Prognostic significance of subclassification of stage IV gastric cancer according to pTNM categories.

Background/aims: The aim was to evaluate the surgical outcome and prognosis of patients with stage IV gastric cancer, and to investigate whether stage IV gastric cancer should be further subclassified for more accurate prediction of outcome.

Methodology: We analyzed 401 patients with stage IV gastric cancer who underwent gastric resection from 1998 to 2004. According to TNM categories, we separated them into T1-3N3M0, T4N1-2M0, T4N3M0, And TanyNanyM1 groups.

Regulating effects of arsenic trioxide on cell death pathways and inflammatory reactions of pancreatic acinar cells in rats.

Background: It is accepted that inflammatory cytokines play a key role in the development of acute pancreatitis, so blocking the initiation of inflammatory reactions may alleviate pathological changes of acute pancreatitis. We studied the regulatory effect of arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) on apoptosis and oncosis of pancreatic acinar cells in vitro and in vivo and its therapeutic effect on acute pancreatitis.

Methods: Pancreatic acinar cells were isolated by collagenase digestion method.