Intensive Care Unit Admission after Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy. Is It Necessary?

Introduction. Cytoreductive surgery (CS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a new approach for peritoneal carcinomatosis. However, high rates of complications are associated with CS and HIPEC due to treatment complexity; that is why some patients need stabilization and surveillance for complications in the intensive care unit. Objective. This study analyzed that ICU stay is necessary after HIPEC. Methods. 39 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis were treated according to strict selection criteria with CS and HIPEC, with closed technique, and the chemotherapy administered were cisplatin 25 mg/m2/L and mitomycin C 3.3 mg/m2/L for 90-minutes at 40.5°C. Results. 26 (67%) of the 39 patients were transferred to the ICU. Major postoperative complications were seen in 14/26 patients (53%). The mean time on surgical procedures was 7.06 hours (range 5−9 hours). The mean blood loss was 939 ml (range 100–3700 ml). The mean time stay in the ICU was 2.7 days. Conclusion. CS with HIPEC for the treatment of PC results in low mortality and high morbidity. Therefore, ICU stay directly following HIPEC should not be standardized, but should preferably be based on the extent or resections performed and individual patient characteristics and risk factors. Late complications were comparable to those reported after large abdominal surgery without HIPEC

Dilemas bioéticos na prática da anestesia

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: As relações da sociedade humana com o universo e a aplicação de novos conceitos éticos estudados por filósofos, fundamentalmente para acompanhar a evolução das ciências biomédicas, originaram a Bioética. O objetivo é tratar dos avanços nas relações humanas entre médicos e pacientes, propostos pelos princípios bioéticos em adição aos tradicionais princípios hipocráticos, aqui discutidos no particular da prática desta ciência fascinante a Anestesiologia. O presente trabalho visa estimular e aprofundar as discussões bioéticas na área da Anestesiologia. CONTEÚDO: São discutidos os limites entre o ato médico benevolente e não-maleficente, indissociavelmente comprometido com o bem-estar do paciente, os benefícios da conduta médica paternalista, visando à preservação da saúde e da vida, e do outro lado, o respeito à autonomia do cidadão-doente, potencial paciente, e o seu direito ao consentimento livre, renovável, revogável e plenamente esclarecido para quaisquer atos médicos. CONCLUSÕES: Com base no quanto é apresentado no presente trabalho o anestesiologista deve sempre decidir beneficentemente em defesa da saúde do indivíduo e da sacralidade da vida, entendendo os limites entre a autonomia do paciente e o direito do médico aplicar tratamento arbitrário à revelia da vontade daquele, em obediência aos princípios da beneficência e da não-maleficência, disponibilizando os benefícios da ciência médica (justiça) em favor da vida, posto que, em anestesia muitas vezes, há um limite incompreensivelmente tênue entre vida e morte

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

XV, 145 p. 45 illus., 34 illus. in color.online r

Uncovering a novel mechanism: Butyrate induces estrogen receptor alpha activation independent of estrogen stimulation in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Abstract Butyrate is a promising candidate for an antitumoral drug, as it promotes cancer cell apoptosis and reduces hormone receptor activity, while promoting differentiation and proliferation in normal cells. However, the effects of low-dose butyrate on breast cancer cell cultures are unclear. We explored the impact of sub-therapeutic doses of butyrate on estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) transcriptional activity in MCF-7 cells, using RT-qPCR, Western blot, wound-healing assays, and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Our results showed that sub-therapeutic doses of sodium butyrate (0.1 - 0.2 mM) increased the transcription of ESR1, TFF1, and CSTD genes, but did not affect ERα protein levels. Moreover, we observed an increase in cell migration in wound-healing assays. ChIP assays revealed that treatment with 0.1 mM of sodium butyrate resulted in estrogen-independent recruitment of ERα at the pS2 promoter and loss of NCoR. Appropriate therapeutic dosage of butyrate is essential to avoid potential adverse effects on patients’ health, especially in the case of estrogen receptor-positive breast tumors. Sub-therapeutic doses of butyrate may induce undesirable cell processes, such as migration due to low-dose butyrate-mediated ERα activation. These findings shed light on the complex effects of butyrate in breast cancer and provide insights for research in the development of antitumoral drugs