Treatment of Merkel Cell Carcinoma Using Intraoperative Flow Cytometry (iFC) Protocol, Optimized for Head and Neck Lesions, as a Means for Tumor Margin Evaluation - a Case Presentation.

We present the case of a patient with a Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the left preauricular area. A 84-year-old Greek man was examined at the outpatient ENT Department of our clinic with a lesion in the preauricular area that had appeared four months ago. The patient history included antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic therapy as well as treatment for dementia.

Quality of life and tolerance to mental pain scale in cancer patients subjected to bone scan.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of psychiatric co-morbidities on the quality of life-36 (QoL36) and tolerance to mental pain scale (TMPS) questionnaire of cancer patients administered in the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine prior to a bone scan to rule out metastatic disease.

Methods: A group of 40 consecutive cancer patients (24 prostate, 12 breast and 4 with other cancers) were subjected to bone scan (BS) to rule out metastatic disease. Each patient received QoL36 and TMPS questionnaire prior to BS.

Synthesis of vitamin E and aliphatic lipid vanadium(IV) and (V) complexes, and their cytotoxic properties.

Novel vitamin E chelate derivatives and their V complexes have been synthesized and characterized, and their anticancer properties have been evaluated. The new complexes have been designed to exhibit enhanced cytotoxicity by combining high lipophilicity with the properties of vanadium to induce the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In particular, the β-tocopherol derivatives with iminodiethanol (β-tocDEA) and dipicolylamine (β-tocDPA) as well their V and V complexes, [VO(β-tocDEA] and [VO(β-tocDPA] have been synthesized and characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Ultra Violet-Visible (UV-Vis) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopies.

Impact of total PSA and percent free PSA in the differentiation of prostate disease: a retrospective comparative study implicating neoplastic and non-neoplastic entities.

Purpose: To evaluate the potential of prostate cancer detection on the basis of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-level and percent free PSA (% fPSA) according to the outcome of prostate needle biopsy.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of 1040 patients that underwent a prostate biopsy in the Urologic Clinic of the University Hospital of Ioannina, Greece. The patients underwent needle biopsy after abnormal finding in digital rectal examination (DRE).

Antitumor effects of the electromagnetic resonant frequencies derived from the H NMR spectrum of PhSn(Mercaptonicotinic)SnPh complex.

The aim of this article is to investigate the potential cytotoxic and antitumor effects of the resonant electromagnetic fields (rEMFs) derived from the H NMR spectrum of the PhSn(Mercaptonicotinic)SnPh complex (SnMNA). The ability of the complex's rEMFs to induce leiomyosarcoma (LMS) cell death and to recess tumor (leiomyosarcoma) development in Wistar rats was evaluated. The effects of the simultaneous administration of the SnMNA complex at extremely low concentrations and exposure to its rEMFs was also investigated.

Curcumin Acts as a Chemosensitizer for Leiomyosarcoma Cells In Vitro But Fails to Mediate Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Cisplatin-Induced Experimental Nephrotoxicity in Rats.

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of various cancers. Although it represents an effective regimen, its application is accompanied by side effects to normal tissues, especially to the kidneys. Cisplatin generates free radicals and impairs the function of antioxidant enzymes.

Screening for prostate cancer: moving forward in the molecular era.

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is the most widely known screening test to detect prostate cancer (PCa). However, PSA testing has been recently put under the microscope mainly due to its weak correlation with prostate malignancy. In several clinical trials the PSA-screening validity for the diagnosis of PCa was evaluated.

Effects of α-Lipoic Acid, Carnosine, and Thiamine Supplementation in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized, Double-Blind Study.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is evolving to an epidemic of the modern world. T2DM is associated with a number of pathological complications, including cardiovascular disease that is mostly promoted by the increased oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic patients. We performed a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of an individualized oral supplementation with α-lipoic acid (ALA), carnosine, and thiamine.

Heterotopic ossification in patients previously hospitalized in an intensive care unit.

Background: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a potential complication in patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU). In this study we examined the association of HO diagnosed with three-phase bone scan (3pBS) in association with various parameters in patients previously hospitalized in ICU.

Material And Methods: We retrieved patient records of the last 12 years subjected to 3pBS and diagnosed with HO from the Department of Nuclear Medicine (2004 up to 2016) and searched for a name match from ICU records.

Modulation of cisplatin cytotoxic activity against leiomyosarcoma cells by epigallocatechin-3-gallate.

The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effect cisplatin in combination with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on leiomyosarcoma cells (LMS cells) in order to identify a less toxic but equally effective alternative. Assays for cell proliferation, colony formation efficiency, induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were performed using the IC of cisplatin (8.6 μΜ) as a reference value and a concentration of EGCG (30 μΜ) that caused a non-significant reduction in cell proliferation.

Correlation of bioelectrical impedance analysis phase angle with changes in oxidative stress on end-stage renal disease patients, before, during, and after dialysis.

Chronic kidney disease is a condition that promotes oxidative stress. There are conflicting evidence about the role of hemodialysis on oxidative stress, that are mostly related with the various types of membrane materials used, the quality and type of dialysate, the method used, etc. The phase angle (PhA), which is determined with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), measures the functionality of cell membranes.

The healing effect of four different silver complexes on full-thickness skin burns in a rat model.

Aim: This study was carried-out to investigate the effect of four different silver substances (S1, S2, S3, and S4) on burn wound healing in a rat model.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and eighty Wistar rats were used. Animals were randomized into six groups to receive no treatment (CG, control group), and local application of the solvent of silver substances (SG, solvent group), as well as of the four silver substances (EG1-EG4 groups for substances S1-S4, respectively).

Expression of heat shock proteins in brain tumors.

Aim: Heat shock proteins (HSP) are an evolutionary conserved family of proteins that serve as molecular chaperones, preventing the formation of nonspecific protein aggregates and assisting proteins in the acquisition of their native structures. Furthermore, HSPs have anti-apoptotic properties and have been found to be elevated in many human cancers; their overexpression has been associated with poor survival and response to therapy. In the present study we assessed the HSP expression in brain tumors.

Effect of thrombosis-related gene polymorphisms upon oral cancer: a regression analysis.

It is well-known that there is an interplay between hemostasis, thrombosis and cancer. Functional DNA polymorphisms in genes encoding factors related to thrombosis have been associated with increased risk for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The present study investigated the possible combinatory effect of 10 such polymorphisms as primary risk predictors for OSCC in a European population.

Oxidative stress in patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and the significant role of vitamin C and E supplementation.

Purpose: Chronic renal failure patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) are characterized by increased oxidative stress (OS), which is associated with enhanced cardiovascular risk. Moreover, oxidative stress also contributes to peritoneal membrane changes and ultrafiltration failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate OS in PD patients and the effect of treatment with ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol.

Zinc inhibits apoptosis and maintains NEP downregulation, induced by ropivacaine, in HaCaT cells.

Zinc (Zn), a cell-protective metal against various toxic compounds, is the key agent for neutral endopeptidase (NEP) functional structure. NEP is a zinc metalloenzyme which degrades endogenous opioids and is expressed in human keratinocytes (HaCaT). Ropivacaine, a widely used opiate local anaesthetic, exerts cell toxic and apoptotic effects against HaCaT cells.

Cytotoxic and anticancer effects of the triorganotin compound [(C₆H₅)₃Sn(cmbzt)]: an in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo study.

Since the initial success of cisplatin, metal complexes and organometallic compounds have been gaining growing interest in cancer therapy. It is well known that organotin(IV) compounds display strong biological activity. The triorganotin compound [(C(6)H(5))(3)Sn(cmbzt)] (cmbzt=5-chloro-2-mercaptobenzothiazole) (SnCMB), was tested for its antiproliferative and antitumour activities.

Myocardial perfusion imaging with (99 m)Tc-tetrofosmin SPECT in breast cancer patients that received postoperative radiotherapy: a case-control study.

Purpose: To evaluate the cardiac toxicity of radiotherapy (RT) in breast cancer (BC) patients employing myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with Tc-99 m Tetrofosmin-single photon emission computer tomography (T-SPECT).

Materials And Methods: We studied 46 BC female patients (28 patients with left and 18 patients with right BC) treated with postoperative RT compared to a control group of 85 age-matched females. The median time of RT to SPECT was 40 months (6-263).

Association of -1171 promoter polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinase-3 with increased risk for oral cancer.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) plays a pivotal role in inflammation and thrombosis. Increased levels of MMP-3 have been correlated with progression of oncogenesis and metastasis. Inflammation-related factors have recently been found to contribute to the development of malignancies.

The interleukin-1 beta gene polymorphism +3953 C/T is not associated with risk for oral cancer.

Background: Elevated serum levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) have been previously observed in patients with oral cancer. Considering the demonstrated effect of other interleukins to the development of oral cancer, this study investigated whether the +3953 C/Tpolymorphism in the IL-1beta gene is associated with this malignancy.

Patients And Methods: The +3953 C/T polymorphism was examined in DNA samples of 108 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and 156 healthy controls.