The impact of colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Prevention of this neoplasm should be achievable by screening programs in asymptomatic patients. The objective of the present paper is to assess colonoscopic findings in asymptomatic people submitted to screening. METHODS: A prospective study was undertaken on 153 consecutive asymptomatic people submitted to colonoscopy. Sex, age, previous diseases, and familial cases of cancer, as well as tobacco and alcohol ingestion were assessed. Patients with rectal macro- or microscopic bleeding and colorectal diseases were excluded. Bowel cleansing, polyps, angioectasias, diverticular disease, inflammation, and neoplasm were also verified. Polyps were classified according to their size, number, and location. RESULTS: Colonoscopic alterations were detected in 99 individuals: polyps in 64.3 %, diverticular disease in 27.9 %, inflammatory mucosal alterations in 9.7 %, melanosis coli in 2.6 %, and angioectasias in 7.8 %. There was an increasing incidence of polyps in individuals older than 50 years. Multivariate logistic regression showed age and sex as predictive factors for polyps [odds ratio (OR) = 1.43; 1.19 < OR < 2.67]. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this investigation revealed a significant incidence of colonoscopic alterations in asymptomatic people submitted to colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening.

[Colonoscopic findings in asymptomatic people]. / Achados colonoscópicos em pessoas sem quadro clínico de doença colorretal.

CONTEXT: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Prevention of colorectal cancer should be achievable by screening programs in asymptomatic patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the colonoscopic findings in asymptomatic people submitted to screening. METHODS: A prospective study was undertaken on 153 consecutive asymptomatic people submitted to colonoscopy. Sex, age, previous diseases and familial cases of cancer, as well as tobacco and alcohol ingestion were assessed. Patients with rectal macro- or microscopic bleeding and colorectal diseases were excluded. Bowel preparation, polyps, angioectasias, diverticular disease, inflammation and neoplasm were also verified. Polyps were classified according to their size, number and location. RESULTS: Mean age was 52.5 +/- 11.7 years. Family history for colorectal cancer occurred in 79.8% of individuals. Colonoscopic alterations were detected in 99 individuals: polyps in 64.3%, diverticular disease in 27.9%, inflammatory mucosal alterations in 9.7%, melanosi coli in 2.6% and angioectasias in 7.8%. There were an increasing incidence of polyps in patients older than 50 year. Multivariate logistic regression showed age and sex as predictive factors for polyps (OR = 1.43; 1.19

Efeito da colestase nos aspectos funcionais e morfológicos renais após nefrectomia / Effect of cholestasis on renal morphological and functional aspects after nephrectomy

OBJETIVOS: O crescimento de um rim em resposta à perda do outro rim recebe o nome de hipertrofia renal compensatória. Entretanto, os mecanismos que regulam esse processo ainda não foram esclarecidos. Neste estudo, avaliaram-se os efeitos da icterícia obstrutiva na morfologia e na função do rim remanescente após nefrectomia unilateral. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 40 ratos Wistar (250g-300 g), distribuídos nos seguintes grupos: Grupo 1 - operação simulada; Grupo 2 - nefrectomia direita; Grupo 3 - ligadura do ducto biliar; Grupo 4 - ligadura do ducto biliar e nefrectomia direita. Os animais foram mortos após 20 dias, quando foi colhido sangue para exames laboratoriais e feita a retirada dos rins e do fígado. Os rins foram pesados para avaliação do crescimento compensatório. Rins e fígado foram estudados histologicamente por microscopia óptica. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença no aumento do peso renal relativo entre os animais dos Grupos 2 e 4 (p = 0,4). Os animais submetidos à ligadura do ducto biliar isoladamente (Grupo 3) apresentaram maior peso renal relativo quando comparados com os animais submetidos à operação simulada (Grupo 1) (p = 0,011). As alterações histológicas encontradas foram dilatação capilar da camada medular nos rins hipertrofiados e modificações típicas de colestase nos fígados dos animais ictéricos. Cirrose foi encontrada apenas nos animais submetidos à nefrectomia. CONCLUSÃO: O peso e a função do rim remanescente após nefrectomia unilateral não são afetados pela icterícia obstrutiva.

OBJECTIVE: The removal of one kidney results in a compensatory growth of the remnant kidney. However, the mechanism that underlies this hypertrophic response is not understood. In this study we assessed the influence of obstructive jaundice on renal morphology and function after unilateral nephrectomy. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats (250-300 g) were randomly divided into four groups: Group 1 - sham operation, Group 2 - right nephrectomy, Group 3 - common bile duct ligation, Group 4 - common bile duct ligation and right nephrectomy. After 20 days, blood was collected for biochemical studies and the animals were killed. Their kidneys and livers were removed and weighed. Histological evaluation of both organs was carried out. RESULTS: No difference in the kidney/body weight ratio was observed for animals undergoing right nephrectomy (Groups 2 and 4) (p = 0.4). Animals submitted to bile duct ligation only (Group 3) presented a higher kidney/body weight ratio than animals submitted to sham operation (Group 1) (p = 0.011). Vasodilatation was identified in the medulla of the hypertrophied kidneys and histological alterations were found in the livers of the jaundiced animals. Cirrhosis occurred only in nephrectomized rats. CONCLUSION: Cholestasis does not affect the weight, function or the compensatory renal growth of the remnant kidney after unilateral nephrectomy.

[Effect of cholestasis on renal morphological and functional aspects after nephrectomy]. / Efeito da colestase nos aspectos funcionais e morfológicos renais após nefrectomia.

OBJECTIVE: The removal of one kidney results in a compensatory growth of the remnant kidney. However, the mechanism that underlies this hypertrophic response is not understood. In this study we assessed the influence of obstructive jaundice on renal morphology and function after unilateral nephrectomy. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats (250-300 g) were randomly divided into four groups: Group 1--sham operation, Group 2--right nephrectomy, Group 3--common bile duct ligation, Group 4--common bile duct ligation and right nephrectomy. After 20 days, blood was collected for biochemical studies and the animals were killed. Their kidneys and livers were removed and weighed. Histological evaluation of both organs was carried out. RESULTS: No difference in the kidney/body weight ratio was observed for animals undergoing right nephrectomy (Groups 2 and 4) (p=0.4). Animals submitted to bile duct ligation only (Group 3) presented a higher kidney/body weight ratio than animals submitted to sham operation (Group 1) (p=0.011). Vasodilatation was identified in the medulla of the hypertrophied kidneys and histological alterations were found in the livers of the jaundiced animals. Cirrhosis occurred only in nephrectomized rats. CONCLUSION: Cholestasis does not affect the weight, function or the compensatory renal growth of the remnant kidney after unilateral nephrectomy.