Nearly 50 % of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients develop liver metastases with liver resection being the only option to cure patients. Residual micrometastases or circulating tumor cells are considered a cause of tumor relapse. This work investigates the influence of partial hepatectomy (PH) on the growth and molecular composition of CRC liver metastasis in a syngeneic rat model. One million CC531 colorectal tumor cells were implanted via the portal vein in WAG/Rij rats followed by a 30 % PH a day later. Control groups either received tumor cells followed by a sham-operation or were injected with a buffer solution followed by PH. Animals were examined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and liver tissues were processed for immunolabeling and PCR analysis. One-third PH was associated with an almost threefold increase in relative tumor mass (MRI volumetry: 2.8-fold and transcript levels of CD44: 2.3-fold). Expression of molecular markers for invasiveness and aggressiveness (CD49f, CXCR4, Axin2 and c-met) was increased following PH, however with no significant differences when referring to the relative expression levels (relating to tumor mass). Liver metastases demonstrated a significantly higher proliferation rate (Ki67) 2 weeks following PH and cell divisions also increased in the surrounding liver tissue. Following PH, the stimulated growth of metastases clearly exceeded the compensation in liver volume with long-lasting proliferative effects. However, the distinct tumor composition was not influenced by liver regeneration. Future investigations should focus on the inhibition of cell cycle (i.e. systemic therapy strategies, irradiation) to hinder liver regeneration and therefore restrain tumor growth.

Abstract. Optical mammography is a functional imaging technique that uses near-infrared light to produce threedimensional breast images of tissue oxygen saturation and hemoglobin concentration. It has been used to monitor the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. We present the first results on monitoring tumor response to hormone therapy using optical mammography. We present three case studies from postmenopausal women treated with neoadjuvant hormone therapy for locally advanced breast cancer. The women were scanned before starting treatment, once during treatment, and then before surgery. Changes in physiological and optical properties within the tumor and in the rest of the breast were evaluated. At the time of surgery, two patients partially responded to treatment and one did not respond. The patients that partially responded on ultrasound revealed a corresponding recovery to normal in the hemoglobin concentration images, whereas the nonresponder indicated an increase in hemoglobin concentration in the tumor compared to her pretreatment images. These case studies suggest that optical imaging of the breast during neoadjuvant hormone treatment can provide potentially valuable information, and that physiological changes within the tumor can be seen in response to treatment. © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.

Background. Surgical patients are often anaemic preoperatively subsequently requiring blood transfusion. The aim of this study was to assess the problem of anaemia and transfusion rates in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. Methods. Haemoglobin levels and transfusion requirements were assessed retrospectively in 199 sequential patients operated on for colorectal cancer. This was followed by prospective analysis of 147 patients to correlate preoperative anaemia, stage of bowel cancer, and operation performed with rates of blood transfusion and length of hospital stay. Results. Preoperatively 44% patients were anaemic retrospectively and 60% prospectively. Anaemia increased the risk of transfusion in both studies (69% anaemic versus 31% nonanaemic, P = 0.002 in retrospective series, and 83.7% versus 16.3%, P < 0.0001 in prospective series). Anaemia was proportionally higher in patients with Dukes B (65.2%) and Dukes C (66.6%) than in patients with Dukes A (28.5%). Length of stay was prolonged in transfused patients excluding those requiring major blood transfusion (median 13 versus 7 days, P < 0.0001). Transfusion was also associated with higher mortality (P = 0.05). Conclusion. Anaemia is common in patients with colorectal cancer. Anaemic patients were at high risk of receiving blood transfusion, which in turn increased length of stay and mortality.

Primary medical therapy is used to reduce tumour size prior to surgery in women with locally advanced breast cancer. Optical tomography is a functional imaging technique using nearinfrared light to produce three-dimensional breast images of tissue oxygen saturation and haemoglobin concentration. Its advantages include the ability to display quantitative physiological information, and to allow repeated scans without the hazards associated with exposure to ionising radiation. There is a need for a non-invasive functional imaging tool to evaluate response to treatment, so that non-responders can be given the opportunity to change their treatment regimen. Here, we evaluate the use of optical tomography for this purpose. Four women with newly diagnosed breast cancer who were about to undergo primary medical therapy gave informed and voluntary consent to take part in the study. Changes in physiological and optical properties within the tumour were evaluated during the course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Optical imaging was performed prior to treatment, after the first cycle of chemotherapy, halfway through, and on completion of chemotherapy. Images of light absorption and scatter at two wavelengths were produced, from which images of total haemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation were derived. All patients that showed a good or complete response to treatment on MRI showed a corresponding recovery in the haemoglobin concentration images. Changes in mean tumour total haemoglobin concentration could be seen four weeks into treatment. The tumour oxygen saturation was low compared to background in three out of four patients, and also showed a return to baseline over treatment. Optical imaging of the breast is feasible during primary medical therapy and can be used to assess response to treatment over six months.

Introdução: A malária é uma doença endêmica, que afeta cerca de 3,7 milhões de pessoas por ano no mundo. No Brasil, 99,9% dos casos de malária ocorrem na região da Amazônia Legal, na qual o Pará está inserido. Sendo uma importante causa de morbidade e mortalidade nesta região e considerada uma endemia. Objetivo: Analisar a epidemiologia dos pacientes atendidos pelo programa de Malária da Unidade Básica de Saúde da Pedreira, período de janeiro de 2004 a setembro de 2005, diagnosticados por teste da gota espessa no mesmo local de referência. Método: Coletados dados de 40 pacientes matriculados no programa de malária da Unidade Básica de Saúde da Pedreira, organizados em protocolo de pesquisa que continha: Identificação; sexo; idade; grau de instrução; município de residência; principal ocupação nos últimos 15 dias (atividade exercida); local provável de infecção; resultado do exame (parasitos/ mm 3-parasitemia expressa em cruzes) e tratamento mais utilizado. Para as pacientes do sexo feminino avaliou-se a ausência ou presença de gravidez, como fator relevante para a terapêutica. Verificou-se, ainda, a presença de sintomatologia informada para a realização do exame da gota espessa. De acordo com a natureza de varáveis estudadas foi aplicada análise estatística descritiva, para posterior informação sobre os valores percentuais dos dados analisados. Resultados: Quanto ao sexo, 72,5% dos pacientes eram homens e 27,5% eram mulheres; a faixa etária de adultos jovens (55%) de 21 a 40 anos ; 100% residentes em Belém; quanto ao grau de instrução 60% analfabetos e 40% apresentavam escolaridade até o ensino fundamental; quanto à atividade ocupacional: 42.5% exerciam atividades de agropecuária, 22.5 % de extrativismo; o maior número de infectados procedeu da Guiana Francesa em 12.5% dos casos, seguido do município de Bragança em 10 % dos casos; a parasitemia mais prevalente relacionou-se à cepa de Plasmodium vivax (72,5%), tendo como mais freqüente parasitemia de 2 cruzes (45%), seguida de 1 cruz (22.5%); a maioria dos pacientes (72,5%) foram medicados com Cloroquina feita em 3 dias, associada a Primaquina em 7 dias. Conclusão: Verificou-se que a incidência maior foi de pacientes do sexo masculino, com idade entre 21-40 anos, atividade predominantemente rural, procedentes de Belém, analfabetos, com parasitemia de 2 cruzes, infectados por Plasmodium vivax e que realizaram tratamento preconizado pelo Ministério da Saúde, com droga Cloroquina associada a Primaquina