Analysis of the seventh edition of American Joint Committee on colon cancer staging.

Purpose: The seventh edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system has new substages for colon cancer. We used survival data from a single medical center to analyze this new AJCC edition.

Methods: The colon cancer database of Taipei Veterans General Hospital provided 1,865 patient records covering from 1999 to 2005.

Cellulases from thermophilic fungi: recent insights and biotechnological potential.

Thermophilic fungal cellulases are promising enzymes in protein engineering efforts aimed at optimizing industrial processes, such as biomass degradation and biofuel production. The cloning and expression in recent years of new cellulase genes from thermophilic fungi have led to a better understanding of cellulose degradation in these species. Moreover, crystal structures of thermophilic fungal cellulases are now available, providing insights into their function and stability.

Notch2-induced COX-2 expression enhancing gastric cancer progression.

Gastric carcinoma is one of the most common and mortal types of malignancy worldwide. To date, the mechanisms controlling its aggressiveness are not yet fully understood. Notch signal pathway can function as either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor in tumorigenesis.

Peritoneal recurrence in serosa-negative gastric adenocarcinoma after curative surgery.

Background/aims: The rate of recurrence increases in proportion to the degree of tumor depth, even after curative resection for gastric adenocarcinoma. Serosal exposure is considered as an important risk factor of peritoneal recurrence. However, some patients with serosa-negative cancer were found to have peritoneal recurrence.

Comparison of the survival difference between AJCC 6th and 7th editions for gastric cancer patients.

Background: The AJCC 7th edition changes the classification of T- and N-factors and the TNM stage of gastric cancer. We evaluated its prognostic impact.

Methods: From December 1987 to December 2006, a total of 1,380 patients underwent curative surgery for gastric cancer at the Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, with a retrieved lymph node number ≥ 15.

Surgical impact on gastric cancer with locoregional invasion.

Background: The benefit of resection of gastric cancer with locoregional invasion is still under debate. This study aimed to investigate the impact of surgery on patients with gastric cancer with locoregional invasion.

Methods: From January 1988 to December 2009, a total of 2,678 patients with gastric cancer underwent surgery at the Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital.

Reinfusion of ascites during hemodialysis as a treatment of massive refractory ascites and acute renal failure.

Refractory ascites can occur in patients with various conditions. Although several procedures based on the reinfusion of ascitic fluid have been reported after the failure of bed rest, salt and water restriction, diuretics, intravenous administration of albumin, and repeated paracentesis, these procedures are performed for ascitic fluid removal without dialytic effect. In this study, a flow control reinfusion of ascites during hemodialysis (HD) was performed to demonstrate the efficacy of this method in a lupus patient with massive refractory ascites and respiratory and acute renal failure (ARF).

The status of EGFR-associated genes could predict the outcome and tumor response of chemo-refractory metastatic colorectal patients using cetuximab and chemotherapy.

Purpose: This study was designed to analyze the impacts of status of EGFR-associated genes on the outcome of chemo-refractory mCRC patients using cetuximab.

Materials And Methods: We collected samples from 42 metastatic CRC patients refractory to FOLFOX or FOLFIRI. Mutation profiles of KRAS, BRAF, PTEN, and PI3KCA and the copy numbers of EGFR and PTEN were analyzed.

Early postoperative CEA level is a better prognostic indicator than is preoperative CEA level in predicting prognosis of patients with curable colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) measurements performed preoperatively and during the early postoperative period were examined prospectively to assess their prognostic value for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients receiving curative surgery.

Methods: Between 2000 and 2004, 1,361 patients with CRC who underwent curative surgery at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital were enrolled prospectively. CEA was measured prior to surgery and during the third or fourth postoperative week.

Uterine adenosarcoma detected by conventional papanicolaou smear: A case report with emphasis on integrating the immunocytochemical staining.

Adenosarcoma is a rare uterine malignant tumor composed of benign to atypical epithelial element and a usually low-grade sarcomatous component. Although it is well known histologically, its cytological features are rarely described in the literature. We report a case of uterine adenosarcoma being the first one that was accurately diagnosed before operation by the conventional Papanicolaou (Pap) smear with emphasis on the contribution of the integrated immunocytochemical staining.

Cloning, expression, and characterization of serine protease from thermophilic fungus Thermoascus aurantiacus var. levisporus.

The serine protease gene from a thermophilic fungus Thermoascus aurantiacus var. levisporus, was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Pichia pastoris and the recombinant protein was characterized. The full-length cDNA of 2,592 bp contains an ORF of 1,482 bp encoding 494 amino acids.

Expression of a novel thermostable Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase from Chaetomium thermophilum in Pichia pastoris and its antioxidant properties.

A new superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene from the thermophilic fungus Chaetomium thermophilum (Ctsod) was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris and its gene product was characterized. The specific activity of the purified CtSOD was 2,170 U/mg protein. The enzyme was inactivated by KCN and H(2)O(2) but not by NaN(3), confirming that it belonged to the type of Cu, ZnSOD.

Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus: a report of 16 cases from a single institution and literature review.

Background: The optimum treatment for small cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCEC) has not been established. We reviewed our experience in the management of patients with SCEC.

Methods: The clinical data from 16 patients with SCEC were retrospectively collected with regard to demographics, use of tobacco or alcohol, presenting symptoms, tumor characteristics, staging, treatment, response, outcome, and survival.

Bilateral spontaneous dislocation of IOLs within the capsular bag to the anterior chamber in a retinitis pigmentosa patient.

Purpose: The aim of the paper is to present a case of 82 year old man suffering from retinitis pigmentosa, who over the period of 10 years developed partial, bilateral spontaneous dislocation of IOLs within the capsular bag to the anterior chamber.

Material And Methods: Complexes of IOLs in the capsular bags with severe capsule contraction were removed and AC IOLs were implanted in both eyes.

Results: Vision improved significantly in both eyes.

Distribution of a single nucleotide polymorphism of insulin-like growth factor-1 in colorectal cancer patients and its association with mucinous adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: To analyze the difference in the distribution of an insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) polymorphism (-2995 C/A) between young and old colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

Methods: Information from 950 CRC patients undergoing surgery at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital between 2000 and 2005 was collected. The IGF-1 polymorphism was analyzed in patients in extreme age ranges at the time of CRC onset (i.

MDM2 is overexpressed and regulated by the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) in human squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus.

Background: We investigated the association between the increased eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) level and MDM2 overexpression in the esophageal cancer tissue and cells.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of specimens from esophageal cancer patients treated over a 5-year period in a Taiwan university hospital. The predictor variable was eIF4E level in esophageal tumors and CE48T/VGH and TE6 esophageal carcinoma cell lines.

Proanthocyanidins inhibit UV-induced immunosuppression through IL-12-dependent stimulation of CD8+ effector T cells and inactivation of CD4+ T cells.

The inhibition of UVB-induced immunosuppression by dietary grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSP) has been associated with the induction of interleukin (IL)-12 in mice, and we now confirm that GSPs do not inhibit UVB-induced immunosuppression in IL-12p40 knockout (IL-12 KO) mice and that treatment of these mice with recombinant IL-12 restores the inhibitory effect. To characterize the cell population responsible for the GSP-mediated inhibition of UVB-induced immunosuppression and the role of IL-12 in this process, we used an adoptive transfer approach. Splenocytes and draining lymph nodes were harvested from mice that had been administered dietary GSPs (0.

Comparison of functional and nonfunctional neuroendocrine tumors in the pancreas and peripancreatic region.

Objective: To present our experience of 93 neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) in the pancreas and peripancreatic region, with emphasis on how resectability affects long-term survival and the impact of functional status on the survival outcome.

Methods: Ninety-three patients with NETs in the pancreas and peripancreatic region were included to compare the clinical features between functional and nonfunctional NETs. Prognostic factors were determined by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Multiplex assay detection of immunoglobulin G antibodies that recognize Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium parvum antigens.

Giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis are common enteric parasitic diseases that have similar routes of transmission. In this work, we have identified epitopes within the Giardia variant-specific surface protein (VSP) sequences that are recognized by IgG antibodies from 13 of 14 (93%) sera from patients with stool-confirmed giardiasis. The conserved epitopes are shared among VSPs from both of the assemblages that commonly infect humans, and they are likely to be structural, as both sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment and dithiothreitol reduction decrease antibody recognition.

A 20-year retrospective study of small-cell carcinomas in Taiwan.

Background And Objectives: Small-cell carcinomas (SCC) develop most commonly in the lung (small-cell lung carcinoma, SCLC) and only small percentages are present at extra-pulmonary sites. This study aimed to examine the distribution, treatment, and survival of SCCs.

Methods: The records for 922 SCC cases of various origins between January 1989 and December 2008 were retrieved and analyzed.

Nuclear expression of CXCR4 is associated with advanced colorectal cancer.

Background And Objectives: CXCR4 and its ligand, SDF-1alpha, play an important role in the targeted metastasis of colon cancer. In this study, we analyzed an expression of CXCR4 in clinical samples and showed that SDF-1alpha affected the expression of CXCR4 in colon cancer cells.

Materials And Methods: A total of 388 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) who underwent surgery in Taipei Veterans General Hospital from 2000 to 2004 were included.