methods: We treated patient-derived hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts with (i) bevacizumab; (ii) rapamycin; and (iii) bevacizumab plus rapamycin.

RAD001 (everolimus) inhibits tumour growth in xenograft models of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide and highly resistant to available chemotherapies. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) functions to regulate protein translation, angiogenesis and cell cycle progression in many cancers including HCC. In the present study, subcutaneous patient-derived HCC xenografts were used to study the effects of an mTOR inhibitor, RAD001 (everolimus), on tumour growth, apoptosis and angiogenesis.

Improved formulation of photosensitizer chlorin e6 polyvinylpyrrolidone for fluorescence diagnostic imaging and photodynamic therapy of human cancer.

An improved formulation of the photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) in combination with the hydrophilic polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was investigated for its potential clinical applications in fluorescence diagnosis and photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. This study reports the comparative preclinical biodistribution and efficacy of Ce6 delivered with or without PVP versus dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The safety and fluorescence pharmacokinetics of Ce6-PVP in humans was also accessed.

A global partnership in medical education between Duke University and the National University of Singapore.

Duke University and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have partnered to launch a new medical school that brings the American style of postbaccalaureate medical education to Asia. The new institution, called the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School (GMS) and located in Singapore adjacent to the Singapore General Hospital, admitted its inaugural class of students representing citizens of seven nations in August 2007. The project represents an investment of more than $350 million from three ministries of the Singapore government, and a commitment on Duke's part to provide senior leadership and recruit faculty from Duke, from other international locales, and from within Singapore itself.

Clinical validation of a customized multiple signature microarray for breast cancer.

Purpose: Current histopathologic systems for classifying breast tumors require evaluation of multiple variables and are often associated with significant interobserver variability. Recent studies suggest that gene expression profiles may represent a promising alternative for clinical cancer classification. Here, we investigated the use of a customized microarray as a potential tool for clinical practice.

Early diagnosis of oral cancer based on the surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles.

The high mortality rate in cancer such as oral squamous cell carcinoma is commonly attributed to the difficulties in detecting the disease at an early treatable stage. In this study, we exploited the ability of gold nanoparticles to undergo coupled surface plasmon resonance and set up strong electric fields when closely-spaced to improve the molecular contrast signal in reflectance-based imaging and also to enhance the Raman signal of bioanalytes in cancer. Colloidal gold nanoparticles were synthesized and conjugated to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) for imaging.

Amplification and overexpression of PPFIA1, a putative 11q13 invasion suppressor gene, in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Chromosomal amplifications of the 11q13 genomic region are frequent in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). To identify novel 11q13 amplification targets, we integrated high-resolution array-based comparative genomic hybridization and Affymetrix gene-expression profiling of eight HNSCC cell lines. We found that PPFIA1 was the highest upregulated gene in the 11q13 amplicon of HNSCC cell lines when compared with HNSCC lines without 11q13 amplification and confirmed the upregulation of PPFIA1 in primary HNSCCs by real-time PCR.

Risk-stratified management of well-differentiated thyroid cancers: a review of experience from a single institution, 1990-2003.

Introduction: Controversy persists regarding ideal management strategies in well-differentiated thyroid cancers (WDTC). This retrospective study reviews the utilization of a modified AMES risk stratification in the management of our institution's patients.

Methods: A total of 352 patients (median follow-up of 5.

Bevacizumab and rapamycin inhibit tumor growth in peritoneal model of human ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancer. Often, the disease has spread beyond the ovary to involve the peritoneal cavity and causes ascites. Whereas mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) functions to regulate protein translation, cell cycle progression, and metastasis, vascular endothelial growth factor promotes tumor angiogenesis, ascites formation, and metastasis in ovarian cancer.

Investigation into a surface plasmon related heating effect in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

The irreversible loss of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) intensity derived from electrostatically immobilized Au colloidal substrate is studied. The total intensity of the SERS scattering from crystal violet molecules adsorbed onto the substrate was monitored for up to 240 s under continuous laser irradiation. The rate of signal decay was found to depend upon the thickness of the liquid layer over the coated substrate.

Effects of N-methyl pyrrolidone on the uptake of hypericin in human bladder carcinoma and co-staining with DAPI investigated by confocal microscopy.

Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) using hypericin (HY), a natural photosensitizer, detects bladder cancer significantly better than white light endoscopy. However, the lipophilicity of HY complicates its administration for clinical applications. Currently, pharmaceutical preparations for HY without plasma protein are being developed.

AZD6244 and doxorubicin induce growth suppression and apoptosis in mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide, with no effective treatment for most individuals who succumb to this neoplasm. We report that treatment of primary HCC cells with the mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase 1/2 inhibitor AZD6244 (ARRY-142886) plus doxorubicin led to synergistic growth inhibition and apoptosis. In vivo administration of AZD6244, doxorubicin, or the combination of AZD6244 and doxorubicin in mice bearing 5-1318 HCC xenografts resulted in approximately 52% +/- 15%, 12% +/- 9%, and 76% +/- 7% growth inhibition, respectively.

Hybrid Integrated Silicon Microfluidic Platform for Fluorescence Based Biodetection.

The desideratum to develop a fully integrated Lab-on-a-chip device capable ofrapid specimen detection for high throughput in-situ biomedical diagnoses and Point-of-Care testing applications has called for the integration of some of the novel technologiessuch as the microfluidics, microphotonics, immunoproteomics and Micro ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS). In the present work, a silicon based microfluidic device hasbeen developed for carrying out fluorescence based immunoassay. By hybrid attachment ofthe microfluidic device with a Spectrometer-on-chip, the feasibility of synthesizing anintegrated Lab-on-a-chip type device for fluorescence based biosensing has beendemonstrated.

Effect of hypericin-mediated photodynamic therapy on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is currently being used as an alternative treatment modality for various types of cancers. PDT involves the selective uptake and retention of a photosensitizer in the tumor followed by light irradiation of an appropriate wavelength to cause the destruction of tumor cells by the formation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species. The photosensitizer, hypericin, has shown great potential due to its light-dependent tumor destructive properties.

Right-sided Bochdalek's hernia in an adult.

Bochdalek hernia is a type of congenital diaphragmatic hernia that typically presents in childhood, but may rarely be detected in adults. The treatment of choice is operative repair due to the risk of visceral herniation and strangulation.

Significance of tumour volume measurements in tongue cancer: a novel role in staging.

Background: Tongue cancers are staged by the American Joint Committee on Cancer and the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer TNM staging systems. Cancer, however, evolves in a 3-D plane. Hence, using the largest tumour diameter will not reflect total cancer volume.