RESUMO
Objective: To investigate the possible association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection and breast cancer by examining the seropositivity and serointensity rate of anti-T. gondii antibodies in breast cancer patients and healthy volunteers. Methods: This study was carried out on 66 women with breast cancer which consists of 29 newly diagnosed patients (Group 1) and 37 cases undergoing treatment and regular checkups (Group 2). Also, 60 healthy women (Group 3) with no history of cancer confirmed by clinical examination and imaging participated in this study. The participants were tested for T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunoassays. Results: The mean age of Groups 1, 2 and 3 were 43.3±6.8, 41.8±5.5 and 42.3±4.9, respectively (P=0.72). Overall, 104 (82.5%) and 8 (6.3%) out of 126 women were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. Higher seropositivity rate of anti-T. gondii antibodies (IgG) was seen in breast cancer patients (86.4%) compared with control group (78.3%) (P=0.24). IgG antibodies were detected in 89.2% of cancer patients under treatment, 82.7% of newly diagnosed patients (P=0.18). IgM antibodies were found in 3 (10.3%), 2 (5.4%) and 3 (5%) in Groups 1, 2 and 3. No significant difference was found between the mean titers of T. gondii IgG antibody among these groups (P=0.87). Conclusions: This study did not find any significant association between toxoplasmosis and breast cancer besides higher rates of seropositivity and serointensity in patients compared with healthy volunteers.
RESUMO
Background: The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of a primary end-to-end pharyngoesophageal anastomosis after standard tumor resection of the cervical esophagus by acute Aexion of the neck
Methods: A total of 34 consecutive patients with primary cervical esophageal cancer, none having received prior radio-or chemotherapy, were treated by two methods based on intraoperative findings. In 18 patients, reconstruction after esophageal resection was carried out by the standard gastric pull-through technique [control group]. In 16 patients, acute flexion of the neck after tumor resection allowed for recon-struction by primary end-to-end pharyngoesophagostomy [experimental group]
Results: There was no operative mortality in either group. The mean operative time for the experimental group was about 50 minutes less compared to the control group. Self-limited postoperative anastomotic leakage in the neck was twice as common in the experimental group. Postoperative dysphagia was about three times as common in the experimental group [5 patients [31%]] compared to the control group [2 patients [11%]]
Conclusion: In selected cases, segmental resection of primary cervical esophageal cancers reconstructed by end-to-end pharyngoesoph-agostomy is technically feasible by bending the neck acutely forward during anastomosis and maintaining it in the Aexed position during a postoperative period of about 7 days. The advantages are reduced scope and duration of the operation. The downside is doubling of the frequency of postoperative cervical leakage