RESUMO
Angiogenesis has an important role in the growth and metastasis of solid tumors. Several angiogenic factors have been identified, one being platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), which is identical to thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase). We investigated the activity of dThdPase in 84 samples of 42 human gastric cancers, by liquid chromatography. The dThdPase activity significantly correlated to the microvessel density assessed by immunostaining to CD-31 antigen (P<0.05). Expression of dThdPase has an important role in the promotion of angiogenesis in human gastric cancer.
Assuntos
Neovascularização Patológica/enzimologia , Neoplasias Gástricas/irrigação sanguínea , Neoplasias Gástricas/enzimologia , Timidina Fosforilase/metabolismo , Adulto , Idoso , Cromatografia Líquida , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Molécula-1 de Adesão Celular Endotelial a Plaquetas/metabolismo , Estudos ProspectivosRESUMO
Progressive muscular dystrophy patients often show progressive body weight loss in early adolescence. This severe body weight loss frequently causes superior mesenteric artery syndrome which may result in a fatal outcome. We performed prandial pulse oximetry and found 12 out of 35 Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients, 1 out of 2 Becker muscular dystrophy patients and 1 out of 3 Limb-Girdle muscular dystrophy patients showed prandial hypoxia with tachycardia. The patients became tired and eating habits were easily interrupted resulting in progressive body weight loss. Nasal administration of 0.2L/min oxygen to 2 Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients, and nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation to 2 Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients, 1 Becker muscular dystrophy patient and 1 Limb-Girdle muscular dystrophy patient for 15-30 minutes before eating improved the prandial hypoxia and halted the progression of body weight loss. This prandial hypoxia is one of the earliest signs of respiratory failure in progressive muscular dystrophy.
Assuntos
Ingestão de Alimentos/fisiologia , Hipóxia/etiologia , Distrofias Musculares/complicações , Adolescente , Adulto , Progressão da Doença , Humanos , Hipóxia/terapia , Masculino , Distrofias Musculares/fisiopatologia , Oxigenoterapia , Redução de PesoRESUMO
To screen for gastroenterological malignancies in dialysis patients, we used the fecal occult blood test, examined the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, and used abdominal ultrasonography in 178 patients starting dialysis (171 on hemodialysis and 7 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)) and 34 patients on maintenance dialysis (27 on hemodialysis and 7 on CAPD). Screening disclosed ten cancers (one esophageal cancer, three gastric cancers, four colorectal cancers, and two hepatocellular carcinomas) in 9 of the patients starting dialysis. Six cancers (one esophageal, three gastric, one colorectal, and one renal) were detected in 5 of the patients on maintenance dialysis. Since an increased incidence of malignancy has been reported in dialysis patients, gastroenterological screening appears to be worthwhile.
