SFRP1 promotor methylation analysis of FTA card touch-prep samples derived from colonic polyps.

Whatman FTA® cards provide the most reliable method for DNA storage and extraction, however, the literature lacks reports on the epigenetic analysis of FTA card-derived tumor DNA. Therefore, this study aimed at demonstrating that punches from colonic adenoma samples preserved on FTA filter cards are suitable for methylation analysis by real-time methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Genomic DNA was isolated from a total of 40 sporadic colorectal adenoma samples stored on FTA cards for a median of 59.

Abundance of the Organic Anion-transporting Polypeptide OATP4A1 in Early-Stage Colorectal Cancer Patients: Association With Disease Relapse.

The abundance of OATP4A1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) might be related to tumor progression. This was studied by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded samples obtained from 178 patients (43 patients with a relapse within 5 y) with early-stage CRC. Positivity for OATP4A1 in tumor cells and noncancerous mucosal cells was proved by double-immunofluorescence staining with antibodies against OATP4A1 and keratin 8, whereas antibodies against appropriate CD markers were used to identify immune cells.

Mutual associations between malignancy, age, gender, and subsite incidence of colorectal cancer.

Background: A cross-sectional study was performed on a cohort of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients to reveal any influence of age, gender, and subsite on grades of malignancy.

Patients And Methods: Data from histopathological grading according to WHO criteria were pooled into groups of low-grade (well and moderately differentiated) and high-grade (poorly and undifferentiated) cancer and analyzed for associations.

Results: In general, women with CRC were significantly older than men (p<0.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as an isolated bariatric procedure: intermediate-term results from a large series in three Austrian centers.

Background: Gastric sleeve resection was initially planned as the first step of bilio-pancreatic diversion with duodenal switch but it continues to emerge as a restrictive bariatric procedure on its own. We describe intermediate results in a series of 126 laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies (LSG) compiled from three bariatric centers in eastern Austria.

Methods: The stomach was laparoscopically reduced to a "sleeve" along the lesser curvature over a 48-Fr bougie.

Differential diagnosis of benign and malign pancreatic masses with 18F-fluordeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography recorded with a dual-head coincidence gamma camera.

Introduction: Metabolic imaging using 18F-fluordeoxyglucose and a ring-positron emission tomography camera is an established method in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic masses. Ring-positron emission tomography cameras, however, are expensive and available in only few specialized centres. The aim of this study was to investigate how far 18F-fluordeoxyglucose scan with a conventional dual-head gamma-camera could differentiate between benign and malign pancreatic masses.

Treatment of gastro-jejunal leakage and fistulization after gastric bypass with coated self-expanding stents.

Leakage and fistulization of the gastro-jejunostomy have been the major drawback of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) surgery. Most authors agree that operative treatment is the mainstay of therapy in patients with signs of sepsis. However, intestinal contents causing localized infection may impede healing of sutured leaks in some patients, and fistulas develop.

Band slippage--a potentially life-threatening complication after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

Background: Although gastric bands are safe and effective devices, severe late complications may develop in rare cases.

Patients: 3 patients were treated for complete dysphagia after slippage of gastric bands. 2 of the patients were admitted for severe dehydration, 1 of whom developed cerebral venous infarction.

Immunoglobulin G Fc(gamma) receptor expression on polymorphonuclear cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of HIV-infected and HIV-seronegative patients with bacterial pneumonia.

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that impaired neutrophil function might contribute to the development of bacterial pneumonia in patients with HIV-infection. Numbers of inflammatory cells and immunoglobulin G Fcgamma receptor (IgG FcgammaR) I, II, III levels were investigated in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of HIV-seronegative and HIV-infected patients with bacterial pneumonia. The 99 patients were classified into three groups: I: HIV-seronegative and pneumonia (n = 40); II: HIV-infected and pneumonia (n = 19); III: HIV-seronegative with other pulmonary diseases than pneumonia (n = 40).

Weight loss reduces tissue factor in morbidly obese patients.

Objective: To investigate the tissue factor (TF) pathway in clinical obesity and associated metabolic syndrome.

Research Methods And Procedures: Thirty-seven morbidly obese patients (4 men; BMI, 48 +/- 7 kg/m(2); range, 42 to 53 kg/m(2)), undergoing elective gastroplasty for the induction of weight loss, were examined for hemostatic, metabolic, and inflammatory parameters at baseline and 14 +/- 5 months postoperatively.

Results: Weight loss significantly reduced circulating plasma TF (314 +/- 181 vs.

High-grade dysplasia and invasive carcinoma in colorectal adenomas: a multivariate analysis of the impact of adenoma and patient characteristics.

Background And Aims: Most colorectal carcinomas develop from preformed adenomas, but only a minority of adenomas undergo malignant transformation. The clinical significance of polyps of size < 0.5 cm is controversial.

Surgical treatment for severe acute pancreatitis: extent and surgical control of necrosis determine outcome.

In patients operated on for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), the factors determining outcome remain unclear. From 1986 to 1998 a total of 340 patients with a diagnosis of SAP and in need of operative treatment were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital and a secondary care hospital. The mean APACHE II score on the day of admission was 16.