Browsing by Author "Pazin, Vladimir (24169602000)"

Background: Total gastrectomy causes numerous disorders, such as reflux esophagitis, dumping syndrome, malabsorption, and malnutrition. To minimize the consequences, different variants of reconstruction are performed. The aim of our study is the comparison of two reconstructive methods: the standard Roux-en-Y and a new modality of pouch interposition, preduodenal-pouch interposition. This study aims to investigate the advantage of bile reflux prevention and to reduce symptoms of dumping syndrome after 3- and 6-mo follow-up. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients were divided in two groups: (A) 30 patients with Roux-en-Y reconstruction, and (B) 30 patients with the preduodenal-pouch (PDP) type of reconstruction. Endoscopic examination and endoluminal jejunal limb pressure measurements were performed. Scintigraphic measurements of half-emptying time were performed to evaluate meal elimination in the context of reflux esophagitis and early dumping syndrome. The Japan Society of Gastrointestinal Surgery has provided guidelines with which to classify the symptoms of early dumping syndrome. Patients were followed up for periods of 3 and 6 mo after the surgery. Results: Our study groups did not differ with regard to the level of reflux esophagitis (P = 0.688). Average values of pressure at 10 and 15 cm below the esophago-jejunal junction were significantly lower in the PDP group (P < 0.001). Elimination of the test meal between two groups was not significant (P = 0.222). Evaluation of early dumping syndrome symptoms revealed a significant reduction among PDP patients after 3 and 6 mo. Conclusion: Our study showed significant superiority of the new pouch reconstruction over the standard Roux-en-Y approach in the treatment of early dumping syndrome. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemotherapy resistance of ovarian cancer, regarded as the most lethal malignant gynecological disease, can be explained by several mechanisms, including increased activity of efflux transporters leading to decreased intracellular drug accumulation, increased efflux of the therapeutic agents from the cell by multidrug-resistance-associated protein (MRP1), enhanced DNA repair, altered apoptotic pathways, silencing of a number of genes, as well as drug inactivation, especially by glutathione transferase P1 (GSTP1). Indeed, GSTP1 has been recognized as the major enzyme responsible for the conversion of drugs most commonly used to treat metastatic ovarian cancer into less effective forms. Furthermore, GSTP1 may even be responsible for chemoresistance of non-GST substrate drugs by mechanisms such as interaction with efflux transporters or different signaling molecules involved in regulation of apoptosis. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as important gene regulators in ovarian cancer, which are able to target GST-mediated drug metabolism in order to regulate drug resistance. So far, miR-186 and miR-133b have been associated with reduced ovarian cancer drug resistance by silencing the expression of the drug-resistance-related proteins, GSTP1 and MDR1. Unfortunately, sometimes miRNAs might even enhance the drug resistance in ovarian cancer, as shown for miR-130b. Therefore, chemoresistance in ovarian cancer treatment represents a very complex process, but strategies that influence GSTP1 expression in ovarian cancer as a therapeutic target, as well as miRNAs affecting GSTP1 expression, seem to represent promising predictors of chemotherapeutic response in ovarian cancer, while at the same time represent potential targets to overcome chemoresistance in the future.

Objective: Despite the considerable disease burden of ovarian cancer, there were no cost studies in Central and Eastern Europe. This study aimed to describe treatment patterns, health care utilization, and costs associated with treating ovarian cancer in Hungary, Poland, Serbia, and Slovakia. Method: Overall clinical practice for management of epithelial ovarian cancer was investigated through a 3-round Delphi panel. Experts completed a survey based on the chart review (n = 1542). The survey was developed based on clinical guidelines and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Annual Report. Means, ranges, and outlier values were discussed with the experts during a telephone interview. Finally, consensus estimates were obtained in face-to-face workshops. Based on these results, overall cost of ovarian cancer was estimated using a Markov model. Results: The patients included in the chart review were followed up from presurgical diagnosis and in each phase of treatment, that is, surgical staging and primary surgery, chemotherapy and chemotherapy monitoring, follow-up, and palliative care. The 5-year overall cost per patient was ε14,100 to ε16,300 in Hungary, ε14,600 to ε15,800 in Poland, ε7600 to ε8100 in Serbia, and ε12,400 to ε14,500 in Slovakia. The main components were chemotherapy-associated costs (68%Y74% of the total cost), followed by cost of primary treatment with surgery (15%Y21%) and palliative care (3%Y10%). Conclusions: Patients with ovarian cancer consume considerable health care resources and incur substantial costs in Central and Eastern Europe. These findings may prove useful for clinicians and decision makers in understanding the economic implications of managing ovarian cancer in Central and Eastern Europe and the need for innovative therapies. ORIGINAL STUDY © 2013 by IGCS and ESGO.