Thilo Welsch

BACKGROUND: Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) has been characterised as a cancer stem cell marker in different types of tumours. Additionally, it plays a pivotal role in gene regulation and endows tumour cells with augmented chemoresistance. Recently, ALDH1A1 has been described as a prognostic marker in a pancreatic cancer tissue microarray. The aim of this study was to reevaluate the expression of ALDH1A1 as a prognostic marker on whole-mount tissue sections.

METHODS: ...

BACKGROUND: Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is a common complication after pancreatoduodenectomy. The International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) definition of DGE has not been evaluated and validated in a high-volume centre.

METHODS: Complete data sets including assessment of gastric emptying were identified from a database of patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy between 2001 and 2008. Factors associated with DGE (grades A, B and C) were assessed by univariable and ...

BACKGROUND: Restorative proctocolectomy has become the surgical procedure of choice in patients with ulcerative colitis. Only smaller studies have compared postoperative to preoperative quality of life (QoL).

METHODS: Patients with ulcerative colitis who had undergone restorative proctocolectomy at least 5 years before and who had filled out a disease-specific validated questionnaire (Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index, GIQLI) prior to surgery (n = 128) were included into this ...

BACKGROUND: Phospholipids are essential for the normal function of the intestinal mucus barrier. The objective of this study was to systematically investigate phospholipids in the intestinal mucus of humans suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases, where a barrier defect is strongly supposed to be pathogenetic.

METHODS: Optimal mucus recovery was first validated in healthy mice and the method was then transferred to the endoscopic acquisition of ileal and colonic mucus from 21 patients ...

PurposeExtralevator abdominoperineal resection (APR) for low rectal cancer has been adopted by centers to improve oncological outcome. The present study aimed to investigate oncological results, wound complications, and quality of life (QoL).MethodsPatients who underwent extralevator APR for rectal cancer between 2007 and 2011 were identified retrospectively. QoL status was assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-CR30 and CR29 ...

Mice lacking the 80-kDa CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) develop progressive renal failure that starts soon after birth with proteinuria and foot process effacement by unknown mechanisms. CD2AP has been identified and cloned independently by virtue of its interaction with the T cell protein CD2 and with the docking protein p130Cas. In the present study we examined the localization of CD2AP and p130Cas in the mouse glomerulus and in cultured podocytes. In glomeruli, CD2AP and p130Cas ...

PurposeThis study evaluates the anorectal and genitourinary function of patients treated by preoperative short-term radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery and surgery alone for rectal cancer.MethodsFor this study, a total of 613 patients, who were identified from a prospective rectal cancer database, underwent anterior resection of the rectum between October 2001 and December 2007. Standardized questionnaires were used to determine fecal incontinence, urinary, ...

Since the beginning of organ transplantation, graft preservation has been one of the most important concerns. Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI), which plays an important role in the quality and function of the graft, is a major cause for increased length of hospitalization and decreased long term graft survival. Among numerous attempts which have been made to minimize graft damage associated with IRI, the use of Thymoglobulin (TG) seems to offer potential benefits. TG is a polyclonal ...

PurposePostpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the most serious complications after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). This study analyzed and validated the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) definition of PPH and aimed to identify risk factors for early (<24 h) and late PPH.MethodsPatients who underwent PD for pancreatic head tumors between 2001 and 2008 were included and complications were prospectively recorded. Factors associated with PPH were assessed by uni- and ...

Eps8 controls actin dynamics directly through its barbed end capping and actin-bundling activity, and indirectly by regulating Rac-activation when engaged into a trimeric complex with Eps8-Abi1-Sos1. Recently, Eps8 has been associated with promotion of various solid malignancies, but neither its mechanisms of action nor its regulation in cancer cells have been elucidated. Here, we report a novel association of Eps8 with the late endosomal/lysosomal compartment, which is independent from ...

IntroductionPancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is the standard operation for cancer of the pancreatic head. To achieve complete tumor resection and, thus, improve long-term survival, venous resection of the portal or superior mesenteric vein with reconstruction has become routine for advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, its clinical benefit still remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate morbidity, mortality, and survival of patients with advanced PDAC ...

BackgroundEpithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells (CSC) contribute to tumour progression and metastasis. Assessment of transcription factors involved in these two mechanisms can help to identify new targets for an oncological therapy. In this study, we focused on the evaluation of the transcription factor Six1 (Sine oculis 1). This protein is involved in embryologic development and its contribution to carcinogenesis has been described in several ...

In over 70% of the cases, patients with curative surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) develop recurrent tumors. The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis suggests that CSCs are chemoresistant and enriched in recurrent tumors. This study analyzes tumorbiology, expression of the metastasis-promoting CXCR4 and actinin-4, and of the CSC marker CD133 in primary and recurrent PDAC. Twenty-six patients underwent resection for primary and recurrent PDAC and ...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that intraoperative frozen section (FS) and re-resection results to achieve R0 status are associated with different long-term outcomes in pancreatic cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Recent data have challenged the survival benefit of additional resection in patients with pancreatic cancer in case of positive FS to achieve clear pathological section (PS).

METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery for exocrine pancreatic malignancy with ...

BackgroundDue to the considerable variety in the clinical presentation of anorectal and rectovaginal fistulas in Crohn’s disease, data on treatment results for each type of fistula are limited. The aim of this study was to summarize the results after surgical treatment of such fistulas in a large consecutive series of patients.Patients and methodsAll patients with anorectal or rectovaginal fistula due to Crohn’s disease requiring surgery in our institution between 1991 and 2001 were ...