No abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequent human malignant neoplasms. CRC has an estimated incidence of more than 1,000,000 new cases annually worldwide. Approximately one out of three people who develop CRC dies from the disease. Furthermore, CRC often affects inhabitants of industrialized countries in comparison to less developed countries. Several markers of colon cancer, including CEA, CA-19-9, TPS, TAG-72 and lysosomal hydrolases, have been identified and are now being adopted in routine clinical practice. Increased values of these markers are often the first signal of recurrence or metastases, which is useful in prediction and prognosis of clinical outcome of patients with CRC. Determination of the activity of lysosomal exoglycosidases in body fluids may bring some hope of improving diagnosis of colorectal cancer. However, it has to be remembered that currently the most effective diagnostic method of CRC is endoscopy.

No abstract

Inhibierende Faktoren: Die Bildung von Biofilmen kann mithilfe eines Phenylgalactosyl‐Peptid‐Dendrimers (siehe Bild), das an das galactosespezifische Lectin LecA von P. aeruginosa bindet, unterdrückt werden. Die Multivalenz des Liganden ist entscheidend für die Inhibierung der Biofilmbildung, wobei der Linker zwischen Peptiddendrimer und Galactose zusätzliche Kontakte mit dem Lectin ermöglicht und somit ebenfalls die Wechselwirkung beeinflusst.

Psoriasis is associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABP) have been recognized as predictors of these systemic disorders. The aim of this study was to assess correlations between levels of serum heart and adipocyte fatty acid-binding proteins (FABP3, FABP4) and disease severity, indicators of inflammation or metabolic disturbances, and topical treatment in psoriatic patients. Thirty-seven patients with relapse of plaque-type psoriasis and 16 healthy volunteers were recruited. Blood samples were collected before and after 14 days of therapy. Serum FABP concentrations were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for correlation with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), body mass index (BMI), inflammatory or metabolic parameters, and treatment used. The median FABP4 serum levels were significantly increased (p = 0.038) in psoriatic patients, while FABP3 levels did not differ (p = 0.47) compared to the controls. No significant correlations were noted between the proteins and PASI, C-reactive protein (CRP), BMI, or levels of glucose or lipids. FABP3 significantly correlated with white blood count (p = 0.03) and aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.04). After topical treatment, there was no significant change in serum FABP3 [11.5 (4.9–30.3) vs. 12.9 (3.5–30.3) ng/ml] (p = 0.96), whereas FABP4 was decreased [27,286 (20,344–32,257) vs. 23,034 (18,320–29,874) pg/ml] (p = 0.12), losing its basal significance. FABP4 may be a marker of psoriasis, and FABP3 may be associated with inflammation or liver disorders in psoriatic patients. FABP do not appear to be useful for determining disease severity or the effectiveness of antipsoriatic treatment.