Evidence for the First Excited State of

The ^{7}H system was populated in the ^{2}H(^{8}He,^{3}He)^{7}H reaction with a 26 AMeV ^{8}He beam. The ^{7}H missing mass energy spectrum, the ^{3}H energy and angular distributions in the ^{7}H decay frame were reconstructed. The ^{7}H missing mass spectrum shows a peak, which can be interpreted either as unresolved 5/2^{+} and 3/2^{+} doublet or one of these states at 6.5(5) MeV. The data also provide indications of the 1/2^{+} ground state of ^{7}H located at 1.8(5) MeV with quite a low population cross section of ∼25 µb/sr within angular range θ_{c.m.}≃(17°-27°).

Effectiveness and safety of selenium supplementation for type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The role of selenium (Se) in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains unclear. We systematically assessed the effectiveness and safety of Se supplementation in adults with T2DM. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched up to April 2018 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness of Se against a comparator on DM-related outcomes. RESULTS: Four RCTs (241 participants) were included. In individual RCTs, Se supplementation significantly reduced fasting insulin levels [mean difference (MD) = -3.6 µIU mL-1 ; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -6.36 to -0.84; MD = -5.8 µIU mL-1 ; 95% CI = -9.23 to -2.37], homeostasis model of assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (MD = -1; 95% CI = -1.79 to -0.21; MD = -1.6; 95% CI, -2.58 to -0.62) and homeostasis model of assessment-estimated B cell function (HOMA-B) (MD = -13.6; 95% CI = -23.4 to -3.8; MD = -22.6; 95% CI = -36.39 to -8.81). No effects of Se were noted on most of the other outcomes of interest. None of the RCTs assessed the mortality, diabetes-related complications, non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL), blood pressure and health-related quality of life. The impact on HDL and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was ambiguous. Only one adverse event (nausea) was reported as a reason for discontinuing the intervention; however, among the studies, the reporting was not accurate. Furthermore, only one RCT reported increase in FPG level in the Se group (MD = 36.38 mg dL-1 ; 95% CI = 15.39-57.37). CONCLUSIONS: Currently, there is no evidence to support the effectiveness of Se supplementation in the T2DM population.

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) isoenzymes and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity in the sera of patients with colorectal cancer.

Various isoenzymes of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) exist in human colorectal mucosa. In our last experiments we have shown that ADH and ALDH are present also in colorectal cancer cells. Moreover the activities of total ADH and class I isoenzymes were significantly higher in cancer tissue than healthy mucosa. This may suggest that these changes may be reflected by enzyme activity in the serum. Therefore, we have measured the activity of total ADH, and classes I-IV of this enzyme and ALDH in the sera of patients suffering from this cancer. Total ADH activity was measured by a photometric method with p-nitrosodimethylaniline (NDMA) as a substrate and ALDH activity by the fluorometric method with 6-methoxy-2-naphtaldehyde as a substrate. For the measurement of the activity of class I and II isoenzymes we employed fluorometric methods, with class-specific fluorogenic substrates. The activity of class III ADH was measured by the photometric method with formaldehyde and class IV with m-nitrobenzaldehyde as a substrate. Serum samples were taken for routine biochemical investigations from 52 patients with colorectal carcinoma before treatment. A statistically significant increase of class I ADH isoenzymes was found. Therefore the total ADH activity was also significantly increased. The total ALDH and the activity of other tested ADH isoenzymes were unchanged. We also observed the increasing tendency of ADH I activity in accordance with the advance of disease. The activity of class I ADH isoenzymes was elevated in the serum of patients with colorectal cancer. This activity was derived from colorectal cancer cells and probably from severely damaged liver by metastatic disease.

Functional categories of TP53 mutation in colorectal cancer: results of an International Collaborative Study.

BACKGROUND: Loss of TP53 function through gene mutation is a critical event in the development and progression of many tumour types including colorectal cancer (CRC). In vitro studies have found considerable heterogeneity amongst different TP53 mutants in terms of their transactivating abilities. The aim of this work was to evaluate whether TP53 mutations classified as functionally inactive (< or=20% of wildtype transactivation ability) had different prognostic and predictive values in CRC compared with mutations that retained significant activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TP53 mutations within a large, international database of CRC (n = 3583) were classified according to functional status for transactivation. RESULTS: Inactive TP53 mutations were found in 29% of all CRCs and were more frequent in rectal (32%) than proximal colon (22%) tumours (P < 0.001). Higher frequencies of inactive TP53 mutations were also seen in advanced stage tumours (P = 0.0003) and in tumours with the poor prognostic features of vascular (P = 0.006) and lymphatic invasion (P = 0.002). Inactive TP53 mutations were associated with significantly worse outcome only in patients with Dukes' stage D tumours (RR = 1.71, 95%CI 1.25-2.33, P < 0.001). Patients with Dukes' C stage tumours appeared to gain a survival benefit from 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy regardless of TP53 functional status for transactivation ability. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations that inactivate the transactivational ability of TP53 are more frequent in advanced CRC and are associated with worse prognosis in this stage of disease.

P53 correlates positively with VEGF in preoperative sera of colorectal cancer patients.

Diversity of P53 impact on tumor angiogenesis is due to the fact that wild-type P53 decreases expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), but mutant P53 upregulates it. Therefore, we aimed at uncovering relations between preoperative serum levels of VEGF and P53 in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Preoperative blood samples of 125 CRC patients and 16 control healthy volunteers were examined with an ELISA-kit for serum P53 levels and VEGF. P53 did not correlate with VEGF in the whole group of CRC patients. However, P53 associated with VEGF in case of colorectal cancer patients, whose serum values of VEGF were higher than in controls (VEGF{H} >5.9333 pg/ml) (r=0.274, p<0.009). We revealed a positive correlation between P53 and VEGF{H} in subsets of poorly differentiated (G3) cancers (p<0.02), lymph node positive (p<0.007), pT3 or pT4 patients (p<0.004) without analogous relation in moderately differentiated (G2) tumors, node negative patients or pT1 or pT2 patients. P53 and IGF-I negatively correlated in all CRC patients (p<0.04) and VEGF{H} individuals of pT3 or pT4 (p<0.05) without any significant linkage in tumors of pT1 or pT2. The positive correlation between serum P53 and VEGF points at mutation of P53 and is a highly probable sign of poor prognosis in colorectal cancer. For now it can not be excluded that the binary analysis of serum P53 and VEGF could help select CRC patients endangered by rapid growth and lymph node metastases.

Glycoprotein CD44 variant 4 expression in tumour epithelial cells of patients with colorectal cancer.

The aim of this study was to check if the expression of CD44v4 in epithelial cells of the colorectal cancer correlates with the pTN stage and the histopathological grade of malignancy--G. Samples of tumour tissue (TT), as well as those of healthy tissue (HT) and of tumour adjacent tissue (TAT) were obtained from 25 patients. An evaluation of the expression of CD44v4 was performed in a flow cytometer. The mean value of the percentage of epithelial cells with co-expression of CD44v4 was lower in pT2 stage than that in pT3 only in HT. The expression of CD44v4 in epithelial cells was higher in cases without lymph node metastases only in TAT. The expression of CD44v4 in epithelial cells was higher in G2 than in G3 degree only in TAT as well. According to the obtained results, it is difficult to state if CD44v4 can influence the progress of colorectal cancer.

Assessment expression of the adhesion molecules, CD134 and CD137, in patients with colorectal cancer by flow cytometry.

The aim of the study was to assess the expression of adhesion molecules, CD134 and CD137, in the peripheral blood in correlation with clinical advancement, the histological grade, the size and type of tumour growth, tissue infiltration, and lymph node and metastases to lymph nodes and liver. The study involved 28 patients with primary colorectal cancer. The expression of both molecules was investigated on the day of the surgery, before the procedure and ten days after the operation by means of flow cytometry. The expression of CD134 was markedly higher, compared to CD137, both on the day of the surgery and ten days after the operation. A significant increase was observed in CD134 expression ten days after the surgery. CD137 expression increased with the higher stage of clinical advancement, but decreased with the enhancement of colon wall infiltration. CD134 showed a similar expression for all the stages of tumour clinical advancement.

Evaluation of proliferating markers Ki-67, PCNA in gastric cancers.

Tumours from 45 patients with advanced gastric cancer were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Tissue sections were fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde solution, embedded in paraffin and stained immunohistochemically with anti-human Ki-67 and PCNA antibodies. No correlation was found between Ki-67, PCNA protein expression, the age of patients and the localization of tumour. A significant, positive association was observed between the expression of Ki-67, PCNA and tumour differentiation and Lauren's classification. Also a strong correlation was found between lymph node involvement and the expression of Ki-67 protein. These data suggest that the expression of Ki-67, PCNA proteins were closely connected with the high grade of tumour malignancy.

Plasma VEGF-A and its soluble receptor R1 correlate with the clinical stage of colorectal cancer.

UNLABELLED: Our aim was to assess plasma VEGF-A and its soluble receptor R1 (sVEGF-R1) in patients with colorectal cancer, in comparison with apparently healthy subjects. METHODS: Samples of plasma were collected from 26 patients with colorectal cancer before surgery and on post-operative day 3 and 10, frozen and eventually assessed, using ELISA kits. RESULTS: We found an increase in VEGF-A in colorectal cancer patients and a strong positive correlation between metastatic spread and postoperative VEGF-A, which also correlated with CA19.9. Soluble VEGF-R1 showed a positive correlation with lymph node involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings may suggest that the patients with high postoperative VEGF-A should be scanned for metastases. In view of our finding that sVEGFR-1 correlates with lymph node involvement, precautions must be taken in studies of sVEGFR-1 as a potential therapeutic agent.

Molecule CD44 variant 10 expression in lymphocytes infiltrating tumour tissues and epithelial cells in patients with colorectal cancer.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of CD44v10 in colorectal tumour cells and in lymphocytes infiltrating the tumour (CD45+). Samples of tumour tissue (TT), as well as of healthy tissue (HT) and of tumour adjacent tissue (TAT), were obtained from 20 patients. An evaluation of CD44v10 expression was performed in a flow cytometer. The mean value of the percentage of CD45+ with co-expression of CD44v10 was significantly higher in the lower stage of the tumour (pT). The mean value of the percentage of epithelial cells with CD44v10 co-expression was significantly higher in pN2 than in pN1 stage. Only in TAT the mean value of the percentage of epithelial cells and CD45+ with tCD44v10 co-expression was significantly lower in the higher degree of histological malignancy. It is supposed that CD44v10 takes part in local cancer progression.

Cancer procoagulant as a marker in monitoring the therapy in cases of oesophageal, stomach and colorectal cancer.

Cancer procoagulant activity in the blood serum of patients with oesophagal, gastric and colorectal cancer was evaluated before and after the tumour removal. Cancer procoagulant activity was significantly higher before the operation in comparison to the control group and was reduced after a total operative procedure, whereas it was kept on a high level after a non-radical procedure or in cases of metastases. Examination results point to the possibility of using the evaluation of cancer procoagulant activity in monitoring the course of treatment of patients with oesophagal, gastric and colorectal cancer.

CD44 expression in colorectal cancer. An immunohistochemical study including correlation with cathepsin D immunoreactivity and some tumour clinicopathological features.

CD44 is a cell adhesion molecule involved in tumour growth and progression. This study was undertaken to evaluate the expression of CD44 standard protein in a series of 54 colorectal adenocarcinomas in correlation with cathepsin D immunoreactivity and some other clinicopathological variables. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues were investigated with anti-CD44 standard protein and anti-cathepsin D antibody. Immunolocalisation of CD44 protein and cathepsin D was performed using LSAB method. 13 (41.9%) out of 31 carcinomas without lymph-node metastases had positive CD44 expression, whereas only 6 (26.1%) out of 23 carcinomas with lymph-node metastases were found positive for CD44 expression. CD44 expression in carcinomas was positively correlated with tumour cells cathepsin D (p<0.01) immunostaining. statistically significant correlation was found between the expression of CD44 standard protein and the tumour site, age and sex of the patients. These results suggest that the standard-type CD44 protein lymph-node metastases, probably with cooperation of cathepsin D.

Tumour budding intensity in relation to cathepsin D expression and some clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer.

Although it has been suggested that tumour budding at the invasive edge of colorectal cancer is an important prognostic factor its biological significance for tumour progression is still to be evaluated. The aim of the study was to correlate tumour budding intensity with cathepsin D expression and some other clinicopathological variables of presumed or established prognostic value. 48 patients with colorectal cancer at pT3 stage, G2 grade of histological differentiation and tumour budding at the invasive edge were evaluated. Colorectal tumours were investigated for cathepsin D expression by immunohistochemistry of formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded tissues. There was no statistically significant relationships between tumour budding intensity grade and primary tumour cathepsin D expression, stromal cell cathepsin D expression and histochemical immunostaining of cathepsin D in rumour budding at its invasive edge. The tumour budding intensity was not associated with lymph node status, tumour site, peritumoral inflammatory response as well as the patient's age and sex. The results of this study suggest that intensity of tumour budds formation at the invasive margin of colorectal cancer is not associated with presumed or established prognostic factors such as lymph node metastases, and peritumoural inflammatory reaction as well as cathepsin D expression.

Antioxidant status and proteolytic-antiproteolytic balance in colorectal cancer.

Free radicals participate in the development of cancer. When the antioxidant defence system is not longer capable to destroy free radicals they may cause lipid and protein oxidation. Lipid peroxidation products also modify proteins. In such a situation the proteolytic-antiproteolytic balance existing in the blood may be changed. Therefore the aim of this study was to examine the correlation between antioxidant status and activity of proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors in cases of colorectal cancer. This study included 55 patients with colorectal cancer. The blood was taken before surgery and plasma was collected. Total antioxidant status, the levels of lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal) and activity of cathepsin G, elastase and their inhibitors (alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobulin) were determined in plasma. It was shown that during the development of cancer total antioxidant status was signficantly decreased while lipid peroxidation products were increased. Activity of alpha-2-macroglobulin was decreased and activity of determined enzymes was not significantly changed. The observed changes indicate a shift in proteolytic-antiproteolytic balance which may enhance carcinogenesis.

[Cancer procoagulant activity in cases of esophageal, stomach and colorectal cancer considering progression degree and histological type of cancer]. / Aktywnosc prokoagulanta nowotworowego w przypadkach raka przelyku, zoladka i jelita grubego z uwzglednieniem stopnia klinicznego zaawansowania i typu histologicznego nowotworu.

The cancer procoagulant activity has been evaluated in homogenates of esophagal, stomach and colorectal cancer tissues and in the blood serum of patients with these neoplasms's. Activity of CP was significantly higher in examined material than in control. The correlation between CP activity and progression degree as well as histological type was affirmed. The higher activity of CP in homogenates as well as in serum was observed in cases with higher degree of clinical progression and smaller activity of this enzyme corresponded with lower degree of the cancer progression. The highest activity of CP was observed in the cases of adenocarcinoma whereas the lowest in cases of squamous cell carcinoma. Higher activity of CP in homogenates of examined tissues correlated with higher activity of this enzyme in the serum. Activity of CP depended on the tissue localisation of the cancer and the highest was in the cases of stomach cancers whereas the lowest was in the cases of esophagal cancer.

Cathepsin D activity in colorectal cancer.

Cathepsin D is one of the main proteolytic enzymes involved in the neoplastic process. The aim of the study was to evaluate the activity of cathepsin D in 36 colorectal adenocarcinomas (of the colon and rectum) at stage pT3 of clinical advancement and histological grade G2. The correlation of cathepsin D activity with the stage of anatomo-clinical advancement and the presence of chosen anatomo-clinical properties of the tumour was also analysed. The activity of cathepsin D was found to be statistically significantly higher both in the neoplastic tissue cytosol and homogenate, compared to the cytosol and homogenate of adjacent healthy tissue. No correlation was noted between the activity of cathepsin D in neoplastic cells and other parameters analysed.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy conversion--causes and surgical procedures]. / Konwersje cholecystektomii laparoskopowej--przyczyny i postepowanie chirurgiczne.

From September 1993 tol May 1997 360 laparoscopic cholecystectomies have been performed in patients aged 17-74: 318 women (88.3%) and 42 men (11.7%). 19 of them (5.3%) required a conversion to open surgery. In 13 cases (13.6%) conversion was caused by technical difficulties. In the other 6 (1.7%) was caused by intraoperative complications. While converted 15 simple cholecystectomies were performed, 2 with T-tube drainage of bile ducts, 1 with anastomosis choledochoduodenalis and 1 with partial stomach resection (Rydygier method). In all cases adhesions were divided. None of the patients died. Authors believe that LCh can be performed safely on most of the patients with chronic and acute cholecystitis.