Clinical significance of circulating tumor cells in colon and breast solid neoplasms

Background: Tumor cells that are identified in transit within the blood stream are referred to as circulating tumor cells (CTCs); a fraction of these are thought to be viable metastatic precursors capable of initiating a clonal metastatic lesion. CTC could be used as non-invasive marker for monitoring drug sensitivity or resistance and select cancer patients who are candidates for early systemic antimetastatic therapy. Identifying CTCs in neoplastic patients could be also an independent prognostic factor for patients at risk for recurrence or metastasis

Limb-salvage surgery in trauma leg injuries. Does it offer patients better quality of life and functional capacity than amputation?

Background: The decision to salvage or amputate the injured limb has generated much controversy in the Literature, with studies to support advantages of each approach. All scoring systems have proved unreliable in predicting the need for amputation or salvage. ‘Making decision' and 'timing' can be difficult even for experts. Limb-salvage surgery in trauma leg injuries. Does it offer patients better quality of life and functional capacity than amputation? www.preventionandresearch.com 8 Jan-Mar 2013|P&R Scientific|Volume 3|N°1 Objectives: Obviously, it is to avoid amputation of a limb which could be saved, as well as not always trying the revascularization. This is the challenging problem. In our opinion, the issue is not to perform revascularization just because it is technically feasible, but when it should be performed. The purpose of this study is clarify some decisions about management of severely injured legs

Analysis of variables predictive of severity in biliary peritonitis

OBJECTIVE: To analyze clinical and laboratory findings in order to find variables predictive of severity of Biliary Peritonitis (BP). METHODS: Physical findings, course of illness, imaging and laboratory data were evaluated in 22 patients with BP? and statistically analysed to assess their prognostic significance. RESULTS: Serious illness and worse outcome were associated with: age > 60 years (P= 0.034), long time between onset of symptoms and treatment (P= 0.025), fever > 38 degrees C (P= 0.009), WBC count > 17.000 cell/mm(3) (P=0.043), diffuse abdominal pain (P= 0.034), and infected bile (P= 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients become severely ill due to supervening infection, while early bile drainage avoids serious complications. In addition, abdominal pain, fever and WBC count are also predictive of severity of BP