1,721,004 research outputs found
Gasterctomia totale e qualità della vita : Total gastrectomy and quality of life
We have evaluated quality of life after surgery in 24 patients (9 males and 15 females mean age 64.23 years, range 47-83 years) who underwent total gastrectomy for cancer (23 carcinomas and 1 lymphoma) in the last three years at the Department of Clinical Surgery, University of Siena. Intestinal continuity was re-established with Y jejunal loup according to Roux. All patients were studied prospectively: after the operation every six months they were interviewed using Korenaga's questionnaire. Group performance status scale was used to determine the level of activity of each patients. Comparing symptoms of patients after six months and 18 months there was a significant difference (p = 0.005) in terms of number of meals throughout the day, food tolerance and abdominal pain. Postoperative performance status revealed a complete recovery in 11 of 24 patients (45.8%) after 18 months. According to our experience patients who have undergone total gastrectomy enjoy a good quality of life and most of them return to the preoperative lifestyle in 18 months
Transanal resection of rectal lipoma mimicking rectal prolapse: description of a case and review of the literature
Submucosal lipomas of the large bowel are uncommon. Occasionally, they occur in the rectum and may cause aspecific symptoms; presentation with rectal prolapse is very unusual and may lead to a misdiagnosis of simple mucosal prolapse. The paper describes an additional case of a prolapsing rectal mass that led to diagnosis and surgical treatment of a rectal lipoma under local anesthesi
Calculation of the Flow Field and NOx Emissions of a Gas Turbine Combustor by a Coarse CFD Model
Gas turbine performance is strongly dependent on the flow field inside the combustor. In the primary zone, the recirculation of hot products stabilises the flame and completes the fuel oxidation. In the dilution zone, the mixing process allows to obtain the suitable temperature profile at turbine inlet. This paper presents an experimental and computational analysis of both the isothermal and the reactive flow field inside a gas turbine combustor designed to be fed with natural gas and hydrogen. The study aims at evaluating the capability of a coarse grid CFD model, already validated in previous reactive calculations, in predicting the flow field and NO x emissions. An experimental campaign was performed on an isothermal flow test rig to investigate the combustion air splitting and the penetration of both primary and dilution air jets. These experimental data are used to validate the isothermal computations. The impact of combustion on the calculated flow field and on air splitting is investigated as well. Finally, NO x emission trend estimated by a post-processing technique is presented. The numerical NO x concentrations at the combustor discharge are compared with experimental measurements acquired during operation with different fuel burnt (natural gas or hydrogen) and different amount of steam injected. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Update on epidemiology and risk factors of colorectal carcinoma [Attualità in tema di epidemiologia e fattori di rischio del carcinoma colo-rettale]
Etiology of colorectal cancer is not completely clear. Epidemiologic studies, especially those on migrant populations, demonstrate the importance of environmental factors, particularly dietary, in cancerogenesis. Anyway, familial aggregation within a given population shows that genetic factors play an important role. General risk factors are represented by age, sex, physical activity... while some pathologies increased the risk of developing KCR or are frankly precancerous (adenomas, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease...)
Outcome of surgical treatment of colorectal cancer in the elderly
The aim of this study is to compare the clinical features and the perioperative and long-term outcomes after primary surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) in the elderly population with those observed in younger patients. All the patients over the age of 55 who underwent primary surgery for CRC in our clinic from 1988 to 2008 were included in this study and divided into two age groups: 55-75 and >75 years considering the age of diagnosis. 914 consecutive patients were enrolled in the study (352 > 75 years). In the elderly group, tumors were predominantly right sided, and the overall number of comorbidities was statistical more frequent. Elderly patients underwent emergency surgery more than the control group (p = 0.0008). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of curative and palliative resections. The overall operative mortality rate was 5.9% in the study group compared with 2.1% in the control study (p = 0.0033). The overall 3-year, 5-year and 10-year survival rates were, respectively, 37, 16.2 and 5.1% in the study group, when compared with 52.3, 35.1 and 24.7% in the control group (p = 0.022, p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0001, respectively). More patients were lost during the follow-up in the elderly group (p = 0.0003) and more deaths unrelated to cancer were found in the study group compared with the control group (p = 0.0005). The cancer specific mortality was similar between the two groups. In conclusion, elderly patients that underwent major colorectal resection have an acceptable perioperative morbidity, mortality and survival rate when compared with younger patients. Age alone should not be considered a reason to deny surgery to these patient
Heredity and colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from malignancies in Western Countries. In spite of advances in treatment, little change in survival has been accomplished in last decades and this mandates greater importance to prevention and early detection. Although dietary factors have received primary attention familial clustering suggests that susceptibility to KCR is inherited. Hereditary colorectal cancer can arise on Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (HCC) or not on polyposis (HNPCC) and members of these families are at high risk of such neoplasias. Anyway, even in "sporadic" forms of KCR first-degree relatives have a 2 to 3-fold increased risk of the same cancer. The most desirable screening protocol would be a simple procedure involving only a blood test to identify gene defect by molecular biology techniques. Unfortunately, this is not practically possible, for lack of specific genetic alterations, out of FAP, and only the study of family history can enable targeted surveillance and cost-effective management strategies
Familial colorectal cancer: a concept revisited
OBJECTIVE: The family history of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) shows an increased risk of disease although evident inherited syndromes are demonstrable in only a small percentage of patients. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that might suggest an inherited component in the transmission of CRC.
METHOD: The study monitored 880 consecutive patients between 1980 and 2005 treated for CRC.
RESULTS: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) was found in only one patient, and a classical mutation of hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer was found in only two patients. The risk assessment was possible mainly because of factors such as early onset CRC, the presence of multiple primary tumours and a high risk family history. Considering these 36 more patients were suspected to be high risk and referred for further genetic testing. At least one first-degree relative with CRC was reported in 140 patients. In 49 patients, CRC was diagnosed before 50 years of age. Multiple primary tumours, colonic or extra colonic, synchronous or metachronous were found in 136 patients.
CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that if only patients with identified mutations are taken into consideration, then the percentage of evident hereditary colon cancer is very low, but this percentage quickly increases if we make marginal adjustments to the identifying criteria. It seems that it is the physician's clinical suspicion, more than the fulfillment of rigid criteria, which plays a fundamental role in the timely identification and a subsequent focused treatment of patients with hereditary CR
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