Our overview shows that LI is associated with a lower risk of construction of the stoma outcome measures.

Background-Estrogens may induce the proliferation of neoplastic cells by activating neoangiogenesis.Aim-To evaluate the effect of estrogens on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and related receptors (VEGF-R) in human cholangiocarcinoma and the role played by VEGF in mediating the proliferative effects of estrogens.Methods-Seven biopsies of intra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma and the HuH-28 cell lines were investigated. Cell proliferation was measured by both PCNA Western blot and MTS proliferation assay.Results-By immunohistochemistry, biopsies of human cholangiocarcinoma stained positively for VEGF-A and VEGF-C and related receptors. HuH-28 cells expressed VEGF-A, -C, and VEGFR-1, -2, -3 and, their protein level was enhanced by 17β-estradiol in association with the stimulation of cell proliferation. 17β-Estradiol-stimulated proliferationof HuH-28 cells was blocked by 70% by VEGF-trap, a receptor-based VEGF inhibitor. 17β-Estradiol induced the secretion of VEGF in the

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Sixty-six consecutive patients who underwent curative resection for rectal cancer were studied prospectively to evaluate the roles of sequential carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), and carcinomatous antigen 19-9 (Ca 19-9) determinations in the early diagnosis of resectable recurrences. Thirty-three recurrences were detected between 6 and 42 months. CEA, TPA, and Ca 19-9 showed a sensitivity of 72.7 percent, 78.8 percent, and 60.1 percent, respectively, and a specificity of 60.6 percent, 60.6 percent, and 87.9 percent, respectively. In 23 cases the rise in the value of CEA and/or TPA and/or Ca 19-9 was the first sign of recurrences, and the diagnosis was established later by clinical methods. In this group, the lead time was two months for liver metastases and four months for disseminated metastases. As far as the relationship between localization of recurrence and marker level increase is concerned, of 16 hepatic metastases CEA, TPA, and Ca 19-9 showed a sensitivity of 94 percent (P less than 0.05), 69 percent, and 62 percent, respectively. Of six patients with local recurrences, CEA, TPA, and Ca 19-9 showed a sensitivity of 50 percent, 100 percent (P less than 0.05), and 83.3 percent, respectively. Of three patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis, CEA, TPA (P less than 0.05), and Ca 19-9 showed a sensitivity of 0 percent, 100 percent, and 0 percent, respectively. No significant differences were reported among the three markers according to multiple metastases and metachronous polyps. Fourteen patients (42.4 percent) underwent surgical treatment for recurrent disease, and eight of them (57 percent) showed a resectable disease, for a total resectability rate of 24.2 percent. The findings of our study indicate that a follow-up program based on CEA, TPA, and Ca 19-9 assays is related to an early diagnosis and a good resectability rate for both local and metastatic recurrences from rectal cancer.

The role of surgery in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is still discussed. The aim of this study was to verify our criteria of patient selection for splenectomy, to analyze the results of a protocol for the evaluation of the hemorrhagic risk, and to discuss long-term results of 70 patients with ITP who underwent surgical treatment from 1984 to 1990. All patients received steroid therapy. Sixty-two patients were given high doses of IgG (600 mg/kg/iv bolus) pre-operatively in order to obviate the need for intra-operative platelet transfusions. Forty-three patients showed a significant increase in the platelet count, 8 a moderate increase, while 11 patients did not respond. No operative mortality was observed, however postoperative minor complications occurred in 14 (20%) patients. Accessory spleens were found in 11 (15.7%) patients. Mean follow-up was 21 months. Response to splenectomy was considered as complete (platelets greater than 150,000 mm3 with no need for medical treatment) in 63 (90%) patients. No response was observed in 7 patients. In 2 of the non-responders postoperative indium-111 scan revealed accessory spleens and ITP remitted after accessory splenectomy. All non-responders were in the group of patients who did not respond to the pre-operative infusion of high dose IgG. It can be concluded that splenectomy is a safe and effective treatment for ITP and that response to pre-operative infusion of IgG may be considered as predictive for the outcome after splenectomy.