[Arthroscopic transcapsular iliopsoas tenotomy from the peripheral versus the central compartment in internal snapping hip syndrome. Short-term results of a prospective randomised study]. / Artroskopická transkapsulární tenotomie iliopsoatu u vnitrního typu syndromu lupavé kycle z periferního versus centrálního kompartementu: krátkodobé výsledky prospektivní randomizované studie.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: In this prospective randomised study, the short-term results of arthroscopic transcapsular iliopsoas tenotomy approached from the peripheral versus the central compartment for internal snapping hip syndrome are presented. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 19 patients (15 women and four men; mean age, 24.3 years) who underwent arthroscopic transcapsular iliopsoas tenotomy for internal snapping hip syndrome in the period between September 2010 and December 2011 were prospectively evaluated. No injury, hip surgery or feeling of hip instability was recorded in their personal histories. Radiographs did not show any dysplasia, retroversion of the acetabulum or cam lesions. The patients were allocated to two groups using sealed envelope randomisation: Group 1 patients (n=10) were treated by tenotomy from the peripheral compartment and group 2 patients (n=9) underwent tenotomy from the central compartment during traction of the lower extremity. The evaluation included pre-operative 3T MRI findings, arthroscopically detected intra-articular lesions, duration of traction and post-operative complications. The pre-operative WOMAC scores were compared with those at one-year follow-up. In comparison of the two groups, the Mann-Whitney exact test was used for WOMAC scores and Fisher's exact test for post-operative complications. Statistical significance was set at a 0.05 level. RESULTS: In comparing post-operative complications, a significant difference (p=0.0468) between the groups was found only for genital paresthesia, which did not occur in group 1. The other differences were not statistically significant. The pre-operative WOMAC scores did not differ significantly between the groups (p=0.79). The post-operative WOMAC scores were significantly higher in group 1 (p=0.02). In each group the change in WOMAC scores was different and was statistically significant in group 1 (p=0.0014). Associated intra-articular hip pathologies, most frequently synovitis of the peripheral compartment, acetabular chondropathy, or labral lesions, were diagnosed in 90% of group 1 patients and in 66.7% of group 2 patients. DISCUSSION: Most of the authors comparing the results of two different ilioproas tenotomy techniques at one-year follow-up did not report any statistically significant differences in WOMAC scores between them. In accordance with the data reported, an increase in the post-operative WOMAC score, i.e., improvement of clinical outcome, was achieved in all our patients and, in group 1, it was significantly higher (p=0.0015), as compared with a similar study by Ilizaliturri. However, further follow-up of the patients and evaluation of long-term results will be necessary. CONCLUSIONS: The technique of arthroscopic ilioproas tenotomy approached from the peripheral compartment resulted in significantly fewer cases of genital paresthesia and provided significantly better clinical outcomes in comparison with tenotomy from the central compartment.

[Comparison of patellar pain after total knee arthroplasty with conventional versus individual femoral rotational alignment]. / Srovnání výskytu patelární bolesti po aloplastice kolenního kloubu u konvencne nebo individuálne nastavené rotace femorální komponenty.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to find out whether the frequency and intensity of patellar pain can be affected by individual rotational alignment of the femoral component in total knee arthroplasty, as compared with the standard 3 degrees of external femoral rotation in conventional procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In randomly selected patients treated for knee osteoarthritis by total joint replacement between January 2007 and January 2011, the occurrence of patellar pain was assessed. The evaluated knees were allocated to two groups. Group 1 included 350 knee joints with conventional femoral rotational alignment, i.e., 3 degrees of external rotation. Group 2 comprised 380 knee joints with an individual rotational alignment of the femoral component based on the condylar twist angle. Post-operative anterior knee pain was assessed on the following scale: 1, no pain; 2, occasional mild pain; 3, moderate pain; 4, severe pain. RESULTS: In group 1, 312 knee joints were free from pain, 15 occasionally experienced mild pain, 15 had moderate and eight had severe pain. A total of 23 revision operations were performed for patellar pain at the anterior knee and pain around the patella refractory to non-steroidal anti-rheumatic and rehabilitation therapy. In group 2, there were 331 pain-free knees, 48 with occasional mild pain, one with moderate pain and no knee with severe pain. No revision surgery was required. One patient with moderate patellar pain underwent surgery for spinal canal stenosis; after that knee pain was only mild. The groups were compared, as to pain assessment results, using the test of equality of relative frequencies, i.e., score categories 1+2 versus 3+4 of 350 (group 1) equalled 23 (6.57%) were compared with 1 (0.26%) of 380 (group 2); the difference was significant (p < 0.001). Using the same test for comparison of the frequency of repeat operations, i.e., 23 (0.57%) of 350 (group 1) versus 0 (0%) of 380 (group 2), also gave a significant result (p = 0.001). DISCUSSION: Mild and occasional pain was recorded in both groups, suggesting that femoral component malrotation is not the only cause of patellar pain following total knee arthroplasty. A markedly lower incidence of moderate and severe pain and no need for revision surgery found in group 2 provides evidence that the use of individual rotational alignment of the femoral component is fully justified. CONCLUSIONS: An individual rotational alignment of the femoral component can significantly reduce the incidence of moderate to severe patellar pain or even need for revision surgery.

[Comparison and statistical evaluation of two methods of condylar twist angle measurement in total knee arthroplasty]. / Komparace a statistické zhodnocení dvou metod merení "condylar twist angle" u aloplastiky kolenního kloubu.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aim of this prospective randomised study was to compare and statistically analyse two methods of condylar twist angle (CTA) measurement in total knee arthroplasty in order to assess their applicability in routine practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 238 patients with 256 sites undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the period from January 2009 to May 2011. There were 93 men (nine with bilateral TKA) and 145 women (nine with bilateral TKA) with an average age of 69.3 years and a range of 47 to 88 years. The implants NexGen (Zimmer) and ADVANCE® Medial-Pivot Knee (Wright) were used. In each patient, CTA was measured before surgery by the radiologist on a multidetector CT SOMATOM 64 (Siemens) using the Yoshioki method. The other CTA measurement was made intra-operatively by the surgeon using our modification of the Hofmann method which involved the identification of a reference line for optimal rotational alignment of the femoral component. A STATISTICA 9.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. In addition to basic statistical data, selected data were presented in graphical forms as Box and Whisker's plots and histograms. Changes in CTA and differences between the groups were evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Relationships among the variables were studied using Spearman's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The statistical analysis showed that the pre-operative CTA value obtained from CT scans was, on the average, higher by 0.5 degrees than the value from intra-operative measurement, as assessed at the level of significance p = 0.001 (signed- rank test). The intra-individual variability was lower than the inter-individual one (14.4% and 30.8%, respectively). This means that both methods are suitable for CTA measurement in the knee joint replacement procedures. Spearman's correlation coefficient was 0.6, which is the value of medium strong correlation. The post-operative CTA assessed on CT scans was in the range of 0 to 2 degrees in 87.5% of the patients. Both the pre-operative and intra-operative CTA values were significantly higher in women than in men (Wilcoxon two-sample test). There was no statistical difference between the left and the right side. DISCUSSION: Malrotation of the femoral component is one of the causes leading to patellar subluxation and pain in the front part of the knee. The post-operative CTA value should be zero. Optimal rotational alignment of the femoral component varies with each patient; in our study it was found in the range of 0 to 7 degrees on the basis of CTA values. We do not recommend 7 degrees of external rotation to be exceeded because of the risk associated with balancing the flexion gaps; nor do we recommend to set internal rotation of the femoral component for the risk of patellar complications. The difference of 0.5 degree found in the CTA value between the two measuring methods can be explained by individual differences in the anatomy of the medial epicondylar region, and by the use of only selected whole numbers (0, 3, 5, 7) in intra-operative measurements. This difference does not play any role in routine surgical procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The statistical evaluation of the results of CTA measurement with the two methods showed that both were equally suitable for routine total knee arthroplasty. The results of intra-operative CTA measurements are comparable with those obtained on CT scans; in addition, the intra-operative method is less expensive and eliminates exposure of the patient to radiation. CT-based CTA measurements are useful in the patients with chronic problems after TKA in whom femoral component malrotation needs to be either confirmed or ruled out.

Matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in correlation to proliferative and classical tumour markers during surgical therapy of colorectal liver metastases.

OBJECTIVES: Classical and proliferative tumour markers and matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors reflect the features of malignancy and are useful in prediction of prognosis in patients with colorectal liver metastases. There is very limited information about their physiological functions during regeneration and healing of liver parenchyma after any type of liver surgery for malignancy. METHODS: The presented study included the patients, who underwent following surgical procedures for CLM, benign liver lesions and inguinal hernias: Group A: 22 patients with inguinal hernias, Group B: 26 patients with benign liver lesions, Group C: 30 patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM) who were treated by radiofrequency ablation, Group D: 41 patients with CLM who underwent a radical surgical therapy - resection, and Group E: 22 patients with inoperable CLM who underwent an explorative laparotomy without any surgical procedure. RESULTS: The preoperative and postoperative serum levels of CEA, CA 19-9, TK, TPA, TPS, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 were statistically analyzed and compared within the groups to estimate the influence of a surgical procedure type. These results reflect the influence of surgical procedure on the serum levels of studied tumour markers during operation. CONCLUSIONS: It was the first description using these types of comparison to all metalloproteinases, their inhibitors, and proliferative and classical tumour markers. It could help us to estimate the critical relations of these tumour markers in prognoses of disease free survival or overall survival in patients after a surgical procedure for CLM (Tab. 5, Ref. 26).

Population-based study of BRCA1/2 mutations: family history based criteria identify minority of mutation carriers.

The two major susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, are involved in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. Early detection of mutation carriers has crucial clinical importance, as it allows identification of women who may benefit from intensive clinical follow-up or prophylactic surgery. Generally accepted inclusion criteria for BRCA1/2 mutation testing are based either upon family history of breast or ovarian cancer or young age at cancer diagnosis. In order to analyze the impact of BRCA1/2 mutations on breast cancer development in the Czech population and to confront the clinical and histopathological data of mutation carriers with current criteria for mutation testing we examined the frequency of mutations in unselected breast cancer cases. Mutational analysis of BRCA1/2 genes performed in 679 unselected female breast cancer patients included all recurrent deleterious alterations previously identified in the Prague area and truncating mutations in the whole exon 11 of BRCA1. Within analyzed gene sequences more than 80% of mutations were identified previously in high-risk patients. A total of 16 breast cancer patients (2.4%) carried a mutation. BRCA1 mutations were identified in 14 (2.1%) whereas BRCA2 in 2 (0.3%) women. Family history of ovarian cancer was a strong predictor of a BRCA1/2 mutation (OR = 8.3; p = 0.01), however, family history of breast cancer was not indicative of carrier status. A significant association between medullary breast cancer and mutation status was observed. Current criteria for BRCA1/2 mutation testing would distinguish only 6 out of 16 (37.5%) carriers identified in our study. Ten breast cancer patients with confirmed BRCA1/2 germ-line mutation exhibited no clinical characteristics that would predict their carrier status. Therefore, we believe that the testing for BRCA1/2 mutations in the Czech Republic may not be restricted only to high-risk patients. Our results indicate that analysis of locally prevalent BRCA1/2 mutations in all breast cancer patients might extend substantially the percentage of identified mutation carriers.

Influence of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene (DPYD) coding sequence variants on the development of fluoropyrimidine-related toxicity in patients with high-grade toxicity and patients with excellent tolerance of fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy.

Alterations in dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene (DPYD) coding for the key enzyme (DPD) of fluoropyrimidines (FPs) catabolism contribute to the development of serious FPs-related toxicity. We performed mutation analysis of DPYD based on cDNA sequencing in 76 predominantly colorectal cancer patients treated by FPs with early development of high (grade 3-4) hematological and/or gastrointestinal toxicity. Six previously described [85T>C (C29R), 496A>G (M166V), 775A>G (K259E), 1601G>A (S534N), 1627A>G (I543V), IVS14+1G>A, 2194G>A (V732I)] and two novel [187A>G (K63E) and 1050 G>A (R357H)] non-synonymous DPYD variants were found in 56/76 (73.7%) high-toxicity patients. Subsequently, these alterations were analyzed in 48 patients with excellent long-term tolerance of FPs and in 243 controls and were detected in 37/48 (77.1%) and 166/243 (68.3%) cases, respectively. Analysis of these alterations as risk factors for development of toxicity in pooled FPs-treated population demonstrated that C29R negatively correlated with overall gastrointestinal toxicity (OR = 0.48; 95%CI 0.23-1.0) and M166V in women protected against overall hematological toxicity and neutropenia (both OR = 0.26; 95%CI 0.07-0.89), whereas IVS14+1G>A (found in five high-toxicity patients only) increased risk of mucositis in overall population (OR = 7.0; 95%CI 1.1-44.53), and thrombocytopenia in women (OR = 10.8; 95%CI 1.24-93.98). Moreover, we identified a strong association of V732I with leucopenia (OR = 8.17; 95%CI 2.44 - 27.31) and neutropenia (OR=2.78; 95% CI 1.03-7.51). Our data enabled characterization of "high risk" haplotypes (carriers of IVS14+1G>A or V732 lacking M166V) representing small (22% female and 11% male patients), population in high risk of serious hematological toxicity development, and in patients with "lower risk" that unlikely develop serious hematological toxicity [carriers of M166V without IVS14+1G>A and V732I in females (32% women), and non-carriers of C29R, M166V, IVS14+1G>A, and V732I in males (46% men)]. Our results indicate that genotyping of several DPYD variants may lead to stratification of patients with respect to the risk of serious hematological toxicity development during FPs treatment.

Management of the prosthetic vascular graft infections--the influence of predictive factors on treatment results.

BACKGROUND: This prospective non-randomized single center study evaluated the predictive significance of various factors to the treatment outcomes of the prosthetic vascular graft infections. METHODS: 46 patients with the prosthetic vascular graft infection underwent the treatment. The prosthesis extirpation was performed in 37 cases. The extra-anatomical reconstruction was implanted in 18 and the in situ reconstruction in 12 patients. In 9 patients, only local treatment was applied. The influence of the preoperative factors (patient's age, type of primary procedure, type of infection, positive hemoculture, diabetes mellitus, comorbidity, C-reactive protein, leucocytosis, repeated interventions) on the result of the treatment was evaluated with the multivariate analysis. RESULTS: On the 30 day, the postoperative mortality was 23.9%. One and three years after the treatment, 72.1 and 57.8% of patients, respectively, survived. C-reactive protein above 90 mg/l (Wilcoxon test p<0.02, Log-rank test p<0.01), and leucocytosis >13 x 10(9)/l (Wilcoxon test p<0.0001, Log-rank test p<0.0004) were significant factors for patients morbidity and mortality. There were no preoperative factors with a statistically significant cut-off value which should be important for the long-term graft patency. CONCLUSION: C-reactive protein and leucocytosis are simple preoperative predictive markers of the treatment results of the prosthetic vascular graft infections. An early and aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic procedure is recommended in patients with the pre-operative levels of CRP higher than 90 mg/l and leucocytosis of 13 x 10(9)/l (Tab. 5, Fig. 3, Ref. 30). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

Clinical relevance of the expression of mRNA of MMP-7, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and CEA tissue samples from colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays we know that survival rates do not differ between repeated and single liver resections for colorectal liver metastases (CLM). To be able to determine patients prone to early recurrence, the use of different markers with a better prognostic value than the routinely employed tumor markers is required. AIM OF STUDY: The aim of our study was to assess mRNA expression of MMP-7, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and CEA in tissue samples from CLM and their relationship to disease-free interval (DFI) and overall survival (OS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The liver tumor biopsies were obtained from 40 patients suffering from CLM treated with radical surgery. mRNA expression levels of CEA, MMPs and TIMPs and a housekeeping gene (GAPDH) were quantified using RT-PCR. RESULTS: The increased expression of CEA, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in CLM was associated with a short DFI and a high tendency to early CLM recurrence. Statistical analysis confirmed CEA, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression as prognostic factors of survival. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the importance of CEA, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the prognostication of DFI and OS.

Tumor markers as useful predictors of survival rate after exploratory laparotomy for liver malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Tumor markers are used for the prediction of relapse and in determining the effect of postoperative or post-oncological therapy as a standard component of follow-up. Metastatic processes of the liver and primary malignancies of the liver and gall bladder are very common in the European population. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the behaviour of malignancy in patients who have not undergone surgical therapy and to study serum levels of the monitored tumor markers in relation to the life expectancy of these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Log-rank test and Wilcoxon test were used for statistical evaluation. Survival was computed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Serum levels of the tumor markers conventionally used in clinical practice in patients with gastrointestinal tumors (CEA, CA19-9, C724) and the markers of the proliferation activity in malignancy (TK, TPA, TPS) were studied. RESULTS: One hundred and nine patients who underwent exploratory laparotomy without any surgical therapy between September 1999 and June 2005 were studied. For patients with a serum level of CEA, CA19-9 and CA72-4 that was higher than the calculated cut-off hazard ratios of early death were respectively 3-, 5- and 9-fold higher than for patients with serum levels of the same tumor markers below the calculated cut-off. Preoperative serum levels of proliferative tumor markers (TK, TPA and TPS) were not statistically significant for the prediction of early death. CONCLUSION: The results of the pilot study suggest the importance of tumor markers for the prediction of the short-term survival rate. These markers could be used to supplement classic clinical, laboratory and radiodiagnostic parameters. It would be very helpful for the planning of palliative oncological therapy for patients with liver malignancies who cannot be treated by surgical therapy.

Prognostic importance of thymidine kinase in colorectal and breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Thymidine kinase (TK) plays an essential role in the processing of thymidine within the cell and therefore it is an important marker of proliferation, particularly in tumor cells. The aim of our study was to determine the diagnostic, prognostic and predictive importance of TK measurement in cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: TK was measured using radioreceptor analysis (RRA) with Immunotech assay kits. The serum level of TK was measured in 1087 patients with malignant disease (355 patients with hematology malignancies and 732 patients with solid tumors). RESULTS: Serum levels of TK were significantly elevated in inflammatory and immunological diseases in comparison with healthy individuals. Malignant diseases were associated with elevated serum levels of TK only in particular cases (e.g. hematological malignancies, cervical cancer). This marker has a high sensitivity for use as a primary diagnostic tool. It also has a high sensitivity during the follow-up period in breast and colorectal cancer for the prediction of relapse at the time of primary diagnosis and 3 months earlier than the diagnosis of relapse by imaging methods. CONCLUSION: TK represents a secondary tumor marker which is particularly useful for cancer disease monitoring. Interpretation of this marker must be performed only in association with evaluation of clinical status since all other possible non-specific causes (inflammatory or immunological diseases) of elevated serum levels must be excluded.

Expression of mRNA MMP-7 and mRNA TIMP-1 in non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Destruction of the extracellular matrix is a necessary precondition for metastasis and invasion of tumour cells. Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in this process, matrilysin being one of them (MMP-7). The results of our pilot study with patients operated on for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), with the assessment of MMP-7 and the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP-1), are presented here. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The group consisted of 34 patients who had been operated on in the course of 2005. Messenger RNA MMP- 7 and TIMP-1 were assessed in 20 cases (58%). Tissue samples were frozen to -70 degrees C, total RNA was subsequently isolated and a reverse transcription was performed from it. The quantitative assessment itself was performed using a real-time PCR method. The resulting expression level was determined as the expression ratio of the assessed gene and the housekeeping gene, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). RESULTS: A higher expression of mRNA MMP-7 was found in the NSCLC tissue than in non-tumourous lung tissue. On the other hand, a higher expression of mRNA TIMP-1 in the non-tumourous surrounding lung tissue was demonstrated. The expression of mRNA MMP-7 and TIMP-1 was higher in adenocarcinoma than in the epidermoid form of NSCLC. CONCLUSION: The value of our results should not be overestimated since we had only a small group of patients and assessed only one of the whole range of metalloproteinases (MMP-7). We consider the assessment and ratio quantification of metallorpoteinases in normal lung and NSCLC to be the first step in a further application of these parameters.

Dynamics of serum levels of tumour markers and prognosis of recurrence and survival after liver surgery for colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: The authors present a statistical analysis of the dynamics of tumour markers and compare these with single serum levels in patients before and after liver surgery for colorectal liver metastases (CLM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The serum levels of tumor markers conventionally used in clinical practice (CA19-9, CEA, CA72-4) and markers informing of the proliferation activity of malignancy (TKI TPA, TPS) were statistically analysed. The authors studied 144 patients who underwent liver surgery for colorectal liver metastases between September 1999 and June 2005. Serum levels of tumor markers before surgery (maximally two weeks before the operation), after surgery (maximally one month after the operation - usually on the day of dismission), six months (+/- one month) and twelve months after the surgery (+/- one month) were determined. The Log Rank test and the Wilcoxon test were used for statistical evaluation. The survival rate and disease-free intervals (DFI) were computed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The statistical analysis of tumour marker dynamic after liver surgery (speed and power of recurrence) supported the dynamics of CA 19-9 and CEA as excellent prognostic factors of early recurrence of CLM in contrast to proliferative tumor markers. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest the importance of tumour markers for the prediction of a short survival rate or DFI. This approach would be very helpful for the planning of palliative oncological treatment for patients with liver malignancies that cannot be treated by surgical therapy. Current patients with a high tendency of recurrence of CLM after liver surgery should be followed up more thoroughly to increase the possibility of successful reoperation.

[Portal vein embolization--increased chance for liver resecability for malignancies]. / Embolizace portální zíly - zvýsení resekability jater pro maligní onemocnení.

INTRODUCTION: Liver surgery for liver malignancy is recently limited not by technical possibilities but by physiological reserves of liver parenchyma. Portal vein embolization (PVE) is performed to increase future liver remnant volume (FLRV) to extend the possibilities of liver resections. The authors evaluate the cohort of patients, that underwent PVE and confront them with the cohort of patients that underwent liver resection without PVE. METHODOLOGY: At the Department of Surgery and Departement of Radiology, University Hospital Pilsen there were performed successfully PVE at 24 patients between January 2001 and August 2006. The increase of FLRV was sufficient at 17 patients. The mean period between PVE and computed tomography volumetry was 29 days. The mean period between PVE and surgical procedure was 54 days. 8 patients underwent radical liver surgery (right hepatectomy, extended right hepatectomy, combination of right hepatectomy with RFA in left lobe), 3 patients underwent radiofrequency ablation, the rest of patients was explored. For comparison we used cohort of 107 patients that underwent one step radical surgery for malignancy. RESULTS: 1 year survival rate after liver operation was 85.7%, 3 years survival rate 42.9%. Disease free interval (DFI) was counted only for group of radicaly operated patients. One year DFI was 40%, two year DFI was 20%. The number of leasions was not proved as statistically significant for DFI or survival rate. In non PVE group 1 year survival rate was 78.9%, 3 years survival rate was 34.0%, one year DFI was 60.2%, two years DFI was 36.6%. DISCUSSION: The survival rate was higher in PVE group, the DFI was shortened in PVE group. In our cohort we could conclude, the PVE increase survival rate instead of shortened DFI. PVE spreads possibilities for liver resections at patients with small FLVR and enables radical surgical therapy for patients, that will be leaved a palliative surgery or oncological therapy.

Quantitative estimation of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 7 (MMP-2, MMP-7) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 2 (TIMP-1, TIMP-2) in colorectal carcinoma tissue samples.

BACKGROUND: An essential step in the process of tumor invasion and metastasis involves the degradation of tissue barriers in the extracellular matrix (ECM), particularly in the basal membrane (BM). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs), in particular MMP-2, MMP-7, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, play an important role in the process of ECM and BM degradation in connection with tumor invasion. The aim of our study was to assess the levels of MMP-2, MMP-7, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA expression in colorectal carcinoma tissue samples and to correlate them with the stage of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included samples of tumor tissue of 38 patients with colorectal carcinoma and samples of tissue of 11 patients with benign disease. The expression levels of mRNA MMP-2, MMP-7, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), as housekeeping gene, were quantified in tissue samples using the method of reverse transcription real-time PCR. RESULTS: The levels of mRNA expression of MMP-2, MMP-7 and TIMP-1 were significantly higher in tumor tissue samples that in the control tissue (p<0.0005, p<0.0007 and p<0.0004). In addition the presence of mRNA MMP-2, MMP-7, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in tumor tissue samples in these parameters was significantly higher than in the control tissue (p<0.003, p<0.0001, p<0.0001 and p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This pilot study demonstrated that a significant difference in the level and in the presence of mRNA MMP-2, MMP-7 and TIMP-1 expressions between tumor colorectal and control colorectal tissues might be helpful for the prognosis of colorectal cancer.

Markers of cellular adhesion in diagnosis and therapy control of colorectal carcinoma.

AIM: Early diagnosis of the progressive tumor disease and control of the effect of therapy in colorectal carcinoma are most frequently performed by monitoring CEA or CA 19-9 tumor markers. Their clinical application is, however, limited. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the contribution of adhesive molecule assessment to the early diagnosis of progression. We also wanted to find out if changes in the levels of cellular adhesion parameters correlate with the effect of antitumor therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intercellular cell adhesive molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and Vascular cell adhesive molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were assessed using the ELISA method, and the results were correlated with CEA and CA 19-9 tumor markers. Three hundred and sixty-four patients with colorectal carcinoma in Dukes' stages B-D were monitored. The results were processed with the SAS 6.2. statistical program and Statistica. RESULTS: In 92 patients with first clinical progression (occurrence of distant metastases irrespective of localization), significantly increased ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 values were demonstrated. In ROC evaluation of curves, we also demonstrated high sensitivity of adhesive molecules against both the control healthy group (n =89) and the no evidence of disease group (NED) (n=183). Adhesive molecule levels were closely connected with the type and course of therapy and are presented in the form of case reports. CONCLUSION: Soluble adhesive molecules are a prospective parameter both for the early diagnosis of progression and for control of the effect of therapy. There is a need for a large-scale study, preferably multicentric, which would verify the suitability of introducing cellular adhesion parameter assessment into routine practice.

Immunosuppresive agents have an influence on ischemia-reperfusion injury in kidneys procured from a non-heart-beating donor: experimental study.

Ischemic-reperfusion injury (IRI) has a considerable influence on the function of kidneys from non-heart-beating donors (NHBD) after transplantation. IRI is accompanied by a marked inflammatory reaction with the production of reactive oxygen species and of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha. The effect on the development of ischemic-reperfusion injury of early treatment of the donor with mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus was monitored in an animal model of a NHBD. The study demonstrated that the combination of the two immunosuppressives reduced the production in the NHBD kidney of tumor necrosis factor alpha, an indicator of the degree of inflammatory reaction after reperfusion, to a considerable extent but not of malondialdehyde or reduced glutathione. Pre-treatment of marginal donors with these immunosuppressants may improve the immediate function of transplanted kidneys by reducing cytokine production.

[Is liver resection or radiofrequency ablation indicated in breast carcinoma metastases?]. / Je indikována resekce jater nebo radiofrekvencní ablace u metastáz karcinomu prsu?

AIM: Until recently, metastasizing of the breast carcinoma to the liver has been considered the sign of the disease process generalization with a poor therapeutic prognosis. Therefore, the aim of this work was to assess any positive effects of liver resections in cases of patients with metastases with respect to the patients' survival rate and the relapse rate of the disorder. METHODOLOGY: From January 2000 until September 2003, 13 women aged 55.8 years on average (39-71 years of age) underwent surgery in the Surgical clinic of the Faculty Hospital in Plzen for liver metastases of the breast carcinoma. The average period of time from the date of the primary surgery for the breast carcinoma till the breast carcinoma liver metastasis appeared, was 4.3 years (3 months to 9 years). The breast carcinoma liver metastases were solitary in 11 cases and in two cases the metastases were multiple. The authors conducted four right-sided hepatectomies, three segmentectomies, two left-sided lobectomies, three radiofrequence ablations (RFA), one combined surgery--the liver resection and RFA, in total. In seven cases, the histological examination proved a ductal carcinoma and in six cases a lobular carcinoma. Following the surgery, all female patients underwent curative chemotherapy. None of the patients died earlier than 30 days after the surgery. In case of one patient during the complicated hepatectomy, the ductus hepaticus communis was iatrogenically injured, and the situation was solved using hepaticojejunoanastomosis according to Roux. The data were statistically evaluated according to the Kaplan-Meier long-term survival rate and the mestases relapse rate curve. A twelve-month and a thirty-month survival rate were 100%, and 66.7%, respectively. A probability of the relapse anywhere in the body is rated 0% and 71.5%, respectively for the same periods of time following the liver surgery for the breast carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Based on the authors' own findings and in conjunction with the current literature data, it is clearly evident that surgical therapy (liver resection, eventually RFA) followed by adjacent chemotherapy is the therapeutic method of choice in cases of patients suffering from the breast carcinoma liver metastases. The above method represents the only chance for a considerable extension of a quality life for women suffering from the breast carcinoma liver metastases.