Biomedical subjects

L C Fernandes

Publications and source records attributed to L C Fernandes.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Assessment of the value of preoperative serum levels of CA 242 and CEA in the staging and postoperative survival of colorectal adenocarcinoma patients.

INTRODUCTION: CEA is the most frequently used tumor marker in colorectal cancer. There may be an improvement in its efficacy when used in association with CA 242. AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative serum levels of the tumor markers CA 242 and CEA in the staging and postoperative follow-up of colorectal adenocarcinoma patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of a series of 134 patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas 90 underwent radical surgery and 44 palliative surgery. The control group consisted of 22 organ donors. The cutoff serum levels utilized were 5 ng/mL for CEA and 20 U/mL for CA 242. The mortality during follow-up was recorded in order to determine the duration of survival. The data were submitted to statistical analysis using diagnostic tests, the chi-square test, survival analysis (Kaplan and Meier) and ROC curves. A significance level of p < or = 0.05 was applied. RESULTS: The sensitivity of CEA in Dukes' stages A, B, C and D was 27.8%, 32.4%, 32.1% and 66.7%, respectively. The sensitivity of CA 242 was 11.1%, 16.2%, 30.8% and 50%. When both markers were combined, the sensitivity was 33.3%, 48.6%, 40.7% and 72.5%. In the group of patients who underwent radical surgery the mean survival was 60.47 months for those with high preoperative CEA levels, 52.22 months for those with high preoperative CA 242 levels, and 44.80 months for those with elevated levels of both markers. There was a statistically significant difference in survival between patients undergoing radical surgery with elevated CA 242 levels, especially when CEA was also elevated, and patients without elevated CA 242. CONCLUSION: Preoperative serum levels of CA 242 showed less efficacy than CEA levels for the staging of colorectal adenocarcinoma patients. Elevated preoperative serum levels of CA 242 alone were related to poor survival, especially in association with high levels of CEA.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Comparative study of intestinal anastomosis with manual suture and biofragmentable ring in dogs under corticosteroid administration].

BACKGROUND: This study analyzed intestinal anastomoses by manual suture and by compression with biofragmentable ring under delay of cicatrization administering parenteral corticoids. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty dogs were divided into two groups: control and test, the latter submitted to intramuscular administration of hydrocortisone hemisuccinate, 25 to 33 mg/kg/day, on the 30th preoperative and 7th postoperative days. During surgery, each animal underwent two colon sections with anastomosis by manual suture in a single extramucous plane and compression with biofragmentable ring. The animals were sacrificed 7 days after the procedure to evaluate the anastomoses. RESULTS: In the postoperative period, one death occurred in the test group and two in the control group, caused by nonblocked fistula in the anastomoses by ring compression. Statistically, there was a similar incidence of adherences, fistulas, afferent dilatation and obstruction using comparison methods. On microscopy, deficiency in mucous regeneration of the anastomoses by compression was observed. Computerized histological analysis evidenced in the anastomoses by compression, a greater inflammatory reaction, greater edema of the submucous membrane and enlarged scars. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that, with the biofragmentable ring, in colonic anastomosis under delay of cicatrization induced by corticoids, similar results to manual suture regarding to postoperative complications incidence were obtained; ring, however, determined worse mucous regeneration and greater cicatricial inflammatory reaction.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Effects of food restriction on the protein and electrolyte composition in the liver and muscles of rats].

Protein and electrolyte disturbances in hepatic and muscle tissues are related to trauma, sepsis, or short term starvation or semistarvation. The consequences of a prolonged semistarvation are poorly understood. For five weeks, male adult rats were offered 50% of the diet until they had a weight loss of 40%, after which protein and electrolyte (Ca++, Mg++, Zn++, Na+, K+) changes in the liver and soleus and extensorum digitorum longus muscles were analyzed. There was a significant weight loss after 5 weeks of semistarvation. Hepatic protein and serum albumin were not changed, but the authors observed a significant muscle protein depletion. A fall in Zn++ levels in the blood was accompanied by a rise in muscle and liver concentrations. The rise in Ca++ and Mg++ concentration in blood and in the muscles might be related to the enhanced proteolysis. Results suggest that the early changes of protein and electrolyte metabolism at tissue level with semistarvation impair muscular and hepatic functions as they delay adequate response to trauma and infection.

Animals↗