Pancreaticogastrostomy: a pancreas-transfixing method with duct-to-mucosa anastomosis (with video)

Pancreatic fistula still remains a persistent problem after pancreaticoduodenectomy. We have devised a pancreas-transfixing suture method of pancreaticogastrostomy with duct-to-mucosa anastomosis. This technique is simple and reduces the risk of pancreatic leakage by decreasing the risk of suture injury of the pancreas and by embedding the transected stump into the wall of the stomach. This novel technique of pancreaticogastrostomy is an effective reconstructive procedure following pancreaticoduodenectomy, especially for patients with a soft and fragile pancreas

Identifying Sociological Motivation of Hispanic/LatinoSport Consumers Attending Sporting Events

While Hispanic/Latino's population and purchasing power has been rapidly growing and they are expected to have the potential to be massive sport customers in the future (McCarthy, 1998; Humphreys, 2006), there are little information reported to identify motivation of Hispanic/Latino sport consumers' attending sporting events. This study was aimed to identify sociological motivation of Hispanic/Latino sport consumers by using modified existing motivation scales (i.e., SFMS by Wann, Brewer, & Royalty, 1999; SAM by Zhang, Pease, Lam, Bellerive, Pham, Williamson, Lee, and Wall, 2001). The findings of this study revealed Hispanic/Latino's demographic characteristics and particular sociological motivations for attending sporting events. This study also indicated several implications focusing on Hispanics/Latinos as potential future sport customers

Loss of histone H4K20 trimethylation predicts poor prognosis in breast cancer and is associated with invasive activity

INTRODUCTION: Loss of histone H4 lysine 20 trimethylation (H4K20me3) is associated with multiple cancers, but its role in breast tumors is unclear. In addition, the pathological effects of global reduction in H4K20me3 remain mostly unknown. Therefore, a major goal of this study was to elucidate the global H4K20me3 level in breast cancer tissue and investigate its pathological functions. METHODS: Levels of H4K20me3 and an associated histone modification, H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3), were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in a series of breast cancer tissues. Univariate and multivariate clinicopathological and survival analyses were performed. We also examined the effect of overexpression or knockdown of the histone H4K20 methyltransferases, SUV420H1 and SUV420H2, on cancer-cell invasion activity in vitro. RESULTS: H4K20me3, but not H3K9me3, was clearly reduced in breast cancer tissue. A reduced level of H4K20me3 was correlated with several aspects of clinicopathological status, including luminal subtypes, but not with HER2 expression. Multivariate analysis showed that reduced levels of H4K20me3 independently associated with lower disease-free survival. Moreover, ectopic expression of SUV420H1 and SUV420H2 in breast cancer cells suppressed cell invasiveness, whereas knockdown of SUV420H2 activated normal mammary epithelial-cell invasion in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: H4K20me3 was reduced in cancerous regions of breast-tumor tissue, as in other types of tumor. Reduced H4K20me3 level can be used as an independent marker of poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. Most importantly, this study suggests that a reduced level of H4K20me3 increases the invasiveness of breast cancer cells in a HER2-independent manner

Antropología del cáncer e investigación aplicada en salud pública

A partir de una elaborada revisión de literatura sobre el cáncer gástrico, el artículo profundiza en los aspectos socio culturales que explican la enfermedad y aboga por una mayor cooperación entre la comunidad afectada y las instituciones que formulan las políticas públicas en salud, haciendo énfasis en las relaciones existentes entre salud, prácticas sociales y cultura. Plantea que los programas de intervención en salud pública deben considerar factores sociales, biológicos y culturales de manera interdependiente para plantear propuestas viables de desarrollo de investigaciones aplicadas al cáncer gástrico en poblaciones vulnerables como las que residen en los departamentos colombianos de Nariño y Boyacá.Based on a revision of literature on gastric cancer, the article explores the achievements of medical anthropology in identifying the socio- cultural aspects that may explain the illness. It claims for a better cooperation between affected communities and institutional policies, and emphasizes on the relationships between health, social practices and culture. The article argues that public health programs should consider social, biological and cultural factors in order to develop proposals for the development of research on gastric cancer in vulnerable populations such as the ones residing in the Colombian departments of Nariño and Boyacá

Phase-I trial of oral fluoropyrimidine anticancer agent (S-1) with concurrent radiotherapy in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer

In this phase-I trial, we evaluated the safety of S-1, a novel oral fluoropyrimidine anticancer agent, combined with external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) to determine the maximum-tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) in unresectable pancreatic cancer patients. Patients had histologically proven unresectable locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. S-1 was administered orally twice daily. External-beam radiotherapy was delivered in fractions of 1.25 Gy × 2 per day, totalling 50 Gy per 40 fractions for 4 weeks. S-1 was given at five dose levels: 60 mg m–2 day–1 on days 1–7 and 15–21 (level 1), 1–14 (level 2), and 1–21 (level 3a) and 80 mg m–2 day–1 on days 1–21 (level 3b) and 1–28 (level 4). We studied 17 patients: dose levels 1 (four patients), 2 (four patients), 3a (three patients), 3b (three patients), and 4 (three patients). One patient in level 1 (grade 3 vomiting) and two patients in level 4 (grade 4 neutropenia and grade 3 anorexia) showed DLT. No DLT was seen for levels 2, 3a, and 3b. Clinical effects by computed tomography included 5 partial responses (35%), 11 cases of stable disease, and one case of progressive disease. CA19–9 levels of less than half the starting values were observed in 8 of 16 (50%) patients. S-1 at a dose of 80 mg m–2 day–1 given on days 1–21 is safe and recommended for phase-II study in patients with locally advanced and unresectable pancreatic cancer when given with EBRT

Physical activity and risk of colon adenoma: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Little evidence is available on the relation of physical activity with colon adenomas, a colon cancer precursor. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of published studies (in English) through April 2010, examining physical activity or exercise and risk or prevalence of colon adenoma or polyp. Random effects models were used to estimate relative risks (RRs) and corresponding confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 20 studies were identified that examined the association and provided RRs and corresponding 95% CIs. RESULTS: A significant inverse association between physical activity and colon adenomas was found with an overall RR of 0.84 (CI: 0.77–0.92). The association was similar in men (RR=0.81, CI: 0.67–0.98) and women (RR=0.87, CI: 0.74–1.02). The association appeared slightly stronger in large/advanced polyps (RR=0.70, CI: 0.56–0.88). CONCLUSION: This study confirms previous reports of a significant inverse association of physical activity and colon adenoma, and suggests that physical activity can have an important role in colon cancer prevention