[Differential scanning calorimetry of blood plasma in breast cancer patients]. / Emlodaganatos betegek vérplazmájának differenciál pásztázó kalorimetriás vizsgálata.

Breast cancer is the commonest cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Its incidence has been increasing for many years in economically developed countries. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a thermoanalytical technique which monitors small heat changes between sample and reference materials. This examination is a validly efficient method for the demonstration of structural changes not only in the physical sciences, but in numerous human oncological diseases. The goal of this study was to measure DSC thermogram of blood plasma in breast cancer patients with different stages. Nineteen women with different tumor diameter (0.5-7.5 mm) and with or without regional lymph node metastases were involved in the study. Preoperatively peripheral blood samples were collected from the patients and from healthy controls, and plasma components were analysed by SETARAM micro DSC-II calorimeter. The diameter of the tumor tissue and the number of metastatic lymph nodes were evaluated on the basis of postoperative histological results. In the current study we found difference in changes of the thermal parameters (transition temperature, calorimetric enthalpy) of breast cancer patients' plasma components. Moreover, a tendency has been found for association of these results with tumor size and with the degree of regional lymph node involvement. Preliminary study of the clinical utility of DSC technology arises, even though there is no data in the literature. In cases of breast cancer the blood plasma may be suitable for DSC analysis for diagnosis or staging as well. In order to clarify the relationships we are planning further studies.

[Examination of warm and cold ischemic injury of small intestine by differential scanning calorimetry]. / A vékonybél meleg és hideg ischaemiás károsodásának kimutatása differenciál pásztázó kalorimetriás vizsgálattal.

INTRODUCTION/AIM: Small bowel is extremely sensitive to ischemia/reperfusion injury. Therefore, we compared the effect of warm and cold ischemia on the intestinal structural changes by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Warm and cold ischemia groups were established on Wistar rats with 1, 3 and 6 h ischemic times (n = 30). Intestinal biopsies were collected after laparotomy and at the end of the ischemia periods. DSC measurement was performed on the mucosa, muscular layer and total intestinal wall. RESULTS: Our DSC data confirmed that longer warm ischemia period caused more severe damage in the structure of the mucosa and muscular layers. The results of transition temperature and calorimetric enthalpy suggest that these changes can be reduced using cold ischemic procedure in University of Wisconsin solution. However, the extent of thermal destruction of each layers following cold preservation injury was significantly different compared to normal bowel structure. CONCLUSION: In this study we quantitatively measured structural changes in the gut following ischemia using DSC. This thermodynamic method may provide basis for further investigations in different bowel stress models.

[Clinical study of non-melanoma skin cancer following human organ transplantation]. / A szervtranszplantációt követo non-melanoma bortumorok klinikai vizsgálata.

INTRODUCTION: Increasing evidence suggests that non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) are the most frequent tumours in transplanted patients. In this study, we present the first Hungarian dermatological screening program to establish the incidence of NMSC after organ transplantations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 116 adult, "Caucasian" (white skin) transplanted (kidney, simultaneous-pancreas-kidney) patients (70 male and 46 female) of the Surgical Department of Pécs University were enrolled from September 2008. All patients underwent a a full skin examination by a dermatologist for NMSC as well as a standardized questionnaire was filled in to assess risk factors. RESULTS: Screening resulted in 16 NMSC (13.8%, median age: 49.3 years, male : female = 1 : 1) diagnoses with a median duration from transplantation of 4.1 years. Histology showed 13 basal cell carcinoma (BBC), 3 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), with a 4 : 1 ratio of BCC : SCC. Incidence of NMSC was significantly higher on patients who were treated with cyclosporine as immunosuppressant, who had more than 2 sunburns prior to transplantation, or had outdoor workplace ( p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm the importance of skin cancer surveillance in transplant recipients via a close cooperation between Transplantation and Dermatological Centres. Our results reflect the international data, except for the BCC : SCC ratio. Further studies needed to elucidate this difference.

[Esophagus replacement with anisoperistaltic left colon after removal of skin tube cancer]. / Anisoperistalticus colonnal történt nyelo- csopótlás borcso tumor eltávolitás után.

Authors replaced the esophagus with anisoperistaltic left colon because they had no other possibilities. In this case twenty-one years ago after an esophageal injury the patient underwent gastric resection, removal of the esophagus and replacement with a skin tube created from a myocutaneous flap. Unfortunately the right colon earlier had been removed after an unsuccessful replacement. Twenty-one years later carcinoma developed in the skin tube therefore the tumour was removed and anisoperistaltic left colon was used as a "new esophagus". The pulled up left colon was supplied by the left colic artery and supercharged by a vascular anastomosis on the neck. Authors would like to present that esophageal replacement with anisoperistaltic left colon is a feasible method if no other therapeutic option remains.