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Biomedical subjects

G Constantinescu

Publications and source records attributed to G Constantinescu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Clinical impact of cachexia on survival and outcome of cancer patients.

Approximately one half of all cancer patients experience a complex metabolic status involving progressive exhaustion of adipose and skeletal muscle tissue. This condition, known as cachexia, is responsible for more than 20% of the overall deaths in cancer patients. Although its main mechanisms remain unknown, several hypotheses have been proposed. One of the pathogenic mechanisms involves leptin and hypothalamic neuropeptide-containing pathways. Orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides are down-regulated respectively upregulated as a result of cancer. Other pathogenic theories consider tumour derived factors, such as LMF (Lipid Mobilising Factor) and PIF (Proteolysis-inducing Factor), to be responsible for the weight losing pattern of cancer patients via activation of various catabolic pathways (e.g. ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic-pathway, etc.). Despite the controversial discussion of cachexia-inducing mechanisms it is clear that proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNFalpha, IFNgamma, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-8, are linked to all pathways that induce cachexia. Although only limited treatment exists for patients with cancer cachexia, recent studies with eicosapaentanoic acid showed promising effects in reversing weight losing pattern of cachectic patients. Cytokine targeted monoclonal antibodies, cytokine traps and genetic therapies are also evaluated for future therapeutic strategies.

Cachexia↗
PubMed2001

[Applied anatomy of the distal "vinculum tendinis" in the fetlock tendon sheath of the hindlimb in cattle].

A relatively thick (diameter approximately 2 mm), ropelike (length ca. 20 mm) and elastic "Vinculum tendinis" connects--within the fetlock tendon sheath--the dorsal side of the deep digital flexor tendon with the dorsal part of the Manica flexoria (the communicating band of the Musculus interosseous medius to the superficial digital flexor tendon). The extensive fetlock tendon sheath can be involved in diseases such as aseptic and septic inflammations. Spreading of these inflammations makes in some of these cases the partial resection of the tendon of the deep digital flexor muscle and the cutting of these Vincula necessary. The results of this contribution, collected from 60 hindlimbs of adult bovines show variations in number, length, diameter and extent and the inner structure with blood vessels and nerves.

Animals↗
PubMed1965

Professor Dr.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

History, 20th Century↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Variable MLH1 promoter methylation patterns in endometrial carcinomas of endometrioid subtype lacking DNA mismatch repair.

A lack of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) is observed in approximately 20% of sporadic endometrial tumors, but few of these tumors have mutations in MSH2 or MLH1, the two major MMR genes. Promoter methylation is an important means of silencing transcription, and methylation of the MLH1 promoter has been reported as an important cause of MLH1 inactivation in endometrial cancers. Studies have shown that specific CpG sites within the MLH1 gene promoter are critical for gene expression, but other studies have shown that methylation of both more proximal and more distal sequences are important for MLH1 gene regulation. Here, we used a microsatellite instability assay and MLH1 immunohistochemistry to identify a subset of endometrial carcinomas of the endometrioid subtype lacking MMR. Sequencing of bisulphite-treated DNA from these tumors determined the methylation status of 42 CpG sites across the MLH1 promoter (spanning -204 to -702 bp upstream of the transcriptional start). Unlike the 4 normal endometrial samples that were unmethylated, 17 of 21 MMR-deficient samples showed complete or near-complete methylation and the remaining 4 MMR-deficient samples had a considerable degree of methylation (approximately 50% or greater). Five tumors demonstrated isolated unmethylated CpG sites, despite methylation throughout the rest of the promoter. This underscores the importance of examining the methylation status of at least several CpG sites within the promoter as methylation is not always consistent across DNA. Overall, our findings support the model that density of methylation of CpG sites across the MLH1 promoter is important in determining gene expression.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of a vascular skeletal muscle graft for canine esophageal reconstruction.

A technique for reconstruction of the thoracic esophagus was evaluated in 13 dogs. A 9 x 10 cm section of transversus abdominis muscle was harvested, fashioned into a tubular graft, and vascularized via the greater omentum. The vascularized tube was advanced into the caudal thorax through the diaphragm at a second surgery 20 to 44 days after harvesting the section of the transversus abdominis muscle. A 5 cm section of caudal thoracic esophagus was replaced with the vascular tubular graft. One dog died because of incarceration of the intestine within the tube and two dogs were euthanized because of infected tubes. One dog died due to an anesthetic complication, one dog had a diaphragmatic hernia and died, and one dog died from pyothorax. Leakage of luminal contents at the anastomoses did not occur in any dog. Seven dogs survived both surgeries but showed deglutitory difficulty 6 days postoperatively due to the grafted esophageal segments becoming severely strictured in each case. Angiography demonstrated vascularization of the full thickness of the graft in each of the seven dogs. An unacceptably high incidence of infection and stricture formation made this technique unsuitable for clinical use.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Long-term evolution of a T-tube in the common bile duct].

We present the case of an elderly and frail woman, admitted for obstructive jaundice 9 years after cholecystectomy, lithotomy and T-tube drainage. The presence of a T-tube remnant in the common bile duct was suggested by imaging techniques, along with a megacholedocus. Because of the risks associated with advanced biliary cirrhosis, the endoscopic retrieval and lithotripsy was the first therapeutical attempt but failed. Lithotomy and cholangio-jejunostomy by open surgery were followed by a surprising favourable course.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Peroral cholangioscopy].

The aim of this study was to present peroral cholangioscopic method, their technique, indications, contraindications, the advantages and disadvantages of this method. Peroral cholangioscopy is associated with ERCP and was developed in the last two decades by development of "mother & baby" endoscopic system. In same mode with percutaneous cholangioscopy or laparoscopic cholangioscopy, peroral cholangioscopy have an important role in diagnosis and therapy of common bile duct diseases. In 2001-2002 the authors have perform six peroral cholangioscopy for diagnosis and therapy (nonspecific radiological findings on ERCP) and in five cases, they have found choledochal lithiasis which was resolved by this way. In one case has not found any pathology. By their efficiency with a low rate of specific complications, peroral cholangioscopy is now an appropriate method in diagnosis and therapy of common bile duct disease.

Bile Ducts↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The method of multilayer gel plates for the analytical immunochemical techniques.

A new analytical immunochemical method using gel film copies obtained by means of multilayer gel plates is described. The method is suitable for any variant of immunochemical gel technique. Perfect identity of the copies as well as some advantages are exemplified. In comparison with the already known monolayer gel plate method, the multilayer plate is more advantageous for the study of the dynamics of the antigen-antibody reaction, for the discovery of the nature of some unknown biological products available in very low quantities and for the discovery of the nature of some unknown biological products available in very low quantities and for the economy of certain costly reagents. Moreover, its high reproductibility recommends it as a reference method for the control of quality, especially of the precision and accuracy of the monolayer immunofiltration techniques.

Counterimmunoelectrophoresis↗