According to our data, MUC1 and sialyl-Lewis(x) immunoreactivity exhibit statistically significant correlations with established markers of tumour progression. However, only MUC1 presents as an independent prognostic factor of colorectal adenocarcinoma.

The emptying, acid secretion, mucosal changes, and duodenogastric and gastroesophageal reflux of the intrathoracic stomach were studied in 12 patients together with the clinical course 6–12 months after esophageal replacement. Although no pyloroplasty had been performed, the emptying of a semisolid meal from the interposed stomach was significantly accelerated compared to the controls. No residual food was found in the stomach at endoscopy after an overnight fast. Distinctly accelerated gastric emptying correlated with spontaneous duodenogastric reflux across the denervated pylorus. Despite a persistent acid secretion of the vagotomized intrathoracic stomach, no pathologic gastroesophageal reflux and no esophagitis were found proximal to the cervical anastomosis. Gastric biopsies mostly revealed mild gastritis of the antral mucosa, whereas metaplasia was rare. The intrathoracic stomach does not need a drainage procedure to facilitate semisolid emptying. Postoperative reflux esophagitis is prevented by complete intrathoracic stomach transposition with cervical esophagogastrostomy.

Gastrointestinal mechanical activity was studied in 13 patients after different surgical procedures in a fasted and fed state and after pharmacological stimulation. Mechanical activity was recorded by means of a multi-pressure sensor probe placed intraoperatively into the jejunum. Abdominal surgery abolished normal motility only for a short period of time. The time for the reappearance of regular recurring activity fronts varied with the type of the surgical procedure from 3 hr after cholecystectomy to the sixth postoperative day after colon resection. The fed pattern occurred after the first postoperative interdigestive motor complex in all experiments. Stimulation was observed with ceruletide, which induced contractile activity in the small intestine during postoperative ileus. No coordinated caudad propagating activity was observed. The postoperative interdigestive motor complex did not correlate in time with the first passage of flatus and stool in our patients. Thus, the restoration of motility in the small intestine did not coincide with the clinical relief from the so-called "physiological" postoperative ileus.

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AIM:To investigate the role of cytochrome P450 (CYP) in the carcinogenesis of squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) in human esophagus by determining expression patterns and protein levels of representative CYPs in esophageal tissue of patients with SCC and controls.METHODS: mRNA expression of CYP2E1, CYP2C, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5 was determined using RT-PCR in both normal and malignant esophageal tissues of patients with untreated esophageal SCC (n = 21) and in controls (n = 10). Protein levels of CYP2E1, CYP2C8, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5 were measured by Western blot. RESULTS:Within the group of SCC patients, mRNA expression of CYP 3A4 and CYP2C was significantly lower in malignant tissue (-39% and -74%, respectively, P < 0.05) than in normal tissue. Similar results were found in CYP3A4 protein levels. Between groups, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and CYP2C8 protein concentration was significantly higher in non-malignant tissue of SCC patients (4.8-, 2.9-, and 1.9-fold elevation, P < 0.05) than in controls. In contrast, CYP2E1 protein levels were significantly higher in controls than in SCC patients (+46%, P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Significant differences exist in protein levels of certain CYPs in non-malignant esophageal tissue (e.g. CYP2C8, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and CYP2E1) between SCC patients and healthy subjects and may contribute to the development of SCC in the esophagus.