1,646 research outputs found
Long-term locoregional recurrences after curative surgery for colon cancer [Recidive locoregionali e a distanza successive a trattamento chirurgico curativo del cancro del colon]
No full textIn this study, we report all patients with colon cancer who underwent laparotomic surgical treatment from 1998 to 2002. The total number of patients was 115 with average age of 65.2 years; male to female ratio was 1.61. As regards to the variations due to preoperative staging and tumor localization, our patients underwent: 34 right hemicolectomy, 80 left hemicolectomy, 1 transverse resection. According to the stage of tumor, an adjuvant chemotherapeutic treatment was associated to surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the recurrence patterns in patients with curatively resected colon cancer followed-up for 5 years. We considered as locoregional recurrences those which developed in the same abdominal region of the primary tumor; the most common sites of distant metastases were liver and lung. Our first results show that both locoregional recurrences and distant metastases rates depend mostly on the extension of tumor (T), nodal involvement (N) and grading (G) of the primary tumor
Long range potential effects in low density krypton gas
No full textSmall angle neutron scattering (SANS) in low density Kr-86 gas has been performed in order to measure the small-k behavior of the static structure factor S(k). Three number densities between 1.52 and 2.42 nm(-3) along the T = 297 K isotherm have been studied. The small-k dependence of the Fourier transform c(k) of the direct correlation function c(r) has been derived. The experimental determination of the k(3) term in the behavior of c(k) has led to a direct measurement of the London dispersion interaction in the pair potential of krypton. Also the contribution of the three-body potential in the asymptotic behavior of c(r) has been observed and related to the magnitude of the three-body interaction potential
Activated platelets and leucocytes cooperatively stimulate smooth muscle cell proliferation and proto-oncogene expression via release of soluble growth factors.
No full textBACKGROUND:
Previous studies indicate that platelets and leucocytes might contribute to the development of neointimal hyperplasia following arterial injury. The present study was aimed at further investigating the role of platelets and leucocytes, alone or in combination, in promoting vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation in vitro, focusing on the relative contribution of different soluble growth factors released by these cells, and on the ability to induce proto-oncogene expression, such as c-fos.
METHODS:
SMCs from rabbit aortas, made quiescent by serum deprivation, were stimulated with either activated platelets, leucocytes, or both, separated from SMCs by a membrane insert. SMC proliferation was evaluated by measuring the incorporation of 3H-thymidine. The relative contribution of different platelet-derived mediators to SMC growth was evaluated by adding either ketanserin, a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, R68070, a TxA2 receptor antagonist, BN52021, a platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonist, and trapidil, a platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor antagonist. The role of different leucocyte sub-populations (neutrophils and monocytes + lymphocytes) was also determined in additional experiments.
RESULTS:
SMC proliferation was significantly increased by activated platelets to 360 +/- 9% of control values (P < 0.05). This effect was reduced by ketanserin, R68070, BN 52021 or trapidil. Whole leucocytes, neutrophils or lymphocytes + monocytes also increased SMC proliferation with respect to control experiments. Simultaneous stimulation of SMCs by platelets and whole leucocytes was associated with a significant greater increase in SMC proliferation as compared to SMC stimulated with platelets or leucocytes alone. c-fos expression, almost undetectable in unstimulated SMCs, was markedly increased by activated platelets or leucocytes.
CONCLUSIONS:
Activated platelets promote SMC proliferation in vitro via release of soluble mediators, including serotonin, thromboxane A2 PAF and PDGF; activated leucocytes also induce a significant SMC proliferation and exert an additive effect when activated together with platelets; SMCs stimulated with activated platelets and leucocytes show an early expression of the proto-oncogene c-fos
Decreased phosphorylation of mutant insulin receptor by protein kinase C and protein kinase A.
No full textWe have recently reported that the Arg1152-->Gln insulin receptor mutation (QK single mutant) alters a conserved motif (RK motif) immediately next to the key tyrosine phosphorylation sites (Tyr1146, Tyr1150, Tyr1151) of the receptor and constitutively activates its kinase and metabolic signaling. To investigate further the function of the RK motif, we have expressed two additional mutant insulin receptors: a single mutant, in which the second basic residue in the RK motif (Lys1153) was substituted (RA mutant); and a double mutant, in which both the Arg and the Lys residues were replaced with noncharged amino acids (QA mutant). As compared with the transfected wild-type receptors (WT), both the single and the double mutant receptors were normally synthetized and transported to the plasma membrane and bound insulin normally. Whereas the double mutant receptor exhibited preserved insulin-dependent autophosphorylation, kinase activity, and 2-deoxyglucose uptake, all of these functions were grossly impaired in the two single mutant receptors. Two-dimensional analysis of tryptic phosphopeptides from receptor beta-subunits revealed that decreased autophosphorylation of the single mutant receptors mainly involved regulatory Tyr1150,1151 and carboxyl-terminal Tyr1316,1322. At variance with the insulin-stimulated, insulin-independent tyrosine kinase activity toward poly(Glu-Tyr) 4:1 was increased 3-fold in both the double and the single mutants. All mutant receptors induced a 2-fold increase in basal 2-deoxyglucose uptake in NIH-3T3 cells. Treatment of WT transfected cells with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate or 8-bromo-cAMP increased insulin receptor phosphorylation by 3-fold. No phosphorylation was observed in cells expressing the two single or the double mutant receptor. Consistently, purified preparations of PKC and PKA phosphorylated the WT but not the mutant receptors in vitro. A 17-amino acid synthetic peptide encoding the receptor sequence surrounding the RK motif inhibited phosphorylation of WT insulin receptors by both protein kinases A and C. A mutant peptide in which the RK sequence was replaced by QK (to mimic the mutation in the QK receptor) exhibited no inhibitory effect. Thus, the RK insulin receptor motif is required for insulin receptor phosphorylation by protein kinases C and A and may modulate insulin-independent receptor activity. The RK motif may also have an important structural role in allowing normal insulin regulation of the kinase
Effects of an oral supplement based on cucurbita maxima and capsicum annum on symptoms of overactive bladder in female population: an observational study
No full textIntroduction: The prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) in women increases with age and is present in approximately 30 % of women over the age of 65 years. A high percentage of patients undergoing pharmacological therapy discontinue treatment for side effects and costs. Using an oral supplement (Kubiker®), consisting of vitamins, cucurbita maxima, capsicum annum, polygonum cuspidatum and L-Glutammin, for the control of urinary symptoms, could be a valid alternative. Objective: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of this oral supplement in women affected by OAB. Methods: We performed a retrospective, longitudinal, observational, cohort study of 84 patients affected by OAB, who received a prescription of Kubiker® for 12 weeks (2 tablets a day for the first month, then 1 tablet a day for 2 months). Primary outcome was to check the efficacy of therapy through questionnaire Patient global impression of improvement (PGI-I) after 12 weeks of therapy. The secondary outcome was to evaluate the difference in the answers of the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-Q) before and after therapy. Adherence to therapy was also evaluated. Results: Data showed a positive effect of Kubiker® in the control of urinary symptoms after 12 weeks of therapy. Paired t-test used for the evaluation of OBS before and after the treatment showed a p-value < 0.001. The analysis of this questionnaire especially showed an improvement in the responses concerning the symptoms of urination urgency and urge incontinence. Conclusion: Therapy with oral supplement based on vitamins (C and D), cucurbita maxima, capsicum annum, polygonum cuspidatum and L-Glutammin is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for overactive bladder
Thyrotropin Regulates Insulin-Dependent Phosphorylation and Kinase Activity of Insulin and Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Receptors in FRTL5 Cells.
No full textVolatile components of aerial parts of Centaurea nigrescens an C. stenolepis growing wild in the Balkans
No full textThe volatile constituents of the aerial parts of Centaurea nigrescens Willd, collected in Romania and of two samples of C. stenolepis A. Kerner from Bulgaria and Romania were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed. The main components of C. stenolepis were caryophyllene oxide (6.9-15.6%), hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (6.5-4.4%), heptacosane (6.0-4.9%) and p-vinyl guiacol (4.3-5.0%). The main components of C. nigrescens were caryophyllene oxide (9.9%), β-eudesmol (9.5%), spathulenol (7.6%), heptacosane (6.1%) and p-vinyl guiacol (5.5%). The chemotaxonomic significance with respect to their colocation in Sections Lepteranthus and Nigrescentes, respectively, is discussed
The effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with or without hiatal hernia repair on gastroesophageal reflux disease in obese patients
No full textBackground: Obesity is an independent risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is often associated with the presence of a hiatal hernia (HH). Despite increasing popularity of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in bariatric surgery, its effect on GERD is still unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of LSG with or without hiatal hernia repair (HHR) on GERD in obese patients.
Methods: Seventy-eight patients with HH underwent LSG with concomitant HHR (LSG+HHR group). Their data were compared with that of 102 patients without HH, who underwent only LSG (LSG-group). All patients underwent a standardized questionnaire, a double-contrast barium swallow, and an upper-gastrointestinal endoscopy before the surgical procedure and at least 6 months later.
Results: At baseline, the prevalence of GERD symptoms and their frequency-intensity scores did not differ between groups. At follow up, there was a significant decrease in the prevalence of typical GERD symptoms only in the LSG-group (P = .003). LSG+HHR patients showed a significantly higher heartburn frequency-intensity score compared with LSG patients (P = .009).
Conclusion: This finding confirms that LSG has a beneficial effect on relieving GERD symptoms, although the underlying mechanisms are still unclear; conversely, the procedure of HHR did not produce any improvement in GERD symptoms. (C) 2014 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. All rights reserved
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