Mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from chronic perianal fistula

Perianal mucinous adenocarcinoma is a rare tumour which may be associated with long‐standing chronic perianal sepsis. Early diagnosis is challenging and is based on a high index of clinical suspicion and specific histological features. Definitive treatment is surgical, in the form of an abdomino‐perineal resection. We hereby describe a case of a perianal mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from long‐standing recurrent perianal fistula and complement this with a brief review of the literature pertaining in particular to the management of this condition.     

Effect of Bupivacaine and Levobupivacaine on Exocytotic Norepinephrine Release from Rat Atria

Background: The cardiotoxic mechanism of local anesthetics may include interruption of cardiac sympathetic reflexes. The authors undertook this investigation to determine if clinically relevant concentrations of bupivacaine and levobupivacaine interfere with exocytotic norepinephrine release from cardiac sympathetic nerve endings.

Methods: Rat atria were prepared for measurements of twitch contractile force and 3[H]-norepinephrine release. After nerve endings were loaded with 3[H]-norepinephrine, the tissue was electrically stimulated in 5-min episodes during 10 10-min sampling periods. After each period, a sample of bath fluid was analyzed for radioactivity and 3[H]-norepinephrine release was expressed as a fraction of tissue counts. Atria were exposed to buffer alone during sampling periods 1 and 2 (S1 and S2). Control atria received saline (100 [mu]l each, n = 6 atria) in S3-S10. Experimental groups (n = 6 per group) received either bupivacaine or levobupivacaine at concentrations (in [mu]M) of 5 (S3-S4), 10 (S5-S6), 30 (S7-S8), and 100 (S9-S10).

Results: Bupivacaine and levobupivacaine decreased stimulation-evoked fractional 3[H]-norepinephrine release with inhibitory concentration 50% values of 5.1 +/- 0.5 and 6.1 +/- 1.3 [mu]m. The inhibitory effect of both local anesthetics (~70%) approached that of tetrodotoxin. Local anesthetics abolished the twitch contractions of atria with inhibitory concentration 50% values of 12.6 +/- 5.0 [mu]m (bupivacaine) and 15.7 +/- 3.9 [mu]m (levobupivacaine). In separate experiments, tetrodotoxin inhibited twitch contractile force by only 30%.     

3D-printed prostheses for large bone defect reconstruction following bone tumor surgery北大核心

BACKGROUND: Tumor segment resection is one of the standard methods for the treatment of bone tumors. However, the reconstruction of bone defects atumor resection faces many challenges. A growing number of researchers are focusing on 3D-printed prostheses for bone defect repair and reconstruction following bone tumor surgery. OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of 3D-printed prostheses in the reconstruction of large bone defect following bone tumor surgery and to evaluate the postoperative outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical data of 24 patients [19 males and 5 females, age 23.8 (6-61) years] who underwent bone tumor resection and 3D-printed prosthesis implantation in the Department of Bone Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from December 2020 to September 2021 was conducted. There were 7 cases with distal femur tumor, 5 with pelvis tumor, 4 with proximal tibia tumor, 3 with middle femur tumor, 1 with distal tibia tumor, 1 with proximal humerus tumor, 1 with middle humerus tumor, 1 with scapula tumor, 1 with ulna tumor, and 22 cases with primary tumors (13 osteosarcoma, 4 Ewing sarcoma, 2 giant cell tumor of bone, 1 chondroblastoma, 1 chondrosarcoma, and 1 osteoblastoma), 2 metastatic carcinoma. Preoperative and postoperative imaging data were recorded and neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administered in 17 cases before surgery. The Musculoskeletal Tumour Society score was used to assess limb function before surgery and 6 months after surgery, and pain was assessed by the Visual Analog Scale, as well as the complications were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) All patients undergoing resection of the tumor segment and 3D-printed prosthesis implantation for the reconstruction of the bone defect were followed for 6-49 months, and the results showed that the length of osteotomy was (18.2 ± 7.3) cm and an average intraoperative bleeding volume was 740 (100-3 000) mL. (2) Two patients died of systemic metastasis, the remaining 22 had no pulmonary metastasis or recurrence during the follow-up period, and 1 patient developed aseptic loosening of the prosthesis at 25 months postoperatively. (3) The Musculoskeletal Tumour Society scores were significantly increased, while Visual Analog Scale scores were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) at 6 months postoperatively. (4) The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was rated excellent in all 22 patients at the final follow-up. (5) These results suggest that 3D-printed prosthesis is suitable for the reconstruction of large bone defects caused by bone tumor resection. Patients have good postoperative function and few complications. However, further investigations are needed to explore long-term follow-up results. © 2023, Publishing House of Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research. All rights reserved.     

Determination of an Acceptable Portion Size of Daal for a Bangladeshi Community-Based Iron Intervention in Adolescent Girls: A Feasibility Study

Widely consumed daal (lentils) in Bangladesh are an ideal vehicle for iron (Fe) fortification; however, an acceptable portion size in meals needs to be determined to carry out a community feeding study in at-risk adolescent girls. A non-randomized crossover trial was conducted with n = 100 Bangladeshi girls (12.9 ± 2.0 years of age). Two recipes (thin and thick) and three portion sizes (25 g, 37.5 g, 50 g of raw lentil) of daal were served with 250 g of cooked white rice in a counter-balanced manner over 12 weeks. Each meal was fed to participants 5 days/week for two weeks. Ratings of hunger, satiety, and palatability were measured before and after each meal using Visual Analog Scales (VAS). The thick preparation in the 37.5 g portion (~200 g cooked) elicited higher VAS ratings of hunger, satiety, and palatability compared to all other meals. The 50 g portion of the thin preparation had VAS ratings similar to those of the 37.5 g thick preparation. Consuming the 37.5 g portion of fortified daal would provide 6.9 mg Fe/day to girls in a community-based effectiveness study. This would meet ~86% and ~46% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Fe for girls aged 9–13 and 14–18 years, respectively.     

ROLE OF INTERMEDIARY BIOMARKERS IN DETERMINING THE ANTICANCER EFFICACY OF MARINE COMPOUNDS

In the present study, two of the probable an umor marine compounds, manzamine A and sarcophine, were screened using benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-derived DNA adduct formation in MCF-7 cells as intermediary biomarker. Briefly, MCF-7 cells were treated with the compounds for 24 h followed by treatment with BP (0.5 μM). After 24h incubation, cellular DNA was isolated and analyzed for BP-derived DNA adducts by ³²P-postlabeling technique. Manzamine A and sarcophine increased the BP-DNA adducts by 2 to 4-folds. Further, manzamine A (50 μM) substantially down regulated the expression of p53 while sarcophine (50 μM) slightly induced the level of p21. The residual DNA repair ability was almost completely abolished by manzamine A while sarcophine was ineffective. Based on our preliminary results, these compounds may be classified as potential genotoxic.     

Serum kisspeptin levels in deep-infiltrating,ovarian, and superficial endometriosis: A prospective observational study

The diagnosis of endometriosis may delay for many years due to non-deterministic symptoms and avoiding surgical interventions. Kisspeptins are hormones that interact with endometrial tissue to limit invasions during placentation and various cancers and are suggested to be also associated with endometriosis. This study evaluated if serum kisspeptin levels are associated with the invasion depth in endometriosis. Forty patients between 18 and 45 years of age and admitted to a tertiary-care Obstetrics and Gynecology Department between 2020 and 2021 with a diagnosis of endometriosis, and 40 patients without endometrioma were included in the study. Demographic, obstetric, clinical, and biochemical characteristics were evaluated in patients with superficial (SE) and deep infiltrating (DIE) endometriosis and healthy controls. Twenty patients (50%) had SE, 14 (35%) had DIE, and 22 (55%) had endometrioma in the patient group. Fertility rates were higher among controls, but similar between patients with SE and DIE. CA125 levels were significantly higher in the DIE group. SE and DIE groups had similar kisspeptin values, significantly higher than controls. CA125 and kisspeptin levels were not correlated in study groups. Serum kisspeptin levels were significantly different between endometriosis patients and healthy controls. However, kisspeptin levels were unable to differentiate endometriosis severity. Our results suggest that kisspeptins might play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, which needs further assessment in more comprehensive studies.