Functionality of upper gastrointestinal cancer patients which have undertaken surgery in hospital phase / Funcionalidade de pacientes com neoplasia gastrointestinal alta submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico em fase hospitalar

ABSTRACT Background: Cancer patients present various physiological, metabolic, social and emotional changes as a consequence of the disease's own catabolism, and may be potentiated in the gastrointestinal tract cancer by their interference with food intake, digestion and absorption. Aim: T o evaluate the functionality of upper gastrointestinal cancer patients which have undertaken surgery and analyze the factors associated with changes in strength and functionality during hospitalization time. Methods: Prospective analytical study in patients with cancer of the upper gastrointestinal tract which have undertaken surgery. Was evaluated the handgrip strength using a hand dynamometer and functionality through the functional independence measure and Functional Status Scale for Intensive Care Unit in the preoperative period, 2nd and 7th postoperative day. Results: Were included 12 patients, 75% men, and mean age was 58.17 years old. The most prevalent tumor site was stomach (66.7%). There was a progressive reduction from the pre-operative palmar grip strength to the 2nd and 7th postoperative day, respectively. There was a decrease in functional performance from the preoperative period to the 2nd and a gain from the 2nd to the 7th postoperative day (p<0.001). Conclusion: An important reduction in the handgrip strength and functionality was evidenced during the postoperative period in relation to the basal value in the pre-operative period.

RESUMO Racional: Os pacientes com câncer apresentam diversas alterações fisiológicas, metabólicas, sociais e emocionais como consequências do próprio catabolismo provocado pela doença, podendo ser potencializadas nos canceres gastrointestinais pela sua interferência na ingestão, digestão e absorção dos alimentos. Objetivo: Avaliar o comportamento funcional de pacientes com neoplasia gastrointestinal alta submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico e analisar os fatores associados às alterações da força e funcionalidade durante o tempo de internação. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo analítico de pacientes com câncer do trato gastrointestinal alto submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico. Foram avaliadas a força de preensão palmar por meio do dinamômetro manual e funcionalidade por meio da Medida de Independência Funcional e Functional Status Scale for Intensive Care Unit no pré-operatório, no 2º e 7º dias do pós-operatório . Resultados: Foram incluídos 12 pacientes, 75% homens, com idade média de 58,17 anos. O sítio tumoral mais prevalente foi o estômago (66,7%). Houve redução progressiva da força de preensão palmar das fases pré-operatória em relação ao 2º e 7º dias do pós-operatório, respectivamente. Ocorreu diminuição do desempenho funcional do pré-operatório para o 2º dia e um ganho do 2º dia pós-operatório para o 7º dia (p<0,001). Conclusão: Houve importante redução na força de preensão palmar e funcionalidade durante o período pós-operatório em relação ao valor basal no pré-operatório.

Structure-based drug design studies of the interactions of ent-kaurane diterpenes derived from Wedelia paludosa with the Plasmodium falciparum sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase PfATP6

Malaria is responsible for more deaths around the world than any other parasitic disease. Due to the emergence of strains that are resistant to the current chemotherapeutic antimalarial arsenal, the search for new antimalarial drugs remains urgent though hampered by a lack of knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms of artemisinin resistance. Semisynthetic compounds derived from diterpenes from the medicinal plant Wedelia paludosa were tested in silico against the Plasmodium falciparum Ca2+-ATPase, PfATP6. This protein was constructed by comparative modelling using the three-dimensional structure of a homologous protein, 1IWO, as a scaffold. Compound 21 showed the best docking scores, indicating a better interaction with PfATP6 than that of thapsigargin, the natural inhibitor. Inhibition of PfATP6 by diterpene compounds could promote a change in calcium homeostasis, leading to parasite death. These data suggest PfATP6 as a potential target for the antimalarial ent-kaurane diterpenes.

Tumores del estroma gastrointestinal (GIST) / Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST)

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare but are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. They originate from the interstitial cells of Cajal and mostly expressing positive c-kit (CD117). These are an heterogeneous group of injuries ranging from benign to aggressive. To date, the tumor size and number of mitosis are the most useful tool for predicting the risk of malignancy. Endosonography is an excellent imaging method for characterizing lesions and it allows obtaining material for pathological diagnosis. Surgical resection is the therapy of choice for localized disease and good prognosis. The use of imatinib in advanced disease has improved survival.

Los tumores del estroma gastrointestinal son poco frecuentes, pero son los tumores del mesénquima más frecuentes del tubo digestivo. Se originan de las células intersticiales de Cajal y expresan en su gran mayoría c-kit (CD117) positivo. Son un grupo heterogéneo de lesiones que van desde un comportamiento benigno a uno altamente agresivo. Hasta la fecha el tamaño tumoral y el número de mitosis son los elementos más útiles para predecir el riesgo de malignidad. La endosonografía es un excelente método de imagen para caracterizar las lesiones y, además, permite la obtención de material para diagnóstico anatomopatológico. La resección quirúrgica es la terapia de elección para la enfermedad localizada y con buen pronóstico. El uso de Imatinib en la enfermedad avanzada ha mejorado la sobrevida en los pacientes.

Lymphomas of the gastro-intestinal tract - Pathophysiology, pathology, and differential diagnosis.

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the most commonly involved site of extranodal lymphomas. The close association between chronic inflammation and specific GIT lymphomas not only provide interesting insights into the pathobiology of lymphomas but also poses unique diagnostic challenges. A clear understanding of marginal zone and mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in health and disease is helpful to place GIT lymphomas in proper context. A wide variety of lymphomas besides MALT lymphomas occur in various parts of the GIT. The characteristic pathological, immunophenotypic, and genetic features of different GIT lymphomas categorized according to World Health Organization (WHO) classification are presented. The epidemiological, clinical, and pathological features of lymphomas occurring in each part of the GIT are summarized and the key points regarding lymphomas at each site are emphasized. A tabular summary of the important differential diagnostic considerations at each site is given and suggestions for a minimal diagnostic work up are provided.

Tumores del estroma gastrointestinal (GIST): revisión de la literatura / Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (gist): literature review

Los tumores del estroma gastrointestinal representan un tipo infrecuente de tumor de origen mesenquimático, con origen en las células intersticiales de Cajal. Se caracterizan por expresar un receptor de membrana mutante con actividad tirosina quinasa anormal (c-kit CD117) que condiciona su activación permanente y una proliferación celular no controlada. Pueden encontrarse a cualquier nivel del tracto gastrointestinal, pero son más frecuentes en estómago e intestino delgado. Frecuentemente cursan de forma asintomática, constituyendo un hallazgo endoscópico o radiológico. La enfermedad localizada habitualmente es de buen pronóstico tras su resección quirúrgica, mientras que la sobrevida es baja en etapas avanzadas, con escasa respuesta a la quimioterapia convencional. El surgimiento del imatinib, un inhibidor de la tirosina quinasa, ha representado un verdadero hito, dado su eficacia en el control de la enfermedad irresecable o metastásica, permitiendo un importante aumento en la sobrevida de estos pacientes.

Cuadro clínico patológico y sobrevida en cánceres gastrointestinales primarios complicados / Clinical pathological features and survival rate factors in complicated primary gastrointestinal neoplasms

El presente estudio retrospectivo evaluó 115 pacientes con cáncer gastrointestinal primario complicado operados en el Hospital Belén, Trujillo, Perú, desde 1966 a 1996 con la finalidad de determinar sus características clínicopatológicas e identificar factores pronósticos que influyeron en la sobrevida a 5 años en los casos con obstrucción. La edad promedio fue de 55 ñ 19 años (rango de 4 a 91 años). La proporción M:F fue de 1.5:1 y el pico máximo de frecuencia se presentó en la sétima década de la vida. El dolor abdominal fue el síntoma más común (100 por ciento). La complicación más frecuente fue la obstrucción (72 por ciento), seguida de perforación (17 por ciento) y hemorragia masiva (11 por ciento). La localización más frecuente de obstrucción y hemorragia masiva fue el estómago y el adenocarcinoma fue el cáncer predominante; en cambio la perforación se encontró mayormente en intestino delgado y en éste predominó el linfoma. La sobrevida actuarial a 5 años en la serie total fue de 13 por ciento, siendo ligeramente mayor en los casos con obstrucción. En pacientes con síndrome obstructivo de salida gástrica, el tamaño tumoral (p<0.05) y el tipo macroscópico (p<0.05) estuvieron relacionados con la sobrevida a 5 años, mientras que en cáncer de colon obstruído lo estuvieron el tamaño tumoral (p<0.05) y el estadio clínico (p<0.05). Concluímos que a pesar que en estos pacientes el pronóstico no es tan bueno, el diagnóstico precoz es importante para definir el tratamiento quirúrgico oportuno, el cual está justificado por los buenos resultados alcanzados.

Fibrinolytic activity in human malignant tumors.

We have studied fibrinolytic activity of 12 cases of infiltrating duct carcinoma of breast (7 metastatic and 5 non-metastatic) and ten cases of adenocarcinoma of gastrointestinal tract (5 each of metastatic and nonmetastatic), and compared with some of their normal tissue counterparts. Both metastatic and non-metastatic tumors of breast and gastrointestinal tract had significantly higher levels of fibrinolytic activity as compared to normal tissues. Though mean fibrinolytic activity (expressed as ug/ml of urokinase activity) of metastatic tumors of breast and gut had higher values as compared to non-metastatic counterparts, however it did not reach statistical significance.