RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum levels of galectin-3 (G-3) in patients with bladder cancer and a control group, as a potential diagnostic and prognostic serum tumour marker. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 2012 and January 2013, 55 patients (median age 58 years) were enrolled into three groups, i.e., a control, those with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) or those with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The serum G-3 level was measured the night before cystoscopy. The levels of G-3 levels were correlated with tumour type, stage and grade, and in relation to levels in normal urothelium. The results were analysed statistically using the Mann-Whitney U-test, the Kruskal-Wallis test and the receiver operating characteristic curve, as appropriate. RESULTS: The median serum G-3 level was 100, 720 and 920 pg/mL in the control, TCC and SCC groups, respectively, with very significantly greater G-3 levels in both the TCC and SCC groups than in the control group. Patients with high-grade TCC had a statistically significantly greater serum G-3 level than those with low-grade tumours, as did those with muscle-invasive TCC than those with Ta tumours. CONCLUSIONS: The level of G-3 can aid as a diagnostic marker in patients with either TCC or SCC of the bladder, but the prognostic significance of G-3 remains to be confirmed.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Galectins are group of proteins found in the cytoplasm, nucleus, cell surface and extracellular matrix. Galectin 3 (Gal-3) displays pathological expression in a variety of processes such as tumorigenesis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 70 patients classified into the control group, cystitis group, transitional cell carcinoma group, and squamous cell carcinoma group were enrolled in this study which aimed to detect the serum level and the intensity of tissue expression of Gal-3. RESULTS: Both serum level and tissue expression of Gal-3 were statistically higher in bladder cancer patients compared to the other groups. Gal-3 level expression increased from low to high grade urothelial tumors, with a statistically significant increase of its level and expression between muscle invasive and non-muscle invasive Ta urothelial tumors. CONCLUSION: The serum Gal-3 level is sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of bladder cancer. The prognostic significance of tissue expression is to be confirmed.
RESUMEN
This study was designed to compare the effect of general anesthesia using isoflurane and epidural anesthesia using ropivacaine on hemostasis in hepatic patients. Sixty patients were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either general or epidural anesthesia which further subdivided into control and hepatic subgroups. Blood samples were collected preoperatively, immediate post-operatively and on third post-operative day to measure hemoglobin (Hb), platelet count (PLT),), prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and thrombin time (TT). Specific hemostatic and fibrinolytic parameters were also included; von Willebrand factor (vWF), soluble platelet selectin (sP-selectin), prothrombin fragment (PF(1+2)), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and D-dimer. Hemoglobin showed a significant post-operative decrease in all subgroups. Post-operative changes of PLT, PT, PTT and TT were comparable between general and epidural anesthesia. General anesthesia showed a marked significant increase in specific parameters compared to epidural anesthesia. This study concluded that epidural ropivacaine anesthesia provided better hemostatic stability especially in hepatic patients.
